Startup Story
Mel J (Pty) Ltd, founded by Melissa Jacobs in South Africa is a specialist business that facilitate workshops for one of the toughest exams in the financial industry - RE5 and RE1. The regulatory exams are being developed and delivered under the direction and management of the FSCA. Melissa’s business has a unique method used to teach its candidates and to prepare them for the exam. Workshops are held all over Johannesburg and candidates travel from all over South Africa. Melissa’s business has a great pass rate and its facilitators are passionate, not only about training, but about people and that is the winning recipe. Going over and above what is required is another trick to the business’s success.
LoA chatted to Melissa Jacobs this month to learn more about her passion for helping others to achieve their industry examination goals.
What inspired you to start your company?
My love for skills development and empowerment. I won the Premier’s Award for Education and Skills Development, that is how passionate I am about development. I preach it all the time in our classes, that where you start off at the beginning of the year should not be where you finish off by December that same year. I've won the Vita Basadi award and also the Women of Valor award, for the community work and for empowering those around me. Being in the insurance industry I identified a gap and we started this journey that has seen so many people keep their jobs, move into greater positions, and most importantly instilled and imparted with knowledge.
“We facilitate training for over 100 people per month, all with different personalities but with one goal in mind - passing their Regulatory Exam.”
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Our love for the people that we work with. We facilitate training for over 100 people per month, all with different personalities but with one goal in mind - passing their Regulatory Exam. We offer ongoing support and we lend an ear, a shoulder, and we listen to and try and assist our candidates to not only prepare for the exam, but also to give advice and guidance. It’s not just about paying, attending class and that being an end of the journey. We complete the journey with them and guide them in terms of their careers and assist where and how we can with career decisions.
Tell us a little about your team
My fellow facilitators are a dream to work with - they get me, they understand my vision, and they are extremely passionate about training and development. You'll never know the difference between dealing with them or me, because we speak one language and believe in one vision. My dad prints our packs and my husband assists with my deliveries and also prepares our venues. I love the way both of them step in to assist, lessening my load - they use initiative to get things done.
“We offer ongoing support and we lend an ear, a shoulder, and we listen to and try and assist our candidates to not only prepare for the exam, but also to give advice and guidance.”
“This journey has been an interesting one where I have the opportunity to work with different people from all walks of life, hoping and aiming to inspire them and to empower them.”
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I charge a third of what the other companies are charging, because I cater for the different communities and sectors I work with (i.e. call centre agents, unemployed candidates) that cannot afford to pay other companies. But we offer the same services, we've been blessed to do so. Having said this, I've always been a Social Entrepreneur, with a mentorship programme for girls and now the facilitation. I started out 10 years ago, hosting my first conference for women, as I'm big on Women Empowerment. So this is no different all these years later, with 90% of candidates being women. This journey has been an interesting one where I have the opportunity to work with different people from all walks of life, hoping and aiming to inspire them and to empower them. It’s not always easy, because I work with limited resources and time is always against me, but we make the best of what we have. Being an entrepreneur is not the easiest thing, but definitely the most interesting thing. You have good months and you have bad months. The most important part of being an entrepreneur is the support of family - all entrepreneurs will tell you, husbands/wives/moms/dads/siblings/children, are not only your support structure, but the people that jump in to help out.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
I'm in the process of registering and setting up an Insurance Academy, teaching the basics of Insurance, etc, and once it’s established to take it to all provinces.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Financial Independence.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Pray about your vision. Research, thoroughly. Network with like-minded women.
Start with what you have, where you are, and keep the vision in mind.
Invest in yourself, attend workshops, and get a qualification around the business you're planning on starting up.
Get the buy in from your partner/family. Be confident. Go for it!
Contact or follow Mel J (Pty) Ltd
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | EMAIL info@melj.co.za
Why LoA loves it….
In the world of training and development, it’s not just a case of providing practical skills to those being trained, but also supporting them with encouragement, advice and motivation to keep going. This is what makes Melissa Jacobs and her niche business that facilitates workshops for one of the toughest exams in the financial industry, so different from others. Together with her team, she walks a journey to training exam success with those who join her programmes, meaning they are better equipped to achieve their goals. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa