Cindy Norcott

Cindy Norcott is the chief executive officer of her own specialist recruitment agency, Pro Talent, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in March. Cindy attended the University of Natal, Durban, where she pursued a social science degree, majoring in marketing, economics, and industrial psychology. “I then started my honours degree in industrial psychology and also studied business coaching,” Cindy shares. Her academic path laid a foundation for her varied and impactful career, equipping her with both the theoretical grounding and practical skills that she would later apply in the recruitment industry.

Cindy’s career began as a recruitment consultant at a small agency in Durban. “I loved it,” she reflects. After two years in the role, her entrepreneurial spirit took flight, and she decided to open her own agency. This decision marked the beginning of a career built on both her passion for recruitment and her commitment to supporting others in finding meaningful employment.

Cindy says her current role involves strategy, management, marketing, and client liaison. Along- side her responsibilities at Pro Talent, Cindy serves as the chairperson of the Robin Hood Foundation, a KwaZulu-Natal-based non-profit organisation she founded nearly 20 years ago. Her work with the foundation involves daily strategic and operational commitments. Cindy is also a motivational speaker, delivering around sixty inspirational talks each year at various conferences and corporate events.

EMOTIONALLY INVESTED
Cindy feels emotionally invested in South Africa’s economic development. “I believe that if the economy thrives, people’s lives are changed for the better. Economic growth drives everything,” she says. For Cindy, each successful placement at Pro Talent represents a life transformed. “When we make a permanent placement, we ring the bell and everyone applauds because we have changed another life. I believe that the more people we can place into a new job or a better-paying job, the more we can impact the economy,” she explains. Cindy is particularly inspired about South Africa’s growth as a remote working hub. “South Africans are highly regarded for their work ethic,” she adds, noting that with the arbitrage of foreign currencies to the Rand, our citizens are affordable and value- for-money employees. “I am particularly excited that we are placing South Africans in remote roles, where they get to work from the comfort of their own homes, earning money from international companies and then spending that money in our country,” she explains.

Starting and running the Robin Hood Foundation is the accomplishment that Cindy is the proudest of. “The Robin Hood Foundation is a part of my DNA, and not a day goes by that I am not involved in it,” she shares. Through the foundation, Cindy and her team have made a significant impact in KwaZulu-Natal by building crèches, organising entrepreneurial conferences, providing food relief, and supporting schools through initiatives like the Sarmie Army, which delivers sandwiches to underprivileged students. “Our charity gets no guaranteed funding, and I consider it a huge achievement that we can carry out these projects and manage to fund them through creative fundraising methods,” Cindy notes proudly.

BE YOUR OWN HERO
A piece of advice that has profoundly shaped Cindy’s journey is, “Nobody is coming to save you. Be your own hero.” This philosophy has driven her determination and proactive approach. “I am a dreamer-doer,” she explains. Cindy attributes much of her success to her ability to combine creativity with a strong action-oriented mindset. She emphasises the importance of self-belief and explains that her confidence has had a contagious effect on those around her. “Others see my self-belief, and they then believe in me too,” she adds.

For Cindy, balancing multiple roles has been one of her greatest challenges. “As a wife, mother of two, business owner, author, business coach, charity head, and motivational speaker, I have constantly felt too busy,” she confides. Cindy’s inability to say no added to this burden, leaving her with an overfilled schedule. “In the past five years, I have become more discerning about who and what I say yes to,” she says, highlighting her recent efforts to prioritise and manage her time more effectively.

Cindy believes that open communication is essential for team morale. “I try to spend time with them and get to know them,” she explains. Cindy fosters a positive work environment through regular meetings, incentives, and celebrations of special occasions. She is also a strong proponent of transparent and prompt conflict resolution. “I believe it is important to share the spoils when we do well and to celebrate any special occasion,” Cindy says, noting that a leader’s vulnerability can be an asset in building a cohesive team.

GOAL-DIRECTED
Cindy’s inspiration stems from her desire to achieve her own goals. “I am a high achiever, and I am very goal-directed,” she says. Every year, Cindy sets measurable goals across all aspects of her life, reviewing them weekly to maintain focus. “I find it very motivational to achieve stretch goals. I am never without goals,” she adds. Cindy lives by the mantra, “Action is the antidote to despair,” using her ambitious spirit to create momentum in both her personal and professional life.

Cindy has high hopes for the future of KwaZulu- Natal. “I believe that our province is bursting with potential,” she says. Cindy foresees significant growth in the property, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. She encourages local business people to take more calculated risks and to have renewed faith in KwaZulu-Natal’s potential. “The people in KZN are friendly, resilient, humble, and hard-working,” Cindy notes, expressing her belief that the province can reach new heights in the coming years.

Cindy lives by the motto, “Nobody became poor by giving.” She believes in making the world a better place and feels that everyone has a unique gift to share. “I try to do something good for someone in need every single day,” she says. Cindy remains committed to creating hope in KwaZulu-Natal and tirelessly works through both her business and her charity to make a positive impact.