A profile of leadership, resilience, and purpose
Scrolling through TikTok, Leadership Editor Prof Onkgopotse JJ Tabane found a gem he never thought he would come across on the social media streets. For months, he attempted to reach out to her to no avail, until one day when he was dining with his team at Marcos African Place in Cape Town, Sharon Moatshe coincidently decided to dine to the beats of the Marimba. They didn’t meet that evening. Earlier that afternoon, he had written another desperate email after the team had reported that they wanted Sharon to be the host of a podcast on the challenges of single mothers. He wrote the email and left the rest to the universe. When he got back to the hotel… finally, a response: “Were you by any chance dining at Marcos African Place tonight?”
This is Sharon’s story of inspiration in her own words.
Background and upbringing
My name is Masego Sharon Moatshe, I was born and raised in Kagiso, a vibrant township in the West Rand of Gauteng. I was raised by a phenomenal and resilient black woman, my mother, who has been the greatest influence in my life. As a single parent, she not only built a loving home for us, but she also served the community with her whole heart. She is a pastor and works for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Kagiso, and I grew up watching her pour into others, creating safe spaces for healing and hope. As an only child, I have never seen my mother work a traditional 9-to-5 job. Her life has always been rooted in community development, upliftment, and service. So, naturally, the idea that one can build purpose-driven work that improves lives has become my foundation for success. She showed me leadership and selfless leadership. I was also strongly shaped by my maternal grandmother and my aunt—both remarkable women who instilled discipline, compassion, and academic excellence in me. My aunt, a matron, always emphasised the importance of hard work and education, values that have followed me into every room I walk into.
I honour my paternal family as well—my grandmother and cousins who played a meaningful role in supporting and guiding me throughout my journey. Even though co-parenting wasn’t perfect, I learnt a lot from both households. My father has always been entrepreneurial—he managed and ran a family pub and hosted events. I didn’t realise it at the time, but those experiences planted seeds. Years later, I opened Sharon’s Café, where I now host similar soulful experiences—creating community through music, food, and shared joy.
Influential leaders
The greatest influences in my life have been the women who raised me—strong, caring, and deeply committed to both family and community. My mother continues to be my ultimate role model. She is an extraordinary pastor, a powerful speaker, and a devoted nurturer. She leads with faith and love, and she shows up for her family with the same passion she brings into her ministry and community work. Watching her serve selflessly taught me that leadership is an act of love.
My aunt, an exceptional professional in the healthcare sector, shaped my understanding of excellence and work ethics. Through her, I learned that discipline and dedication open doors that talent alone cannot. My late maternal grandmother travelled from Kagiso to Cape Town to babysit whilst I went to write my final diploma exams and my paternal grandmother stepped in when we needed her the most. This month, she turned 87 on the 1st of November and has not forgotten to wish me a happy birthday in all 31 years of my existence. My family demonstrated what cooperative parenting could look like, even in imperfect circumstances. I grew up surrounded by women who refused to accept limitations, women who would fix a roof themselves if needed, who ran households and community spaces with equal mastery. They made me believe that I was gifted, capable, and destined to take up space in the world. Their example taught me that you can lead, care, inspire, and build all at once without compromising who you are.
Values system
My core values are integrity, empathy, accountability, and excellence. These were non-negotiable in my home. Growing up as the daughter of a pastor, I did not merely hear sermons about values, I witnessed them lived out daily. My mother raised me in a very principled environment where honesty and responsibility were expected in every action. Gentle parenting was also a big part of my upbringing. In our household, conflict was never resolved through violence—but through conversation, accountability, and love. That shaped my belief that leadership should uplift, not diminish; that healing is part of our duty; and that every person has the potential to make the world kinder than they found it.
From my mother’s pastoral calling and my aunt’s dedication to healthcare, I learned that service and excellence are daily practices. These values continue to guide me in business, in teaching, and in every community I am privileged to be part of.
Leadership style
I describe my leadership style as collaborative and empowering. My aim is always to lead from behind to hold space, create support, and allow others to shine. I believe true leadership is not about being the loudest voice in the room but about unlocking brilliance within others.
I see potential in people sometimes before they see it in themselves, and my mission is to help them uncover their talent. If you work with me, my hope is that you will leave with more confidence, more skill, and better than me. Leadership is the succession of building leaders who can go further and fly higher. To me, the legacy of leadership is measured not in what I achieve alone, but in how many others rise because I did.
Navigating challenges
When COVID-19 hit, my journey as an entrepreneur took a dramatic turn. I had just signed a lease to launch Sharon’s Café in 2020, only months before lockdowns began. The food and hospitality industry was one of the hardest hit, and I found myself responsible for rent, salaries, and a vision that suddenly felt threatened. But that season taught me resilience and the power of storytelling. I shared my struggles on social media, which ama2k refers to as “crashing out”—and something remarkable happened. People showed up for me. There were donations, crowdfunding efforts, customers who would drop off support and encouragement the moment restrictions eased. The community literally kept my doors open. I learned that a business isn’t just a brand, it’s a narrative told on behalf of our forefathers who sacrificed their lives so we can be. It is evidence that we are our ancestors’ wildest dreams.
We survived the storm and in 2022, I was honoured with the Soweto Unsung Hero Award for pushing through those difficult years. That recognition felt like a celebration not just of me, but of a nation that refused to let small businesses die. In 2024, I was nominated by Heavy Chef as SA’s top five women entrepreneurs to look out for.
Entrepreneurial journey and motherhood
Motherhood has been the greatest gift and the greatest motivation in my entrepreneurial journey. I am a single parent to an incredible 10-year-old son who is brilliant, gifted, and inspires me every single day. His father has never been present in his life, so I had to learn to stand on my own—to rise after heartbreak and choose resilience. What I didn’t have growing up, I want my son to have in abundance: safety, opportunity, and possibility. That has been my drive—to provide a life where he never feels limited.
I’ve been co-parenting with my mother for the past decade, and she remains my biggest cheerleader. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, she reminds me: “Your son is watching. He believes in you.” That reminder fuels me to lead boldly, to build fearlessly, and to show my son that dreams are valid and that parenthood is not a barrier to greatness.
Being a mother didn’t slow me down—it pushed me into my purpose.
Global Entrepreneurship Week
There is no perfect moment to start. There will always be storms but remember, eagles strike better during a storm. Use the storm to rise. Innovate. Adapt. Serve. Innovation is not always inventing something new, sometimes it is simply seeing a problem and having the courage to solve it. That is where entrepreneurship truly begins: in service, bravery, curiosity, and continuous learning.
At Stellenbosch University, where I am an ad hoc Module Facilitator teaching Social Entrepreneurship, I always tell my students: “You can change the world and build wealth, you don’t have to choose one over the other.” True entrepreneurship unlocks economic possibilities while improving lives. That is the future we are building together.
Social entrepreneurship
- To be a social entrepreneur, you must: know your “why” because purpose is your anchor
- Be community-oriented, not ego-oriented
- Lead with empathy, ethics, honesty, and integrity
- Solve problems with communities, not for them
- Show long-term commitment because real impact takes time as you cannot measure success only in profit, but in lasting transformation
Leadership lessons
I used to believe that leadership meant doing everything myself, juggling multiple projects at once. But burnout taught me a better way: master one thing at a time, delegate, and trust others to shine. Leadership is not about control but motivating and facilitating the process of people ascending to the greatest versions of themselves.
Future aspirations
Sharon’s Café is not just a business; it’s a dream rooted in culture, community, and creativity. We are currently seeking a new and larger location and new investors that will allow us to expand our offering, host more events, and cultivate a space where people gather to celebrate food, music, and purpose.
Beyond the café, I am building a successful Executive Coaching practice. I have studied for a degree in Public Relations and Executive Coaching at UCT, and I am currently completing a course in the Psychology of Positive Thinking and Happiness at Stanford University. My vision is to support entrepreneurs, community leaders, and NPOs with mentorship, resources, and strategy ensuring they don’t burn out while doing the work our country needs most.
GBV crisis in South Africa
In South Africa, we cannot afford to justify or debate the circumstances that led to violence, especially on social media. No one deserves to be abused. No one deserves to die at the hands of someone who claims to love them. We as a country need to be more intentional about economic empowerment for women, mentorship and emotional education for boys and men (men need to adopt and mentor boys raised by single mothers), and faster justice and extreme punishments for the offenders.
We must also acknowledge that men, too, are victims of abuse and their voices deserve protection. As influencers, leaders, and citizens, we must change the narrative and be part of the solution. GBV is the greatest human rights violation of our generation, and we must treat it with the urgency it demands.
Xhosa language
Many assume my love for isiXhosa comes from my son’s father, but he was the first Xhosa man I dated, and he mostly spoke Setswana! My journey with the language began when I moved to Cape Town for university. I couldn’t understand a word people were saying around me, so I started learning simply because I wanted to be included and to respond if anyone spoke about me!
Over time, I fell deeply in love with the beauty of isiXhosa, its rhythm, its storytelling power, and its cultural pride. I even lived in Langa township for two months with a friend’s family and that experience immersed me into the richness of Xhosa traditions. Today, the language is part of my heart, my identity, and the South African diversity I proudly embrace.
Being a young mother
I became a mother at 21 and it still feels like a teenage pregnancy to me. I always encourage young women: first become independent then become a mother.
My son is the greatest gift I have ever received. He gave my life purpose, light, and drive. But motherhood at a young age is tough, especially without a present father. I learned that a child deserves not only love, but also stability. So, build your education, your career, your emotional and financial foundation first so that even if the other parent doesn’t show up, you still stand tall.
Regarding marriage, I am currently not married but in a life partnership with someone who has been an anchor and beacon of hope. I value the institution of marriage when it is grounded in mutual respect, friendship, healing, and shared purpose.
Marriage should not be rushed. Live your dreams, grow into your best self and let marriage find you when love is ready and strong enough to last.
Hope for South Africa
My greatest hope is that South Africans believe in their own brilliance again.
We must:
- Empower young people with education and real opportunity
- Build our own economic solutions
- Stop waiting for government or foreign intervention
- Collaborate instead of competing
- Create a culture of excellence and accountability
We are the solution we have been waiting for. We have talent, resilience, and creativity we just need to act. Our future is bright if we choose to build it together as a rainbow nation and, yes, that includes our LGBTQI community.
Prof Onkgopotse JJ Tabane is the Editor of Leadership Magazine.