#PowerHer: from a 15sqm Space to Building Businesses That Create Opportunity — Meloh Ntleko’s Journey of Entrepreneurship and Impact

Entrepreneurship is often presented as the story of the big idea, the breakthrough moment or the business that eventually makes it. But behind every sustainable business is a journey of starting small, making difficult decisions, learning through failure and continuing to show up when walking away seems easier.

For Meloh Ntleko, a South African entrepreneur, businesswoman and speaker, entrepreneurship has become more than a means of building businesses. It has become a vehicle for job creation, ownership, personal development and economic participation.

As part of Youth To Power Network’s #PowerHer campaign this Women’s Month, we celebrate women who are not only building for themselves but are creating opportunities for others along the way. Meloh’s journey is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the size of your beginning does not determine the scale of your future.

From 15sqm to Multiple Businesses

Meloh is the founder and owner of multiple businesses spanning laundry and shoe care, hospitality, filtered water and other service-based industries.

Her entrepreneurial journey began in 2018 with TakkieWash SA, launched from a modest 15sqm space in Musgrave, Durban.

What started as a small venture has since developed into multiple businesses and locations, including Linen & Mocha a laundry and café concept, and HydroStop.

But behind the growth is a philosophy that remains remarkably simple: start with what you have, learn as you go and keep building.

Meloh's story challenges the idea that entrepreneurs need unlimited resources before they can begin. Her journey demonstrates that growth can come through consistency, reinvestment, learning and the willingness to keep looking for opportunities.

When the Mission Became Bigger Than the Business

Like many entrepreneurs, Meloh initially entered business because she wanted to create a different life for herself.

But somewhere along the journey, her purpose expanded.

Entrepreneurship showed her that a business can become much more than a source of income. It can create employment, develop people's skills, strengthen families and contribute to communities.

That realisation has become central to her mission.

For Meloh, building businesses is also about creating an environment where the people around her can dream, develop and eventually build something of their own.

This is perhaps one of the most powerful aspects of her entrepreneurial philosophy: success should not simply be measured by what one person owns, but also by the opportunities created for others.

Resilience Is More Than Surviving Difficult Seasons

The entrepreneurial journey has tested Meloh financially, emotionally and personally.she She has experienced failed ideas, financial pressure, staffing challenges and difficult seasons where walking away would have been easier.

Yet those experiences became lessons in leadership.

Meloh believes resilience is not about never struggling. Instead, it is about continuing to make decisions, solve problems and lead even when circumstances are difficult.

That mindset has also shaped her approach to leadership.

For her, leadership cannot only exist when everything is going well. A leader must remain accountable, develop people, address challenges and continue showing up.

It is a philosophy that speaks directly to the realities of entrepreneurship: building a business is not only about having a vision; it is about having the discipline to keep working on that vision.

Building Businesses. Building People.

Meloh's ambitions extend beyond growing successful companies.

She wants her businesses to contribute towards creating a stronger culture of entrepreneurship and ownership in South Africa.

Her vision is one where people who enter her businesses as employees can leave with more than just work experience.

She wants them to gain skills, confidence and knowledge, and hopefully develop dreams of their own.

This approach places people at the centre of entrepreneurship.

Every employee represents a person with potential. Every business represents an opportunity to learn. And every entrepreneur who is inspired to start something contributes another building block towards a stronger economy.

#PowerHer: A Woman Building With Purpose

During Women’s Month, stories like Meloh's remind us that women's empowerment is not simply about celebrating women who have already succeeded.

It is also about telling the stories of women who are still building, learning, taking risks, creating jobs and opening doors for others.

Meloh represents a generation of South African women who are choosing ownership, innovation and entrepreneurship as tools for creating change.

Her journey from a small 15sqm space to building multiple businesses demonstrates the power of starting before everything is perfect.

It also reminds young entrepreneurs that your first chapter does not have to look like your final chapter.

Entrepreneurship as Nation Building

At the heart of Meloh's vision is a belief that entrepreneurship can contribute to something much bigger than individual success.

Nation building.

Every sustainable business creates economic activity.

Every employee represents a household supported.

Every skill developed creates new possibilities.

Every entrepreneur inspired to start contributes another potential solution to South Africa's economic challenges.

For Meloh, this is the bigger picture.

“Bite off more than you can chew, and figure out how to chew it along the way.”

It is more than a quote. It captures the spirit of her entrepreneurial journey; taking on challenges, learning along the way and refusing to allow uncertainty to become an excuse for standing still.

Her Power. Her Businesses. Her Impact.

This Women’s Month, Youth To Power Network celebrates Meloh Ntleko as part of our #PowerHer campaign;celebrating women who are not waiting for opportunity, but are building it.

Her story is a reminder to young entrepreneurs: you don't need to start big. You need to start.

Start with what you have.

• Learn.
• Reinvest.
• Build people.
• Create opportunities.
• And keep going.

Because sometimes, the business that changes your life can begin in just 15sqm.