Entrepreneurs Hotspot
The support of peers and mentors may be a crucial element of one’s success as an entrepreneur. And that’s where an organisation like Entrepreneurs’ Network (EN) comes in – a network of budding entrepreneurs that come together to learn from their shared experiences and create opportunities amongst one another.
At a recent event organised by EN – a panel discussion entitled The Future of Leadership: Innovating for Tomorrow’s Challenges, moderated by the dynamic Dawn Nathan-Jones, one of South Africa’s leading business personalities – the focus was on innovation and leadership. Four successful entrepreneurs discussed a range of topics, providing insights and lessons from their own experiences in business.
Here we bring you some of the information shared at the event:
Is technology innovation?
A discussion around technology provided an important insight: that technology is not necessarily the innovation – rather, it can be the enabler for innovation, as Cara Saven, the founder of Caren Saven Wall Design, explained.
For Rael Levitt, the founder of leading property company, Inospace, “Innovation is not accepting the status quo. We should constantly be questioning the way things are done. And, if a business leader creates a culture in which staff feel comfortable to question things, innovation will come from throughout the organisation. Once a better way of doing things is identified, technology can be harnessed to implement the innovation.”
Rael’s comments come with gravitas: his business developed a technology solution in 2021 called Inotech. The identification of a particular need drove the business to find a tech solution: it was the necessity to provide for the marketing and leasing of Inospace’s high-volume multi-tenant portfolio of commercial properties. Rael says, “Leasing-focused technology was a game changer for Inospace, making it one of the fastest-growing private property owners in South Africa’s challenging commercial property market.”
It’s clear that innovation should be seen in a wider context than purely technology. “Innovation can occur with even the smallest of things in a business,” says Rael.
Nomatu Consulting founder, Samkelo Blom, a corporate culture expert and consultant, explains that innovation can be an important element of recruiting staff. “When an employer is looking to recruit an African candidate for a particular role, they should be innovative in the methods employed to identify the right person. The usual recruitment processes – things like placing an advert in the sort of publication you, the employer, reads – are not necessarily going to work. You need to use other means to identify the talent you require.”
The role of a leader as regards the people in the business
The talents and attitudes that staff demonstrate are crucial to the success of an enterprise. For Matsi Kolobe, the founder and CEO of advertising agency SALT HUB, trust is core to allow people to feel comfortable in the work environment. It is up to leadership to grow an environment in which people feel safe to share what is going on in their lives. This brings out the best in people.
Business owners have a huge role to play in allowing their people to grow their EQ but, says Samkelo, “…core to this is that the leader has to be self-aware, too, and demonstrate this self-awareness to their staff. As the leader of my organisation, I have to be open to talking about my own weak points. While it’s uncomfortable, it’s necessary for me to grow, and that allows for growth among my people too.”
As regards recruitment, conventional wisdom is that one recruits for skills. But, Cara has taken a different stance. “I hire for attitude more than for the skills set. Skills can be developed at the workplace, but attitude makes a big difference. So, when a candidate demonstrates an interest in the business and the industry, that reveals a passion for the work. On the other hand, the person who asks only about those issues directly relevant to themselves, such as hours of work, salary, and so on, is not highlighting the sort of enthusiasm for the work that I like to see.”
The Entrepreneurs’ Network is a dynamic initiative formed through the collaboration of several organisations, including the Cape SAJBD,
Over the Rainbow, ORT Jet Cape Town, and Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO).
Spearheaded by leading business personality Dawn Nathan-Jones, a Cape SAJBD Board Member and Chair of the Associate Relations subcommittee, the network brings together business owners from diverse cultural and community backgrounds to share their experiences, skill sets, and connections.
Since its launch in 2022, the initiative has:
● facilitated R14 million in new business transactions
● created 15 new jobs
● provided over 215 hours of learning through its forums.
With 52 committed entrepreneurs and supported by more than 50 volunteers, mentors, and guest speakers, the network runs new intakes every quarter, welcoming more participants to join this thriving community.
At an Entrepreneurs’ Network event one has the opportunity both to listen to views from and learn about the experiences of successful entrepreneurs, and to meet them face-to-face. The programme for each event includes a networking opportunity at the end at which participants can chat to the entrepreneurs and ask for guidance unique to themselves.
To apply to join the network, complete this form.
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