01 Sep 2019

Scores of women, mostly young, participated in Mosadi Tota’s Women and Finance Workshop  on August 31.

Featuring two Chief Executive Officers (CEO) and a Chief Operating Officer (COO) and other influential women in the corporate space, the workshop was open freely to the public and provided valuable information relating to budgeting, personal financial planning and purpose driven living.

CEO of National Development Bank Ms Lorato Morapedi highlighted the need for thorough planning and encouraged participants to have vision boards for effective goal setting.

She encouraged women to explore investment opportunities as they were good at pulling resources together.

“There is nothing wrong with being an employee, and an investor at the same time as long as you are providing solutions to an existing problem,” Ms Morapedi stated.

 There was however emphasis on the need for realistic expectations.

CEO of Botswana Insurance Fund Management (BIFM), Ms Neo Bogatsu also reiterated the need for planning in financial management through practical tips such as establishing an emergency fund that could sustain one from three months up to a year as well as paying up loans within the quickest possible time.

 “If you have to use a credit card, use it for emergencies and pay it off quickly as its interests are as high as 25 – 30 per cent,” she cautioned.

 In addition Ms Bogatsu cautioned against cash loans unless absolutely necessary for an emergency and advising to pay it off quickly.

Women were also urged to use their talents and passions to earn extra income.

COO of First National Bank of Botswana, Ms Matshidiso Kereteletswe underscored the wheel of balance to ensure that all aspects of one’s life were not neglected.

She emphasised on the need to get educated and not just certificated. “You have to go through the process of education and transform yourself and not just have education to go through you without changing,” she stressed.

Moreover she highlighted the need to give back to the community

Participants at the workshop reflected on self-doubt and sought advice on navigating the corporate ladder.

Mosadi Tota is non profit making organisation established in 2017 which seeks to empower women and encourage team work among them, networking as well as supporting and fostering growth in the entrepreneurial space. ENDS