As is the case of most entrepreneurs, they start their businesses based on a consistent part of their childhood, it could be a problem they always wanted a solution for; a lifestyle they grew up to enjoy, or a system they always wanted to be in existence. It could even be one or more of these three scenarios but for Sibahle Mtongana, it was a lifestyle she grew up to embrace and enjoy.
Traditional meals with International Consideration
Businesses start with the goal of solving a problem or delivering a service, this is done by creating a solution, packaging the product or service, and making it available to their target market. For the multi-award-winning freelance food writer, celebrity TV Chef, and food judge, who was an Assistant Food Editor at Drum Magazine, before becoming Food Editor two years after, she found a way to deliver her original recipes for a TV series – Cooking with Siba by including an international twist so that her foreign audience could relate with ingredients available in their countries.
(For startups, if your business stems from your locality, find ways to blend an international audience to it. As much as your locality might accept your product or service, you should also work towards international acceptance, as this can lead to global acceptance. It could be in allowing various language options or the relevance of your product or service to a global audience.)
The Inception of Siba’s Table
After a while on Mzansi Magic Channel’s ‘Cooking with Siba’, she was signed by The Food Network and soon began to write recipes in preparation for a new series – ‘Siba’s Table’ which was filmed and is being aired on DSTV Food Network Channel (175). The series started in September 2013 and was widely accepted as it still is. In the episodes of the series, she expresses her childhood and infuses her food editor experiences, most importantly she showcases South African food culture.
(For startups, growth is gradual and you must learn to infuse the knowledge of your experiences. It is necessary to tell relatable stories with your products and services, this will serve as engaging contents to draw attention to your products itself. A perfect blend of these things will drive more engagements.)
Harvard Business School Case Study
Sibahle Mtongana, on the 4th of November 2020 was virtually present at the Havard Business School, where her brand was discussed as a case study. They started working on this case study two years ago as they studied her food career; her entrepreneurship path, her gender, her pioneering state in the culinary world locally and globally against all odds. She has come this far but there is still more to come. It all started from her childhood of having healthy food options and her cooking moments with her mother.
(Startups should learn that this journey isn’t always without challenges and there is always a beginning. You can go all out to achieve remarkable results too, take a cue from Siba’s table and find a way to actualize your startup dreams.)
If you have questions about how you can go about this, you can reach out to us, we’re here to work with you to achieve your goals.
