This article was done by www.womenontop.co.za and features our queen B(oss), Leasha Naidoo.
1. Tell us about your business?
A. To all in reality, we’re known as the box destroying, setting the envelope on fire, type of agency…but internally we just want to do cool sh**. We specialise in innovative solutions for the marketing sector and we strive to just ‘chill’ one day.
2. When / how / why did you start the agency?
A. I call myself the accidental entrepreneur. The business was founded by my partner & real-life husband, who can be ‘totes’ annoying, Cameron Naidoo – He is the creative partner here at Guerilla. I joined the business in 2014 to “help out with admin” – truth be told he was spending money like it was a hip-hop music video –but essentially it was an endeavor to get out of a stressful corporate career to start a family together after many failed attempts & heartbreak. Needless to say I never really helped out but instead strategically grew our business to the organisation it is today – 3 locations around the world with international clients!
3. What is your role in the business?
A. On paper “The Boss” in real life – the carer and nurturer. My role is to take the craziest ideas that are put in front of me and figure out how to make a profit…and keep the lights on with crazy ideas…oh and they’re crazy! ! I also have the title of “Mother of Dragons” bestowed onto me.. still figuring that one out
4. Where did you study and what did you study?
A. The school of life and the entrepreneur hustle has been my biggest institution for learning – with a BCOM Accounting completed part-time through UNISA in parallel to my articles in Chartered Accountancy.
5. How did you finance your business?
A. I am risk-averse and therefore don’t believe in loans. The business was ‘bootstrapped’ as all the clever venture capitalists call it but my ideology is based on SAVING, and saving up enough cash to cover expenses for 6 months, and the rest, as they say, is history.
6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.
A. It doesn’t! But generally it starts off being a mommy ( the admin helping out admin – clearly worked) then it’s meetings, calls, reviewing strategies, approving costings, simulating budgets, blah, blah, blah…anxiety.
