Dr Melvi Todd | “20 Women, 20 Stories” Women’s Portrait Campaign

3 words that your friends would use to describe you?

Passion, Purpose, Trust.

 

What is your big, audacious dream? (that sometimes keeps you awake at night) If you are already living it, please share.

To play my role in developing South Africa into a flourishing ecosystem – a Wakanda. My circle of influence may not be that large, but I believe every action counts.

 

Can you share how your journey in your current career began, and what drew you to it?

Interestingly, I didn’t start out with a very abundant vision for myself.

I was raised to consider the ideal path to be: study, get a job, … work hard, … retire. 

I was blessed with a good academic head, and was able to obtain merit bursaries & work part-time to pay for my studies. I studied Food Science (as my dad said: ‘Everyone needs to eat’).

I worked in corporate R&D and then got tired of being ‘typed’ in the science box.

I completed an MBA with the intention of starting my own business but remained in corporate for another 2 years before ‘taking the plunge’ to start my own boutique consulting company (greatly supported by my husband!).

I simultaneously pursued a PhD because I am passionate about education & am thus also involved in executive training.

 

We all have different versions of what success means to us. What does success look and feel like to you?

Growing my authentic self, one day at a time.
“It’s better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation” – Herman Mellville

Some actions I take to achieve this are to practice empathy and understanding, as well as to challenge my habits and thought patterns on a regular basis.

This is where I sometimes call in extra help – formally or informally connecting

across structural holes (i.e. doing interesting courses or hanging out with people who are different to me).

 

What does your morning routine involve? Please share how you start your day.

Exercise (yoga, run,ning or gym) to clear the mind and get the blood pumping. I practice gratitude daily – even on the ‘bad’ days.

 

What is the thing you enjoy doing the most, (not business related and why?)

Good conversation: stimulating my mind and keeping my ‘operating system’ updated and energised!

Gardening: I find it very satisfying to plan what I am going to plant, and then to nurture the seed or plant into something that appears to defy possibilities. It makes me hopeful but also reminds
me that change requires time and constant care. It reminds me to be patient with myself.
Yoga: It helps still my mind.

 

Is there a woman who stands out for you, who really inspires you? This can be someone in your close circle, or someone you don’t know personally, for example, an author or podcast host, or other.

My best friend, Dr. Audrey Sullivan. We met at 13, and have been friends since. She is superhuman in every regard. You need to know her to fully know what I mean, but some of the key things I admire are her dedication, how multi-talented

she is, she always gives her full effort, and she has the biggest heart (is uber caring).

The breadth of her humanity astounds me. She has two beautiful boys and has started up a paediatric practice that has “big patience for little patients.”

 

What is a personal mantra or quote that motivates you?

I’m a paradox: On the one hand, it’s “carpe diem, baby” and on the other hand it’s “failing to plan, is planning to fail.”

 

What is one thing you wish more people knew about you?

Despite my scientific and business background, I consider myself intellectually humble.

I am skeptical of our social media culture of saying “Here are the 5 things you need to do to achieve X”. 

Context matters.

Furthermore, scientists are constantly discovering new and surprising things –  who knows what could be next?

Don’t judge too quickly!

“The more I know, the more I realize I know nothing.” – Socrates

 

What personality characteristic/s do you love about yourself?

My passion,  energy, and integrity go without question.

 

What is your greatest strength, and how has it helped you in your journey?

My ability to be vulnerable and connect has served me well in all aspects of life. It builds trust. Sometimes you may get ‘burned’ – but I think feeling disconnected would be worse!

 

What does self-confidence mean to you, and how have you cultivated it?

Self-confidence is what happens when my words and what I believe align.

There is no hesitation and I don’t worry about whether I am right or whether I am convincing anyone.

Cultivation goes back to my earlier definition of success – growing my authentic self, one day at a time.

 

What are you most proud of, in your business and/or personal life?

I have cultivated a lot of authentic relationships; I call them ‘the family I choose.”

I am particularly inclined to mention the relationship that I have with my bonus kids – they call me ‘Kurtz mutter’ (short mom) – because I have been a mom for shorter… and am also shorter than them).

 

If you could share a piece of business advice for someone starting out, what would it be?

Relationships, relationships, relationships. Cultivate meaningful connections! 

(Ideally, you should already have this in place!).

Then – just start. Honestly – you don’t know what you don’t know, and you will have to find that out and adapt on the fly.

There is no such thing as the right moment – now is just as good a time as any.

That said, in preparation for taking the plunge – there are a few things you can consider: looking at your spending, negotiating reduced payments, and saving for a few months is not a terrible idea.

Some secondhand advice that was shared with me: before you quit your corporate job, shift that credit limit up to the max – as a ‘backup’. 

Once you are an entrepreneur, getting into a gym with leprosy will be easier 

than getting money from a bank!

 

What is a piece of advice you would give to your younger self?

Damn girl – what are you waiting for?!

 

If you have a website link, please share it.

https://www.elyxer.co.za/

But it’ll soon be changing to:

https://www.melvitodd.com/

 

How did you feel being photographed? And what feelings emerged when you saw your portraits for the first time?

Hello – there you are! It’s great to meet you! *Starry-eyed emoji*.

It was so much fun, and Monica truly captured the essence of me

(NOTE: this will have to be a sequins photo!)