Beauty with Brains
Shenai Bridglall, a small town girl with big city dreams, a former model and a Miss South Africa semi-finalist who starts her own luxury business and a non-profit organization. The girl with beauty and brains grew up and schooled in Port Shepstone. Upon matriculation Shenai relocated to Cape Town to complete a Bachelor of Business Science in marketing, statistics and economics from the University of Cape Town. Shenai worked at Google in South Africa and Singapore before pursuing the fashion industry and working at TFG. Bridglall moved to Italy, where she completed a course in Footwear and Bag Technology at Polimoda. Not long after she returned to South Africa last year to complete her Master of Business Science and start SB Holdings Ltd., a global luxury goods conglomerate.
While being in the midst of her busy life of education, work experiences and running Shenai founded The EssBee Foundation, a non-profit organisation in 2016.
SB Holdings Ltd
SB Holdings Ltd is a multinational luxury goods conglomerate headquartered in South Africa. Subsidiaries include Shenai Bridglall and Bridgeur. Shenai Bridglall is a South African founded luxury women’s footwear company that designs, handcrafts and markets quality Italian footwear products with a signature SB heel to independent and empowered consumers. It took Shenai two years of research, development and prototyping, five footwear factories and many failed attempts before finally making a sample that she was 100% happy with. Bridgeur, pronounced [breed-jair], a luxury apparel company is the newest addition to SB Holdings Ltd. Shenai can’t give away much about our newest addition, so you’ll have to wait until the launch in October.
EssBee Foundation
The EssBee Foundation is a non-profit organisation that aims to reduce the gender inequality gap of women in South Africa. In May 2017, the foundation organized the #StopAbuse march, to raise awareness around violence against women and children and to raise funds for an abuse seminar, trauma counseling and an educational boot camp for boys. Aside from women empowerment, The EssBee Foundation promotes education, nutrition, and personal hygiene, through activities such as stationery drives for schoolchildren. The organisation has grown incredibly since inception in 2016; currently operating in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg with approximately 30 dedicated volunteers around the country. Shenai was told a few months ago that they are the only registered South African non-profit organisation that has a 100% South African volunteer complement.
"if this is true, it’s rather surprising because in my opinion, charity should start at home and come from the heart "
Shenai Bridglall
We noticed that you started your non-profit organization before your for-profit companies. This is a strange order and rather unusual, how come?
I didn’t always know what I wanted to do in life but I knew the type of women that I wanted to become and the impact that I wanted to have on the world from the very start. Yes, fashion only came later once I figured this out but charity has always been incredibly important to me; I have pledged to incorporate The EssBee Foundation into every for-profit venture I start. When you find value in your service to other people, this inspires you to become a better person.
While at university, it concerned me that most students were male. After questioning and much research, I realized that girls in South Africa drop out of school because of having insufficient resources (sanitary wear) and mentorship (career guidance and sexual education); this drove me to start The EssBee Foundation. I want to provide girls with the resources to become somebodies instead of somebody’s.
How have your entrepreneurial motivations changed since you first started?
Social media makes entrepreneurship look so glamorous! It fooled me… don’t let it fool you. I’m a strong minded planner, this, coupled with a business degree led me to start the subsidiaries of SB Holdings Ltd with solid business plans, competitor analyses, market entry strategies and strict timelines. My entrepreneurial motivations and general outlook changed when I realised that the entrepreneurial world is very different from what you put down on paper and what you learn while working for someone else; no amount of corporate experience or education can sufficiently prepare you for the journey and problems you will encounter.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned, and would pass along to other women leaving a job and start for themselves?
The journey is incredibly difficult…If you are ‘lucky’, it will take you more than double the amount of time, money and work than you anticipated but the self-fullfillment will be more than worth it.
What are your hobbies or non-work-related activities?
I love to travel and am fortunate to have visited 43 countries in the world. In my opinion, traveling opens up your mind and helps you to grow as an individual by learning about different cultures and traditions; this in turn helps with conducting international business successfully.
I am also a huge car fanatic and enjoy going on supercar runs!
As an entrepreneur do you have innate qualities, or is it something that you learned?
My grandmother was a seamstress and my grandfather worked at a footwear factory before starting his FMCG business; my parents are entrepreneurs too, so you could argue that I was ‘born an entrepreneur.’
In my opinion though, entrepreneurs can be born but they are not born great; they grow great from their experiences and lessons that they learn on their journey to building their empire.
Discipline and creativity: are they two forces in opposition, or are they complementary?
Discipline and creativity are complementary; I think they balance each other out. Specifically with fashion, I tend to get these crazy creative ideas that are not always realistic so being somewhat disciplined helps me to draw the line and figure out what can and cannot be cost-effective and practical for production.
What sacrifices have you had to make during life as an entrepreneur and a leader?
I’ve had to cut out many people and adjust my priorities; as you progress you realize that you cannot please everyone and unfortunately not everyone will be sincerely happy for you so you have to be picky.
What is your life motto?
There is no dream that is too big to achieve if you work hard, believe in yourself and never give up… The keyword here is NEVER GIVE UP!
You have a team working for you, what would you advice for someone who is looking for a team? What do you recommend for them to look for?
I would always suggest that you hire for organisational fit and personal attitude, then teach and train for skill. Most of your life is spent at work so you need to surround yourself with people who understand the core purpose of your business and your vision for the future. I’ve found it simpler and more rewarding to teach new employees who are enthusiastic to learn and grow, than to teach a ‘know-it-all.’
What popular entrepreneurial advice do you agree/ disagree with? Why?
I am in total agreement with Warren Buffet and Sheryl Sandberg’s advice that the most important career decision you will ever make is who you choose to marry as I feel that this decision can either make or break your career.
If you had one piece of advice to our readers and to those just starting out as a business owner, what would it be?
As a woman, you should never be delimited from pursuing your dream based on the ground that ‘a girl can’t do that.’
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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