IF YOU CAN SPARKLE IN THE entertainment world, chances are you can bring the same spirit to the boardroom as a CEO.

After 16 years in the music industry, Ntombezinhle Jiyane, popularly known as ‘DJ Zinhle’ and one of South Africa’s most-renowned deejays, is proving that right.

She has acquired equity in the international sparkling wine beverage, Boulevard Nectar Rosè, and has taken over as CEO.

In a recent interview with FORBES AFRICA, the artist, famous for her Umlilo music, spoke about how excited she is to be working with a brand she shares synergy with: “I love to celebrate, whether it’s at my house, whether it’s at a gig. Celebrations have also been

part of my life for the past 16 years as a DJ, and Boulevard fits perfectly into that. And I just thought I wanted to be part of people’s celebrations even more.”

With Covid-19, Zinhle has been forced to work from home like everyone else but says that this has not stopped her from putting in the long hours. Admitting that during the time of the lockdown, a great deal of adaption had to happen, Zinhle says she owes a lot of her success to her young and dynamic team who share the same values as her.

“Without my team, I don’t think I would have made it this far even with a lockdown in it; my biggest mission was to make sure that no one leaves the team, no one gets fired, no one is dismissed. Because now my team is so perfect, and they’re so dedicated.”