03 Dec 2024

Life after retirement is not always rosy. Some people find themselves second guessing their decisions, some find hobbies or volunteers to keep themselves busy while some decides to look for formal employment again.

But for  Ms Tebogo Tebele (46), who is a former Debswana employee, taking an early retirement was not a difficult decision to make.

In fact, she started living her dream of running a business after taking voluntary separation from Debswana.

She said in an interview that her intention was to have a water park, as there was no entertainment or amusement place for children in Letlhakane. But soon abandonded the idea after realising the business will take all her money she received following her retirement.

Not to be discouraged, she started a live-streaming business and soon ditched the idea because she felt it would give her logistical nightmares.

She later started a digital adverting business. 

In 2003, Ms Tebele said she ordered a digital adverting board from China, which later arrived after being assembled in China.

“I applied for a space for the digital board opposite Teemane Mall in Letlhakane and was approved. This opened doors for my business,” she said. 

For her business to thrive, she said she had to establish network with other business enterpreneurs in the same business with her, so that they could support each other.

“I started running advertisements for Boteti businesswomen for free, who later supported,” she said.

Today, she has business support from companies in Letlhakane, Orapa and in Palapye.

Already, she said she had procured another digital screen she hoped would be hired by different companies, government departments and organisations. 

Ms Tebele said she learnt business management from scratch, and did not have any knowledge regarding advertising and media management. 

As tenacious as she is, she registered for online courses and also trained on graphic designing.

As a move to grow her line of business, she bought an old bank structure and refurbished it and is now renting out office spaces.

The building is occupied by business tenants who are all ladies as her aim is to promote businesswomen.

Ms Tebele said her intention was to use her experience to assist shape the society in a positive way. 

Her plan, she said was to mentor new comers in the business industry, youth and people living with disabilities as a way of giving back to the community. Ends