I matriculated from Lalendle High School in the Eastern Cape, in 1978. Matriculating, with a hunger and passion to assist people in need. I then decided to pursue nursing within a Health Science Environment, where I was groomed for public work.
Nursing within School and Services gave me 9 years of wonderful work, teaching health and wellness in schools across the Western Cape, with a particular focus on Township Schools. My passion led me further into the Health sector, when I was recruited by Nestle to be a Medical & Health Delegate in 1994.
Providing me with an opportunity, to educate South African’s in healthy lifestyles. Through education, development and promotion of new products and services.
Nestlé South Africa, the world's leading Nutrition Company. The exposure Nestle blessed me with, sharpened my skills as a Medical Delegate and as a Business Woman.
In 2003 I realized that I had potential, I had more to offer to the community. I wanted to be a leader, to better myself, I had a goal that I had to achieve and that was to be an entrepreneur within my community. I decided to become a woman in a men’s world, I started my own business “Gcilishe Taliwe Funerals”. My humble beginnings came with many heartaches and disappointment’s as I knew I was going to fall along the way but faith kept me going and striving for success.
Success defined through the professional pioneering spirit, I lead my company with and the funeral sector as a whole, locally and nationally. Extending traditional services, provided by Funeral business sector and adding innovative services. That includes the implementation, of 360 support services, Insurance, Transportation and Decoration, to name a few. Services that have seen my business being at the forefront of trends, often influencing the likes of Av bob and Dove to follow suit.
Focusing on decoration, as the key differentiator for Gcilishe-Taliwe Funerals within the sector. An example of this, are Stretch Bedouin Tents, which we were the first to implement but now has become an industry standard. An act I encouraged in SAFPA as an association and greater public, to better ourselves as businessmen and women.
This also led me to, build relationships with suppliers and key stakeholders, with the aim, of making us more competitive in the funeral sector, which we have all experienced its benefits, including our customers. Through discount incentives negotiated and finding ways to operate together, so that we are more efficient and effective.
A key component to my success is being conscious of how death affects communities and being knowledgeable of issue’s that plague the sector.
This has made me into a very active community member, often doing public speaking. Teaching people about, policies and burial societies, health and how to live longer through wellness.
Often teaching preventative measures and how to live with illness’s that affects our communities such as HIV and TB, which is extremely high in the Western Cape.
Also educating about issues outside of health, that includes the shortage of land in the Western Cape for burials. Which resulted in myself educating and promoting alternative ways for burial to the sector, with City of Cape Town as a stakeholder.
The other aspect to the land issue, is finding operating premises for new entrants to the sector. I have recently achieved this, with the aim of building a mortuary, to support start-ups and struggling businesses in the sector.
Therefore my role and experience stems from many aspects. Such as being an upstanding member of the community, health practitioner, businesswomen and being the SAFPA DSG Deputy Secretary General. A role I have encompassed with great joy and zeal.
My quote is “A good leader not only maintains high standards, but also is proactive in raising the bar in order to achieve excellence in all areas.”
