Cleaning entrepreneur Robyn London shares how respect, kindness and perseverance drive her to raise the dignity of cleaners.
Being a young female entrepreneur in a very diverse, cut-throat industry is a journey that almost had me throwing in the towel a couple of times. What got me through is my values, especially respect, kindness and sheer perseverance, the things I was raised on.
I watched my mother sacrifice and work triple shifts just to put food on the table, all because she was a cleaner. Yet she put me through school and taught me that hard work always pays off and never goes in vain. That is where my passion stems from: seeing the gratitude in my staff is a constant reminder of where I come from.
My goal is to change the narrative, so the breadwinners who carry our work receive the respect and dignity they deserve, with better working conditions, training and fair rates. My advice: you get further together. Build a network, be an ambassador for others, and give yourself the space to reflect on whether you are still on track and happy.
