Jewelry designer Zakiyyah Smailovic is now taking African bling to Dubai.
Zakiyyah Smailovic’s origins are in Cape Town but her dreams are for all of Africa.
An entrepreneur first, who wants to create jobs and take African enterprise abroad, she is also a jewelry designer. But before getting there, she had to chisel out the many facets of her own life.
Smailovic was only four when she lost her father and was raised by her mother. She spent six years in boarding school in Zambia, the hardest part of her childhood, then moved to South Africa.
“When we returned to South Africa, city life was not easy for me. It was challenging but it taught me great lessons of strength,” she says. “I had to work hard to put myself through university, however, investing in yourself is the most rewarding feeling in the world.”
The entrepreneur in her was starting to surface, and one of the first signs was her proclivity to take risks.
In 2014, she quit her job in the gold industry to travel. With no idea whatsoever about the future, she fortunately stumbled upon a passion that was going to change her life: jewelry and accessories design.
“I always had an intuition deep down that I could offer something more, something unique with the intention of helping others in the process,” says Smailovic.
Esta historia es de la edición March/May 2018 de Forbes Woman Africa.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición March/May 2018 de Forbes Woman Africa.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Well-Grounded
Coco Cachalia, whose mother Amina was among the 20,000 in the Women’s March of August 1956, made a decision to stay away from politics – and succeed in business instead.
Art Becomes Her
A celebrated international fine artist, Mmakgabo Helen Sebidi overcame the struggles of apartheid, and her work is grounded in her past.
'Not Just Pro-Women But Pro-Progress'
South Africa’s Minister of Women Susan Shabangu on the significance of the 61st anniversary of Women’s Day, and the role men can play in ending gender violence in South Africa and creating an equal society.
Diversity And Inclusion Are Part Of Baker Mckenzie's DNA
According to Law360’s 2017 Glass Ceiling Report, women make up around one-third of the attorneys in private legal practice. Among the law firms surveyed, just below 23% of partners are female.
We, Men For Women
South Africa still has a long way to go for gender justice in business and in life, but with more men openly stepping forward to be a part of the discourse, FORBES WOMAN AFRICA speaks to two male entrepreneurs, a CEO and a social activist. They acknowledge diversity makes smart social and economic sense that will benefit all.
What, After All, Does Feminism Have To Do With Men?
According to the seminal African-American writer bell hooks (her name is not capitalized), feminism is for everybody.
Blood, Setbacks And Tears
Two sisters with common failures and a dream to eventually succeed.
Fighting To The End
In May, 82 more Chibok girls were released in exchange for Boko Haram prisoners. Oby Ezekwesili, a strong advocate in the campaign to bring them back, has vowed to never stop fighting.
Not Just Hard Work, But Heart Work
As incidents of gender-based violence increase in Africa, those like Nigeria’s Kemi Dasilva-Ibru, are trying to bring relief to stigmatized victims.
Going Down The Spice Route
Essie Bartels worked several odd jobs she hated before opening a company selling mouth-watering spices and sentiments to the world.
