From teen mum to successful entreprenuer

She got married at 17 but after three beautiful children, Carreline Lees Mnaba (29) from Bulawayo has risen from the ashes to start a clothing label, Ms Lees Kollection and dabble in property development.

You got married when you were sixteen?

Yes, I dropped out of school. I didnaï¿½ï¿½t finish my lower six. I then decided to go back to school much later and I completed two qualifications. The first one is a graduate Diploma in Business Intelligence with Mt Carmel University, and the second one is a BBA in Marketing Management with IMM Graduate School of Marketing. I am currently pursuing my Masters in Business Administration (MBA) with the National University of Science and Technology (Nust).

Thataï¿½ï¿½s an inspiring background for those who marry young.
Yes, I never wanted the choices that I made when I was young to get in the way of the dreams that I had.

Whataï¿½ï¿½s the strongest memory from your childhood?
My strongest childhood memories have to do with my mother because sheaï¿½ï¿½s such an inspiration in my life even though she is now late. Iaï¿½ï¿½d say the one that sits the most is when she broke down for the first time in front of me and gave me what I consider the wisest words of advice anyone could give to me, which was, aï¿½?always put your education first because everyone in life could leave you and whatever you have could finish but your certificate will stay with you forever.aï¿½?

Whataï¿½ï¿½s your scariest experience?
When I went swimming with the sharks in Maldives. The scariest thing was the intensity of the tidal waves and the feeling of not being in control than I was actually swimming next to sharks.

Should organisations that try to help through projects for the girl child be funded?
Yes, of course. Women are still at a disadvantage especially in the workplace and will always continue to be looked on as the weaker sex. If these projects can instill confidence in young girls and empower them then itaï¿½ï¿½s a big step in the right direction for change in gender discrimination. For example, Girlz Have Voices is a very good example of such organisations. Through helping girls, as in Anesu whom they published at the age of thirteen, her book Genetic Twists, it shows a great future for the Zimbabwean girl child.

What do you dislike about your work? What do you like about your work?
I dislike the pressure. Pressure to drive sales. The pressure to reach numbersAï¿½ . . . Thereaï¿½ï¿½s always pressure and itaï¿½ï¿½s time consuming. You even work from homeAï¿½ if you are running a digital marketing campaign. I love that it allows me to be creative.

What food, drink, song inspires you?
I Still Believe by Mariah Carey. I love a good red wine, Vergelehen Merlot gets my creative juices going. Food, thereaï¿½ï¿½s nothing like a good rich chocolate cake.

What is next for Carol?
Iaï¿½ï¿½m currently working with Essential CollectionAï¿½ as a Brand Ambassador and Sales and Marketing Officer in the City of Kings Bulawayo. Essential CollectionAï¿½ is a Zimbabwean company that manufactures its own cosmetic products, we have been around in Bulawayo for five years now. I feel like the company encompasses everything Iaï¿½ï¿½m passionate about. At Essential CollectionAï¿½ we believe in women empowerment through achieving financial independence. Our business model involves engaging women to be our sales agents, we give them stock with no capital requirements for them to sell and earn over 40 percent commission on the sales. So far I am working with over 100 agents in Bulawayo and Iaï¿½ï¿½m hoping to triple that number by year end.

l Article first appeared in the Girls Have Voices blogspot. .