Startup Story
The construction sector is a notoriously tough one for women entrepreneurs to break into in Africa. But Zeenat Ghoor, founder of Aspire Consulting Engineers in South Africa, is one woman who is changing that by her example. She is building a successful civil and structural engineering business that is people centric, transforming spaces that are accessible and safe for everyone to use.
Zeenat Ghoor is an award winning engineer that founded Aspire Consulting Engineers in South Africa back in 2015. She launched the company in response to becoming a mom and noticing how unfriendly the sector was to the female species. In terms of personal recognition, Zeenat won the Standard Bank Top Woman Award in 2019 and has been nominated for various other awards by SAIBPP, SAICE and Minara Chamber of Commerce. Zeenat’s passion is transforming spaces to make them beautiful, safe and accessible to all. She employs people that embody the same passions she does and bring care and compassion to the Construction sector.
LoA spoke to the game-changing Zeenat Ghoor this month to learn more about what it takes to break into the construction sector in Africa and to find your niche as a woman entrepreneur on the continent.
What does your company do?
Civil and structural engineering.
“We do what we call Collaborative Consulting - we try to focus on the projects to bring a cost effective, quality and beautiful project to the team.”
“Teamwork makes the dream work and we are loving the journey.”
What inspired you to start your company?
Having been in the construction sector for 8 years I realized when I was about to have my first child that our sector didn’t create a safe working space for females in the industry. I needed flexibility and I needed a 4 hour job - I couldn’t find one so I created one.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
The amount of care we bring to a project. We do what we call Collaborative Consulting - we try to focus on the projects to bring a cost effective, quality and beautiful project to the team. Egos aside and a successful project is our goal.
Tell us a little about your team
We have a small loyal team - we believe and live our motto every day - WE ARE OUR PEOPLE. Our team is diverse and everyone comes from a different background and has different strengths - these teach us every day and we learn and we grow. We have fun at work doing the work we love - there are no doors in our office and we work together. Teamwork makes the dream work and we are loving the journey.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I do not come from an entrepreneurial background. I come from a very conservative family and starting a business was something very strange to my loved ones - nevertheless they supported my journey. What I realize is that you are born to be an entrepreneur and it is a calling, and once you are in it you know this is where you belong. I started almost seven years ago in one of the harshest, coldest, meanest industries where you are treated a certain way because you are female. I was bullied and I often felt not good enough for this industry. One success at a time and many many failures made me realize this is where I am meant to be and I have to be strong and persevere, which I am trying to do daily.
“What I realize is that you are born to be an entrepreneur and it is a calling, and once you are in it you know this is where you belong.”
“One success at a time and many many failures made me realize this is where I am meant to be and I have to be strong and persevere, which I am trying to do daily.”
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
I want to grow the business and the team. Our staff that are there at the moment will become senior managers and they will manage juniors - the projects will grow and our team will grow organically. I want to be a key player in this sector and be recognised as such.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
That you do what you love and it’s your own. I love walking into the office after the weekend or holidays or builders break and really feeling like this is where I belong.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
One step at a time. Surround yourself with like-minded people and be prepared to fail. Everyone wants to be successful until they realize what it takes. So my advice is realize what it takes and just do it.
Contact or follow Aspire Consulting Engineers
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL zeenat@aspireconsulting.joburg
Why LoA loves it….
At Lionesses of Africa, we love groundbreakers, those women entrepreneurs who push boundaries each and every day to do the things they love, no matter how tough the industry sector might be. Zeenat Ghoor is one of those women, building a business on her terms in the tough construction sector. She is breaking the traditional mould, understanding that businesses are only as strong as their people, and her business is certainly one that puts its people first, harnessing their strengths for success. Zeenat is a role-model for so many other women to follow, particularly those who are looking to break the glass ceilings in their own chosen industry sectors. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo of Lionesses of Africa