Tebogo Thoka, CEO of Fabu-Health Aesthetics, Tells us how severe Sunburns Inspired her Business

During her military training, Tebogo Thoka suffered severe sunburns which almost damaged her skin. She then resorted to researching skincare products and treatments that could help restore her skin. It was in the process of her research that she found out about Somatology and immediately enrolled for a national diploma at the University of Johannesburg to study it. Aesthetics was unheard of when she started Fabu-Health Aesthetics but she knew it was what she wanted to do.

As a young, black and single parent, Tebogo Thoka has had her own fair share of challenges in her entrepreneurial journey. At some point, she was even forced to close down one of the aesthetic clinics she owns so that she can have more time with her child. But after a few years, she has managed to get back on her feet and employ more people (especially single parents) so that they can change their circumstances back at home and not look down on themselves.

Q: Please, tell us about yourself?

A: My name is Tebog o T hoka, an entrepreneur from Mabopane, Pretoria. I’m the founder of Fabu-Health Aesthetics, a skincare clinic in Pretoria specialising in ethnic skincare. I studied Somatology at the University of Johannesburg and prior to that, I was a military trainee in the South African Military Health Services. I’m a mother of a beautiful daughter.

Q: What led you into this line of business/career?

A: During my military training, I suffered severe sun damage and sunburn and I started researching products and treatments that could help me recover my skin. I learnt about a course called Somatology and l knew that’s what I want to pursue. I immediately enrolled for a national diploma at the University of Johannesburg.

After completing my studies, I was not happy with the type of work I was doing. The working environment was also very different from what I was used to in the military. So I felt that the industry needed to be changed a bit and fresh new ideas needed to be implemented. I knew that the only way I’d be happy was if I were to start changing things around and creating the environment and industry I had always pictured. Aesthetics was unheard of when I started my company but I knew that that is what I wanted to do. I trained and taught myself everything I need to start offering the services to my clients, and the more I learnt the more I wanted to grow in the aesthetic industry.

Q: What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?

A: Resilience: The ability to weather the ups and downs of business since it never goes exactly the way the business plan described it. This skill enables us to keep going when the outlook is bleak…

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