Determination, resilience, and internal motivation are attributes that any successful businessperson or entrepreneur needs to succeed, and Sengo Mussa has these in spades.
Mussa’s face lights up with a broad smile when he speaks of his pride at opening a new premises for his barbershop within the Fields Shopping Centre in Davoren Park. The journey to this achievement is an inspiring example of dedication and determination to succeed since he arrived in Australia from Congo in 2019 and began his barber’s apprenticeship. After completing his apprenticeship in 2022, Mussa started his own mobile barber business where he would drive to his customers however, the rising cost of petrol impacted this operation significantly. So Mussa made the decision that the next step was to combine a set business location at his home whilst still offering the mobile service.
With new opportunities came a new set of challenges for Mussa. Having a new location was great but splitting his time between this and the mobile operation proved a challenge in managing his customers. It also solidified in Mussa’s mind that having a full-time space for his business was the way forward. It would give his business a place to grow and provide further opportunities for expansion. This dream became a reality when Mussa moved into the new premises this year and he really could not be happier.
“I feel really proud to now have my own location,” reflects Mussa, ‘I feel more relaxed, and less time pressure. Also, I am proud that people can look and see that I did it, and it’s a nice place now for people to come to.’
Throughout his time creating his business, Mussa has been in contact with the City of Playford. Mussa first connected with the Disability and Inclusion team from the City of Playford through their efforts in working with people with disability and credits this connection for helping him to navigate the at times difficult processes involved in setting up a business. His own disability does not hold him back, instead it motivates and drives his business, not just personally but to help make an impact within the community.
“I want to inspire people living with a disability, give them the confidence that they can do something to,” said Mussa.
Always keen to foster new connections within the community, Mussa recently had a stall at the Positive Future’s Expo where he won the Best Exhibitor Award and was also invited by the Stretton team to share his story as a guest speaker at the recent Self-Employment Showcase held at the Stretton Centre. This was an experience he described as an honour but was also an extremely useful networking event for him as one of the other speakers is now helping him build his new website.
Mussa’s past experiences are what drives him to achieve success make himself successful, so that he can then pay it forward to the community in any way he can. Mussa plans to continue to build upon his business by making more connections and continuing to push the marketing of his business. These efforts will guide him towards his main goal, which is to open more locations, with his eye firmly on the future and creating more job opportunities for others.
“I want to be successful so then I can help build people up in the community.”