DRUM Top 50 Women | ‘Believe in the validity of your dreams’ – business mogul Carol Bouwer

Carol Bouwer is a well-respected South African businesswoman.

Former actress and TV presenter-come-global business powerhouse Carol Bouwer shares insights
into the importance of believing in oneself.
Do you remember when 8pm was still 8pm in South Africa? This was when the majority of the
country sat in front of their TVs every night to watch Generations.

Many stars were born from that
show, including young Kgomotso, between 1994 and 1996, played by Carol Bouwer.

There,
Kgomotso befriended Karabo Moroka (Connie Ferguson) but betrayed her when she got into a
relationship with her man, Glen Majozi (Roderick Japhta), while Karabo was blind. It was an
unforgettable episode when Karabo learnt of the affair and gave Kgomotso a warm klap she would
never forget.

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Mncwango

It is a natural progression for someone on the country’s top-ranking show to move from in front of
the camera to behind the scenes. And Carol has managed to do that seamlessly. She created SABC
2’s Motswako with Carol Bouwer Productions, and it was a game-changer for talk TV.

She speaks to
DRUM about how her journey has shaped her and the importance of mentorship.
“For many of my generation, DRUM was a partner in co-creating a new language about who we
were as black women in an evolving South Africa. We had seen the Miriam Makeba era, but we
knew our path would never compare.Yet DRUM provided a platform to tell our stories and be
content with the role they played in introducing black women to themselves in a free nation.”

Looking back, Carol says she enjoyed her time acting and presenting.

“The joy of looking back and knowing that the pleasure and impact I enjoyed as a host could be
multiplied by giving as many women who looked like me that opportunity as possible is beyond
compare. Leaving my seat as a presenter to focus on producing allowed me to focus on finding
black women who could host and excel at a job I so loved and could, at the same time, share in
their joy. I created Motswako as a friend to women like me, who came from little but believed in
abundance – the abundance of thought, mind, and through resources.”

But will we ever see her on the screen again? With a big smile, she says, “[I’m] done darling; unless
something truly compelling comes along!”

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Mentorship

Carol shares that she can never over-emphasise the importance of mentorship.

“Nothing matters more than your response to mentorship! What you use and discard from the
elders who help you steer your ship is as important as who you choose as your voice in a season.
Choose your mentors wisely and choose your use of their counsel with as much discernment. Be
committed to uncovering the myriad layers of who you are and never apologise for being
authentic, excellent, and determined. We achieve nothing by playing small and even less by
dimming the light that illuminates our earthly gifts.”

The polyglot, who has travelled the world, admits that she still owes the world another TV show.

“I seek the luxury of working more on the travel show that has lived in my head for the last 10
years. Perhaps I miss my global travels interviewing the best of the best around the world.”
Carol believes in maintaining peace of mind, no matter the challenges thrown your way. And if she
could speak to her younger self, she would say, “Believe in the validity of your dreams and pursue
them fearlessly.”