From courtrooms to check-ins: Claudia Gerber's leap of faith

Loading player...
What happens when a qualified attorney swaps legal briefs for luxury hospitality? You get Claudia Gerber, the 32-year-old powerhouse behind the Elton Boutique Hotel in Durban North.

In this Women Crush Wednesday chat, Carol sits down with Claudia to talk about building a family business from the ground up, honoring her late brother Alton through every detail of the hotel, and why pivoting from law to hotel ownership was the best decision she ever made.

They also get into what it's really like working with family, the beauty of being proudly African, and exciting news — the Elton brand is expanding to Newcastle in 2027. If you're a young person wondering whether to take the leap, Claudia's advice is simple: get your foot in the door and work your way up. Hard work always finds its home.
10 Jun English South Africa Entertainment News

Other recent episodes

Sick of Spam Calls? South Africa Could Soon Have a Solution

How many times have you answered your phone, only to discover it’s yet another marketing call you never asked for? South Africans received a staggering 17.47 billion spam calls in the first six months of 2026, with sales and telemarketing making up 64% of all spam calls in July alone,…
11 Sep 12 min

Are You Parenting With Intention?

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual , but does that mean we should simply wing it? Between school runs, tantrums, homework and the everyday chaos, it’s easy to find yourself just getting through the day. But are you consciously thinking about the kind of parent you want to be, the…
10 Sep 13 min

Sarah Geyde on building Froggie Shoes into a proudly South African heritage brand

Froggie Shoes co-founder Sarah Geyde joins Carol Ofori for Women Crush Wednesday to share the story behind one of South Africa’s most recognisable footwear brands. From building the business in Durban to supporting local manufacturing, creating jobs and keeping comfort at the heart of every shoe, Sarah reflects on Froggie’s…
9 Sep 13 min

From teacher to Curry Queen: Shae Nair’s recipe for resilience

For Women Crush Wednesday, Carol Ofori sits down with Shae Nair, the teacher behind Durban’s Curry Queen. Shae shares how a difficult chapter in her family’s life inspired her to turn her love for curry into a growing venture, and how her experience as a teacher helped shape her cooking…
2 Sep 10 min