23 Aug The Fearless Female Leaders of Faithful to Nature

We sat down with the two fearless female leaders of Faithful to Nature. Their dynamic and powerful personalities are the combo-force of where we’ve come from and where we are going. Driving excellence and female-empowerment in the workplace. When posed with the same set of questions this is what they had to say:

 Robyn Smith, Founder of Faithful to Nature 

1. Describe yourself in 3 words. Dynamic, Strong, a Seeker.
2. What is one app on your phone that you can’t live without? Google Maps! I’m much happier singing out loud to the music in my car rather than to have to think about where I am driving.
3. Where would we find you on a Saturday morning at 10am? Barefoot on the beach with my family, up in the hills with my dogs or skateboarding around our village with my boys.
4. What makes you most proud to be a woman? As a woman we have the greatest potential to lead the change we wish to see in the world.
5. As a female leader, what has been the most significant barrier in your career? It has been very challenging trying to raise a family and to find balance with the relentless demands of running a growing business.
6. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders? Your strength lies in that which makes you a woman. Do all you can to be your authentic self and you will find your place in this world faster than you could ever dream.
7. After all this success, what do you struggle with now? I still struggle to walk that path of balance. Although it is in a different field, I am still working very hard to be all that I can be and to have as much impact as I can and – as always – it is a constant dance to maintain balance between my responsibilities as a mother and as a leader.
8. What is the biggest lesson life has taught you? Everything matters. We are constantly creating our future by our thoughts, words and actions in the present moment. Self-awareness and responsibility are key to creating sustainable and positive futures. I have seen over again that there is great worth in our ability to care deeply about the impact we are creating in our and others lives.
9. Who has had the most profound impact on your life? My children without a doubt. They are my greatest teachers, my greatest source of joy and my greatest motivation to be all that I can be in this one and very precious life.
10. What are you most grateful for? Myself. And the fact that I can say that – it has taken years of healing and self-forgiveness to get to a point that I can truly recognise and be grateful for myself and the journey I am on. 

 Katrien Grobler, CEO of Faithful to Nature

1. Describe yourself in 3 words. Determined. Brave. Optimistic.

2. What is one app on your phone that you can’t live without? Uber! since I’ve been back in SA I haven’t bought a car – I am a terrible driver anyway and am trying to lessen my carbon footprint. If it’s no Uber then I gotta walk (which is not bad many of the times).

3. Where would we find you on a Saturday morning at 10am? Somewhere with a big pot of Earl Grey, Lavender or Rose Tea in hand.

4. What makes you most proud to be a woman? The fact that we have overcome obstacles throughout generations and continue to do so.

5. As a female leader, what has been the most significant barrier in your career? I wouldn’t say it’s barriers within my career, but more that my career has always been my number one priority and has been a barrier to me being more present in my own personal life journey, at great expense at times.

6. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders? Don’t doubt for one minute that you are able, worthy and destined for greatness in being authentically yourself.

7. What is the biggest lesson life has taught you? Never ever, ever give up, give in or be defeated, the sun will rise in the morning.

8. Who has had the most profound impact on your life? I often think of this, and my father always comes to mind at first; he certainly believed in my potential, even as a little girl, and set an example of humility, hard work and kindness. I have had a difficult relationship with my mother, however, I recently reflected that her determination through circumstances, and also particularly acceptance of all humans in any way or form, is something that was imprinted on me.

10. What are you most grateful for? In life there is always room for a miracle, no matter how bad things look, life has a way of rewarding those who believe in the impossible.

The Power of Personal Will & How to Harness It – Robyn Shares Her Experience

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