Entrepreneurship is not always a journey of victories and celebrations. Behind every growing business are challenges, disappointments and lessons that test an entrepreneur’s determination to keep going.
For Zanele, founder of Pizza in Naledi, a recent setback became an opportunity to reflect, learn and reconnect with the purpose behind her business.
After missing a scheduled radio interview, Zanele chose not to allow disappointment to define her journey. Instead, she took responsibility, reflected on what had happened and focused on moving forward.
“Sometimes, the journey doesn’t go as planned, but that doesn’t mean your story is over,” she said.
“After the disappointment of missing my radio interview, I took a moment to reflect, learn, and keep moving.”
Her determination received an encouraging boost over the weekend as orders came pouring in and customers showed their support for the local pizzeria.
For Zanele, the response was about more than business. It was a reminder that her community believes in what she is building and that every order represents an opportunity to grow.
“The orders came in, customers showed support, and I was reminded that there are people who believe in what we are building at Pizza in Naledi,” she shared.
Her experience highlights an important lesson for aspiring entrepreneurs: setbacks do not have to signal the end of a dream. They can become opportunities to learn, improve and return stronger.
Zanele believes that building a sustainable business requires more than celebrating achievements. It also means acknowledging mistakes, appreciating customers and finding the courage to try again.
“Entrepreneurship is not only about celebrating the good days. It is also about taking responsibility when things go wrong, learning from our mistakes, appreciating our customers, and finding the courage to show up again,” she said.
WOMAN RISE: EMPOWERING WOMEN TO BUILD TOGETHER
Beyond running Pizza in Naledi, Zanele is using her WOMAN RISE initiative to encourage women entrepreneurs to embrace their journeys honestly while creating opportunities for growth and collaboration.
The initiative recognises that many women building businesses face limited resources, uncertainty and insufficient support. By creating spaces for women to connect and share their experiences, WOMAN RISE seeks to remind them that they do not have to navigate entrepreneurship alone.
For Zanele, success is not about pretending that everything is perfect. It is about learning from difficult experiences, celebrating progress and supporting others along the way.
Her message to women working towards their business dreams is simple: never underestimate the power of showing up again.
“We are learning. We are growing. We are building. WOMAN RISE means we don’t have to pretend that everything is perfect. We learn, we build, and we create opportunities for ourselves and each other,” she said.
It is a message that places resilience, accountability and collaboration at the centre of entrepreneurship, encouraging women to see challenges as part of the journey rather than reasons to abandon their ambitions.
SAVE THE DATE: WOMEN WHO RISE STRAW HATS & PIZZA PICNIC
Continuing this spirit of empowerment, Pizza in Naledi will host its third annual Women Who RISE Straw Hats & Pizza Picnic, bringing women together for an afternoon of connection, inspiration and business networking.
Centred on the theme “Wealth • Health • Business • Collaboration,” the gathering aims to create an opportunity for women to connect, exchange ideas and celebrate their journeys while building meaningful relationships.
The event will take place on Saturday, 7 November 2026, at The Pizza Garden in Naledi, Soweto.
With only 20 seats available, interested attendees are encouraged to book early.
