InspiringFifty South Africa 2018
Thank you to Gargi for nominating me and for #CoCreateSA judges for including me in the InspiringFiftySA 2018 list. This makes it a very special women’s month in deed.
The Drive – YouTube Channel
I’ve been taking videos of me, in the car, mostly not driving, but if I am the phone is away and I am not looking at it :), to document lessons, my journey etc.
Watch, subscribe and comment (if you like) here: https://youtu.be/xnrJQLzU_lQ.
I hope to share lessons, tips, contacts, resources and more in this “show”.
YouTube Favourites
These are some of my favourite YouTube channels for laughs, inspiration, motivation and learning.
- Business
- Inspirational
- Sales
- Mind
- Spirit
- Laughter
About Shana Kay
Name: Shana Kay Derman
Date of Birth: 16 May
Word: Succeed
Feeling: Happy
Cannot Live Without: My son, my husband, my friends, my family, my concealer, laughter, happiness, walking, sunshine.
Passion
Entrepreneurship, technology, writing, business, painting, dancing, sharing, giving, laughing, creating, business development, idea generation, strategy
Hobbies
Painting, running, walking, writing poetry, blogging, reading, photography, vision boarding.
Interests
Technology, business, writing, Cyber Crime, Online Security, Online Privacy, South Africa and storytelling, social media, entrepreneurship, strategising, connecting people, psychology of human mind, intercultural social behaviour, NLP, education, inter-racial behaviour, male and female psyche, male and female dynamics in social and work sphere and many more to follow.
Education
Bachelor of Commerce (Information Systems) – University of Cape Town, Project Management Certificate – Damelin College, Integrated Small Business Development (iSBDP) – Cape Chamber, SA PLATO Mentorship Programme – Cape Chamber, Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in South Africa – The Center for Women and Information Technology, Maxum Business Incubator, Meridian International Center, Microsoft Solution Selling For Partners – Sales Performance International, Microsoft
Places I’ve been to?
- South Africa
- Durban
- Cape Town
- East London
- Johannesburg
- Port Elizabeth
- Thailand
- Europe
- France
- London
- United States
- Baltimore
- Las Vegas
- New York
- Salt-Lake City
- Seattle
- Washington DC
- Canada
- Toronto
- Switzerland
- Lausanne
- Zurich
- Ireland
- Dublin
- Mauritius
Have been employed as:
- CEO: Brand Protection and Verification Company
- Business Development Manager
- Business Analyst
- CEO: Software Development Company
- Operations Manager: Software Development Company
- E-Business Manager: Software Development Company
- Examiner: Computer School
- Distance Learning Tutor: Computer School
- Web Designer: : Software Development Company
- Web Master: Oil and Gas Company
- Intranet Developer: Insurance Company / Oil and Gas Company
- IT Support (Hardware | Software): Oil and Gas Company / Food and Beverage Company
- CBR (Case Base Reasoning) Consultant: Insurance Company
- Employee Benefits Clerk: Insurance Company
- Policy Clerk: Insurance Company
- Sales Person: Clothing Company
- Waitress: Restaurants
Acknowledgments
I am humbled and honored to have received nominations for the following:
- South Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government (MIW) Award – 2010
- Mail&Guardian 200 young South Africans to take to lunch publication – 2010
- Mail&Guardian 300 young South Africans to take to lunch publication – 2009
- DTI TWIB (Technology for Women in Business) Award – 2009
- Graca Machel – African Women Excel Award – 2009
Inspired by:
- My mother – Single mom, who had nothing but perseverance to provide for her family.
- My husband – selflessly gives to all, whether his time, his love, his expertise and always remembers only the good in people.
- Entrepreneurs / Coaches / Speakers / People who are trying to leave the world a better place:
- Tony Robbins
- Oprah
- Ellen
- Gary Vee
- Marie Forleo
- Friends – I have some awesome friends who support, challenge, don’t judge and love.
- Family – some family have accepted my life choices and I love the crap out of them!
There are so many amazing people I have met who leave impressions in various ways. Too many to list. I am so grateful to those engagements and friendships. They have opened my eyes to many different aspects of life.
#Grateful
Contact
Twitter: shanak
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com
Travels
Experience
Writing – One of my many passions – writing about anything and everything. And, add to this my twist, it has to find the funny side of life.
I’ve written a few blog posts and articles and will post them as they are released, here are some of the first:
Brand South Africa:
- Go for green in the shopping mall …
- Eternal optimist, best brand ambassador, money can’t buy
- Cape Quarter Cool
- Life’s great in Greyton
For more, visit the Brand South Africa website.
Contributed to the following blog posts:
Technical writing – I’ve separated the technical ramblings from my personal posts. These can be found at: http://blog.onyxinterweb.com.
Memeburn
- 5 free web applications to take your startup to the next level
- Taking a walk in the Cloud with Google Apps, Zoho and Office365
Businesses
- Infointeg – http://www.infointeg.com now trading as IntelliCred – www.intellicred.com (current).
- Maxxor – http://www.maxxor.com (first business, exit in 2008)
- Onyx Interweb – Management Consulting (current)
- Your Digital Agent – Social Media Portfolio
- TIDAA
Heart
Toy Drive – www.annualtoydrive.info, is an initiative I started in 2008 and have been running ever since. I have a soft spot for children and education. The Toy Drive is the beginning of many initiatives to come.
Currently write or will be writing for the following publications:
- Inspire Virtual Magazine – Page 98: Are you tech savvy?
- Hapicup
Websites and Blog Maintenance
Business
Talks this month
This month marks Women’s month and there are a few awesome things happening:
- Women’s Day Breakfast Networking hosting by Standard Bank
- Date: 05 August 2017
- Location: Johannesburg
- Showcase for Women’s Day via Standard Bank’s Women in Technology Accelerator
- Date: 30 August 2017
- Location: Johannesburg
- Women’s Day Networking Event hosted by The Business Exchange:
- Date: 10 August 2017
- Location: Johannesburg
Business
Inspiration
Get out of our heads and do. Get out of our comfort zones and be stretched. Hear from those who have been there, done that and have the battle scars to impart wisdom. These are some of the channels, podcasts I listen to which help when the challenges are many. Enjoy!
- Inspiration
- Comedy
- Business
- Learning
- Motivation
- Spiritual
Women’s Day activities, events and more
Here are some events and activities taking place in August 2017 in Johannesburg.
- Women’s MBA Recruitment Breakfast – Johannesburg
- Date: 03 August 2017
- Venue: GSB JHB, 5th Floor, 61 Katherine Street, Sandton
- The Business Exchange
- Date: 10 August 2017
- Venue: The Business Exchange, 90 Rivonia Road, 2nd Floor, Webber Wenzel Building, Sandton, Johannesburg, 2193
- Standard Bank Women in Technology Accelerator Showcase
- Date: 30,31 August 2017.
- Venue: to be confirmed.
Some links to get involved, become inspired, share and connect with like-minded women:
- Mimi Women
- Women in Tech – Silicon Cape
- Intel Programs for Women and Girls
- Young Women in Business Network
Incubator and Acceleration Programmes
- JamLab Accelerator Program
- Standard Bank Women in Technology Accelerator
Resources
- Grant Thornton – Women in Business Report: New Perspectives on Risk and Reward
Inspiration
Entrepreneurship hockey stick or heart rate monitor?
Entrepreneurship is not for the fainthearted “they” say. Who the hell are “they”? Irrespective of who “they” may be, experience tells me “they” may be right. However, with the major down cycles are major up cycles.
I started my first business in 2004 with two co-founders. One CTO and one CEO and I was …. Operations “Manager” I think. Being offspring to two entrepreneurial parents who were on opposite spectrums of the scale (too risk averse and too careless), I am trying my best to be like neither of them were.
My first real dive into being an entrepreneur was by accident, I kind of fell into it, but seemed like home. Ever since, I have been in the tech-preneur space in some shape or form.
I’ve worked for corporate giants such as global insurance companies and the largest local media publisher to name a few, but I always gave and wanted more.
This year, I can honestly say I am being stretched to my limits and beyond, but what this is showing me is that my limits are stretchable. I can and do stretch. I can and do adapt. I can and do go the extra mile even though it may be unpleasant.
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”. Neale Donald Walsch quoted the phrase and it resonates with me oh so much. And with each new phase or challenge, I always want and try to see the opportunity, which is there for me to find.
So lesson to myself today, always keep my eye on the vision. Always realise that I have grit. Always remember that entrepreneurship is a choice that not many people do and succeed at without perseverance, determination and most importantly, passion.