Lerato Phiri is the esteemed entrepreneur behind Optimist Agri-farming, a venture concentrating on the integrated farming of pigs, poultry, and vegetables.

In 2019, Lerato embarked on this business venture, which was severely impacted when the pandemic struck, and the ensuing lockdown pushed it to the verge of shutting down. It was a daunting challenge to restore the business to her initial vision, as there were many obstacles to overcome.

However, her attendance at the Socionext workshop in 2022 marked a turning point for this ambitious individual. She articulated, ‘It allowed me to engage with people in a similar field’.

Lerato added, ‘I gained insights into promoting my business and every entrepreneurial skill I possess comes from that workshop’.

Since then, her business has seen significant growth and currently, she provides full-time employment to four individuals and hires an additional ten part-time staff during peak seasons.