Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in leadership development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dvorah Stein, Founder of The Hive, located in Cape Town, WC, South Africa.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
The Hive assists individuals, teams, and leaders to awaken their hidden power and elevate their impact, adaptability, connection, and influence through customized programs.
Tell us about yourself
WHY I STARTED THE HIVE
Most successful start-up stories begin with a compelling business idea, a vision, and a whole lot of hard work. Mine began when I was eight years old, and I found myself drawn to helping other kids in the playground deal with bullying and find their inner confidence. I never knew that my purpose was being shaped by every kid that I helped.
After school, I began my discovery of learning and unlearning. Holding the complexities of healing the narrative of an abusive childhood, I found myself on a journey where I was compelled to grow and find a different perspective. The experience of living and traveling through South East Asia, Europe, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East cemented my trust in myself and my love of diversity and people.
I returned to corporate life with experience and knowledge of the human psyche and our inner and outer worlds. My educational background, personal growth, and global work experience paved the way for new roles where I built and led teams, enabling powerful growth, cohesion, and enhanced leadership. I grabbed every opportunity to learn and, in doing so, created sustainable behaviour change through culture-driven leadership. With a relentless passion to awaken the hidden power in people, leaders, and teams, my purpose has become clear.
I have a burning desire to ignite potential in people. With my background in Industrial Psychology and my certification as an Integral Coach Practitioner, I have continued to deepen my knowledge and experience, working with people, leaders, executives, and teams globally. In 2020, I knew what I had to do.
So, I started The Hive.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Seeing the lives of those we work with, transform. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing our clients owning their power, finding their voice, sharpening their purpose, and getting clarity.
There's something incredible about seeing the culture in a team visibly shift from mistrust and disengagement to connection, contribution, and awakeness.
Thriving and growing as a business, through the challenges of COVID and the first few years of a start-up's journey, against the odds is something I'm really proud of.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
For me, as a business owner, a mother, and a wife, it's an ongoing experience of exercising attention and integrating varying priorities. Integration of all the important aspects of my life that require attention. I think it's easy for business owners to fall into the trap of needing to be 'always on.' Carving out space for my family, health, well-being, relationships, play, adventure, nature, and meditation, amongst other things, can be challenging and also important.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Find what truly energies and fuels you. Be clear on your purpose and how your business enables that purpose. Find ways to do more of those things daily. This may mean surrounding yourself with mentors and coaches, enabling you to deepen your own self-awareness and leverage your strengths as optimally as possible. This also means, where possible, outsourcing or automating the things that drain you.
- Build and cultivate authentic relationships where you first and foremost consider how you might be able to add value to the other person. I see business and mutual value exchange. Consistently find ways to add value to others and stay in touch, fostering and growing your network.
- Be consistent in everything you do. Consistency in how you show up, in how you brand your business, and in your social media presence is important. Consistency impacts trust, and trust gets you ongoing business.
- One more for good measure. Create space weekly for learning, reading, podcast listening, or any other form of learning. Adapting and learning is a powerful lever to future-proof yourself and your business.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://hiveculture.co.za/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiveCulture
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hive_culture/
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3UIt9Ql
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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