Meet last year’s Rise Up Award winner, From The Wild’s Shanti Wilby. She’s fast amassed a following of thousands on social media as demand for her plant-based cakes booms.
Lauren Zwaans from KIS Communications chats with Shanti about the year that followed the “humbling and encouraging” moment when she won an SA Woman Award, and her growing wholesale cake business.
Lauren: Congratulations on winning an award last year! What impact did winning have on you and your business?
Shanti: It was very encouraging to be recognised for our business growth and everything we had achieved to that date, and it gave me a boost of energy and strength to keep going!
Tell us more about your amazing business. What’s changed since last year?
Since last year we have launched a series of new workshops, expanded our stockist family and taken on some major stockists within SA, including Frewville and Pasadena Foodland Flower Bars.
Why do you love being a member of SA Woman?
To be honest, I don’t feel like I’ve had enough time to truly engage with the community to answer this properly, but I do like that there is a huge support network out there that I can access at any time to collaborate, build relationships and seek advice from other like-minded business women in our state.
If you could describe the SA Woman community in a word, what would it be?
Supportive.
What was it like when you heard you’d won an Award last year?
It was really humbling and encouraging. And it was such a fun event to be part of. I was able to connect with so many amazing women who have since become friends and great business connections too!
What advice would you offer this year’s Award winners?
To not get too attached to an end goal of winning, but to celebrate all the “wins” along the way and appreciate being acknowledged whether you’re the winner or a runner up.
Anything else you’d like to add about your business/ SA Woman/ the awards?
You ladies are amazing! Thank you for putting this on, and for everything you do in the SA Woman Community.
Congratulations on your all you’ve achieved, Shanti! We’ll keep watching your business journey with interest.
Join us at the Awards on Wednesday, November 27: DETAILS HERE