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From personal struggles to national reach

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Ayesha Osman

From scientific discovery to entrepreneurial victory, Ayesha Osman is a powerful example of purpose-driven innovation. As a chemical engineer, lecturer in Unisa’s College of Science, Engineering and Technology, and entrepreneur, Osman has worked closely with Inhlanyelo Hub NPC to refine her business strategy, strengthen her entrepreneurial skills, and showcase how determination and innovation can reshape opportunities in South Africa’s small business landscape.

Osman embraced the entrepreneurial development and business support opportunities offered by Inhlanyelo Hub NPC. Like many others, Osman‘s entrepreneurial journey began with her own lived realities as she explored ways to enhance her health. She founded The Healing Alchemist, a company that manufactures health supplements.


The journey through Inhlanyelo Hub NPC

Through the Inhlanyelo Hub in-person Ideation Programme, Osman learnt a great deal about the practice of being entrepreneurial. Inhlanyelo Hub not only matched her with mentors but also connected her to advisors with industry experience, who helped with business planning, compliance and product positioning in a saturated market.

The business coaching series grew to the point where Ayesha began gaining hands-on experience in managing cash flow and developing a brand. This gave her the confidence she needed to juggle two demanding roles: PhD student and business owner.

The Hub provided Ayesha with a platform to present her ideas and receive feedback. She had the time to work at a pace that did not feel rushed, a process that valued long-term sustainability over short-term deliverables. While leveraging Inhlanyelo Hub’s referral networks, The Healing Alchemist was incubated to gain entry into outlets nationwide. This experience provided valuable knowledge and insight into working with distribution partners and collaborators. Ayesha said the initial responses have been overwhelmingly positive, giving her confidence and peace of mind as she completes her thesis.


Business challenges and achievements

Osman says that her PhD thesis currently takes up most of her time. Other challenges include developing a website and product labels, rolling out marketing campaigns and securing quality assurance certification for her supplements. Her brand has earned trust and awareness by strategically targeting different market segments.

Osman adopted a distributor-based business model, with a trusted brand promoter/salesperson to manage the customer-facing side, including product quality, compliance and innovation. She has also built a boots-on-the-ground distributor network within her community of collaborators who understand and promote the product. Osman is pursuing a sustainable business model with the potential to scale nationally (and, one day, globally), driven by community connection and consistent effort.

Her growth story is one of commitment and vision. From a single idea originating from a personal health journey to building a system of increasing complexity, Osman‘s journey highlights how dedicated mentorship and structured entrepreneurial support can translate innovation into lasting impact.

For more information on Inhlanyelo Hub and its programmes, visit https://inhlanyelohub.com/en/

* Submitted by Inhlanyelo Hub NPC

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Publish date: 2025-10-23 00:00:00.0

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