Nounouche Online and Azania Public with Bonnie Meslane (S8, E6)

Bonnie Meslane is the Founder of the online lifestyle and culture magazine, Nounouche Online. The Johannesburg-based publisher is also the force behind the A-list Public Relations and Communications company,  Azania Public, and like all multi-hyphenates, she also works as in the marketing of the iconic and legendary music radio station, Kaya FM.

Bonnie and her team at Nounouche Online are story driven and dedicated to amplifying the voices that truly shape our world and culture - in their world, that means staying away from scandals and telling the stories of change makers, even if they are not celebrities.

In our conversation we cover a lot of ground, from leadership to readership, as well as how to thrive with grace and determination as a multi-hyphenate. We reflect on the shift from hard to soft skills in modern leadership and dissect the complexities that come with being in a position of authority. We discuss the role of a fitness routing in cultivating discipline, building resilience, and having fortitude. 

Bonnie Meslane  exemplifies what it means to lead with inspiration, and how to leave a legacy through the impact of your work.

LINKS AND MENTIONS

Nounouche Online
Azania Public 

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:05

Hello and welcome to Shades and Layers. I'm your host, gudrunos Kosana-Ritchie. My guest today is Boniswa Mezlani, founder of the South African online culture and lifestyle magazine, nunuush. Alongside her publication, boniswa is a well-known public relations professional who names many African and other international A-listers as current and former clients. She does this work as the co-founder of a PR and communications agency called Azania Public. Not only that, but she's part of the marketing team of the iconic Johannesburg-based music radio station, kaya FM.

Speaker 1 0:44

So, with all these projects on the go, you can imagine that we had a lot to talk about, and the one thing that's always stood out for me about NUNUSH is its dedication to the stories of changemakers. No scandals, no gossip, just a celebration of the people shaping a culture. In our interview, boniswa and I talk about how it all started and, of course, how it's going. We discuss leadership strategies and, naturally, managing yourself as a leader. I caught up with Boniswa at the end of February when payment to contributors at Nunush was due, and this is where you can join our conversation Without further ado. Here's Boniswa telling her own story.

Speaker 2 1:27

Now it's month and I have to pay people.

Speaker 1 1:30

Right, yeah, I know that's true.

Speaker 2 1:32

I'm not having a good time right now because I have to pay people, but when I hear stories, I'm just like, oh my goodness, nonvelo wrote a beautiful story about this journalist from ENCA yesterday and I said, oh my goodness, this is such a well written story, it's so beautiful. But these are the things that make it all worth it, and I know that a lot of publications are shutting down and it's, but luckily for us also, we are online, we're not print, so it's a lot better, it's a lot easier for us because it's a click. It's a click, so it's not as expensive as maintaining print.

Speaker 1 2:04

Right and who's the profile of a guest, first of all, and then on the other side, who's reading the publication, the profile of guest?

Speaker 2 2:16

We are very story-driven, Very story-driven, not celebrity-driven at all, so we don't really care for the big people. We want the story, we want to know what impact you're making and also there are certain questions we have to answer. What are? What are you communicating and why does it matter? You know, so those things govern who we get to have on on our covers. And I know we just shot something now with vanessa marawa and she was like bonnie, why would you want to have me? And I said why not? She's like. People say I'm a husband and I'm just like no, no, your story is worth telling. So we go for the story and not necessarily how many likes or how many followers you've got on social media. That matters to us. So who you are and what you bring and you know the impact you've got in society. That's also a very big thing for us. And I think Mondays and Tuesdays, Mondays and Wednesdays, we go, you know, profile people that are doing amazing things. They don't even have to be known, but we go find those people and just say here are your flowers, You're doing an amazing job at whatever field you're in.

Speaker 2 3:22

Who reads the publication? It's mostly women. It's mostly women aged between 22 and 45. But also, strangely enough, we have a lot of sports. You know sports people, A lot of men.

Speaker 1 3:35

Oh really.

Speaker 2 3:35

Okay, that's interesting. So our fifth cover was Rolande Mugwena, who's the Sundance coach.

Speaker 1 3:41

Yeah, yeah, you're biased. I know you're a sundance fan winner I love all the sporting goals.

Speaker 2 3:51

I love all the clubs I do also. For me it was so important to tell his story. Uh, when he said yes, it was our first mail on the cover and I could not believe it. When he said yes, I can't believe. That's just like. Did he really say yes? And at the time he was 35? I'm just like. You're 35.

Speaker 2 4:10

You're the youngest coach in the PSL so successful, so humble, and also people look up to you. You've got, and also you have this rich legacy where he comes from. His father was a soccer player. His uncle is Joe Mazzano. His grandfather spoke of business as well, so it was like a beautiful town, and so he opened the floodgates of sports fanatics.

Speaker 1 4:33

That's wonderful, that's great.

Speaker 2 4:34

And from then on, we just had to keep going bringing in more, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1 4:40

So you're story driven.

Speaker 2 4:41

You don't go for the celebrities self-funded, but cash flow is a thing. Do you have advertisers or you just do, like, pay promotions on social media as well, so that that helps? Um, it's been. It's been such a disappointing I mean a very I don't know if disappointing is the right word, but like it's been such a disheartening journey, sometimes it's like it's really even worth it. Is this something that I really want to carry on with because it's very costly? Uh, you sometimes will have brands come in and be like, oh, I want to do this campaign and I want to do this, but they don't really want to pay for the work. You know.

Speaker 1 5:34

I can't believe that's still a struggle. Come on.

Speaker 2 5:37

They don't want to pay. Sometimes they want to give you a lot more work to do with very little. But I am grateful because I've also been very picky. I love the direction we've taken as a publication and I don't want to dilute that, and I think for me it's been over a year now with all our covers and been very picky with who we collaborate with and I didn't want people to say I'm paying you, so I don't want a particular person on the cover, or I want a certain person who may not necessarily suit or fit our profile, because also, shared values are such a thing for me. I don't want to have people that are abusers on the platform. I don't want to have people on the website.

Speaker 2 6:21

I don't want to have any kind of people that are harmful to others, so it's very important to still stick to that in as much as, yes, I do need the money, but I'm also very, very aware that not every money is good money. So, yeah, so I, yeah, so the paid partnerships do help, and also the, the collapse with the, with the brands, yeah, and do you intend to remain free or I?

Speaker 2 6:46

don't know, you never know. I bumped into this other lady. She used to work for news 24 many years ago and she, I, just, I just loved what she was wearing and we started talking. And she says to me oh, I've seen this publication before. And I say yeah, that's mine. And she's like oh, they're gonna buy it from you. And I was like, oh, she's like, yeah, they'll buy it from you. Uh, but if you take my advice, just sell it, you know, to someone else.

Speaker 2 7:11

Like just take dollars and I said yes, ma'am, absolutely right, it's something that I I toy with, uh, but I don't necessarily want to lose the essence of what you've got all right, right, yeah, yeah, but I'm open. I'm open to partnering. I'm open to, you know, seeing more people come in right okay, yeah all right, so that's a possibility.

Speaker 1 7:35

Let's see. I love this, I love this, but uh know, your portfolio within the media as a media person, media slash, entertainment person is quite broad. You also mentioned your publicity company. Can you tell me how you got into that line of work?

Speaker 2 8:00

So I started after graduation. I wrote In fact I worked for a production company, which were three short films. I was doing wardrobe and styling and that whole thing, art direction. I went on to write for a magazine called Jersey Africa. It's then that I got to. Oh yeah, yes, Jersey Africa was in Zingakunda.

Speaker 2 8:26

Yeah, okay cool, yeah for them. And after I think in that time of working for that magazine I got to do a lot of music stories, black coffee, um and his company. They were like, okay, cool, let's see what you can do for us. And I didn't know what to do. I mean, it's a record company. I've never done pr before. All I know is that I can write. And they were like, okay, cool, so let's go. And I that's where I cut my teeth in in terms of like publicity and because I've now been to a lot of journals in the industry I've been going to all the events I knew what to do. Um, after that I went to work for total exposure. Uh, a pr company, that was my university.

Speaker 1 9:05

I know those guys yeah.

Speaker 2 9:07

That was my proper training ground.

Speaker 1 9:09

An institution.

Speaker 2 9:10

They were. They taught me everything I know and I was thrown in the deep end. I remember there was a time where I was like running five accounts alone and I was just like, oh my goodness, I'm having so much fun, but I'm drowning. It's it's all fun. And also I did love the balance because I wanted to. Social change is such an important thing for me and I wanted to retain that side of me, so they were able to see the things that I'm passionate about. I love entertainment and I still love you know the community work.

Speaker 2 9:39

So they gave me like funds that would balance me out and I was happier with that. So after leaving them I okay, cool, it's been lovely, now I can do my own thing. Because from then uh, from total exposure, I was already like getting offers from people like please do my PR, and I said no, I would not be able to do it because I'm contracted to this company. So after I had left then I was able to call them and say, okay, now we can talk and that's how it was was formed yeah, yeah and uh.

Speaker 1 10:05

When was this? When did you take that leap?

Speaker 2 10:08

yeah, I live uh to eat at in like in 20, 2015, 2016. I was floating, I was freelancing 2017. I then said okay, cool, I'm starting my own thing. And I did it perfect, really nice.

Speaker 1 10:25

You mentioned working with Black Coffee and I think you've got some other A-listers in there, a lot of you, yeah, yeah, how do you choose your clients?

Speaker 2 10:40

it's mostly referrals. Really, it's people coming to me to say, hey, I need this, would you be able to help me? And I say, okay, let's see. But I'm also like the way I operate with the magazine and how selective I am about who gets to be featured and be on the cover. It's how I also work, you know, in in my publicity space, um, I I have to be a fan of your work, I have to have interest in in the work that you do to be able to sell you, because my job now is to go out there and make you shine and make you sellable and make you amazing. And if I don't believe in the brand, if I don't believe in what I'm talking about, no one is going to buy it. So that's how I get to choose it. It's not about how big a star you are.

Speaker 2 11:25

I know I've worked with TI and I've worked with Megan Thee Stallion, I've done Nicki Minaj's concert, I've done Casper, all of these big people and also like a lot of the musical acts. They come from the record companies, so I do work with Universal Music, so then they will find artists according to you know the release dates that they've got. Um, so, the likes of kelly kumalo. I've worked with um nastasi casper.

Speaker 2 11:52

Those are people that come with the label right um, so yeah, so those are people that come with the label. So there's another agency called Africa Creative Agency. They look after Tyler now, they look after Nastassi, they look after Roline. So those people. So that's how I also got to work with TI and Megan. Thee Stallion through them.

Speaker 1 12:14

Yeah, right, right, what fun. How about stress?

Speaker 2 12:19

How about that?

Speaker 1 12:21

Oh, but you must enjoy it, it's fun.

Speaker 2 12:25

I love big babies, big babies, but it's a lot of fun we know, yeah, you go home and it's just like, oh my goodness.

Speaker 1 12:36

Yeah, yeah. My guest today on Shades and Layers is Boniswa Meslane, founder of the online lifestyle and culture publication Nunush, as well as the public relations agency Azania Public. Up next, we talk about leadership style, especially when you are a young leader, the importance of cultivating soft skills, mentorship and what it means to make an impact and to be a sustainable business. Yeah, so you've got these two organizations that you are leading. How would you describe your leadership style?

Leadership Evolution and Adapting to Change

Speaker 2 13:16

I think I am more a leader than a manager. I'm a creative. I see things in color, I paint pictures. I see like I've got ideas. Also, I think I've a creative. I see things in color, I paint pictures. I see like I've got ideas. I I also. I think I've evolved over the years.

Speaker 2 13:28

I think there were so many learnings you know, I would think that I was the cool boss, but then turns out I'm not. And then sometimes I'm just like, okay, cool. But I think also because I've taken bits from people that have led me before there was a lady, diane Chidrawi, who was my boss at Total Exposure Lovely lady, very strict also, and I think I've got those qualities as well. My boss now, colin Lowe, also very easygoing At the same time very strict. So you know, I'm the same. We can have a good time, but let's get the work done, let's give quality, let's show up. And also, I think if you are in the business that I'm in, you will understand that this is not just a job, it's a lifestyle. If something happens to a client at 3 am, you can say no, I'm sleeping, you wake up and do what you want to do.

Speaker 2 14:21

So it requires you to show up all the time and you can't have the phone off. You cannot say oh, it's a public holiday, I'm going to. You know, it's those things something can disrupt your hours.

Speaker 2 14:31

Yeah, absolutely yes, so I it just needs you to be adaptable. I'm very particular about things, very particular about how things must be done, and I get frustrated when things are not done, because you've been allocated a time and you've got enough time to do this, and, I think, because everything that I ask of you is something that I've done, that I can do, you know.

Speaker 1 14:52

Yeah, yeah. What are your aspirations in that area? What else would you like to develop as a leader?

Speaker 2 14:58

I think I want to be more patient. I'm not patient. I think I want to be more patient, or understanding. I am not patient. I think I want to be more understanding. I am not patient. But also I think we live in a different era. Good Lord, no way. People have mental health issues and they vocalize them, and I have same issues that they have. So I also try to be a lot kinder you know I try to be kinder.

Speaker 2 15:21

I may not be happy about something, but I need to be kind enough when I convey it. I may not be happy about the delivery, but I have to find a way that's palatable, that's not going to harm you, you know. So I think those are the learnings, those are things that are very important to me to learn to be a lot more patient and, yes, still demand quality, still want the best out of the person, but, you know, be kinder.

Speaker 1 15:45

Isn't it amazing how we are moving more and more into the softer side of humanity when it comes to running organizations?

Speaker 2 15:55

Yeah, 100%. And this is something that wasn't really there before for us in our time. So now no one cared how you felt, you just had to show up and start. And this generation now is I don't feel, I don't feel, okay, I'm going home and you just have to, you know, to deal with it yeah, oh my gosh, they it that just takes me in so many directions it's hard.

Speaker 2 16:21

It's hard, but I think it's been difficult because I've been leading people that are in the same age group as me, so sometimes we'll be in the same social settings, sometimes we'll know the same friends, we'll have the same friends or whatever the case may be. Socially we are connected. And now to have to still say I want to report at 3pm. Thank you very much. You know I want to report at 3 pm. Thank you very much, you know it's hard.

Speaker 1 16:43

Yeah, I mean, I remember we were very young when we did Black Rage, so you know these were our peers, we were all dancing together one time and you know, the following day everybody has to show up at the office, and you know.

Speaker 2 17:00

But how were you guys doing it then? How were you still able to maintain that balance where you are out in group together, but the next day you're showing up and you demand excellence of each other?

Speaker 1 17:10

I honestly think that that was one of the hardest things. That was one of the hardest aspects of the job Because, yeah, we were all participating in the same culture and it was essential that we were also participating right in order to create the things that we did create. But I think that was one of the hardest parts of the job and I think we did have a little bit. I think some people were disgruntled, and those who were disgruntled, of course, left because it was hard. We were the HR, we were the friends, we were the. So you know, it's hard to it's hard to balance all of that yeah.

Speaker 2 17:48

It's really hard and you guys blessed us with Street Journal.

Inspirational Women in Fitness and Publishing

Speaker 1 17:53

Those were fun days. Those were really, really, really fun days. Yeah, I mean, that's one of the that was. That was one of the that was that was one of the things that was hard to run right, because everyone's the same age and you're out at these events, you're reporting and you know one minute you're chit-chatting. Next it's like, hey, dude, you got to get this together.

Speaker 2 18:20

With both platforms. I've got Sisonga for Azania Sisonga is much better than me, but in a very interesting way, because I'm told I'm stricter but Sisonga is the person who's going to hold you accountable. Like I want this, but I suppose her delivery is nicer than mine. She's like I want this, but she's soft and I'm not the softer version version, but she does a great job yeah, people play different roles right I only say to her please run with it, because I avoid conflict.

Speaker 2 18:56

So you just just do what you need to do and celine does the magazine as well.

Speaker 1 19:01

Yeah right right, no, that's great. And that brings me to the magazine as well. Yeah, right, right, no, that's great. And that brings me to the aspect of social impact, because you mentioned, mental health is one of the things. And you know, when I speak about sustainability on the podcast, it's usually with a broad view. It's about how you treat people, how you make money. You know also just what kind of legacy you're leaving right with your actions. So you know how does it land to you when I say is NUNUSH a sustainable entity? It is.

Speaker 2 19:38

It absolutely is and I think, because of the legacy that I want to leave with it, the impact that I want to have on people, it then makes it that I think, if it was something that I think I care more about, the community and serving my life is all about serving other people.

Speaker 2 19:54

From a peer perspective from marketing. Here at Kaya, everything is centered around other people and how to make them better and how to make them look good, so there will always be a need for that and because there is always a need for that, these platforms are sustainable. So Nunuush is sustainable in that regard. So there's always somebody who's got a need, who I can, you know, and also now people are starting to open up about, you know, investing in the business, which is also exciting.

Speaker 1 20:23

So, yes, yeah, and you touch so many people also. You touched me all this way out here.

Speaker 2 20:32

I was just like what, but? I'm so happy, thank you.

Speaker 1 20:37

No, it's great. I love following your work. Boniswa Mislani is a publicist, publisher and marketing professional. She is my guest today and, apart from the amazing work she does as an entrepreneur, bonnie is also a great sharer of her fitness journey online, and this is what we discuss next, before getting into her personal story. As well as the Shades and Layers rapid fire. You share so much of yourself, which brings me to your personal story.

Speaker 2 21:15

I do yes.

Speaker 1 21:18

Yeah, so I mean you come from the Eastern Cape. You talked about your educational background, but you know, let's talk about the people who have impacted you and really you could give credit to why you are where you are today.

Speaker 2 21:34

Yeah, oh man, there are so many people, so many people. There's a lady called Rihanna Hanken. She's more a mother. She listens to everything I call her about everything. Like Rihanna, this or that, I'm not feeling well, whatever. She's like that person that I my go-to person for everything. There is Anele, anele Mdodja. I always say, anele, if Anele likes you, you will never be out of a job, never not have a job. She is amazing, she's giving, she's generous, she's funny, she's she's just funny.

Speaker 2 22:13

It's so lovely to to know and also someone good to learn from. I've known Zynga for a long time I'm 33. I met her when I was 23, think oh yeah cool she's been a constant reminder of what I want to be in my life and also she's very kind, very generous as well, very, you know, attentive to people, and those are quite that I take with me every time. And also I learned this from her how nunusha's run and how we don't do you know the scandal, the malicious stuff that was from her?

Speaker 1 22:47

That was a lesson that I got from her.

Speaker 2 22:49

I used to write for her and her late sister Yolisa. Oh, she was such a gem. She was the person who would be like I don't want this written like this, change this. And it's just like oh God, okay, okay. So she made me a better writer, right? Oh, that's amazing, yeah, yeah. Other people I've had. My aunt, my aunt Tammy. Tammy has been such a constant in my life. She's been, she's my friend, she's a lovely lady, yeah, oh, that's so nice, that's great, and it's all women.

Speaker 1 23:21

I love that.

Speaker 2 23:29

Such amazing, amazing women and it's all women. I love that by such amazing, amazing women and it's only it's interesting because now I feel like I've got so many male friends. There's like a shift of sorts. But uh, before it's just always been women and I love that for me, and it's always older women. And tembi sama khele she is my soul sister. Losha Cooper, the people that are slightly older than me who I always go to for advice, people who always hold me and tell me that I'm fine, yes.

Speaker 1 23:55

That's really great. Losha Cooper, I remember her.

Speaker 2 24:00

A gem, yes A gem indeed.

Speaker 1 24:03

Yeah, yeah. And the other part of yourself that you share so generously is your fitness. Oh, my goodness, beast mode. How did you get into crossfit?

Speaker 2 24:19

And I was going through something. I was feeling very depressed. I was like at my lowest and my other friend, scott, said to me ma'am, if you don't do something about your life, you're going to die and we're going to bury you and move on. And I said, oh thanks, that's cute. And he's like find a gym. And the very same day after that chat, I went to find a gym and I went to a CrossFit gym. And the very same day after that chat, I went to find a gym and I went to a crossfit gym. And I never looked back.

Speaker 2 24:47

I I'd never been to a gym before. I didn't want to participate. I was just like, why do I really need this? Until I got to that one and I was like that this is, this is fun, this is exciting. I and also, I think, because I'm the kind of person I love the uncomfortable things. I like the uncomfortable stuff and I always describe my workouts as more violent than If it doesn't leave me too tired or leave a bruise or anything. It's not really my thing. If you take me on a hike.

Speaker 2 25:18

Hiking is too chilled. Hiking is too chilled, hiking is a bit chilled. I want something that's going to really challenge me, challenge my mind and my body. So it's become a lifestyle now. It's become a thing that, like the first thing I do is go to the gym. I wake up, shower, go to the gym. So everything else around my life is centered around the gym. If I have to travel, where am I going? Where am I going to stay? Is there a gym around that area? That's how my life works. If we have to have a meeting, I have to go to the gym first, because that matters to me. That makes me happy, right.

Speaker 2 25:55

Yeah, nice, nice, wow it's not really about the body and I know people obsess about bodies and all that stuff.

Speaker 1 26:08

It's not really about that. For me, the body is a bonus, thank god, but it's all about my mental health, right? That's how you keep it together, okay, great, and I see you're into pole dancing as well oh what a painful thing to do that is strong work.

Speaker 2 26:23

You have to be so strong for that thing, but it's fun. I just do it just for the fun of it. I don't take it as seriously as I take the other stuff that I do Right, and also it's good for my confidence. You know you're walking there. It's every woman, body shape, body size, whatever. We're all there, we're all in our underwear and we're just having a good time.

Speaker 1 26:46

I just love the community.

Speaker 2 26:46

Yeah, yeah, and we learn yeah, I just, I just enjoy it. It's a lot more fun. But also people have their own opinions about you know how, what they think it is.

Speaker 1 26:57

It is a spot, yeah yeah, exactly, I mean whatever, it's just training.

Speaker 2 27:05

Uh, I love it. I love my, my, my teachers.

Speaker 1 27:08

I love you know, they're such fun people yeah, if you had to summarize your life in a memoir, what would you call it, and why?

Speaker 2 27:15

oh, um. What would I call it if I were to summarize it? I would say something around being blessed, but I'm trying to find the right, a nice sexy thing to give you right.

Speaker 1 27:29

The headline. What's the headline?

Speaker 2 27:34

Let me summarize. Let me summarize it for you, but then maybe you can find the right title for it. I haven't really had an easy, beautiful life. I've had tragic moments from an early age and I've had to grow from those moments. I think a big part of why I am the person that I am and I'm very selective of the things that I get to do and who I do things with, stems from those things and trying to make life better for other people, because mine was not, you know, in in yeah is it?

Speaker 2 28:07

I lost my mother when I was an hour old.

Speaker 1 28:10

I think you know yeah, I'm sorry about that, yeah, yeah yeah, a lot of losses.

Speaker 2 28:15

so I've had a lot of trauma and I think everything is around trying to create a space where people are not as traumatized as I am and not as scared to leave, because I feel like a big part of my teenage life, my early twenties, I was terrified, I was scared of people, scared of saying what I mean, you know. But I've then found my voice and I'm, you know, I feel alive and I do all the things that I that I care for.

Speaker 2 28:41

So, and also the women that I've mentioned, have made it easy for me to to flourish, to be better, to, to dream, to want better for myself, and they call me out when I step out of line.

Speaker 1 28:52

So it's been.

Speaker 2 28:53

I'd say that God has been so kind and so gracious to me. I've I've been as much as yes, those things that I had no control over happened. I've been as much as yes, those things that I had no control over happened. I've been blessed to make better decisions for myself. I've been blessed to have a career that I love to do fun things, meet amazing people. To you know, I just I have a beautiful life. I have a beautiful life and I don't have the stresses that I had or that many people would have. I don't have debt. I don't have a lot of problems that or that many people would have. I don't have debt. I don't have a lot of problems that people would have in my, in my age.

Speaker 1 29:26

Yeah, amazing grace.

Speaker 2 29:30

Thank you, even though they'll think it's maybe like a gospel.

Speaker 1 29:38

Something along those lines.

Speaker 2 29:39

Yeah, it does. Sure, it does sound like that, jenny.

Speaker 1 29:47

And if you turn your story into a movie, who would you pick for the lead actress?

Speaker 2 29:54

Willow.

Speaker 1 29:55

Smith yes, okay, I see that, yeah.

Speaker 2 29:59

Willow Smith, absolutely yes. Or who else I'd say willow, I willow that's interesting. No one's ever picked willow smith interesting I think I just or maybe if there was a wider version, I think, miley cyrus, that's what my therapist likens me to you are the Miley Cyrus of all my clients. And I say why? You defy everything, that's the norm. And I say, why should I? I don't live to confirm my life, is you know what makes sense to me?

Speaker 1 30:39

Absolutely. Walk your own path, yeah.

Speaker 2 30:41

Understand.

Speaker 1 30:46

Yeah, that's great. So is there anything else that you'd like to add? Any advice, maybe to someone who looks at your career and says, I want to be like her I'd say read as much as possible, research what it is that you want to get into.

Speaker 2 31:00

So, if you want to get into publishing, if you want to be in publicity when I work in marketing and radio tv just do a lot of research, um, arm yourself with knowledge and, I think, ask the right questions, find the right people. There's always somebody who will listen, who will help, um, and also just be curious, go go for it and not also like, don't hold yourself back. And I think the biggest thing is embrace every layer of who you are, every part, the ugly, the beautiful, the ones you're not so sure of. Embrace every bit of who you are, because when you show up as yourself, people will embrace you, and the ones who don't, they don't really matter.

Speaker 1 31:40

Nice. That's really great and I'm glad you also mentioned that you have a therapist 100 people. Oh man, I can't. There's still a little bit of stigma, I mean.

Speaker 2 31:51

I think it's more acceptable to speak about mental health in general, but um, yeah people, just six years now I've been with sandra for six years and I see her, even when I don't have a problem because I've those check-ins are so important. Uh, am I making the right decisions financially, mentally, you know, with my career choices, with the men that like me, you know, you know those kind of things no, for sure yeah yeah we all need a coach.

Speaker 1 32:25

You know someone who can switch between coaching and yes, that's great. Yeah, yeah, it's good, it's good. So where can people find you if they want to learn about your work? Work with you, give you money yeah give me money. I like that part.

Speaker 2 32:44

I'm going to give you money, so please find us at nunushonline on Instagram. My email address is bonnie at azaniaco. And yeah, so yeah, azania underscore public. Yeah, that's the PR company, yeah.

Speaker 1 33:01

Yeah, wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing your story and your time. I really appreciate it.

Speaker 2 33:09

Thank you, it turned out so nicely. Like it's so nice.

Speaker 1 33:12

Thank you, yeah. Yeah, I try and make it easy. It's always fun.

Speaker 2 33:17

I had a lot of fun, but also it's you, thank you, no, thank you.

Speaker 1 33:25

And that of fun, but also it's you, thank you. No, thank you, and that is all from me this time around. What a pleasure it was talking to you, bonnie. Thank you so much for sharing your story and thanks to you also for listening. If you liked this episode or it resonated with you in some way and you think somebody else might like it, please share it with them. Don't keep it to yourself. I'm kutlonos and until next time, please do take good care. Might like it? Please share it with them. Don't keep it to yourself. I'm Kutlonis Kosanarici, and until next time, please do take good care.