In this episode of I Am Tourism, host Melissa Foley is joined by powerhouse entrepreneur Yasmine Kazadi, Founder & Director of Mercatique Consulting, who is shaking up how tourism businesses approach events – from trade shows to corporate gifting – with a sustainability lens that actually works.

As a participant in SATSA’s SIGMA mentorship programme and a fierce advocate for small business inclusion in MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Events), Yasmine shares why it’s time we stop treating sustainability as an afterthought – or as she puts it: *“Sustainability isn’t expensive. It just requires intention.”

From replacing plastic giveaways with locally sourced handmade items to rethinking how event budgets can empower women-owned suppliers behind the scenes, this conversation goes deep into what it really takes to turn values into measurable impact – without sacrificing creativity or quality.

She also speaks candidly about building her business as a woman of colour in South Africa’s tourism industry – and why collaboration beats competition every time.

Key Takeaways:

Yasmine Kazadi:

• “People think sustainability is labour-intensive – but it’s actually simple if you know where to look.”
• “We’ve helped women go from one-person operations to teams of four – just by giving them access.”
• “What I know – I share. I don’t compete; I collaborate.”
• “When we do our events right we create jobs without even realising it.”