Linda Sewnarain

Linda Sewnarain is the founder and managing director of Five Star BEE Compliance, “We were founded in 2015, so we’re ten years old this year,” says Linda. “It’s a huge milestone for us.” The company specialises in Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) verifications, a field while often described as a ‘grudge purchase’, is essential for any company seeking success in the South African market.

Over the past decade, Five Star BEE Compliance has completed more than 5,000 BEE certificates for a diverse client base that includes Women of Africa Group, Richards Bay Minerals, EY and the Mazars Group. She says proudly, “Without our clients, we would not have a business, so we do everything possible to keep them happy.” Today, the company operates nationally, with a presence in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Linda shares that her favourite part of the job is travelling across the country. “We go to all the nooks and crannies of South Africa. It gives my staff and I opportunities to see places we would never have seen before.” The business employs eleven permanent staff in KwaZulu-Natal, four external contractors, and additional team members in Johannesburg and Cape Town. “When I started, it was just two of us in a small office,” Linda recalls. “Now, we own our own building. It’s been quite a journey.”

ADVERSITY TO ACHIEVEMENT
Linda’s story is one of resilience and self-belief. Before founding her company, she was the regional director
for a large firm that was taken over. The transition was difficult, but it presented an opportunity. “I wanted
to go on my own, but I didn’t have the money,” she admits. “The licence accreditation cost was huge. I
went to a few clients and told them what I wanted to do. They said, ‘We trust you, Linda. Why don’t we pay
you a deposit for our BEE certificates so you can use it for accreditation?’. That is how Five Star started through the good grace of others and encouragement from my husband.”

“I have never forgotten that generosity,” commented Linda. “To this day, I give back wherever I can through
mentoring, coaching and community upliftment.” Her entrepreneurial spirit has also driven diversification.
“Anything legislation-driven can affect our business, so we decided to branch out,” Linda explains. She went
on to open several other ventures, including a holiday home in the Drakensberg, a fully functional events
venue, an accredited hair and beauty training salon, and a construction company building residential properties.

“When I first started the hair and beauty venture, I thought, ‘My goodness, you know nothing about this’,
but I learned,” she added. Linda’s belief in lifelong learning extends to her staff. “I teach my young team members things they didn’t know, and in turn, they teach me,” she says. “It’s fulfilling to see them grow.
Some have left to become transformation managers in big companies. It’s hard to see them go, but it’s a proud moment too.”

Her journey has not been without personal trials. Linda was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, a disease affecting the lining of the lungs. “I went on heavy cortisone for some time.” Linda reflected, “My biggest dream was to travel overseas. While I was recovering, my husband took me to Greece, and it was the most beautiful experience.

That was a dream come true.” Her children are a source of pride and motivation. “Both my kids are engineers today,” she beams. “If my children are successful, it shows that we did something right. That, for me, is the greatest achievement.”

LEADING WITH PURPOSE
Each year, Linda hosts a Women’s Day event as a gesture of appreciation to her clients. “It’s a beautiful function for around 100 to 150 women,” she explains. “It’s our way of saying thank you. We’re not always grateful enough, and sometimes people just need to hear the words, ‘We appreciate you’.

Her inspiration comes from two remarkable women: business mentor Pria Hassan and her late mother.
“Pria told me back in 2010 that I had to start my own business, and she supported me through it financially
and emotionally,” Linda recalls. “And my mum, she never went to school, but she taught us the value
of education and hard work. She raised six children in one small room and still made sure we all went
to university. Today, all my brothers are profess- ionals, and I own my own company. Everything she
did was right."

Despite her success, the business world remains challenging. “Compliance is not easy. It’s tedious and
time-consuming,” she admits. “Clients often think once they pay, they can get their certificate, but it doesn’t
work like that. We have to help them understand that what we do is in their best interest.”

Staff retention is another hurdle. “Training a BEE analyst takes at least six months, and sometimes people leave soon after,” Linda says. “This job is stressful. It’s not an eight-to-four role, and it can eat into your personal life.”

Linda’s advice to young women entering business is clear. “Go for it. Make sure you know what you’re doing.
When you enter a room, look confident. Be honest with your clients and never sugar-coat the truth. Reliability and integrity are everything.” Looking ahead, Linda’s ambitions remain as strong as ever. “My next goal is to buy a property in Cape Town, let it out on Airbnb, and hopefully retire there,” she says.

“Although with two lovely grandchildren, I’m not sure I’ll be able to leave them.”Her latest project, resin art, brings balance to her busy life. “It’s my time to unwind. When I’m working with resin, I have to wear gloves, and I can’t touch my phone. Those few hours are my time alone, and I cherish them.” For Linda what is of importance is that ‘sharing is caring’. She concludes, “Helping others doesn’t weaken you; it makes you stronger. That’s what keeps me grounded, and that’s what keeps me going.”