MyBulawayo managed to meet and interview the Woman of the moment,the ZITF Company General Manager Nomathemba Ndlovu. Here is how she describes herself .what motivates her, her definition of success and handling stereotypes.

1) Who is Nomathemba?
I am a business leader who has worked for some of the country’s largest retail chains and am currently the General Manager of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Company.
I am the first born in a family of three girls and grew up in the city of Bulawayo. I was educated at the Dominican Convent School before proceeding to further my studies at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) where I obtained a Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree in Marketing. Thereafter I enrolled for a Master of Science Degree in Marketing where I passed with a distinction and was awarded the Vice Chancellor’s prize for being the best overall graduating student.
I now sit on various boards and committees including the National Railways of Zimbabwe. I am the current Co-Vice President of the Matabeleland Chamber of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) and I also sit on the CZI National Council.
On a personal note, I am married to Mlondolozi and we are blessed with three sons.

2) How would you describe success?
To me, success is achieving what I set out to do.

One of my favourite power thoughts relating to this is “I am in competition with no one. I have no desire to play the game of being better than anyone. I am simply trying to be better than the person I was yesterday.” Consequently, I don’t compare myself to others but daily, I seek to give of my best. I simply strive to do better and be better.

This has really paid off. The deliberate steps I have taken over the years to advance my career have earned industry recognition as I was accorded Marketing Practitioner status by the Marketers Association Zimbabwe and graduated at the top of the class in the inaugural ZimChartered Marketer programme. I also received the 2012 and 2015 Megafest Female Manager of the Year awards.

My goals do not just relate to my academic and professional careers but also touch on spiritual, family, home, health, social and cultural. I get a deep sense of fulfillment when I see the different elements on my Vision Board coming together.

3) Are you involved in any social responsibility projects / Community work?
I am passionate about giving of my time and talents to help create a positive future for young people by contributing to ensuring that children are given ample opportunities to reach their greatest potential. In my personal capacity, I serve on the Board of Governors of Whitestone School, a leading private primary school in Bulawayo and also readily accept invitations to speak to school students.

I identify with, and support, organisations that share my desire to see more women empowered to improve themselves and their families. I am actively involved in a programme run by an organisation called PROWEB (Professional Women, Women Executives and Business Women’s Forum) that trains women in entrepreneurial skills and recently travelled to the U.S. on an exchange programme focusing on Business Entrepreneurship. I am using the training I received in these and other fora to mentor other women to achieve their business goals.
In response to the Great Commission, I am a practicing Christian who is a teacher of the word and is passionate about local church growth.

4) Have you had to face any stereo types being general manager of ZITF?
Oh yes! Having taken over the reins from someone who in most respects is the opposite of me, I have had plenty of comments about my age and gender. Perhaps because of the ZITF’s national strategic significance, it is still perceived by some to be a position suited to a mature male figure.
5) How have you overcome them ?
Just as with other posts I’ve held in past, I have not allowed myself to be held back by stereotypes in whatever form. Where I have been given an opportunity to add value to an organisation I have done so to the best of my abilities and leave my track record to speak for itself.

6) How do you balance such a power career and family?
I look back sometimes and wonder how I do it! Having had two babies during the time I have been at the ZITF Company, I have still managed to concurrently make great career progress. In fact, I have achieved some of my best career highlights in this period.
Exhibition management by nature is a high-pressure industry driven by deadlines so it is not uncommon to put in long hours, sometimes working weekends and holidays. Naturally, family and social life suffer during these times.
I don’t believe that balance really exists for anyone. At certain stages we give more emphasis to either the career or family depending on the circumstances and it has a way of coming together in the end. Being organised and prioretising what needs to be done on a daily basis has helped me stay on top of things but I owe a lot to the great support network that helps out during my busy periods. I am especially grateful to my husband who is so supportive of what I do and gives me the freedom to pursue my vision.

7) How did you rise to the position of being ZITF general manager?
In 2010 I joined the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Company as the Marketing and Public Relations Manager as was promoted to Deputy General Manager just over a year later, a position I held until July 2013 when I took over as General Manager.
Not having been in the exhibitions and events industry before, I have quickly adapted and find it most fulfilling to initiate projects and be able to follow them through to successful completion. I am proud that during my tenure, the ZITF Company marketing campaigns have won local and international awards and we have added new events to our calendar.

8) Is there anything else you are passionate about besides ZITF?
Because of my busy schedule, I grab whatever time I have to spend time with my family and I enjoy cooking or baking something special for them occasionally.
I am also an avid reader particularly of personal development literature as well as biographies of people in business that I admire. I try to create time every day to read. In fact, I am currently reading a book by Nicholas Carlson about an inspirational female business leader, Marissa Mayer, and her fight to save YAHOO!.
I am passionate about my physical health and fitness. I exercise regularly and have started playing golf and tennis.

9) What’s the secret behind having year after year success with ZITF?
In spite of the challenging economic environment, the company has consistently staged the annual ZITF, receiving positive reviews from industry leaders, civic society and the public at large. I am proud that with my contribution, the ZITF still remains one of the region’s leading international business-to-business exhibitions more than half a century later. Some of our international participants and visiting Heads of State have expressed that they are impressed with the quality of the show and consequently they take back a positive report to their respective countries.

Our secret to success lies in the Japanese concept of “kaizen”. We critically evaluate each show with input from our staff and participants. We go through the survey data with a fine tooth comb, putting action plans in place to improve the way we structure and organise the show every year. We hold each other accountable and we work as a team to maintain the exhibition’s status as a high-profile event that is used as the first step to investment in the country.

For exhibitions that have been held over many years like the ZITF and Mine Entra, each passing year demands fresh ideas and technology which is why we continue to innovate to match international standards. Our focus in the last few years has been on incorporating more digital technology to enhance our events and improve engagement with our participants.

Apart from the ongoing international benchmarking that we do, we are members of UFI, the global association of exhibition organisers, as well as the Exhibition Association of Southern Africa (EXSA) and the Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO). This ensures that we keep abreast with the latest industry trends and also conform to high standards and a code of ethics.
As I lead the company into the future, our aim to entrench the show’s leadership position, ensuring that it continuously improves and stays relevant.

10) What can we expect from ZITF this year?
Our strategy this year is to refocus the show on industry and use it as a vehicle to address industry challenges, particularly de-industrialisation. In line with the show’s theme “Innovate, Intergrate, Industrialise”, we have introduced a new forum dealing specifically with industry re-tooling.

We are aware that industry capacity utilisation continues to come down and some of the major reasons cited include antiquated machinery, machine breakdowns as well as capital constraints. Through the interaction and the dialogue, we expect positive outcomes that will benefit industry and take us a step towards making our locally made goods more competitive in the region and even around the world.

11) Do you have any advice for young woman who want to follow in your foot steps?
I’m very big on power thoughts so my encouragement to other women is based on the one that I refer to a lot lately to propel my own life. “Don’t wish it was easier, wish you were better. Don’t wish for less problems, wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenges, wish for more wisdom.”
No matter how challenging life gets, choose to be the active hero of your own life. Write your vision down, stick it somewhere you can see it every day and relentlessly pursue it. Never stop learning and investing yourself, especially in the things no one can take away from you – a good education, transferable skills and practical experience in your area of interest.