Johannesburg resident Brenda Liebenberg was the lucky winner of the Who’s Who SA ‘Be the best brand you can be’ competition in April this year. She spent several days in Cape Town experiencing a life changing professional makeover, from wardrobe consultations to life coaching sessions, and everything in-between.
In her own words, Brenda shares her experience with us:
“I would like to take you back to the events before I was declared the winner. I received a notification about the competition on the 22 of March 2012 which was the last day to activate the Who’s Who profile. I did that the same day and after a few weeks I received an e-mail that I was in the top 10 and then when I received the notification that I was in the top 3, that’s when I claimed the prize for myself.
I mentioned to my supervisor that I have entered the competition and I knew I would win it. I started to visualize the way I would look after the process. I spent the following days preparing for my big day. It was around lunch time I got the long awaited call from Marise Lerm of Atmosphere Communications which confirmed my win. Two people that knew that I was waiting for this call were not in the office at that moment, but my screams alerted them that I had finally got my prize.
I jumped around the office and kept on screaming and Marise asked if she should call me back when I’d composed myself! I told her I was fine, but the next thing I screamed again. This is an opportunity that doesn’t come every day. When I got the e-mail confirming my winnings I sent it all to the people in my address book and called my parents to let them know and share my joy with me.
Soon after that Chata Romano called me and she really set me aflame with anticipation. She told me she was going to dye my hair blue and give me gum boots with heels! She approached me with such warmth and love that it seemed I already knew her. She made it easy for me to relax and be myself. It was really fun being around Chata – she even wanted to give me yellow hot pants! Wow, considering that I’m a full figured woman that really had me in stitches…
When I met Sean Willard it was like we had known each other for a long time and we had certain similarities with regard to our chosen careers. I felt at home and continue to feel that way. It was such a fun meeting with Michael Edwards: he turned an ordinary girl into a model! He showed me different poses and how fun it is to have your pictures professionally taken.
Marie Harding gave so much information with regards to interviews and I especially liked the insights on competency questions that she prepared for me. The tips on preparing a CV and preparing for the interview came at the right time as I’m also looking for a next step in my career.
The meeting with Alexis Chaffe from 36 Boutiques was a Godsend as she was patient with us when we shopped their entire store, and assisted with measurements. The iPad and Buro’s accessories brought me in-line with the modern technology as I was lagging behind, and I say many thanks to the Who’s Who team for bringing me up to speed with the new technology. I’m spoiled for choice when it came to the books from Leisure Books, I don’t know which one to start with. I have browsed through all of them, and still can’t choose which one to start enjoying!
As I flew over the clouds to Cape Town, I looked out the window and said to myself that is an indication that the opportunities are limitless. The whole experience was information intense, and I realized that we learn new things every day. The prize came at a time to strengthen my belief that God is there, and just needs an invitation into our lives to move things that we can’t move with our power.
Our minds, our dreams and our thoughts have the power to create conditions in our life and this experience was just that. Rubbing shoulders with the owners and directors of companies is not something that an ordinary person can achieve or experience in the normal course of a day, and it was a pleasure to meet with all of them and enjoy my days as a Who’s Who.
The information and the accessories that I have received have now put me in a position to start my Life Coaching business and also to pursue other career opportunities that will come my way. This professional makeover has brought me so much confidence and the compliments are streaming in, which brings light in my life. I’m sure the whole prize will not impact only on me, but to the people I meet along the way as well – everything I have learnt needs to be shared with others.”
Brenda, it was a pleasure to meet you and we’re very glad that this professional makeover has had such a positive impact. We look forward to tracking your professional progress over the years to come, and wish you all the best.
We all know that networking plays a vital role in the business world, so much so that “it’s not what you know it’s who you know” has become a popular saying amongst aspiring professionals.