D.I.V.A of the Month – March 2012
D.I.V.A of the Month – March 2012
Angelique Victor, owner of EQual Zeal® Franchise tells us how she is leveraged her training to start her business.
Lelemba: Who is Angelique Victor?
Angelique: I am first and foremost a mother to 2 pre-teens and a wife to an amazing and supportive man. I am passionate about my family and friends and I believe that success comes from having faith and trusting that the path ahead of me is going to be ZEALsome!
Lelemba: How long have you been running your EQual Zeal® Franchise?
Angelique: On 1st April it will be 3 challenging but rewarding years.
Lelemba: Congratulations! Why did you choose this type of business?
Angelique: Taking the decision to run my own business was probably the easiest decision I have ever had to make. After being a foundation phase teacher for 12 years with an interest in learning difficulties, I realised that my destiny was not to teach children, but rather to EQuip them so that they would be successful in life and not just in the classroom. In my dealings with children and their parents at school level, I became aware of the need for guidance and assistance within the family unit so that families were better equipped to face the challenges of the 21st Century. Family life is terribly busy and time is an expensive commodity. I wanted to give families the resources needed to cope successfully as a REAL family in today’s modern world.
Lelemba: What is your training background?
Angelique: My training includes a Higher Diploma in Education, a certificate in Mediational Approaches to Learning and Discovering the Building Blocks of Thinking, as well as in Public Relations and Counselling. I am what I like to call a “forever student” – always reading, always learning, always growing!
Lelemba: I identify with that! I am a forever student too. How is business so far? Do you enjoy it?
Angelique: I am a peoples-person and the success of our programmes and workshops is attributed to the fact that I believe in building and maintaining the relationship between client and trainer. Unlike other professionals in the field of coaching and therapy, as an EQual Zeal® Master Trainer, I have the freedom to visit with my clients, attend their extra-murals, watch them perform at their school concerts, and generally be a mentor to them. I love working with children and seeing the “light go on” when they realise that they have the tools needed to reach their potential. Mentoring a couple who have chosen to embark on our Zeal for Life® Parent Coaching Programme is often where I see the greatest results. To see them achieve improved closeness as husband and wife so that they can be that much better as parents, is truly the ultimate reward.
Lelemba: What are your plans for the future?
Angelique: Exciting times lie ahead. EQual Zeal® branches nation-wide will be launching their Zeal for Life® 8-week Toddler Programme in Term 2 – the first of its kind and along with that I will be investigating further opportunities within the framework of EQual Zeal® Training. I am entering an exhilarating time of my career and there is so much on the horizon. Which direction I take will depend on the plan God has for me.
Lelemba: We wish you all the best. Thank you very much for sharing your story with us. I am sure it will inspire others out there.