The soft skills training industry plays a crucial role in today’s rapidly evolving, globalized workforce. Unlike technical or hard skills, soft skills focus on interpersonal abilities such as communication, leadership, emotional intelligence, time management, adaptability, and teamwork. As workplaces become more collaborative and culturally diverse, employers increasingly recognize the value of these human-centric competencies in boosting productivity and fostering positive work environments. The rise of remote work and digital communication has underscored the importance of clear, empathetic, and effective interpersonal skills. Soft skills training is now offered through various formats, including in-person workshops, e-learning platforms, and blended learning solutions, making it more accessible than ever. As industries evolve, the demand for soft skills continues to grow across all sectors and experience levels. Ria Vorster is the Founder & MD of The Communication Channel (TCC Soft Skills Training), an International Online Training Company. This is a story of courage, vision, and resilience that moved her from personal loss to professional leadership. She founded her own from scratch, and with a firm belief in the power of communication, she converted problems into opportunities. She now provides soft skills training to empower more people around the globe, improving lives through education of all kinds.

From Survival to Stage: The First Steps Toward a Dream

Ria’s professional journey started after an excruciating and life-changing personal decision. Shedivorced her husband after 20 years of emotional abuse, a brave step that came at a high cost. With no financial security or backup, she had to rebuild her life from scratch. Being a qualified teacher in public speaking, she opened a studio for juveniles.

From Passion to Purpose: Building and Battling for TCC

Realizing the need for professional development in workplaces, Ria started designing her own soft skills courses and began marketing them under her company name: The Communication Channel (TCC Soft Skills Training). Her passion for teaching soon extended into the world of business. Her training programs were a success. Corporations appreciated her engaging content and facilitation techniques, while students thrived in Eisteddfods and Trinity College exams. However, despite this progress, her income still wasn’t enough to cover all her monthly responsibilities. This pushed her to expand the business further and trust the wrong person, leading to a major turning point.

When her company was finally gaining ground, an acquaintance advised Ria to close her extra-mural studio and hand over her soft skills courses to be prepared for SETA accreditation, a requirement introduced by the South African government for all soft skills training companies. The process was supposed to take three months, but instead, it dragged on for over two years. This unexpected delay devastated Ria’s business. Parents lost trust in her due to the studio’s closure, and she couldn’t reopen it. She had to depend on her savings and investments to survive, which eventually ran out. Just four years after purchasing her home, she was forced to sell it because she could no longer afford the mortgage. It was one of the hardest periods of her life, both financially and emotionally, as she felt she had lost the respect of those who had once looked up to her, including her students and the local community.

Turning Crisis Into Opportunity With Value-Driven Leadership

Then came the global upheaval: COVID-19. While it was a tough time for many, Ria saw it as a hidden opportunity. With live training and traditional marketing off the table, she made a daring move and shifted her training model to a fully digital platform. She began hosting online training sessions, reaching audiences not just in South Africa but across the globe. Today, her business thrives from home, providing soft skills training to clients worldwide.

Ria’s leadership style is deeply influenced by the challenges she’s faced and the values she cherishes. For her, genuine leadership isn’t about titles or authority; it’s about how you treat people. She believes that the best leaders embody humility, dignity, patience, understanding, and a readiness to help wherever they can. Ria leads by example, using positive body language, respectful communication, and appropriate behavior both in and out of the workplace. This approach fosters a work environment where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected, regardless of their position.

Empowering Teams Through Inclusion and Lifelong Learning

Ria is all about empowering her team through inclusion and lifelong learning. In her organization, she champions a leadership style that encourages everyone, regardless of their position, to share their thoughts and ideas. Whether you’re the CEO or the person making tea, your voice matters. This open culture not only promotes teamwork but also sparks creativity and effective problem-solving.

When people feel valued and heard, they work together more seamlessly, and that’s how Ria builds strong, resilient teams. For her, mentorship and a passion for continuous learning are essential for personal and professional growth. She knows that learning from mentors who have experienced both wins and challenges can help leaders avoid common pitfalls and speed up their development. Plus, staying open to new knowledge keeps leaders adaptable, self-aware, and relevant in a constantly changing world. Ria is committed to her learning journey and loves sharing her insights with others, creating a ripple effect of empowerment throughout her organization.

Adapting, Evolving, and Expanding Globally

Ria employs both distinct and flexible methods to approach and attend to business clientele and market needs. She utilizes core values to operate, and starts with a mission driven by purpose. Goals at the organization level need to be agile and across the business to adapt to shifts in industry and customer demand. She utilizes customer feedback, surveys, focus groups, and even competitor and industry analysis to gather information. Furthermore, she employs customer journey mapping to fill experience gaps in the encounter. She encourages all her team to track the ever-changing market so that the company can be proactive. Currently, Ria is the most excited about the widespread business growth that is coming from new regions of the world. Her online courses are inspiring people from all corners of the world to remember, advance, and grow in all spheres of confidence and career. Her journey shows that life can be rebuilt and a positive impact can be made with sufficient honesty, hard work, and determination.

Beyond her entrepreneurial journey, Ria is also a motivational speaker for women globally. Through her talks, she inspires those who feel stuck, silenced, or worn down by toxic words or unhealthy environments, reminding them that courage and resilience can rebuild a life of purpose and strength.

Advice to Emerging Leaders

When it comes to advice for emerging leaders, Ria has some insightful thoughts. She highlights the significance of leading with purpose and being a role model through your actions. For her, self-awareness is crucial; it helps you recognize your strengths and identify areas where you can grow. Ria believes that continuous learning is essential for leaders to stay adaptable and relevant in our ever-changing world. She also places a strong emphasis on building meaningful relationships and empowering those around you as core elements of her leadership philosophy. Ria encourages leaders to embrace calculated risks and to communicate their vision with clarity and confidence. These aren’t just tips she shares; they’re values she has embodied throughout her journey.