This nurse-turned-entrepreneur isn't above being her own strictest mentor and critic, writes Hendri Pelser

Kgomotso Shiluvane often talks to herself. Not the crazy kind of talk, mind you, but a frank session of introspection.

She explains that running several successful businesses takes its toll and that you must make the time to stand back and review your performance as an entrepreneur.

But Kgomotso is quick to add that several family members did consider her crazy - such as when, 13 years ago, the owner of the Lunghile Group cashed in her pension and entered the business world.

A new beginning

Kgomotso had trained as a nurse and dutifully received her salary cheque every month - until 1997, when she realised that her destiny was to be found in the business world.

She opened a primary healthcare clinic in Rivonia.

Making the change from employee to employer after 20 years took a lot of courage; Kgomotso recalls her apprehension, "but I said to myself that if I didn't try, I would never know what I am capable of".

"I wasn't arrogant - I just knew that if it didn't work out, I could always try again."

The clinic was a successful venture and Kgomotso could have spent the next 20 years running it, but a true entrepreneur has a nose for new opportunities.

"It was the most challenging thing that I had ever done," she says: "In 1999 we were awarded an opportunity to place medical staff at various hospitals."

The Lunghile Nursing Agency was a roaring success.

It now serves private and public hospitals in Gauteng.

In fact, Kgomotso recalls that it was such a huge success, she ran out of nurses to place.

This hurdle was quickly transformed into an opportunity and the Lunghile Nursing School was born.

"I went into the business of manufacturing nurses," she says, laughing.

Barriers and bridges

One of the things that sets Kgomotso apart from many other entrepreneurs is her ability to use difficult trading conditions to her advantage. In the past, government hospitals made up a large part of her client base. But this infamously late payer often left Kgomotso with severe cash-flow problems.

"You learn how the game works and you make provisions for late payments, especially at the beginning and end of the government's financial year.

"We have secured overdrafts and deposited money into a savings account to overcome this hurdle, because you still need to pay wages and bills in the meantime.

"In business, you never really know where your next income is going to come from, so you need to budget and plan for unforeseen circumstances.

"I always plan three to six months ahead in case a tricky situation arises. Money is like water - once it is gone, it is gone. You need to invest the money you make as soon as possible in things such as property for extra security."

Another possible challenge rearing its head is the debate surrounding the use of labour brokers by public institutions. If the use of labour broking is scaled down, the nursing placement agency will feel the pinch.

Kgomotso is concerned, but says that diversifying through the training school has spread the risk somewhat.

She has also encountered this challenge in the past. In 2003 many of Lunghile's staff members were poached by the public sector as it tried to shoulder labour brokers out of the way.

"By 2005, the same institutions were back, using our services ... Everything changes and maybe they will realise that specialist agencies such as ours are needed.

"I see us as a supplementary service because there will be gaps in the system where help is needed."

Plant a seed

Kgomotso often makes light of the challenges she has faced but she cannot hide the fact that red tape has held the business back over the years.

To teach nurses, the training school requires accreditation from the South African Nursing Council. While Kgomotso is able to offer three different training programmes at the moment, she is only allowed to take on a limited number of students.

Currently the school is allowed to take in 70 students twice a year, but Kgomotso wants to see this figure reach at least 100 over three intakes. To help reach this goal, she recently bought a property in Saxonwold.

Not content with one school, Kgomotso has been trying to set up another training institution in the Eastern Cape, but accreditation has been extremely slow. She believes that the new school will be able to take in 80 students over three intakes a year.

She is quick to add that the red tape that has hampered growth also creates a barrier to entry for other potential schools - creating space for Lunghile Nursing School to expand in the years to come.

Make a difference

Because of the severe shortage of nurses, Kgomotso's courses are extremely popular and the school has a waiting list of more than 1000 people. She believes that she will one day have nursing training schools in rural areas across the country.

"I want to give the kids in these areas an opportunity to develop themselves. It is extremely difficult for them to come to the metros for training because of a lack of finances.

"I just tell myself that I will one day crack this wall. It is not just about me - when you see so many young girls coming through your doors, you have to do something."

So passionate is Kgomotso about helping the rural youth that her school offers a number of full bursaries. Over the years, hundreds of students have been able to enter the formal job market as professionals as a result.

She says that the human resource element can never be underestimated in a business because it is the staff that make the business and not always the entrepreneur: "Look after your staff and create the best support structure you can. Impart whatever knowledge and skills you have to your senior staff so that they can help you build a business."

Her entrepreneurial spirit is rubbing off on those around her - and Kgomotso believes that it is never too late to take up the torch - she only joined South Africa's entrepreneurial ranks at age 41.

"You must have a vision and you must have a drive. I want this business to be here in 100 years' time. But it is not just about profit and you have to enjoy what you are doing."

Kgomotso understands that not everyone can become a successful entrepreneur. You have to have stamina to make it in the business world, she says.

"If you have a dream, pursue it. You have to be disciplined. Thereafter, it comes down to hard work.

"You will have hiccups along the way and there will be sleepless nights. Don't forget to do your introspection and to speak to yourself - learn from your mistakes."