In honour of Arese Ugwu’s new book, The Smart Money Tribe (NGN 6,000), sequel to her best selling book, The Smart Money Woman: An African Girls Journey To Financial Freedom (NGN 5,000), we’re kicking off an interview series featuring 13 questions (in honour of the book’s 13 chapters) about the interior lives of some of the most inspirational and interesting female leaders on the continent.
You may know Kefilwe Mabote as the super glamorous fashion stylist, creative content creator and influencer. The Johannesburg businesswoman has famously collaborated with brands home and abroad in both the luxury and FMCG sectors like Witchery Fashion, Jean Paul Gaultier, Lays South Africa, Diane Paris, Nescafe, Rolls Royce. She is undoubtedly one of the continent’s most successful and influential creators. Having spent over a decade in the fashion industry, Kefilwe is as well-known for her stunning, editorial level content and seriously fab style. Fashion nous aside, it’s Kefilwe’s insane level of consistency, work ethic and commitment to her business that inspires us most. Read on to learn some of Kefilwe’s key money lessons!
BNS: What part of your work would most people find surprising?
There’s nothing that I’d say is surprising about my work except that there’s a lot of intuition that goes into it. A lot of people think of it mostly in just practical terms, like it’s all about clothes, travel, hotels, etc., but you need to have a very high level of intuition in order to make the right business and creative decisions.
BNS: Who would you like to have a 30 minute meeting with?
Camila Coelho or Aimee Song.
BNS: What are your go to resources for keeping up to date on your industry?
Well, most industries have periodical publications. Unfortunately, there’s no such for social media, I haven’t come across any in South Africa. So I go online and join the social media ecosystem to keep up to date with what’s going on.
I take some time off and do something that’s not related to my work; it can be reading some inspirational books, watching a movie, meeting up with a friend for lunch, or simply just doing nothing.
BNS: What do you wear to work to feel powerful?
Honestly, I don’t really approach my wardrobe with the mindset of dressing to feel powerful. I think the idea of dressing to feel powerful is more applicable when you work in a corporate environment. I work in a very different environment. In my line of work we don’t really dress to feel powerful, unless ‘powerful’ is the theme of a project we’re working on, but we perhaps dress to make a statement. What I wear to make a statement, if we were to talk about that, depends on so many factors. From a fashion stylist’s point of view, I’d say ‘it depends on plenty of things.’
BNS: How would your closest work colleague describe you?
That I’m humbled and fun to be around, I hope (lol).
Invest in yourself first. You’re your own biggest asset.
BNS: What do you do when you’re feeling uninspired?
I take some time off and do something that’s not related to my work; it can be reading some inspirational books, watching a movie, meeting up with a friend for lunch, or simply just doing nothing.
BNS: Who do you love to follow on Instagram?
Everyone I follow on my gram lol , that’s about 337 people ?
BNS: Best money advice ever received.
Invest in yourself first. You’re your own biggest asset.
BNS: What are you working on right now that you’re most excited about?
I can’t say at the moment because it will ruin the surprise. Let’s just say soon enough you’ll know.
BNS: Your advice for starting a career in your industry.
Know your worth and keep educating yourself. Also be consistent and stay true to yourself.
BNS: What does a typical month in your ‘money life’ look like.
I make a budget and make sure I stick to it. I put some money away into savings and some into my investments.
BNS: 3 things people don’t know about you.
a) I’m a bit shy in real life.?
b) I’m a pretty domesticated woman.
c) And I love drawing and painting
BNS: Who are your career/money role models
Arese Ugwu of course ! Also I learn from everyone and make my own informed decisions.
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