Doc’s Appointment: We meet Leandre Abvajee

In the first of a new series of articles by Deon Doc Williams, the new member our reporting team, he spoke to Leandre Abvajee who adds that extra magic to events, with her company Black Olive Weddings & Events fast becoming a top contender in the very competitive wedding planning and events management industry.
The Doc made a housecall to Leandre at The Black Olive Lounge in Quellerina Johannesburg. – Editor

I recently visted Leandre Abvajee at the The Black Olive Lounge. I wanted to know what makes Leandre and her Jahannesburg based Black Olive Weddings & Events company different to all the others out there.
This is how our conversation went.

Deon: How did it come about that you started your own business and what was it that motivated you?

Leandre: Coming from a corporate background, where I held numerous management positions in Marketing, Human resources and Training & Development I fell into the corporate safety zone trap. Being a young, driven female corporate business woman came with many perks, travel opportunities and most importantly a guaranteed pay check, so who would say no to that!

I always had a burning desire to become my own boss, live out my passion and leave a legacy in my industry. I realized after 10 years in corporate that this would not happen while working for an organization where my name is not listed as a company shareholder.

I knew that I had built up great business acumen in my 10 year tenure in corporate and took that great leap of faith into the world of entrepreneurship. Within three months of starting Black Olive, I had secured my first paying client, and we haven’t looked back since!
Today my company is recognized in the industry for its contribution to bespoke eventing solutions, quality design and flawless execution. Design is passion, this is our motto – we live by it and simply this motivates me everyday to expand our footprint in the industry.

Deon: Certainly there must have been many challenges when you started. How did you overcome those challenges?

Leandre: Being new to the weddings and events industry, I found out quickly that the market was very saturated. There are a lot of players doing the same thing, so my entry to market had to be unique. I also realized that there were not many eventing companies that were able to provide clients with a fully serviced one stop shop solution. Some companies would specialize in professional services, some in decor, design, others in venue and so on. I wrapped my head around my unique selling point and realized I had to become a 1 stop service provider to gain entry, grow my client base and enlarge my corporate footprint.

Within a year of opening up our doors, we had a fully fledged luxury boutique private venue in Northcliff, a fully stocked decor boutique, a caterer, and professional suppliers within our network. Recently we have also added on a full floral design component to our offering which was previously outsourced.

This allows us to take the hassle from our clients, they have one interface which saves them time & money. It also eliminates the frustration of multi-vendor interactions.

Deon: Who is it that inspires and motivates you to excell in what you are doing?

Leandre: Honestly I am not motivated by celebrities, icons or public figures. This is because I don’t aspire to be one. What I do aspire to become, is a phenomenal business woman, breaking grounds in my industry, setting new trends and leaving a legacy for my next generation and for future generations of women.

Deon: What advice would you give someone that would like to follow in your footsteps?

Leandre: Don’t walk in anyone else’s footsteps. Leave your own footprint that is uniquely you. Find inspiration in what others professionals are doing, but leave your own stamp. Each person has their own set of skills & experiences. Continue to sharpen your skills like a fine-edged sword, while developing your shortcomings.
By doing this self evaluation on a continuous basis you are expanding your personal footprint which will ultimately give you the courage and confidence to walk comfortably in your own shoes and not in my 11 inch stiletto’s!

Deon: Lastly, tell us what your day consists of and what it is that you do you do to relax?

Leandre: Relax? Are you serious?
Being a professional weddings and events planner, sleep becomes a very rare perk!
There is no routine to my day, and I absolutely love it! A typical day could consist of new client consultations, site visits, food tastings, decor mock-ups, traveling, shoot styling, fixing bridal melt downs and everything else in-between.
It’s difficult to relax in my line of business as our weekdays are busy, and weekends even busier as we execute our events.
If the time god is with me, he does allow me an hour to play my game of tennis or enjoy a yummy spa treatment.

I want to thank Leandre for taking time out of her busy schedule to share her story with us at bruinou.com.
For information you can visit the Black Olive Weddings & Events website.

(Deon Doc Williams will on a regular basis introduce us to the phenomenal people he meets as he shares their stories with us. Keep a look out for the next Doc’s Appointment when we meet more people who excell in various fields and professions as well as in sports, fashion and entertainment.) – Editor