Perpetual kendi is a panafric entrepreneur. She currently runs three organizations; a PR agency called Addleston Marketing which has now evolved to work with financial and technology companies across Africa, a luxury wine brand with three ranges of wines called ‘Laute’ (http://www.lauteluxury.com/ )and a food security business exporting fruits and vegetables from South Africa to the rest of the continent.
Perpetual has served banks, top global renewable energy companies as well as global investment companies . She has an incredible self drive and She’s more scared of not trying than the regret of failure.
For her failing will only push me into the direction of her destiny and she believes she needs to be a trendsetter in the next decade in my generation.
Leading Ladies Africa: If you could describe yourself with one word, what would it be?
Perpetual kendi: Resilient. I am super laser focused with my ambitions and growth. I don’t debate on whether I am growing or not. When I feel I’m stuck I find myself detaching myself from comfort. As a young ambitious woman in my late twenties I have been through so many moving parts, from career to personal growth and one thing about me is I keep my head up no matter what and I don’t stop moving and growing.
Leading Ladies Africa: Have you ever had any disappointments? If yes, how did you handle it?
Perpetual kendi: Yes.
In business there are so many challenges. I am invested in different sectors that have extremely different challenges as well as a solution process.
I can say this, as you grow as an entrepreneur you need three basic people you have at your fingertip.
- A lawyer. They help in many ways which includes Protecting your contracts as well as seeking legal advice around different jurisdictions. They also give exclusive legal advice and views on problem solving .
- An accountant that will be able to advise on tax as well as keeping the company afloat.
- A human resource consultant. Most of the time sourcing for human personnel is so difficult being able to understand work cultures as well as the market value and being able to keep the company afloat. Employees are one moving part in business that you can really fall by having the wrong team players.
Leading Ladies Africa: How do you stay innovative as an entrepreneur? And Your Plans for your business In Five Years?
Perpetual kendi: With Addleston,With the current innovations in technology around Media and PR we launched ogora.news which is a press release distribution platform in 5 years we also hope to be in the three major markets, Kenya ,South Africa and Nigeria. These are markets that are really growing or too big to be ignored.
Recently having ventured into wine, our future objective is to work with different wine makers around the world who create vintage and limited edition wines, and create a range of premium and limited edition wines .
In the food export company, we hope to achieve food security and when it comes to food security especially in Africa, there are different segments in the value chain process that we want to be involved in in due course.
Leading Ladies Africa: Tips on how you handle when the going gets tough?
Perpetual kendi: I am a very positive minded person and I genuinely have a very strong supportive system. A group of close friends who are in business as well as in the same career path as I am. I barely take breaks off most of the time. I find myself shifting focus to what is working at the particular time other than what is not working.
Leading Ladies Africa: Final words to entrepreneurs who want to go into this industry and women in our community?
Perpetual kendi: In my particular sector, purpose , passion and performance is very important . What is the actual motive of your drive? What keeps you going in case of challenges? and definitely performance, there is an absolute no shortcut to growth and a solidified foundation you have to put in the actual work.
Women need to approach business with a non-mentality of their sexuality and be objective on what needs to get done and make sure they get it done. In my career path honestly women have held my hands more and supported me and equally I have my fair share of setbacks.
The LLA Lady Boss Series is a weekly interview series that highlights the achievements and entrepreneurial journeys of African female entrepreneurs. The idea is to showcase the Leading Ladies who are transforming Africa and the African narrative through enterprise and business.
It is an off-shoot of Leading Ladies Africa, a non-profit that promotes leadership, inclusion and diversity for women of African descent.
If you know any kick-ass women of African Descent doing phenomenal things in enterprise, email lead@leadingladiesafrica.org, and she could possibly be featured.
