LEA helps Sebina exceed own expectations
Pauline Dikuelo | Monday April 27, 2015 18:30
Sebina, who runs Destiny Car Rental, told his fellow entrepreneurs last week at the SMME Pitso that he became successful although he did not have any business related qualification.
“I didn’t go to University to learn about business management. It took me only one week of mentoring and coaching, which I received from LEA to become what I am today.”
He noted that one does not need to have a lot of money to start a successful business, citing how he established his businesess when he only had P1, 600.
Narrating his journey, Sebina said when he first approached LEA in 2007, he had no experience, or business management techniques.
“All I had was a business idea, which I believed would be successful. Passionate as I was, three months later, I submitted a business proposal to LEA and other commercial banks.
“What really surprised me, is that Banks were the first ones to approve our loan. My wife, who is also my partner, suggested that we should wait for LEA response before we make any decision. One day we got a surprise call that LEA has approved our business proposal,” he said.
According to Sebina, the approval factored in everything including; salaries, fleet, and even money for the daily operations of the business. Sebina was also offered training and mentoring.
“My partner and I were both working at the time, so we made a decision for her to resign and work for Destiny full-time. We bought five cars and ran our business, just the two of us.
“We made profits yearly and decided to expand our business and created more positions. We even engaged a consultant,” said Sebina.
Another entrepreneur who runs Dips Motors, middle-aged Manyakile Baphalale, said LEA has helped their business since they partnered with the Authority last year.
“After inheriting this business from my parents in 2008, I decided to take this business to another level, through my partnership with LEA.
“I managed to do so as they taught me how to run it and even engaged a consultant who managed to see that we needed to rebrand,” said Baphalale, further adding that they would be launching their new brand soon.