AGN; When did you decide the entrepreneural path was the way forward for you?

PL; It was in 2020 that I decided the entrepreneurial journey was the way forward. There are two main reasons I came to this conclusion:

1. I wanted the freedom of working from home and being fully present for my newborn daughter.

2. The lack of African representation in literature was a big motivator to start developing materials and products that shine a light on Africa.

AGN; What is the biggest misconception you feel others have about entrepreneurs?

PL; I think there is a misconception that if your business doesn’t show any returns within 3 years it is a failure. Based on my own experience, I feel that is too short a timeline to reach such a determination.

AGN; Which of your businesses has surpsised you the most in terms of the speed at which it has become successful and now that you have the benefit of hindsight, why do you feel it has performed so well?

PL; ‘Manaha Organics’ has surprised me at the rate it has grown. My grandmother used to handcraft soaps and due to my passion for sustainability and my enviromental awareness, it is something I began to do as a passion project, however, from 10 soaps a month I am now doing around 120 per month.

The businesses actually started trading about 6 months ago although the concept and basic design began in 2023. People are definitely more health conscious so society is receptive to what I offer, i.e. organic products that are a healthy alternative to what is more widely available. Of course from a business perspective, one still needs to do the right things/put in the effort to enable the business to become established and grow.

AGN; In terms of the businesses you own or are inovled with, which resonates with you the most and why is that?

PL; It is Manaha Organics because wellness is very important to me at this stage of my life, not least because I have a young daughter and I am very vigilant about what she consumes and the products she uses.

I am passionate about bringing healthy organic products to market not just because of the potential economic gain but more importantly because of the health benefits such products provide and the wider beneficial impact on society.

AGN; You currently run two businesses and have a senior role in your mother’s business, ‘Education Business Services (EBS Lesotho)’. Would you like to run anymore?

PL; Two is plenty plus the work I do at my mum’s business which is super important to me. I have no intention of setting up anything new at this juncture.

AGN; One of the projects at EBS Lesotho you are involved with is ‘The Thuto and Leseli Initiative’ which focuses on the development of local language learning materials.

I understand this project is very important to you. Why do you feel it is important for people in Africa to harness their local languages as a resource for learning?

PL; Relatability. It is more than just a given that information which is more relatable is easier to convey and for learners to understand; more so for young minds. We focus on early years learning. A key age range for us are children between the ages of 5 and 8. Representation is also very important.

There is a literacy gap in Lesotho. Helping to bridge that gap will enhance society as a whole. In this regards, learning resources and stratergies that are more effective in aiding the development of the marjority of our populace is absolutely crucial. To this end, for the reasons mentioned utilising local languages is key.

AGN; This year you founded a new company, Manaha Organics. What can you tells us about it and what motivated you to set it up?

PL; It is a clean beauty and wellness brand. This means that there are no chemicals or artifical ingredients in our products. Our packaging is also environmentally friendly. I was driven to set it up due to the love I have for the natural world and wellness.

There isn’t much out there that is easily accessible on botanicals in Lesotho and the benefits to one’s wellbeing utilising them can yield. I felt compelled to underake research and make my findings known both for my benefit but also for the wider society.

AGN; What does success in business mean to you?

PL; Longevity, sustainability and impact. Touching people’s lives in a meaningful way directly or indirectly through business is of the utmost importance to me. Monetary gain without holistic societal impact doesn’t cut it for me as far as the definition of a successful business is concerned.

AGN; You studied Journalism, why?

PL; I have always wanted to be a writer. My first passion was to be a creative writer.

To indulge my passion for writing, although not creative writing as such, years ago I started a blog called ‘Map The Content’ which focused on Lesotho culture. I maintained if for about 3 years before heading off to university.

I felt studying journalism would help with my writing so I made the decision to go to university to study it.

AGN; You went to university in Cape Town, South Africa having spent all of your life in Lesotho. How did you find the transition?

PL; I moved to South Africa with my mum so I had some support initially, however, when she left things became more difficult. There was no extended family to rely on. I married quite young and had a daughter soon after.

The absence of a close nit female network of family and friends is something that was quite difficult to deal with. For years I felt a dislocation between myself and the country. It was only after me and my husband bought a house here that eventually I began to feel less of a stranger in South Africa.

AGN; Who is the one person that has inspired you the most and why?

PL; My mother is the person who has inspired me the most. Her work ethic, kindness and compassion have been very impactful. It took looking up to other people to eventually realise the leader I should most look up to was right there in front of me. She is my hero and I feel privileged to be in her life.

AGN; Is there a pivotal experience you have had that has changed your outlook on life?

PL; I have had challenges with my mental health. Just before the covid period I had my daughter. During covid, as a young mum I was earning more money than I ever had but I wasn’t fullfilled. I ended up in therapy and subsequently realised that money and material gain wasn’t the be all and end all.

I went on to re-priotise and adjust my values and goals. I now value a more holistic lifestyle above all else. My walks in nature are non negotiable, reading is non negotiable, adequate rest is non negotiable and ensuring I do not short-change myself with regards to my wellbeing is non negotiable.

AGN; What is your greatest achievement?

PL; While accolades might be easier to mention, my greatest accomplishment is controlling my time, waking up with a smile on my face, working on projects I’m passionate about.

AGN; What is a non family and friends related experience that you miss most about Lesotho?

PL; I miss driving in the mountains and the snow. You may be surprised to know we have a ski resort in Lesotho.

AGN; What is your biggest regret to date?

PL; Not being gentle or more compassionate with myself when I was younger. I used to be very hard on myself because I have always wanted to achieve a lot. I was more inclined to impress others even at the expense of my needs.

That state of mind became quite damaging but thankfully I have learned to show myself more self-love.

AGN; What personal qualities would your husabnd say he likes the most about you?

PL; I think he would say he likes that I am a hard worker, I am disciplined and that I see things through.

AGN; Is there anything further you would like to add?

PL; There isn’t anything further I would like to say.