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<\/p>\nAfter getting her BSc in consumer science and business management, Karla started working for Imperium Negotiations and Linda Paige, both family-owned companies, which enabled her to travel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe went to the UK, Israel and the States, where we visited Texas, Florida, California, and even Vegas, baby!\u201d the bubbly blonde laughs. \u201cIt was great; I loved every minute of it. We travelled for nine months living out of just a 20kg suitcase and a carry-on! Texas is my favourite place; everything there really is bigger and better.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Working for Linda Paige was a game changer for Karla, who grew up a quiet and self-aware little girl. \u201cOur role was to empower and equip women to step up and be confident. This inspired me, helping me on my own journey of overcoming fear and stepping into confidence. Believing that I have the spirit of beauty inside me, just like everyone else, enables me to say with confidence that I no longer have that fear, because I chose to work on myself and break through those barriers.\u201d<\/p>\n
This is partly why people who have strong opinions and values inspire her, as do people who believe in themselves. \u201cI am motivated by humility,\u201d she smiles, \u201cand by people who walk with confidence; people who invest in themselves. People that get out of their comfort zone, which is also their dead zone.\u201d<\/p>\n
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In keeping with this spirit, Karla stepped out of her own comfort zone and left Linda Paige, starting work in an entirely new industry. \u201cI believe in taking action and adapting if you want to make your dreams come true. That\u2019s one of the reasons why I made the choice to move to Mbombela in April 2022.”<\/p>\n
Karla immediately started working for Volvo Nelspruit as a finance and insurance assistant. “Seven months later, I was asked if I wanted to step into another challenge by managing the new car sales department, and now I\u2019m the acting new sales manager. I love it; I learn something new every day.\u201d<\/p>\n
This wasn\u2019t always on the cards for the chocolate-, bubbly-, surprises-, shopping- and family-loving Karla, who always saw herself as the CEO in the most important positions of all – housewife and mum. \u201cI have always thought those are often overlooked and don\u2019t get enough praise. I still do, but have also since discovered that I\u2019m someone who loves taking action and who chases after challenges. I want to have a positive impact on lives everywhere I go.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The lure of new opportunities wasn\u2019t the only reason she found herself making the move to the Lowveld countryside, the other was perhaps the oldest motivation in the book – she moved for love. Karla initially met Thomas Hattingh when they were both students.<\/p>\n
A mutual friend introduced them, but at the time, Karla wasn\u2019t interested. \u201cA few years later I was at my best friends\u2019 wedding, and I walked into him at the bar. I said to him I knew him, and that his name is Timothy. We had a good laugh and the rest is history, and here I am in the Lowveld!\u201d<\/p>\n
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Karla has embraced her new home with gusto, and loves being so close to nature, although she says the heat takes some getting used to and she hasn\u2019t quite acclimatised yet. Thomas, who is an avid birding and camping enthusiast, has introduced her to these two favourite pastimes.<\/p>\n
\u201cBirding is something I have learnt from Thomas, although I\u2019m not sure if it was by force or by choice,\u201d she laughs. \u201cIn the beginning it was definitely out of my comfort zone, but I have come to enjoy it. I never thought I\u2019d be the type to like camping! We usually go to the Kruger National Park, camp there and then go birding, or we go on trips with friends to spot new birds.\u201d<\/p>\n
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When she\u2019s not working (or birding), Karla says keeping fit is a priority for her. She enjoys CrossFit to make sure she remains at the top of her game, but also loves a day at the spa, spending time on herself and getting pampered. \u201cI also love a good bottle of wine,\u201d she adds, \u201cwhich is something I\u2019ve learnt from Thomas and his wine-loving father.\u201d<\/p>\n
What does the future hold for this go-getter, who always thought she\u2019d be a city girl, but ended loving a life on the farm? Karla says she intends stepping up and out, investing in herself and becoming the person she is meant to be. \u201cThe best life lesson I ever learnt was that the greatest investment you can make is in yourself. How can you expect someone to invest in you if you don\u2019t invest in yourself?\u201d Well, there\u2019s that. But we also anticipate plenty of camping and birding adventures along the way!<\/p>\n
Make-up: Elsab\u00e9 Steyn – Elsab\u00e9 Steyn Styling Studio.
\nPhotographer: Tanya Erasmus – Something Timeless Photography.
\nShot on location at The Capital Hotel, Mbombela.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Local businesswoman, adventurer and go-getter Karla Taljaard always thought she\u2019d be a big-city girl living a big-city life, but boy, was she in for a surprise. After getting her BSc in consumer science and business management, Karla started working for Imperium Negotiations and Linda Paige, both family-owned companies, which enabled her to travel. \u201cWe went […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":13872,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,20],"tags":[56,57,5179,5178],"class_list":{"0":"post-13861","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-people","8":"category-personalities","9":"tag-get-it-lowveld","10":"tag-get-it-national-magazines","11":"tag-karla-taljaard","12":"tag-march-cover-girl"},"yoast_head":"\n