In 2015, Boitumelo Ntsoane walked away with the Woman of the Future title for her business, then known as Afrilink Healthcare. She has since established OnPoint Healthcare, which offers preventative healthcare services through screening and health education.
What motivated you to pursue your entrepreneurial venture?
I wanted the independence to pursue my vision, own my time, make an impact in people’s lives, especially as it relates to their health, and to create wealth.
How has your business evolved since winning the Santam Woman of the Future title?Policy changes had an impact on my first business, which was a pharmacy housed within a medical centre in a residential area. Independently owned pharmacies have been affected by policy and legislative changes, and I had to review my services. I invested in mobile clinics, and through collaborations with other business partners, we can provide holistic wellness offerings that include health risk assessments, dental services and cancer screening.
What have been some of the biggest highlights of your entrepreneurial journey?
Being able to form strategic public-private partnerships with reputable entities and implementing projects nationally.
Any key lessons that you’d like to share with aspiring women entrepreneurs?
Personal growth and leadership require continual learning; it is important to invest in personal development. Adaptability, self-awareness and a willingness to evolve are also vital – as is integrity.
While it isn’t guaranteed, entrepreneurship brings financial wealth, which is liberating and empowering. It protects you from any unethical business behaviour and allows you to empower other women by offering them employment
What’s one thing you’ve learnt that you wish you’d known earlier?
To avoid emotional and short-term thinking, which often override strategic decision-making.
What are some of the most significant challenges you’ve encountered as a female entrepreneur, and how did you navigate them?
Gaining access to the market, and finding qualified employees and capital were challenging. I have prioritised collaborations, reviewed my reimbursement model and practised strict adherence to a financial budget.
How important are mentorship and networks for aspiring female leaders, and how have you benefitted from them?
Mentorship is crucial to help you identify blind spots, understand new complexities and support you in areas where your expertise or skills are limited. It is important to identify a mentor or platform that supports you and to get feedback from like-minded people.
What changes would you like to see in the business world that would benefit female entrepreneurs?
I’d like to see more female entrepreneurs entering non-conventional business sectors, taking roles outside of their core expertise and taking risks.
Is there anything else that you’d like to share about your business?
My vision is to provide female-owned businesses with a customised, well-structured health and wellness programme to alleviate the pressure on owners so they can focus on core business matters. We need to be proactive in finding solutions for ourselves as entrepreneurs amid all the challenges we’re constantly faced with (such as staff retention) and to minimise workplace disruptions as South Africa implements its National Health Insurance.
For more information, visit https://onpointhealthcare.co.za/