Author: The Business Worldwide

Skincare is supposed to be a regime that rejuvenates not just your body but also stirs your heart to pleasure. Because who doesn’t like to own naturally beautiful skin? So, we march on towards the product shelves at the supermarkets, both physical and virtual, to seek that one fine product that will help us in our beauty conquest. 

However, many trials and errors later, some of us still keep looking for that elusive product. We often have to go through a lot of unasked pain, irritation, rashes, and breakouts to realize that what’s in those jars is not what is promised. Often laden with unnatural products and sometimes harsh chemicals that do more harm than in the later run, commercial beauty products often break our dreams of having good, healthy skin and sometimes even bank balances!

For Roberta Perry, however, the search turned into research that led to her realizing that sometimes, you need to take matters into your own hands, trust Mother Nature, and put in all the skills you have to achieve what you set out for. 

In 2006, Roberta, after much research and experimentation, finally found a solution for her dry, itchy skin that worked wonders not just for herself, but also those around her. This led to her establishing her now amazing company, ScrubzBody.

So, here’s Roberta’s story of finding herself, her determination, making promises of natural, good, and effective products, and keeping the promise!
 
TBW: Give a brief overview of your professional journey. What made you choose your current industry? 

Roberta: It was more that it found me. It was 2006. My skin was really dry and flaky and literally peeled when I scratched it. I was busy with my work, my kids, and home and forgot to take care of myself, using the harsh deodorant soap my husband liked and never taking the time to moisturize or properly pamper my skin. When I was in a meeting and scratched a dry spot till it bled, I knew it was time to get some products to help. 
 
I walked into my local skincare store and the sales manager handed me a salt scrub. I had never used one before and was excited at the prospect of shedding the dead skin. Without thinking, I used it on my body and enjoyed it, until I hit the spot that I had caused to bleed earlier. It was raw skin and the salt scrub was burning and making my eyes water. I vowed to never use a salt scrub again. This, however, put me on a quest for the perfect scrub. 
 
After trying upwards of 20 different brands, I realized I could make one better myself, and I did. 
 
My late sister, Michelle, had some retail experience, so she helped at craft fairs and holiday boutiques. My own past graphic design experience had me setting up the website and creating our first brochures and labels for the jars. I did it fast so I made plenty of mistakes and kept learning along the way. 
 
As we evolved our look streamlined and our line added complimentary products like OilzPlus+ Lotion and Bye Bye Bagz Eye and Face Cream. We started “Make Your Own Scrubz Parties” to cater to young and old alike. We sell at our Main Street retail shop, and online, and also have a wholesale and private label business.
 
We slowly built an audience and grew from there. We turned from only wholesale and online retail to store retail and online retail, with a smaller wholesale/private label business model, preferring to get to know our customers one by one.
 
TBW: Describe your working style in a few words. How would others define your communication style? 
Roberta: My overall work style is light and loose because I tend to be a bit of an “oh look, it’s a squirrel” and get lost on something else as I strive to remember what I was working on in the first place. Yet, I have certain things that are scheduled and keep me accountable. 
 
For example, I am really great at sending weekly emails. It keeps customers in the loop and is a once-a-week reminder to them that we exist. It lets our list know about specials and events at our shop. It is our one-on-one way to communicate and it’s the best marketing tool we use. 
 
Social media is for hellos and pictures and reminders, but email is for sales. So, because of this, I schedule the emails weeks in advance so I know that no matter what is going on in my life, whether I am on vacation or have a family emergency, my weekly letter will go out. 
 
Luckily, my VP/Production Manager/Best friend Wendy keeps the production part of the business running smoothly. Together, we basically work the lighter side of 2 full-time jobs and manage to run the business with some occasional part-time help. It allows for work/recreation on a weekly basis. This is the balance I need for my own sanity and for the errand availability for my aging mom.
 
TBW: What unique or fresh ideas have you introduced in your capacity? 

Roberta: What I love about my business is that it is a combination of “rinse and repeat” as far as product and the day-to-day ritual of running the business. Yet, because we are people-centric more than product-centric, any number of things can change depending on who walks into our shop that day, or who calls or emails us. It really keeps things fresh!

 “Make Your Own Scrubz” Parties have customers creating a signature scent of our sugar scrub, getting pampered, and learning about how fragrance blends. Shipping the boxes out as “Make Your Own at Home”, for people who can’t make it to the store, is another part of that same idea. 
 
We recently introduced Smarty Pitz deodorant based on and made for us by the original owner of Smarty Pits. Her former customers and mine are really loving it!
 
 
TBW: Brief us about the services provided by your company. How does your company uphold its uniqueness in the market? 

Roberta: Our company creates sugar scrubs, lotions, balms, and things like that. We also have shampoo and conditioner, and as mentioned above, deodorant. 
 
What we really sell, however, is pampering. Self-love and kindness are directed at ourselves. We can’t stress that enough. It just happens to come in jars and bottles. 
 
 We keep ourselves unique in that we offer customers over-the-top service. Too many businesses are treating people poorly and with disregard. I always say that the first sale is nice, but the second sale is a reminder that you did something correctly the first time. And so on and so on. 
 
This makes each customer feel special and seen and heard. We also make products, like our lotions and balms, that last for months because you only need a little.
 
We also host the Make Your Own Scrubz parties and the occasional lecture, so that adds another dimension to our individuality.
 
TBW: What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career? How did you overcome it and what did you learn from it? 

Roberta: Naysayers. 
When I went full-time freelance in my design career, a couple of people thought they knew it all and tried to talk me out of it. “Get a job,” they said. I almost believed them. I freelanced for 16 years. 

And when I launched ScrubzBody I really pounded the pavement to prove wrong anyone who thought it was too difficult and too expensive to start a business.

TBW: Enlighten us about your take on technology. As a modern-day entrepreneur, how are you leveraging the power of technology to your organization’s benefit? 

Roberta: I love certain apps and programs more than others. Don’t we all? 
The downside is when I post something on social and stay there too long. 
The upside is that I get to introduce others around the country and even the world to our products and philosophy. 

I use things like Dropbox for efficiency and Adobe Acrobat, Illustrator, and Photoshop for my business writing, photos, and design. I particularly love how easy it has become to create a new website on WordPress or keep the one you have updated with the latest pictures and information.

TBW: What do you see as the biggest trends in your industry for the next 5 years, and how do you plan to prepare your organization for them? 

Roberta: Trends come and go but good solid, simple skincare stays. 
There are boxes of cleansing pads, jars of over-hyped creams and serums, let alone all the money spent on plastic surgery and Botox, etc. that seem to be “OMG this is it” type situations. But when the hype runs out, the simple comes back in style. 

So, we just keep producing the best we can and will hire extra production people as the need arises.

TBW: What, according to you are the challenges hindering the progress of your industry and the potential solutions? 

Roberta: One is an oversaturation of products and the non-deliverable promises. It makes the rest of us work harder to prove our truths. 
Another is an industry that seems to punish the small, more natural, and holistic products over the hyped large company brands. That makes it about marketing, not great products.

My solution is to keep doing more of the same in regard to product quality and excellent customer service. There is a reason our people come back and it’s not because of price. We listen to their needs and skin issues and cater products to them. We serve customers like no large corporation can and it shows.

TBW: What do we expect from you and your team in the next few years? 

Roberta: For ScrubzBody it will be much of the same, only more of it if we have anything to do with it. J   I just love being a small business owner in the middle of a thriving Main Street. I love knowing our customers and sharing in their joy as they begin to see the difference in their skin. 

I love our private label business and I have recently started mentoring other business owners who want to start a skincare line. 
https://scrubzbody.com/product/wholesale-private-label/how-to-start-a-scrub-skin-care-biz/

TBW: What is that one quote you absolutely live by or find helpful? 

Roberta: I really refer to many quotes, but particularly love the following:
“You teach best what you most need to learn” — Richard Bach
“W.A.I.T.” – Why am I talking? — Anonymous
“I learned to love the journey, not the destination. I learned that this is not a dress rehearsal and that today is the only guarantee you get.” — Anna Quindlen
“Those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” — Bernard Baruch 
“Learning is finding out what you already know. Doing is demonstrating that you know it. Teaching is reminding others that they know just as well as you. You are all learners, doers, teachers.” — Richard Bach

You’ll notice it instantly. Nicole Martin, Chief Empowerment Officer and Founder of HRBoost®, loves what she does, and she does it remarkably well. “I’m the accidental entrepreneur,” said Nicole, “I looked back after starting my own business and said, ‘I started a business. Whoa!’” Nicole didn’t set out to create HRBoost®. She simply followed her passion to help clients understand the importance human resources can play in developing a strong business. Today Nicole is a successful entrepreneur and an HR industry innovator who is dedicated to helping small to mid-size business realize their potential through their employees.
A self-professed “country girl in disguise,” Nicole Martin grew up in Montana, where, she says, “Everyone knows you and greets you on the street.” Nicole was also lucky to have a great mentor early in life: her mom. “My mother is highly spiritual, and she raised me with the philosophy of being happy,” said Nicole. “She always believed in that you are a special person—she ingrained that in me—and you are capable of anything.”
At the age of 18 Nicole was ready to start proving her mom right. She left Montana and moved in with her godmother in Libertyville, Illinois. Right out of high school, Nicole got a job as a receptionist at a pre-Y2K firm where she found her passion quite by accident. “They were hiring all these computer experts from overseas, but when they arrived, the company just put them in the reception area because they didn’t know what to do with them,” recalled Nicole. “It was just inhumane.”
During the same time, Nicole was working on a training program for a college human resources class. “I wanted to help these guys out in the hallway, so I just marched into the director’s office and asked him if he wanted to see the training program I created for school.” When Nicole was finished with her presentation, the director created a human resources department for the site, hired a manager and moved 18-year-old Nicole from reception to human resources.

Nicole has been building HR departments from the ground up ever since. What makes her approach so unique, she says, is that she begins with the business’ vision and creates HR programs that are completely integrated with that vision. From the hiring process to annual reviews, the programs Nicole creates are designed to further the business, boost productivity, and help employees understand why and how their contributions are meaningful.

It is our Vision at HRBoost to bring JOY and PURPOSE to PEOPLE through their Work. It is how we serve our clients and the people that choose to join up on their visions. We live it at HRBoost and believe everyone deserves the same opportunity. In this competitive world there are a few organizations which provide the best Human Resources Management System in the marketplace, and HRBoost LLC is one of them. Emphasizing on the courage to pursue passion, the ability to bring out a change and redefining entrepreneurship, CIO Look brings to you the journey of an avid leader, Nicole Martin, the Founder and CEO of HRBoost LLC.

I try to lead by example and I also share for the benefit of all. I have published two books that really speak to women, though men have let me know they enjoy them equally as well. The Power of Joy and Purpose is my personal story and I share my 7 Presence Principles as I get asked nearly every day, how do I do it all so joyfully? I don’t do it alone. I also co-authored a book with John Tinghitella last year. We named it, NO FEAR Negotiation for Women, a book where we set forth a process that women can add to their list of abilities and for the greater benefit of our country. Men are about results and Women are about effort. We need both in business. With over 2.2 million women who have left the participating talent pool these past 12 months, everyone should be finding ways to support families more holistically. Flexibility and trust are critical to building a team of women. I know! My business happens to be all women, and many are in their child rearing years. Thankfully, I look back at how I built an intellectual playground for myself as a new mother back in 2010. Now my business serves many more who are like I once was and they too, deserve to do the work they have become skilled at and not stop earning just because they want to be mothers and/or grandmothers too.
Nicole is an internationally renowned speaker and an author. She is a dynamic and empowering consultative leader, and a futurist skilled in helping organizations to meet their strategic objectives. In recognition of her complete commitment to professional excellence as well as her community, Nicole has been honored by multiple organizations and most recently as a 2016 Enterprising Women of the Year Champion, by Enterprising Women Magazine, a 2017 Excellence in Business Award winner, and a Mirror Review enlistee of, 20 Impeccable Women in Business recognition in 2017. As a highly regarded and sought after expert, her knowledge and advice have been featured in newspapers and magazines throughout the country. Recent publications, in which she has been seen, include Forbes.com, the Daily Herald Business Ledger, and Fast Company. She is the author of the books, The Talent Emergency, The Human Side of Profitability, No Fear Negotiation for Women(August 2019), and The Power of Joy and Purpose. She is also the author of the chapter “Emotionally Speaking” in the book titled Leading from the Heart.

Well, it is very common to face a lot of challenges, criticism, hurdles, and failure in any business. However, every business organization should be very careful to listen to our clients, their experience, and ways we can better serve them. The flexibility and custom approach to how we work with clients has fueled our growth and success. The main challenge that HRBoost® has been faced was to be access to capital, both financial and human. After that, as the business grows, those challenges just increase in their scale.
I think the initial challenges of being a CEO are many. One is needing human capital and financial capital to scale and grow. Many will not grow because they are not investing in talent and often it is the CEO’s job to bear debt. I made a calculated risk to invest in my talent and invest in my bench strength. In the early years, I was reacting to my business and as a mother and wife it can be a challenge to orchestrate work life integration. I look back and realize that when I put down a process, hired capable talent, and disappeared to let them work, the process proved through; and now, we can do it again, and again, and again. You must trust the people you hire, and you must trust the process. When it is time to take a calculated risk, you invest and do what you can to increase the odds.

I feel it is imperative to get hands on experience doing what you seek to learn. Make sure it brings you joy before investing time, energy, and dedicating your life to it. Enjoy the journey and be prepared to learn, unlearn, and relearn. Surround yourself with people who inspire and support you, but also don’t patronize you. Remember, even if it gets harder, or takes longer, stay diligent. Anything you love will be worth it.
We serve businesses spanning over multiple sectors; these include Professional Services, Non-Profit Organizations, High Tech, Manufacturing, Staffing firms, Hospitality, and Healthcare. Our clients are typically from high growth business with 50-250 employees. Our model is to meet the clients wherever they are, thus we provide full-service embedded HR support, project to project support, culture design and management training, employee programs and assessments, virtual support, and phone support. I am honored to lead a high performance team of HR leaders who partners with our business clients to meet them wherever they are on their journey, to being a best place to work. We have experienced tremendous growth and proudly nearly every client has been sourced through word of mouth. Our appeal and success is due to our personal dedication for each and every client.

In the dynamic world of corporate law, where billable hours often reign supreme, Kelly Bagla stands out as a trailblazer. With over 20 years of experience in business law, she has disrupted the traditional billing model by offering clients a flat fee structure. This innovative approach has not only simplified legal processes but also garnered her international acclaim.

Based in San Diego, California, Kelly’s commitment to transparency and efficiency has transformed the way legal services are delivered. Her clients benefit from predictable costs and a streamlined experience, setting her apart from her peers. Her passion for simplifying business law has left an indelible mark.

Beyond her legal prowess, Kelly wears many hats: entrepreneur, bestselling author, inventor, and host of the top-ranked business law podcast, Go Legal Yourself! ®.

As a prolific author, Kelly has penned five entrepreneurship books, sharing her insights with a global audience. Her expertise has been featured in respected publications such as Business View, Investors Digest, and the California Business Journal. Awards have followed suit, including: Winner of Top 50 Women of Influence in Law, Winner of Top 100 leaders in Law, 2023 Winner of the Global Law Experts Business Law Firm of the Year in California. And AI Acquisition International Winner of the 2023 Leading Adviser Awards.

The Start

Kelly’s journey began as a first-generation immigrant in America, fueled by a childhood dream of becoming a lawyer. She shattered barriers to become the first attorney in her family. Kelly was born and raised in England. After coming to the States, she earned multiple degrees in business and law.

Seeing her father migrate from India to England, where he worked hard to eventually own the business gave her special appreciation for entrepreneurs and attracted her to the business side of things. But her true calling remained the law. 

After completing her legal education in Northern California and passing the bar, she honed her skills at the esteemed Baker McKenzie LLP, advising national and international clients. Joining Baker & McKenzie in San Diego marked her arrival in the vibrant city, which she now considers home.  She considers it an honor and privilege to have worked for the largest international law firm globally at the time.

In 2009, Kelly founded the Bagla Law Firm, APC, specializing in business formation and asset protection. But her impact extends beyond legal practice.

“I came to the U.S. as an immigrant seeking the American Dream. I’ve gone on to form my own law firm, Bagla Law Firm, APC, and to establish multiple business enterprises, truly creating the life of my dreams. I’ve made it my passion to help other entrepreneurs reach their own American Dreams, not only through my legal practice, but also through my online legal forms company, my business coaching company, professional speaking, and media appearances. In addition, I’ve written five books, all focused on helping business owners pursue their dreams,” says Kelly about her journey.

Redefining the Industry

Bringing a fresh approach to everything she does seems to be Kelly’s mission! She introduced flat-rate fees to make her legal services more accessible to startup companies. Most law firms charge “billable hours,” famously epitomized by Clancy’s book and movie, “The Firm.” Business owners have no way to budget their legal costs, often getting hit with massive “surprise” invoices after the services are completed. At Kelly’s firm, her team understands an entrepreneur needs to know ahead of time what they will be charged. 

Another fresh legal idea Kelly instituted is her online Do-It-Yourself legal forms company, Go Legal Yourself!® (www.golegalourself.com) She appreciates that many startups can’t afford to hire an attorney. Go Legal Yourself!® provides business owners with the right legal tools to start and grow their businesses at a fraction of the price that traditional law firms would charge. This eliminates the hassle and worry of searching for documents online. In addition, they receive attorney-assisted guidance.

“In my mission to help business owners pursue their American Dreams, I also formed a 360° coaching company. The coaching provided by experts in their fields is not limited to master business classes, but includes mind-body training for all-around success,” says Kelly.

The Firm

Bagla Law Firm, APC is an award-winning law firm, specializing in business formation, asset protection, and a full boutique of legal services for businesses. The firm has become a leading expert in helping foreign-based companies enter the U.S. Market.

As a business attorney who is also an entrepreneur, Kelly understands the needs of business owners. She has both the proven business experience and legal expertise to ensure their assets are protected. This dual expertise makes her unique in her field.

She also chooses to stand out from the crowd in every respect, from her bold approach to her client care and personal style. “I dare to be noticed in a sea of grey and black lawyer suits. And I wear my title “Queen of Business Law®” with pride! I am great at what I do. I have a passion for doing it. And I want to be remembered when a business owner is looking for an attorney. I try to exemplify a quote from the Guru Granth Sahib, in the Sikh Bible. “Why blend in when you were born to stand out?”,” shares Kelly.

Kelly prioritizes client satisfaction through her customer-centric approach. Drawing inspiration from chess, she views her role as the Queen—guarding the King at every turn, providing tactical protection and maneuvers for business success. Kelly fosters loyal relationships with clients, peers, and her team, leveraging referrals to thrive. Her network includes trusted connections with Business Litigators, Immigration Lawyers, IP Attorneys, and diverse business professionals

Wearing Multiple Hats

Kelly continues to exert every effort to connect with entrepreneurs, ensuring they recognize that they needn’t expend tens of thousands of dollars and countless hours to establish their businesses and safeguard their livelihoods. Her initiatives include authoring the best-selling book Go Legal Yourself!®, participating in interviews, maintaining high visibility, and proactively marketing the revolutionary online services offered by Go Legal Yourself.com. As a result of these endeavors, Kelly has earned recognition as winner of the Lawyers of Distinction for three consecutive years.

As an entrepreneur, she has been honored as the Business Woman of the Year by the San Diego Business Journal and her entrepreneurial journey has graced the covers of numerous publications.
Additionally, she contributes articles to both San Diego Veterans magazine and Homeland magazine. Her engaging speaking engagements span diverse audiences, including events like Start Grind powered by Google and the Veterans in Business Network. Furthermore, she hosts the podcast Go Legal Yourself!®, featuring insightful interviews with like-minded entrepreneurs.

Kelly’s latest venture is Pitbulls ‘n Pearls®, a business coaching company catering to individuals who are passionate about life and serious about business. At Pitbulls ‘n Pearls®, participants not only learn how to kickstart their dream businesses but receive expert guidance on personal growth, positive mindset training, and building confidence. It’s a holistic approach to mastering both professional and personal aspects of life.
 
Looking at her full schedule, we asked how she manages to handle it all without breaking a sweat, “I don’t require much sleep and I start every day with exercise, which gives me energy. I’m willing to work long and hard. These are all essential in helping me wear so many hats. But most importantly, I have the right team around me to help me brainstorm, manage, execute, and organize my businesses. Being able to trust my team and delegate makes it all possible. And my husband, Brent, is my most trusted, wise advisor in business and personal life.”

The Challenges in the Industry
 
Speaking of challenges and potential solutions, Kelly shares that The Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020, which is part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 and includes the Corporate Transparency Act, became law on January 1, 2021. The Corporate Transparency Act requires certain business entities to file, in the absence of an exemption, information on their “beneficial owners” with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) of the U.S. Department of Treasury.
 
Supporters insist that this law is for our good, protecting the country from money launderers. Kelly believes it is just another tactic of the government to infringe on our privacy. The act requires business owners to register and disclose each owner. Corporate structures are in place to protect business owners from being personally liable. In her legal opinion, this law opens the door to exposing entrepreneurs to great loss. “We already have laws on the books that cover anti-money laundering. I see no good purpose for this intrusive law,” she says.
 
Always Prepared for Continuous Growth

Kelly is an avid reader, devouring between 60 and 75 books a year. She makes it her practice to study media and publications on business news, leadership, strategy, and mindset to stay abreast of best practices, trends, and the changing business climate.

Staying updated on the latest legal developments and industry best practices is a continual process. She belongs to multiple legal associations and of course, completes the required CLE (Continuing Legal Education) credit hours each year. She stays current with several legal periodicals and often researches specific legal cases and new laws that affect her clients. 

Maintaining Well-being and Happiness

Kelly admits that her temperament was made for the kind of high-pressure, fast-paced, exciting life of a multiple entrepreneur and practicing attorney. The word, “stress” does not often cross her mind. She loves a thrill and a challenge. 

Kelly often sees her clients in stress (and distress), and thrives in the role of helping them through it. She doesn’t approach their emotions as a therapist. Her job is to provide solutions! When clients see there is a way through their crisis, their stress level is reduced.

“Even though I thrive on all the excitement, I recognize that I need times of refreshment and calm. Brent and I talk through all of our latest pressures and challenges. Together, we problem-solve and find creative solutions. Spending time with him is a priority each day. Our favorite time is relaxing with our dogs, “the girls” where we soak in the happy and refresh our perspective,” she says.

For the Society

Kelly stands as a steadfast advocate for veterans, collaborating closely with the Veterans Chamber of Commerce to offer business and legal guidance to veterans within the San Diego community. Her husband’s service in the Marines holds immense significance to her, and she deeply appreciates the sacrifices made by all veterans for the country she now proudly calls home. 

Kelly, a devoted dog lover, shares her home with three furry companions and her commitment to canine welfare extends beyond her own household. Her passion for ensuring every dog finds a loving family drives her to actively support Last Chance At Life, an all-breed rescue and adoption organization. This compassionate group focuses on aiding animals in San Diego County, including Boxers, birds, and other dogs requiring medical care. When resources permit, they extend their reach beyond the county borders.

Kelly also regularly donates to and supports Thrive Animal Rescue. Thrive is a no-kill shelter that cares for dogs until they are adopted. Thrive provides medical care, nutrition needs, and general support for these loving animals. In adopting from Thrive, suitability is important to them which is why they go to great lengths to find their dogs the perfect match. 

Words of Wisdom

“Grab Life by the Pearls! It’s yours for the taking” 

Kelly concludes our interaction with the following advice for young entrepreneurs:

“America is still the land of opportunity. Find your passion. Learn everything you can about your field. Get experience and training. I am a multi-degreed attorney. In other words, I not only have law degrees, but I also have business degrees. This was indispensable to my becoming an attorney and CEO of multiple companies. The time I spent on the job at the world’s largest law firm was equally important. Learning from world-class attorneys as I began practicing law taught me as much as I learned in law school. Get on-the-job experience in your industry. Don’t be in a hurry to launch your business. Be prepared, get your ducks in a row, and when you’re ready — go after your own American dream!”

“I believe it takes and entrepreneur to understand the needs of an entrepreneur.”

While mining industries are crucial to the economic structure of the world, it is also imperative that they follow sustainability and restoration practices to balance their impact on nature. Sustainable mining helps minimize negative environmental impacts like deforestation and water pollution. Restoration efforts focus on reclaiming mined areas and promoting native plant growth. Economically, sustainable practices balance resource extraction while ensuring long-term viability. Socially, community engagement and health considerations play a vital role. Helping the mining industry achieve such environmental goals is OMI Solutions (Pty) Ltd, “OMI”, a company that adds value to its clients through innovative implementation of solutions that improve sustainability, reduce environmental liabilities, and minimize risk.

Restoring Balance

OMI Solutions (Pty) Ltd,(OMI) provides a comprehensive range of services in Environmental and Agricultural Engineering, specialising primarily in the mining sector. Its services include Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), Environmental/Sustainability Regulatory Compliance, Environmental Monitoring, Financial Provisioning and Closure Planning, Research, Development and Remediation, Environmental Licensing, Environmental Technical Support and HSE Management System Auditing, Development and Implementation. 

OMI creates “Fit for Purpose and Powerful Solutions with Gentle Delivery” keeping even some of the smallest stakeholders, the insects, in mind. Its vision is to add value to its clients through innovative implementation that improves sustainability. What sets OMI apart in the market is its unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and innovative solutions. It prioritizes environmental stewardship and seeks to minimize the ecological footprint of the mining industry through its services and practices. OMI stands out by actively working towards positive industry change, advocating for responsible and ethical practices, and exceeding regulatory and social expectations in rehabilitation efforts.

“We emphasize ecological interconnectedness and believe in leading by example, setting new standards for environmental restoration and sustainability. OMI’s trajectory, marked by a steadfast commitment to sustainability, ethical practices, and innovative solutions, positions it as a leader in the mining sector,” says Robyn Mellett, Founder and CEO.

In 2020, OMI established its first apiary (bee farm) and “Wings Sanctuary” at Mountain Honey in Pretoria which won a Professional Stewardship Award in 2021 as it encompasses five of the SDGs set out by the United Nations. These include – No Poverty (SDG 1); Gender Equality (SDG 5); Reducing Inequalities (SDG 10); Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11); and Life on Land (SDG 15). 

Beekeeping is essential for environmental sustainability, supporting pollination, conserving biodiversity, and promoting sustainable agriculture. For almost four years OMI has been rescuing swarms, at no cost to the affected person or community, and relocating these swarms to the Wings Sanctuary where full-time beekeepers watch over, protect, love, and rehabilitate these swarms back to a healthy state. They can then be relocated to farms that need pollinators. The Research Facility at Mountain Honey was also established in 2020, where the first trials to undertake remediation without the need for topsoil were undertaken.

“The aim is to establish Wings Sanctuaries across Africa for all pollinators by promoting the establishment of vegetation. The preservation of bees, and all pollinators, promotes biodiversity,” shares Robyn.

The Passionate Environmentalist

Throughout her 20-year career, Robyn has been involved in several environmental projects and the management thereof, particularly in the mining sector within Africa and the Middle East. Her journey began as a lecturer at the Qwa-Qwa campus for the University of the Free State. She then worked her way up from being a junior environmental scientist at a consultancy to senior environmental positions at mining operations. She earned a reputation for rolling up her sleeves and getting her hands dirty and often teased about bringing the mud into the office. 
 
Outreach, education, training, and giving back have also always been important to Robyn, so she left mining for a short period in her career and worked in Afghanistan, something which, without a doubt, had a huge impact on her as a person. “I will forever be grateful for this life-changing experience and for the people I met,” she says.
 
On choosing mining restoration as a career, Robyn shares how her dad played a huge role in her love for nature and the outdoors. Since childhood, she always wanted to fix everything and make everything better. She was always bringing home rescue animals and saving something, so she certainly did not choose; mining, restoration, and rehabilitation chose her. 

“This long, very hard, and at times a very sad journey God has taken me on, all makes sense to me now, my passion for restoration and rehabilitation is embedded in my DNA, and without a doubt, he has a purpose for me on this wonderful planet we call home. I wake up with this overwhelming feeling of accountability and drive to prove skeptics wrong, and to turn everyone’s “no’s” into “yesses”. Through innovation, we can achieve sustainability, but to get this right we must put the well-being of people first,” she says.

The Inspiration behind OMI

Robyn was inspired to establish OMI because, during her time working in the mining sector, she constantly encountered skepticism and resistance to innovative ideas. She realized that she would have to create her own platform where her ideas could flourish without limitations. Overcoming skepticism and resistance to change in the mining sector proved to be a significant challenge she faced in her career. Despite encountering numerous setbacks and hearing countless “no’s,” she remained steadfast in her belief that there was a different way to approach environmental management, and time has proven the value of her ideas. This experience taught her the importance of resilience, innovation, and staying true to her convictions.
“The one word I am very used to hearing is “NO”, and for years it hurt me to the core, but once you work in a war zone, you realize your life is in God’s hands, and at any minute now, you could die, and then the word “NO” doesn’t carry any weight anymore,” she says.
 
The restoration solutions that OMI has successfully implemented in its research facility and on the ground will change the status quo of restoration of mining activities worldwide. 
 
An Action-oriented Leader

As the CEO and founder of OMI Solutions, Robyn’s role revolves around driving the company’s strategic vision and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. Her working style emphasizes active listening, adaptability, and a commitment to nurturing talent and discipline within the organization. There are no mistakes, there are only lessons. Gender balance, equal gender pay, inclusion, diversity, youth development, equal opportunities, and recognizing performance creates a motivated and fair space for her team to work and thrive in.

OMI prioritizes mentoring and empowering employees. The core team promotes inclusivity, the staff attends school, training centers, team-building institutes, universities, and conferences, and have obtained driving licenses, various certificates, diplomas, and degrees while working. Since 2021, OMI has also actively contributed to addressing South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis by participating in the YES program. This initiative provides practical work experience for previously unemployed youth, with a remarkable 75% retention rate within the organization. In addition to this OMI also pays monthly stipends to disabled learners in South Africa.

“It is also really important for me that we support Charities and NGOs/NPOs initiatives, Enterprise, Supplier and Socioeconomic Development and connecting young innovators throughout Africa,” emphasizes Robyn.

Minimizing the Ecological Footprint

OMI Solutions balances mining operations with environmental sustainability by implementing a multi-faceted approach that prioritizes ecological preservation while supporting the needs of mining activities. They begin by conducting thorough Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) to identify potential environmental risks and develop mitigation strategies. The team integrates best practices and innovative technologies to minimize the ecological footprint of mining operations, including implementing environmental monitoring systems, adopting sustainable land rehabilitation practices, and promoting biodiversity conservation. They also collaborate closely with mining companies to develop and implement tailored environmental management plans that prioritize sustainability.

One of OMI’s key focus areas is the rehabilitation of impacted areas. Mining activities often leave scars on the landscape, disrupting ecosystems and leaving behind degraded land. OMI recognizes the imperativeness of restoring these areas to their natural state, not only for ecological reasons but also to meet regulatory and social expectations. The company invests considerable resources in research and development to devise creative and effective strategies for rehabilitation. OMI’s commitment extends beyond mere compliance; it strives to exceed expectations by setting new standards for environmental restoration.

OMI is pioneering biodiversity conservation with the establishment of apiary farms/wing sanctuaries across various provinces in Southern Africa. The vision to establish sanctuaries for all pollinators by promoting natural habitation and plant diversity in impacted areas goes hand in hand with OMI’s rehabilitation practices. 

“Beekeeping is intrinsically tied to environmental sustainability. It supports pollination, conserves biodiversity, promotes sustainable agriculture, and raises awareness about the importance of bees and other pollinators in maintaining a healthy environment. Sustainable beekeeping practices, combined with the preservation of natural habitats, contribute to a more environmentally responsible and sustainable future,” explains Robyn.

Aligning with World Sustainability Goals

OMI Solutions is actively working towards the sustainability goals of the world by aligning its practices with international standards and frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). OMI contributes to global sustainability efforts through its focus on environmental conservation, community engagement, and sustainable development practices. By promoting biodiversity conservation, supporting socioeconomic development opportunities, and raising awareness about environmental issues, it aims to make a meaningful impact on the sustainability goals of the world.

Robyn was a panel speaker at the Land Restoration Hub during COP 28 in the UAE, under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) Convention to Combat Desertification and the G20 Global Land Initiative. The session took place at the Land & Drought Resilience Pavilion within the Blue Zone. The panel discussion concentrated on private sector involvement in Global Mine Restoration Activities. Mine restoration plays a crucial role in mitigating the environmental impact of mining activities and contributes to sustainable development. Robyn highlighted the importance of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and referenced SDG 3: ‘Ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being for all and all ages’ and to achieve this, priority must be given to extensive community consultation, engagement and development of Livelihood Projects. This ensures that there is a transfer of skills that will ensure sustainability post-mining.

In addition Robyn is recognized by the Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development in Africa (YALDA) as both a speaker and a mentor. The theme of our recent i-Boot Camp, “Breaking Information Barriers on Intra-Africa Trade: Youth Inclusiveness in Implementing African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)”, underscores the importance of youth involvement in driving the vision of a single, unified African market, which is projected to grow to US$6.7 trillion by 2030. Youth inclusiveness in the he African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a critical step towards achieving its ambition of encouraging cross-border trade, employment creation, and poverty alleviation aligning with the ideals of the African Union Agenda 2063. Your willingness to share your time and expertise was critical to the success of the course and in inspiring our young entrepreneurs and leaders to continue to look for opportunities to grow their businesses across Africa. 
In October 2023, Robyn also supported the University of Free State (UFS) team in preparing for and winning the second National SDG Challenge in South Africa. This platform by Soapbox South Africa, connects businesses and university students to work on solutions for some of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Assessing the Industry Trends and Challenges

One of the primary challenges facing the mining industry is the resistance to change and the entrenched mindset toward traditional practices. To overcome this challenge, Robyn suggests that it is essential to foster a culture of innovation, promote collaboration between industry stakeholders, and invest in education and training programs to drive awareness and adoption of sustainable practices. By addressing these barriers, we can unlock the industry’s potential for positive transformation.

Another challenge that hinders progress, is the lack of involvement of communities. By involving communities in the development of biodiversity and rehabilitation plans, OMI ensures that they are made aware of the importance of biodiversity and conservation. This teaches communities how to protect and conserve the ecosystem services they rely on daily. OMI believes that education and awareness empower individuals and communities to make informed choices, take meaningful actions, and adopt sustainable practices. Informed and engaged communities advocate for better environmental policies and regulations. Biodiversity conservation and rehabilitation is best achieved with partners and the collaboration of communities.

In the next five years, Robyn anticipates a growing emphasis on sustainability, digitalization, and stakeholder engagement within the mining industry. To prepare OMI for these trends, she is investing in research and development of innovative technologies, fostering partnerships with key stakeholders, and enhancing its capacity for sustainable practices. “By staying agile and adaptive, we aim to remain at the forefront of industry trends and drive positive change,” says Robyn.

“I believe God is a scientist, he and I speak the same language, and if we stop, listen, and watch, he shows us how to do it, the answers sit within the work he has already done.”

Ready for the Future

OMI Solutions stays abreast of industry changes and consumer demands through ongoing research, collaboration with industry partners, and engagement with stakeholders. By prioritizing continuous learning, adaptability, and a customer-centric approach, we ensure sustained growth and relevance in the market.

In the coming years, Robyn aims to further expand OMI’s global presence, drive innovation in environmental sustainability within the mining sector, and continue advocating for diversity and inclusivity. “We would like to expand our reach into greater parts of Africa, and to leverage the power of the mining sector for societal change, especially for the youth,” concludes Robyn.
 
“Focus on what you have control over, and give the rest to God, let God be your Wings.”