36TH EDITION | JAN x FEB 2021
EDITION
COMPANION www.frontrowbusiness.africa
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Introducing A New Breed: Frontrow Business Africa Digital Magazine ” I love the new name 👌🏾 it broadens the whole vision of the magazine and it doesn't provide any space for limitations.” Masana Mabunda – Frontrow Business Africa reader, RSA
” I like the new name...it will give and increase the footprint into Africa.” Victor Qumba - Frontrow Business Africa reader, RSA
Are you an ambitious, hard-working professional woman? Do you feel that you could be making more of an impact at work?
Wits Business School invites you to take some time out of your busy schedule to focus on something else for a change: You Our WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP course is an existing journey of self-discovery which will effectively help you:
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How well do you know yourself and your potential?
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How well are you able to negotiate the steps to success?
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Build your interpersonal and negotiation skills; Better understand patriarchy, power and gender inequality; Build your EQ and self-awareness; Develop your confidence and decision – making capabilities, and; Find your voice!
This part-time programme has changed the lives of many women. Is your turn now?
Contact Sonia Newton for more details: 011-717-3511 or sonia.newton@wits.ac.za
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TECHNOLOGY | EDITORIAL
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TECHNOLOGY | EDITORIAL
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TECHNOLOGY | EDITORIAL
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OPINION | OBIAGELI EZEKWESILI
Yes, I insist that China must pay Africa damages for Covid-19
Beijing should do the right thing now and accept the debt it owes Africa as a result of its failures on Covid-19, argues Obiageli Ezekwesili
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THANDEKA NOMBANJINJI-NZAMA | COVER FEATURE
Thandeka Nombanjinji-Nzama CEO, Nombanjinji Family Property
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CLICK ME READ FULL ARTICLE ON THE GO
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REMARKABLE VALUE. UNBEATABLE LOCATION
Nombanjinji Family Property is a Commercial Property and Property Development Group whose core focus is on township development. We are owners of a number of Commercial properties in and around the Soweto area which vary from Retail Property (Shopping Centres), Office Space and Residential Rental apartments. Our total GLA is just under 18,000m2
- PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT - COMMERCIAL PROPERTY LETTING - OFFICE SPACE LETTING - RETAIL SPACE LETTING - RESIDENTIAL SPACE LETTING - LONG-TERM LEASE SOLUTIONS
011 021 1229 admin@nombanjinjifp.co.za www.nombanjinjifp.co.za
Soweto, Johannesburg Gauteng, South Africa
MADELAIN ROSCHER | COVER FEATURE
Madelain Roscher Managing Director, PR Worx
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BUSINESS FOCUS
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TUMI PHAKE | COVER FEATURE
Tumi Phake Group Chief Executive, Zenzele Group
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umi Phake is a South African based entrepreneur, business speaker, and mentor. He is the founder and Group Chief executive officer of Zenzele Group and was awarded the 2017 South African entrepreneur of the Year Award.
In 2019, he was ranked amongst the topmost influential, young South Africans in business. A former banker with seven years’ experience in investment and banking, Phake spent a lot of time learning and leveraging off industry experts. Since the inception of the company, Phake has managed to raise R50 million and created employment for 150 employees inclusive the contracted staff to date. In the future, he plans to expand not only in South Africa but to the rest of the African continent as a publicly listed company, dominating the industry as the first black player. Phake previously served as a junior board member for FNB Wealth. In 2015, he was recognized by the Mail & Guardian’s Top 200 Young South African’s list, an initiative that recognizes South Africans under the age of 35 who are groundbreakers in various industries. In 2016, Phake was selected as a South African ambassador for the prestigious Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) in the United States of America, a leadership programme established by former President Barack Obama for young African Leaders. During the programme, he studied Business and Entrepreneurship at Virginia Commonwealth University and had the great honour of meeting former president of the USA, Barack Obama. He is now contributing to the entrepreneurial development journey of others as a business mentor at the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation.
Living your brand is simply being yourself and infusing that into the daily life of our work - TUMI PHAKE CLICK ME READ FULL ARTICLE ON THE GO
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LEADERS IN WELLNESS
Improve HEALTH & WELLBEING! Create a positive impact on overall productivity! Increase performance! Zenzele Fitness brings tech, health, joy to your modern, go-getting lifestyle.
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BUSINESS FOCUS
Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, comes out of recession A Nigerian road side market. Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Roooxzy
Source: Face2Face Africa
ABU MUBARIK Digital Media Journalist
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CHARLES ANYOMI | COVER FEATURE
Charles Anyomi CEO, Africa Entrepreneur Conference
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harles Anyomi was born in Anfoega, one of Ghana's poor communities but yet he did not let that stop him from achieving greatness. He is one of Ghana's emerging entrepreneurs, business speakers, thinkers and authors. He’s the founder and the Chief Executive Officer of NoblePraise Ghana Limited and the President of Africa Entrepreneur Conference. Anyomi has authored and co-authored several articles on business, entrepreneurship, issues of development and contemporary socioeconomic trends in Africa. He has business experience spanning over seventeen years just after his national service in 2000. He failed many times in business and lost money running into hundreds of thousands of Ghana Cedi. This experience informed the writing of his latest book; "THE GHANAIAN BUSINESS MIND" Which is currently a best selling book. He is the host of the flagship event, Africa Entrepreneur Conference: Transforming Africa Through Entrepreneurship which is an annual international gathering of African entrepreneurs, businesspeople and investors in Ghana. As a pioneer leader in business and entrepreneurship, Charles is on a mission to lead a revolution in Africa by championing a global campaign to challenge young Ghanaian and African business people and entrepreneurs to think big, think global and grow bigger. Africa needs African businesses that will dominate the African economy the same way Coca Cola and other non-African companies have done. Charles Anyomi
CLICK ME READ FULL ARTICLE ON THE GO
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I failed many times and lost money. Along the way, I picked up lessons as I continue to learn and grow. – Charles Anyomi, Chief Executive Officer, NoblePraise Ghana Ltd
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EXPAND YOUR NETWORK, COLLABORATE AND FORGE PARTNERSHIPS
EMMANUEL BONOKO | COVER FEATURE
Emmanuel Bonoko CEO, EBonoko Holdings
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+27 (0)62 528 2324
www.ebonokoholdingsltd.co.za info@ebonokoholdingsltd.co.za
26 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank Johannesburg 2196
GONAYA MONEI SETHORA | COVER FEATURE
Gonaya Monei Sethora CEO, Business Woman Africa
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I have accepted that the society still have a long way to go tackling inequality . Women do not easily access the same kind connections as man I have lost a few opportunities because I was not comfortable with certain terms and conditions that came along with the opportunity CLICK ME READ FULL ARTICLE ON THE GO
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LET’S TALK LEGAL
Contributed by SINDISO NGQAMENI Corporate & Commercial Associate Designate
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OUR SERVICES Corporate and Commercial
Banking and Finance Competition Law Financial Services Labour / Employment Law Family Law Litigation
“ The power of the lawyer is in the uncertainty of the law. ” - Jeremy Bentham
Clients associated with Gama Attorneys Inc. operate seamlessly across all of these jurisdictions, in order to provide the best legal advice under competitive terms with original values
JOHN LOMBELA | COVER FEATURE
John Lombela CEO, Cryptovecs Capital
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Take actions and then get to work. Most people today are afraid to recognize that they have a burning desire to accomplish something greater than what they currently do. CLICK ME READ FULL ARTICLE ON THE GO
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MNCANE MTHUNZI | COVER FEATURE
Mncane Mthunzi Chief Operating Officer, Edcon Group
. – Andile Nomlala, Current President, BMF
Mncane Mthunzi
, Chief Operating Officer of Edcon Group, he's known for being committed change agent; an effective business leader and a courageous advocate for transformation with enormous personal energy. His most recent role was as Commercial Director at Massbuild (division of Massmart) and a Member of its Executive Committee. He was also Supplier Development Executive at Massmart for over three years before joining the Massbuild Board. In addition, he was the CEO of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA). He is also the Immediate Past President of the Black Management Forum (BMF). Prior to joining the BMF he worked for Microsoft as an Enterprise Strategy Consultant and later in a Sales Executive role within Microsoft. He was also a Senior Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He started his career at Accenture, where he worked in a number of industries both locally and internationally handling large-scale systems integrations and business solutions for a number of clients. Mncane is a PhD Candidate (Wits), and holds an M.Com in Leadership Studies (UKZN) as well as a PMD (GIBS), EDP (GIBS) and AMP (Harvard). CLICK ME READ FULL ARTICLE ON THE GO
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Mncane Mthunzi
www.fico.com
MATSI MODISE | COVER FEATURE
Matsi Modise CEO, Furaha Afrika Holdings & Vice Chairperson, Simodisa
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CLICK ME READ FULL ARTICLE ON THE GO
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ADVERTORIAL
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PRIMARY TRAINING BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT TRAINING ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING RECRUITMENT MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP TRAINING INDUSTRY TRAINING EMPLOYEE BENEFITS & WELLNESS
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NJ AYUK | COVER FEATURE
NJ Ayuk Chief Operating Officer, Centurion Law Group Executive Chairman | African Energy Chamber
African economies are undergoing a transformative period. The energy sector, particularly, holds great potential to revitalise African economies and empower the growth and development.
CLICK ME READ FULL ARTICLE ON THE GO
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www.agrisa.co.za
ELENA AGARAGIMOVA | COVER FEATURE
Elena Agaragimova CEO & Talent Development | Agar Consultancy | UAE
Recognising Excellence
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recently connected to Elena Agaragimova on a professional networking platform. I enjoyed her work and kept following up with her updates. I easily related to her work which I found inspirational. We play in the same professional space. In recognising excellence around the globe, it is an honor to feature her in this edition of National Business Xposure.
Our readers, who have been waxing lyrical about you on social media, finally get a chance to get up close and personal with you. Who is Elena Agaragimova? I am a skilled trainer and development leader, with over 10 years of experience, credited with combining operations, education, and international expertise to design, market, and deliver programs for individuals or for diverse group audiences. I lived in Russia, the US, and now the United Arab Emirates. I bring the best of my experience with individuals from different backgrounds to my consulting practice. I am an experienced career consultant, currently working with senior managers and executives in various industries. I have a BA in International Relations & Political Science, as well as a MSc in International Leadership from Old Dominion University in the US. I am currently undertaking a Certificate of Business Excellence with Columbia Business School. Finally, I’m an ATD certified trainer and currently completing CIPD Level 5 L&D Certification. Benito Mamaile: What ignited the spark in you to start a business or to make significant changes in an existing business? How did the idea for your business come about? Elena Agaragimova: I always knew I wanted to do something on my own, but I was not sure what or when. One thing, however, I knew for sure. I wanted to work with people and thus, I have spent the last 10 years of my career working with people wearing various “work hats” (as a counselor, business consultant, mentor, and coach). My clients come from different age groups and backgrounds, starting with college age students and up to senior executives with 20 plus years of experience. I come across fascinating individuals who are experts in their fields, but they might be challenged by the lack of some soft skills which might hinder their career/professional growth. If you think about it there are very little soft skills trainings incorporated into school, college, and work communities and this is more true in some regions versus others. This inspired me to offer workshops and trainings focusing on personal development and soft skills training using various tools. We deliver the trainings via webinars and face to face workshops. We incorporate the most recent research, literature, knowledge, and tools into our trainings and create customized programs for individuals and groups. CLICK ME READ FULL ARTICLE ON THE GO
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BM: How has your background influenced who you are today? EA: I was fortunate to live on 3 different continents in my life so far and thus gathering wide perspective of cultures, ways of living, and deeper understanding of people from different backgrounds. It exposed me to different perspectives and ultimately made me realize that although we can grow up in very different settings, but at the end we, as people, are more alike than different. In my work as a performance consultant and having a business that is about people and helping them be the best versions of themselves, I see this very often no matter who my client is. Although each client is unique in his or her own way, ultimately we are all aiming for the same things in life which is happiness, doing something we love, being better than we were yesterday, contributing to society, and reaching success as we each define it. BM: Did you ever deal with contention from your family concerning your entrepreneurial pursuits? How did you handle it? What would you do differently in hindsight? EA: I come from a family of entrepreneurs. My father is a business owner and I learned a great deal from him about doing business and building relationships with partners and clients. Both of my parents and siblings are quite supportive and my siblings are likely to join the business in the future and potentially expand in other parts of the world. Thus, I cannot say I came across any challenges in this area.