www.startupafrica.co.za
startupAFRICA MAY/JUNE 2019Â ISSUE NO. 12
RESHAPING THE MEDIA INDUSTRY
TIM MODISE
By Moyo Jolaolu
DEAR STARTUPAFRICAN Learn to manage people effectively and thrive. People management was one of the most underrated soft skills in the workplace, not until recently. With tech start-ups who are equally recognised for their innovation, leading the pack, by creating departments and teams dedicated specifically to this. It’s not strange to find a job role entitled: People Coordinator or ‘head of people’. So why the fuss about people management?
People management takes on two categories of people: those within the business and those outside of the business who have a bearing (whether direct or indirect) on the organisation. Dealing with the first category, People are the central element of the organisation and as such organisational change and strategies that focus on systems and structures alone are doomed to fail where they do not take them into consideration. In order to improve performance, managers need to work actively on the ground with their staff to implement successful and sustainable change.
As such, it is crucial for business owners to consistently assess and improve their people management and leadership skills so they can boost their employees’ careers, increase productivity and grow the business. On the second category, think of the last contract deal you snagged, your last business pitch, what was it dependent on? The silent forces that come together in the sealing of a business deal are all dependent on the people making the decisions. I have had instances where the person with whom the meeting was being held just liked my aura and that sealed the deal. I’m sure you have too. It’s the please and thank yous, the constant check-ins, the phone calls when you’ve heard good news about a prospective client, it’s all the little touches that really could make the difference in the end. During my time as a full time PR specialist, I created google alerts on all my clients and brand owners ensuring I was kept abreast of their activities. Where something personal such as news that they were getting married, or their child had done
something positively noteworthy had taken place, I would receive an alert because the lifestyle columns would report on it and I would purchase a gift to say congratulations. In times, where I couldn’t get across to them physically, I would opt for phone calls or simple text messages. Those little touches always went a long way. If everyone were collaborative, people management would be easy but alas. Personalities being variable, individuals need to be managed individually, but there's still general guidance that can be provided. Such as being empathetic- placing yourself in their shoes, clear communication of goals and objectives where an employee isn’t performing effectively, dealing with conflict directly and even handedly: if conflict resolution isn’t your strong suit, you might have to enlist help as it is the currency of people management. Fundamental approaches can assist with People management in your organisation,it is however important to make a deliberate effort to ensure that you have incorporated best practices in your organisation and where necessary to employ or outsource extra help as this is an integral aspect that may propel or hinder growth in your business.
BROADCASTING LEGEND Tim Modise
The South African media landscape has had a number of credible and highly esteemed broadcasting personalities over its lifetime; both pre and post-apartheid. But in all its glory, the country probably on its own would have a different media landscape in terms of talk radio, had it not been for Tim Modise. He introduced the talk radio format in 1988, on public education. Tim Modise is a legend in South African broadcasting industry and it’s not hard to see why. Over his 30+ years in the industry, he has interviewed heads of states, been award many accolades; among them GQ TV personality of the year; served as a panelist on the late Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk debate which was viewed by over 800 million people globally and has been a columnist and a veteran journalist. startupAFRICA's Editor-in-Chief, Baradi Moletsane, recently caught up with the great Tim Modise in an interview to talk about his life, career as a national icon and an influential public figure.
In no more than five lines, tell us who you are and what you do‌ My name is Timothy Molefe Modise but popularly known as Tim Modise. I have been in the broadcasting field for more than 30 years, working in radio and TV. I have also led business organisations and public & community organisations. I have received numerous awards including Radio Hall of Fame, Spanish Human Rights Award (Jaime Brunet) and have had the honour of a school named after me. Currently I am on eNCA and have started my own business called Nile Media.
Name two things that you appreciate about the industry you work in‌ I appreciate the opportunity to learn to, meet influential and interesting people and the opportunity to contribute to ideas as well as the development of my country and humanity. I am proud to have been part of our country’s transformation from apartheid to the democracy we enjoy today. Three words that best describe you? Open-minded, determined and sociable If you had to host three iconic people for dinner, who has a seat at your table? There are many and I am blessed to have met and known some of iconic South Africans amongst them. I think Martin Luther King Jr, Steve Biko and Albert Einstein.
What’s the most important lesson your line of profession has taught you?
Advice in a one liner for the South African entrepreneur/business aspirant…
My profession has taught me respect for people through compassion as well as creativity.
South Africa is full of opportunities but will test your character. Develop resilience, build supportive networks and be ethical in your business conduct for impact and success.
And the challenges within this profession/industry? The challenges include being the best as the last show therefore being always prepared, the contracts being short-term and staying above the ‘politics’ whilst standing for something. Who in your profession do you look up to? A lot of people inspired me and among them is the late Cocky Tlhotlhalemaje, the late Dan Setshedi, but Oprah Winfrey remains the yardstick. I am impressed with some of the young South Africans in broadcasting today. What do you wish you would have accomplished (by now) in your life? To have helped develop and transform the media ownership in South Africa but to my mind, life is a continuous journey. Finish this sentence: The career path I chose to follow allows me to… …serve, and in order to do that I read, enjoy the arts, meet interesting people, learn, grow and have fun at the same time.
Please provide all your social media handles if you are on social media I am on Twitter @TimModise and @NileMedia Anything you would like to add? I believe young people live in the most exciting era of human history, where they can connect with people of different cultures around the world instantly. Use this ability to learn about people who have similar challenges as yourself and learn how they can overcome them, learn about new opportunities and how you can access them, share your skills with the world and remember that the world still depends on people who are kind and willing to serve.
HOW TO SUCCEED IN ECOMMERCE Bring your business to an existing
However, that can be quite daunting. It
online marketplace such as
makes more sense to bring your
bidorbuy and reap all the benefits
business to an existing online
of a fully developed ecommerce
marketplace such as bidorbuy and reap
environment, with a minimum of
all the benefits of a fully developed
investment.
ecommerce environment, with a minimum of investment.
Whether you are just starting out or have an established business, you know how important it is to have a presence on the internet.
We asked Craig Lubbe, CEO of bidorbuy, to tell us how exactly you can make bidorbuy work for you. If you are just starting out and are serious about your business, joining bidorbuy is like a micro-version of buying your own franchise. You get the logistical support of a large company, even if you are operating on a small scale. Small-time sellers on bidorbuy can use tools that were traditionally only reserved for larger businesses. These tools enable them to create professional-looking listings, to manage their orders and sales, to make use of viable bidorbuyintegrated shipping solutions, and to offer their customers more than ten ways to pay. Sellers on bidorbuy do not need a traditional merchant account with a bank to accept credit cards. What’s more, they are not charged any additional fees for accepting credit cards or any other of over ten bidorbuy-approved payment methods.
What exactly would someone who is just starting out need to do in order to begin selling on bidorbuy? All you need is something to sell, an image of the product you want to sell, and an internet-connected computer. When you go to bidorbuy.co.za and click on the “sell” link, the system guides you step by step through the process of listing your items for sale. And if you happen to get stuck, we have a dedicated customer support team that is ready to help you every step of the way. What about businesses that already have their own ecommerce website? Does it make sense for them to sell on bidorbuy? The beauty of bidorbuy is the flexibility of the platform. You can make of bidorbuy anything you want. You are in control and everything is up to you. You can use the platform to sell from time to time, or to sell full time. You can use it to earn some additional income or to expand your existing business.
It makes sense for an established
business, you will want to make use
ecommerce business to join bidorbuy,
of our numerous fee-based
because thousands of people visit
promotional opportunities.
bidorbuy every day, and each and every one of them could be a future
And finally, for our readers who are
customer. That kind of exposure
now brimming with impatience to
would otherwise cost a business an
start listing on bidorbuy, can you
enormous amount of money. And we
tell us what sells best on the site?
make it easy for larger businesses to upload their products in bulk, or to
You can sell anything and everything
automatically synchronise their
on bidorbuy, as long as it is legal.
ecommerce website with bidorbuy,
You can sell the artefacts you make
free of charge.
with your own hands. You can sell the products your business manufactures.
How much does it cost to list a
You can resell, with a profit, the items
product for sale on bidorbuy?
you bought from your suppliers. I would suggest to absolute beginners
We do not charge fees for listing
to start by selling at a fixed price.
products for sale. We only charge a
Once they have some experience
reasonable commission once a
under the belt, they can start
product is actually sold. Of course, if
experimenting with selling in online
you want to grow your ecommerce
auction format.
Currently, some of the best-sellers on bidorbuy are car parts, small kitchen appliances, computers, video games, collectible coins, toys, and so on. However, it is even more important how you sell than what you sell. Sellers who know and believe in their products and who at the same time offer great customer service are bound to succeed on bidorbuy. About bidorbuy bidorbuy is South Africa's online marketplace. Established in 1999, bidorbuy has created a convenient way for people to buy and sell goods online. As a virtual trading place that brings buyers and sellers together, it allows you to buy and sell practically anything at a fixed price or in an exciting auction format. www.bidorbuy.co.za
LARA RAWA ENTREPRENEURÂ AWARD-WINNING MIXOLOGIST By ChidinmaAnya
What does it take to stand out as a female mixologist in a male dominated industry? Lara Rawa has beaten all odds to become a key player in the cocktail industry.
She is an award-winning, certified mixologist with a passion for creating cocktails. Having obtained a law degree from University of Lagos and a Masters Degree in International Business Law from Queen Mary University of London, Lara got called to the Nigerian Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2007. The young trailblazer made an unpredictable career move transitioning from her role as a lawyer into her role as an entrepreneur in the cocktail industry. Her transition into mixology was fueled by her passion for the art of cocktail making and ultimately inspired by a brief period of unemployment. She began building her mixology career when she decided to establish her very own mobile bar company. Today, Lara is the CEO of Lagos-based cocktails design and consulting company: Eventi Cocktails. Eventi Cocktails is the organiser of Lagos Cocktail Week, a first of its kind event in Nigeria. The annual event, which is the first of its kind in the country, is a festival that celebrates the unique cocktail culture in Nigeria through events, seminars and training sessions. Established in 2014 in order to showcase the best of Nigeria’s cocktail culture, Eventi organised this event
with the aspiration for the cocktail industry at large to be recognised as an integral aspect of the Nigerian beverage industry. Lara has earned several titles such as the first female Tales Attaché in Nigeria for ‘Tales of the Cocktails’ in New Orleans Louisiana USA. She has also been involved as a judge on different platforms such as ‘The Barman’ TV auditions 2017, ‘World Class Nigeria’ Audition 2017, and ‘The Baileys BakeFest’ 2017. Lara, a doting mother of one, is definitely a force to be reckoned with in the cocktail industry and business world.
Should Entrepreneurship be taught at school level? Could investing in exposing students to entrepreneurship and developing young minds entrepreneurially decrease the staggering youth unemployment rate and have a positive impact on the economy in the years to come?
By keitumetse Pule
Whether people are born entrepreneurial
These disconcerting statistics are a clear
or they can be taught to think
indication that finding a job as a young
entrepreneurially is up for debate, but one
person in this country is getting
can argue that young minds absorb
increasingly difficult and that there is a
information a lot faster than older people
stark need for young South Africans to
and if that’s the case, then there’s an
shift the power dynamics by finding other
opportunity to teach skills that are
means of economic integration, through
fundamental to entrepreneurship at
entrepreneurship.
primary and high school level. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is also a Many young South Africans share the
significant factor to consider in young
sentiment that the school system is
people struggling to find jobs in existing
designed and structured to train students
markets because these jobs are being
to think like employees and not employers.
rapidly replaced by AI and digital systems.
There is a societal expectation for one to go to school, matriculate, enroll in
Could it be that teaching students to
university then find a job – there is not
identify inefficiencies and apply critical
merely as much emphasis on encouraging
thinking and problem-solving skills to
the youth to start their own businesses
these inefficiencies from a young age is
and to create jobs as opposed to finding
likely to lead to an increase in the number
jobs.
of effective, sustainable start-ups and businesses in the future? This might be
This is supported by various examples,
something worth looking into to, if we
such as the fact that the school
want to grow the economy and enable
curriculum places way more focus on
more people to play an active role in the
drafting CVs and less focus is placed on
growth thereof, in the years to come.
drafting business plans. This points to the lack of effort in instilling an entrepreneurial mindset amongst the youth in our country.
Perhaps there would be a shift in the astronomical rates of youth unemployment and unemployment in general, which are 54.70% and 27.10% respectively, if the Department of Education invested in exposing students to the necessary tools and resources to instill within them an entrepreneurial mindset.
Tshepo Dhlamini Ensuring fuel supplies and mentoring new franchisees
Tshepo Dhlamini is the purchasing manager at Elegant Fuel, a role that entails a whole lot more than the designation suggests. Born in Kroonstad, Dhlamini attended high school in Potchefstroom before going to the University of Pretoria to complete his BCom Accounting degree. He later added an honours degree in accounting through the University of South Africa. Dhlamini’s Elegant Journey began in June 2014 after he was co-opted by the company’s marketing director. The two had met while Dhlamini was completing his articles at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). “We had kept in touch and, when Elegant set up its LPG [liquefied petroleum gas] plant in 2014, the company was looking for someone with a financial and accounting
background and approached me to manage that side of the business,” he says. Dhlamini’s initial role soon saw him “catapulted into running operations” for the fuel giant. On a daily basis from Elegant's head office in Louis Trichardt, he sources the petrol and diesel the operations department needs. His job is vital to making sure Elegant can deliver on its promise to deliver anywhere and everywhere. Working closely with the operations and finance teams and an extensive customer base, Dhlamini liaises between the refineries that produce the fuel and the retailers that sell it. “I learned how to manage staff, as I had 14 people reporting to me. I learned the delivery routes, different areas where we have outlets, how the simplest of things can upset
customers, how to ensure that funds are always available to pay salaries … it was a big growth spurt for me,” he says. That was in 2017 and before long he was running Elegant Fuel’s entire LPG division. After Elegant subcontracted its LPG operations, Dhlamini was brought into the fuel purchasing side of the business. When Dream Sites was registered in 2017, he began assisting on the business development side, too. Dream Sites is a company that was contracted by Elegant to assist in the development of new petrol stations and the rebranding of old ones. “We saw a gap in the market to support and see new franchisees through the process of setting up their franchises. Many people are not familiar with the process, so we stepped in to address that need,” says Dhlamini. “This part of my job involves upholding Elegant’s image, dealing with any issues that may require interaction with the Department of Energy, providing for increased fuel capacity when necessary, and dealing with any fuel-related issues.
“Essentially, it covers petrol-station conversions and set-ups, which we facilitate from scratch. It starts with physically visiting and evaluating potential sites and, once construction begins, seeing the process through to completion. I work closely with our marketing team on these projects.” Dhlamini is currently a majority shareholder and CEO of Dream Sites. Despite his busy portfolio, Dhlamini says there’s never a dull moment at work. A typical day might see challenges such as no internet service, resulting in supplier portals being inaccessible, which means placing all orders manually; 20 or more calls a day from people wanting to start franchises,“I take the time to
explain the entire process to each one, no matter how busy I am or how bad my day has been”; fielding calls from attendants at petrol stations looking for advice; and driving to different destinations – his physical Elegant journey. “I always incorporate training into my everyday work. Whoever it is that I’m working with, I like them to think the way I do, so I train supervisors to manage different scenarios so they grow in confidence. One phrase I use constantly is: ‘Don’t come to me with a problem. Come to me with a solution. Find a solution and then all you need is my final approval’,” he says. Dhlamini spends long hours on the road, often with no network coverage, meaning he cannot be contacted. He believes the time he spends teaching staff to find remedies themselves pays dividends and helps to set others on Elegant journeys of their own. He is growing a culture of problem-solving and reporting on how an issue was resolved. In the process, he is empowering others to develop management skills of their own. He regularly draws on his financial background and more than two years of articleship at PwC. “When you work in financials, numbers become second nature,” says Dhlamini. “It’s helpful when you’re negotiating a contract, since your mind is already calculating overheads, profit, discounts and interest, and you can immediately tell whether something is a bad buy.” Dhlamini says the vital new skill he has learned on his journey at Elegant is time management, as he cannot manage everything at once. “I think of it as juggling glass balls; if one has to drop, I must make sure it’s not an important one.”
He carries huge responsibility and his work incorporates many different elements. However, Dhlamini says the single thing that makes his work most enjoyable is his daily interaction with people. “We work in stressful times, but through teamwork we’re able to overcome challenging issues. Seeing how the work we do changes the lives of other people is its own reward.” The operations team members work closely with each other, but they also interact daily with colleagues from the invoicing and finance departments. “There’s a family feel to our business; everyone is always interested in the well-being of others,” says Dhlamini.
Dhlamini’s philosophy is that you’re never too old to learn. “As you go through life, try to assimilate as much as possible from people in various sectors who have been there and done it all before you. Always believe in yourself and let no one tell you it’s impossible. Dream big – the bigger the dream, the better the reward. If you have the drive to achieve, opportunities present themselves when you least expect it. And always give 100% – or rather don’t do anything at all.” Dhlamini is married to Aluwani, who runs her own mobile ablution hire company and is studying for her honours degree in finance.
BECOMING "THE" ZESIPHO MNCWANGO
WWW.STARTUPAFRICA.CO.ZA
MOYO JOLAOLU
Who is Zesipho? There’s a real misconception and fallacy that we’re all waiting for a big ‘aha’ moment where the algorithm or perfect formula to our self-actualisation is revealed to us. (that may be true for some) In truth, I am liberated and thrilled by the knowledge that I am on a lifelong journey to truly ‘Becoming’ Zesipho Mncwango, and that along the way, I can be both a ‘masterpiece’ or a ‘master’ in some aspects, and a ‘work in progress’ in others. I have mastered the bed-rock knowing of who I am, and who’s I am. Along my journey to growing to my own personal greatness, there have been cardinal moments where I have learned important truths about myself and who I am – my faith, my work ethic, my strength of character – that’s the foundation and essence of who I am and they stem very much from who’s I am. All the other accoutrements that I choose to plant on that foundation – my personality, the work I do, the relationships around me, are all what I allow to be ‘the work in progress,’ that can constantly change and evolve as I grow towards Becoming the Zesipho Mncwango Why beauty? What about the beauty industry fascinates you? I always knew it would be marketing for me. Always. The decision to become a beauty brand specialist, and ‘The Brain Behind The Beauty Brands’ is what came after. The notion that I can impact global beauty brands’ articulation of African beauty and luxury, in a time when African women are only just starting to see themselves reflected authentically and organically in the beauty narrative is what wakes me up every morning, and what keeps me up at night. It’s an exciting time to be in the beauty and brand space, because the representation of what African beauty is, and means, is finally on our own terms.
because everything is happening on our own terms; how we’re represented, who we’re represented by, what we want it to say about us, and to whom we give the power and platforms to. There’s a palpable energy and Afrocentrism that consumers have adopted and are so engrossed in. Brands in turn, are responding and reciprocating in the conversation with an equal celebration and embracing of Afrocentrism. It’s a beautiful dialogue and exchange, and the presence of social media is the ultimate enabler and for it all to be amplified.
You’ve worked with a few top brands, please name them. Which of these brands would you say you’ve made the most impact and why? Clinique, which is part of the Estee Lauder Companies CHANEL Beauty POND’S which is part of Unilever (current) My current role has been the most incredible experience. I liken it to having been a great cover artist before, and now I get to write the music. The beauty industry in Africa as a whole is Thriving? Why would you say that is? Everything changes when you see your own wings. The beauty of what we’re seeing within the continent, the organic Afrocentric campaigns and content, is
On the commercial facet, the burgeoning landscape of niche brands has contributed to growing a multi-layered and wonderfully complex beauty industry. The competitiveness is no longer just a case of big (corporations and hegemonies) vs small (niche start-ups), rather, it’s a race between fast vs slow in how quickly a brand can speak to consumers with messaging, solutions and products that are relevant. What would you say is the state of the beauty industry in SA? Highly competitive, from all aspects. Moving faster than ever- with innovations and trends, and campaigns. Its also particularly exciting because the SA industry has matures in its mastery of the influencer-led marketing model, and as a result, consumers and industry constituents alike are wondering “what next?” in terms of what we’re going to do to keep this model interesting without going stale. The time is ripe for stepchanging.
Are there gaps to fill in beauty in sa? What are some of these gaps? There are absolutely gaps. Therein lies the necessity of marketers, whose calling is to stand in the gaps between industries, brands and consumers and taking each with either hand. Marketers in the beauty industry stand in the gaps, and bring consumers closer to the future of beauty.
leveraging the largescale resources in their arsenal, without being bogged down by processes which make them sluggish in responding to local beauty trends and passion-points. Its all about timing; if a certain action is undertaken too soon no one understands it. But the greater risk is unlocking the opportunity too late, by which time consumers no longer care.
For the smaller niche brands who gain traction within the eComm/online space, the challenge and gap is the glass ceiling in unlocking scale in their business by getting distribution in brick-and-mortar retailers, where the critical mass of consumers sits.
What would your advice be for an aspiring beautypreneur? Fall in love with your consumer, and their problem/need which your product solves. In the past I’ve had people ask me how to get their startup beauty business up and going. I ask them who their consumer is, and this is endued by a blank stare.
For the behemoth multi-national brands, that are part of complex and matrixed organisations, the challenge lies in
Understanding your consumer and their need-space inevitably answers the critical questions about your product positioning,
pricing, marketing strategy, distribution. The whole nine-yards. It is the seed from which the fruit grows. It is not advisable to just merely create a product and hope/think that people will buy it.
We live in the information age – the knowledge, insights are literally at our fingertips. Just start. Wherever you are, with whatever you have, just start. And pivot until you hit the sweet spot. (You’ll know when you’ve hit it) One beauty regimen women must adopt? Knowing your skin type. I can’t tell you how often I hear women complaining about their skin reacting badly to a certain product they’ve tried or not responding to a certain product. My follow-up question is always “what is your skin type. Do you know whether that product is even right for your particular skin type?” The answer is, more often than not, a blank stare. Knowing one’s skin type is the gateway to knowing exactly which products you should be using as part of your regimen. And to the guys, the same advice applies. Accompanied with the caveat that ‘modern masculinity means investing in your grooming.’ One beauty product always in your bag? A beautiful fragrance to match my mood, the time of year, or the time of day. My colleagues often say they can tell by my scent in the air when I’m around.
Why is beauty important for everyone (not just women?) Speaking from my perspective as a beauty brand specialist, (that’s a disclaimer to say I a may be completely biased in my overstating the value and importance of beauty). The notions of beauty and how we see and value ourselves, and how we carry ourselves, our confidence levels, and resultantly what we are able to achieve, are all so inextricably interlinked and interdependent. Much like how historians can draw parallels between the fashions of an era, and the socio-economic climate, the parallels that can be drawn with beauty are much the same. What unfolds in the beauty andscape is literally a sign of the times.
For example, the current focus is on naturality – we see it in how models in campaign are wearing their hair in its most natural form, magazine covers have near-bare faced celebrities, consumers want more natural ingredients in their beauty products, and the focus is more so on the ultimate skincare treatments, so we can reveal our skin rather than concealing it. Consumers are holding brands and manufacturers accountable for their impact on the environment. That’s a sign of the times – we’re in the era of authenticity and consciousness. Three key principles that have helped you in business? 1) The soft-skills have been the real drivers of my successes and wins. 2) Failing fast and failing forward 3) When you do your best, people notice Last words for aspiring entrepreneurs? The difference between brands that come and go, and those that stand the test of time, is that consumers build long term relationships with organisations who align to their views/purpose/beliefs. Early on, it may be just the product that drives your incremental turnover and growth, but if you’re going to build a legacy brand, decide what your business stands for, amplify that, and you will reap the rewards.
By Baradi Moletsane
CO-WORKING SPACES – YAY OR NAY FOR SA ENTREPRENEURS? In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift – both globally and locally – from traditional stand-alone offices towards co-working spaces. While the added flexibility and obvious cost efficiencies continue to drive this shift, the question of
whether these proven benefits ultimately outweigh the potential drawbacks of co-working spaces remains up for debate. This is according to Gugu Mjadu, Spokesperson for the 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS, awards aimed at celebrating South Africa’s successful business owners in the SME space. She notes that shared working spaces are proving particularly popular among South African business owners.
“Broadly defined as membership-based workspaces for independent professionals seeking a communal working environment, coworking spaces are definitely gaining popularity among local entrepreneurs,” says Mjadu, referring to the 2018 Real State of Entrepreneurship Survey which found that, while the majority of respondents still work from home, there has been an evident increase in entrepreneurs working from shared spaces over the years. Structured to provide the utmost in terms of flexibility, while allowing for professional collaboration at an affordable price-point, Mjadu says there is little mystery in why co-working spaces are deemed attractive by a growing number of entrepreneurs. “In addition to offering a more affordable alternative to renting out a stand-alone office space, many of these co-working spaces also allow for shorter-term leasing arrangements. With the option to hire desks on a daily or even hourly basis, business owners are no longer forced to commit to a fixed-term lease with a set monthly capital outlay,” she explains. However, Mjadu does warn that a shared working environment is by no means suitable for everyone. “The potential high noise levels and lack of privacy in these shared spaces can be disruptive and troublesome, especially for entrepreneurs who may be working with sensitive data or intricate research in their day-to-day business proceedings.” With that being said, for entrepreneurs who have made the decision to go the route of a co-working office, Mjadu offers some advice on what to look for in a winning shared space.
“While most co-working spaces will offer similar basics, like a desk and internet connection, it is important that business owners do their research on what else is available to ensure that they get their money’s worth and have access to all the resources they need. “In addition to stable and high-speed internet, some entrepreneurs may require the use of a landline, printers, or other office specific equipment, while others may need access to conference rooms to host client meetings from time to time,” she explains, adding that it is critical to confirm whether these resources come at an extra cost, or are included in the rental price.
Over and above physical resources, however, Mjadu emphasises the importance of finding a co-working space that feels like a community. “Feeling comfortable is a non-negotiable when it comes to choosing a co-working space, but some spaces go one step further by providing a real sense of entrepreneurial community and inspiration. “So, in looking for the right co-working space, it’s important that you and your colleagues physically go to the office space in your area to get a real feel for the ambiance and atmosphere. After all, a co-working space can be more than just an office, as it offers the invaluable opportunity to network with likeminded professionals and establish potentially fruitful business relationships,” concludes Mjadu.
power of the audition process squarely in the hands of the user. “Since inception (six months ago) we have over 11 000 profiles on the platform and a monthly 20-30% growth. I am passionate about design, creating valuable user experiences and learning things (as well as unlearning things) as fast as possible!” Jaryd Hermann.
CATCH-UP WITH JARYD HERMANN The startupAFRICA team was excited to catch up with Co-founder and Head of Product and Experience at WeCast Jaryd Hermann. WeCast is a digital talent agency and job platform, the first of it’s kind in South Africa and one of the first globally – which puts the
Name two things that you appreciate about the industry you work in… I have worked in the film/TV and talent world for a years (thus my drive to create WeCast), but for the sake of this answer I’m going to choose ‘technology’ as the industry I work in. Right now, technology is the space I am most inspired by because of the idea that, truly, nothing is impossible or too far-fetched. Any problem can be solved and made valuable at scale. Three words that best describe you? Learner, unlearner, minimalist If you had to host three iconic people for dinner, who has a seat at your table? Sadartha Gatama, Seneca and Elon Musk
What’s the most important lesson your line of profession has taught you? When you are building something, you create ‘happiness’ milestones in your head. “When I reach X many users, or have Y growth or Z revenue, then I will be happy”. Unfortunately happiness doesn’t meet you there. These elements are just material and the happiness they bring lasts just a fleeting moment (if you’re lucky). But because you are so completely focused on the next milestone, and the next – very often you don’t take the time to enjoy your moment of ‘happy’. And then what is the point? The solution? This profession has taught me to find a way to appreciate the small wins, and find meaning in other daily things at work that you have control over.
And the challenges within this profession/industry? It’s a highly competitive space which results in an enormous amount of burnout and passionfatigue. The drive to achieve can be relentless and so can the anxiety that comes with growth pressure.
Who in your profession do you look up to? Definitely Brian Chesky (co-founder/CEO @Airbnb). He’s a designer and non-technical co-founder, like myself, and I think we share a few personal similarities, such as the hunger to learn. He champions customer experience more than anything else, which I aspire to bring to WeCast, and has set a powerful example of creating an amazing company without being a typical Silicon Valley founder.
What do you wish you would have accomplished (by now) in your life? I’m grateful about what I’ve accomplished and with who I am today, and I truly don’t wish to be anywhere else. Looking forward, however, I believe you have to be flexible with certain types of goals, and not to get too goal-fixated. What matters to you changes, the environment you grow in changes, and life changes. So whilst I have many external goals, more importantly, I wish for intrinsic ideals like mastery of my mind, or a deeper understanding of people. Finish this sentence: The career path I chose to follow allows me to… Learn the fastest. Advice in a one liner for the South African entrepreneur/business aspirant… Focus on what YOU ARE building and make sure it works in the South African environment first. Social media handles: Instagram: @wecast_ Facebook: WeeCast Twitter: @wecast_sa Blog: https://medium.com /@jarydalexanderhermann
The Man Behind Goodie Tutors – the #1 Tutoring Agency in Johannesburg! BY KEITUMETSE PULE
Goodie Tutors is one of the first names that pop up when one is in need of tutoring services in Johannesburg. We had a conversation with 21-year-old founder, Godiragetse Mogajane, to see what it takes to run a successful tutoring agency at such an impressive age. How would you describe your entrepreneurial journey? For most entrepreneurs, the journey to success is emotionally and financially taxing. For me, it’s been intense to say the least. One hell of a rollercoaster ride, needing to learn a lot in such a short space of time. You’re only 21 years old and you’ve already achieved so much, regarding establishing yourself as the number one tutoring agency in Johannesburg. What does the next five years look like for Goodie Tutors? We are currently working on a Goodie Tutors App, which will be launched in the third quarter of 2019. We look forward to implementing some amazing CSI projects with National Township Mall Developers, where their aim is to provide tutoring to the immediate surrounding community of their malls, at no cost to the students. Without giving too much information away, we are also working on next generation education offering, whose technology will improve the current education sector. So, the next five years are looking pretty promising. There is always room for growth.
"THE JOURNEY TO SUCCESS IS EMOTIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY TAXING" How do you strike a balance between being an entrepreneur and a student? Have you had to compromise on certain aspects of your life because of your commitment to Goodie Tutors? One hardly ever feels a sense of balance. Yes, I have had to sacrifice some of my time for the business. Rather, not sacrifice – but reorganise my priorities just as any ambitious businessman should. I welcomed the opportunity to study part time as opposed to full time. Whilst others may see that as a sacrifice, to me it is a smart reallocation of time that benefits both the business and myself. What’s a typical day like for you? I get to the office by 09h00, meet with my COO and discuss the current developments and any relevant updates. I then head to campus at
13h00 for classes, thereafter, head out to tutor my Grade 12 student at 17h00 (yes, I still tutor) and then back to the office at 19h00 to push some work until 22h00. From then, I study until midnight. What are your feelings on student entrepreneurship in South Africa? We are totally not getting the support we deserve. I feel like more could be done by universities, government and corporates to ensure that “start-ups” by university students become sustainable businesses. If you consider big technology companies (think Facebook and Microsoft) which were started in university and are now very successful and of which the founders reached their goals at very young ages, there is potential in the
youth and within our South African university campuses. I’ve personally seen some of their ideas and service offerings; if institutions just offered them an hour to hear them out, they’d be amazed at what our youth can achieve with the right funding and mentorship. There are quite a number of tutoring agencies in Johannesburg and throughout South Africa. What makes Goodie Tutors so distinct? Goodie Tutors offers tutoring from Grade 3 up to 3rd year University. We have a couple of brilliant university alumni who have excelled in their fields and who host workshops for final year students. We train our tutors to focus on exam and test preparation, because we have identified that many learners have the academic knowledge, but do not know how to study nor answer the questions asked in
exams all while under exam conditions. That is what makes us different. We don’t just offer educational support, but offer lifelong “handle the pressure” tools. What would you like to be most remembered for? The guy who revolutionised the supplementary education sector. How can students access you tutoring services? For the next few months, until our app is launched, parents and students can contact us by visiting our website on www.goodietutors.co.za . Our various packages and pricing are available on there too. We have an active business WhatsApp line where you could request more information (details on our website).
Nike’s Art Gallery: An Art Lover’s Guide By Chidinma Anya
Nike’s Art Gallery is one of Nigeria’s most popular and leading art galleries. The gallery is owned by Chief Nike Davies Okundaye and located at Elegushi road, Lekki, Lagos. Its four story building comprises of an art gallery, a museum and a coffee shop.
Here’s a guide to visiting Nike’s Art Gallery
+Location – 2, Elegushi road, Lekki, Lagos. + Entry Cost – Free + Opening hours – 10am – 6pm + Expectations – Paintings, Fabrics, Textiles, Metal Work, etc + Price Range of Pieces – It ranges from thousands to millions of naira
Things to do at Nike’s Art Gallery
- You can explore different types of art crafts. - The gallery has room for everyone: family outing, class excursion, solo outing, etc. - It is a perfect spot for photoshoot sessions and art video shoots. - If you feel hungry, there are rich restaurants full of nice Nigerian and African dishes.
Best Time to Visit Nike’s Art Gallery
You could visit on a weekday at any time before 6pm obviously or if you’d prefer visiting on a weekend, avoid the gallery from 12noon – 3pm because it could be congested. Also, avoid visiting the gallery on public holidays or festive seasons because there is usually a large influx of visitors at this time.
Heard about the Nike Art Gallery before? Be sure to stop by soon!
WHAT DO YOUNG SOUTH AFRICANS THINK ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP? BY
KEITUMETSE
PULE
How much do young South Africans know about entrepreneurship? Is there sufficient knowledge thereof and are young people in South Africa exposed enough to entrepreneurship? We interviewed four young people to find out what young South Africans really think about entrepreneurship. Phenyo Mabokela | Age:21 | Bcom Majoring in Taxation and Management Accounting & Finance What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of entrepreneurship? Problem Solving.
Do you think people are born
of life. It can be seen in how one
entrepreneurial or is that something that
approaches life and different situations.
can be taught? If it's the latter, do you
Entrepreneurs are usually the outliers,
think it should be taught?
those who choose to see the unseen or
I do not think anyone was born being
see what is seen from a different lens.
entrepreneurial or that anyone will ever
The fundamental trait is that they solve
be. In my opinion, the idea that one may
problems.
be born entrepreneurial arises from that particular individual showing traits from
What is the link between
a young age. Entrepreneurial thinking is
entrepreneurship and unemployment?
often bred by problems; many of the so
Let me put it this way: Entrepreneurs
called "born entrepreneurs" were
are the unemployed people who create
probably faced with problems from a
most of the jobs in an economy.
young age and took a decision to try and solve them. Problems/scarcity
Melusi Zondi | Age:20 | BA Law
/inefficiency are the best teachers of entrepreneurial thinking. Entrepreneurial
What's the first thing that comes to mind
thinking should be taught. The world we
when you think of entrepreneurship?
live in today requires everyone to be
I think of initiative, innovation, bravery
able to see opportunities within
and resilience. I think of someone being
problems in order to capitalize on them.
able to identify a gap within their community and having the mind to be
Would you consider yourself
able to fill it.
entrepreneurial? Yes, without a doubt.
Do you think people are born entrepreneurial or is that something that
Do you think young people in South
can be taught? If it's the latter, do you
Africa know enough about
think it should be taught?
entrepreneurship?
I think that both scenarios are the case.
Not completely. I think most South
A lot of successful entrepreneurs were
Africans have an incomplete image of
born with the gift and then refined it;
what entrepreneurship and its various
however, I think that in order to be a
applications to society are. Many view
successful entrepreneur, one needs to
entrepreneurship as merely starting and
have the desire and will to learn, evolve
running a business; this is only one
and serve. Given our current socio-
aspect of it. Entrepreneurship is a way
political climate and level of job
availability, I definitely think that it is necessary to teach entrepreneurship. In order to shape South Africa into what we want it to be, we need to create visionaries. Would you consider yourself entrepreneurial? No, not yet. At present I consider myself to be someone who elevates and improves existing business ideas or introduces those ideas into new industries, however, I have yet to develop the skill to create original models. Do you think young people in South Africa know enough about entrepreneurship? I think that young people in South Africa have the right idea and have recognized the need to create, however, I do not think that there is enough access to spaces that teach and foster entrepreneurial thinking. I believe that once there is complete access to those spaces, our potential will be limitless. What is the link between entrepreneurship and unemployment? I think that being unemployed forces one to look for a gap or opportunity in the market in order to create their own employment. It forces one to find a niche that is not catered for in which they can operate. Most entrepreneurial businesses in South Africa were started out of the need for survival.
Bongane Sigauque | Age:19 | Actuarial
Yes, it can be taught; an entrepreneurial
Science
education and mentality can be instilled in anyone.
What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of entrepreneurship?
Would you consider yourself
Making change.
entrepreneurial? I am entrepreneurial. I am the kind of
Do you think people are born
person who looks at everything as an
entrepreneurial or is that something that
opportunity for improvement and
can be taught? If it's the latter, do you
change.
think it should be taught? I think it's both. There are people born
Do you think young people in South
entrepreneurial who are constantly
Africa know enough about
acting entrepreneurial without any form
entrepreneurship?
of education, for example, the Pakistan
I don't think young people know about
or Somalians who start businesses at a
entrepreneurship. We are taught to
young age. Some need to be taught.
have patterned lives; go to school, get
your certificate, go to tertiary, get a qualification and go be an employee - that's it. The schooling system teaches us and grooms us to be employees, not employers. What is the link between entrepreneurship and unemployment? Entrepreneurship includes innovating ideas that will bring about change in certain aspects. So, if it means starting a business, then you know you are tackling unemployment. Entrepreneurship tackles unemployment most of the time. Tlotliso Sejojo | Age: 20 | BA Law What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of entrepreneurship? Entrepreneurship revolves around being a catalyst. An entrepreneur is someone who is willing to change the status quo, which can be done through introducing products/services into the market, and someone with a strong sense of initiative who is willing to start something for the benefit of others. Do you think people are born entrepreneurial or is that something that can be taught? If it's the latter, do you think it should be taught? I don’t necessarily think that some people are born entrepreneurial – it is something which can be taught. Some people become entrepreneurs based on circumstances; once you are fed up with the way your life has been or the way things are in terms of depending on the government, a pay-slip etc.
and once you have the burning desire to be
They hardly think that entrepreneurship is the
independent, you can start teaching yourself
way to go because it is embedded in young
to change things around. Your own
people’s mindsets that they need to look for
experience can shape you to become
a job - but there are hardly any jobs in the
entrepreneurial.
South African economy. They associate entrepreneurship with having to sell
Would you consider yourself entrepreneurial?
something so there is a lack of
Yes, definitely. I am always willing to change
understanding.
things and allow myself to be openminded, try different things and build myself. I live for
What is the link between entrepreneurship
change, growth and self-development and
and unemployment?
this is through being entrepreneurial.
When one is entrepreneurial and there’s more entrepreneurship, there is less
Do you think people in South Africa know
unemployment. If people are not
enough about entrepreneurship?
entrepreneurial, however, there’s more
Young people in South Africa don’t know
unemployment because people are
much about entrepreneurship.
dependent on the government and companies.
E T H I C S
I N
E M E R G E N T
C O U N T R I E S
By Emmanuel Akinbobola
Emerging countries have surpassed expectations in the areas of economic development and participation. The unrelenting economic convergence of these countries in terms of per capita income in comparison with developed countries haven’t gone unnoticed. A recent forecast by the world bank in January regarding these emerging countries showed continuous growth of around 3-5% as compared to the global economic growth of a revised 3 percent to 2.9 percent. Despite this continuous progress one thing remains questionable, the ethical code of conduct in these developing countries.
These countries are attracting investors and investment in droves, despite this unprecedented record of investors and investment in several sectors in these markets, an inconspicuous fact was discovered, the economies of the emerging countries were layered with several local competitors that are aggressively competing for the same market share, this could have been shocking to investors who must compete and adapt to local players. Players and actors are already interwound with local market forces and other socioeconomic challenges or benefits, navigating the volatility of these markets with liquidity
and longevity requires funds. Significant funds are allocated to R&D (Research and Development) in the emerging country’s economies, in most cases by investors who are eager to leverage on a vacuum and want to play a stand out role, it is, however, important to note that standout role for companies with large investor funds or foreign investment doesn’t necessarily happen in a vacuum. The success of investors and investee are reliant on several factors such as, enabling domestic policy and transparent government systems. These countries are proving that they are a source to augment global progress and a significant global competitor.
institutions that provided oversight for ethical code of conduct have either been stretched to limits, collapsed, inc
Despite increasing economic convergence and divergence in the global economy, institutions that monitor the ethical conduct, and transparency of these large number of transactions are under attack are at an alarming rate. It is easy to forgo these facts because the world’s populations as tripled and more people have been elevated out of poverty now as compared to previous times.
With the development of new technology, and new data management tools, it has given both the public and the private sector the upper hand in implementing ethics across the board. This recent development in technology will assist in providing a metric system that measures ethical conduct of transactions across all spectrums, for example with the ample growth or development of newer and more efficient technology will supplement an already existing public and private silos with transparency, efficacy, and structured data to carry out more actioned decisions.
However, the inequality gap widens and the mechanical tools of redistribution of wealth are in a constant clash between moral and ideological differences, differences between the commodifying public realm and increasing collaboration across public sphere, thus creating a susceptible environment for gross ethical misconduct. This is especially true in emerging countries that are still struggling with strengthening the infrastructures, and institution that upholds these ethical conducts. Prior to the economic convergence in emerging countries, the
The plethora of unknown variables such as insecurity, hindrances to freedom of speech, and lack of jurisprudence have contributed to the ineffective implementation of ethics across the public and private sphere. In most countries, some of these institutions are undergoing significant effort to resuscitate and reinforce these institutions. It would require tremendous amount of resources and years of research to make these institutions effective and to withstand the reliability test.apacitated, underutilized or underfunded.
With the readiness of data across the board, investors and investees can properly monitor and make better decisions in areas that require further investment. Emerging countries still suffer monumental setbacks in the healthcare, with the help of advanced technology and its benefits, it can navigate the course of the healthcare on the right track towards rapid development.
The remarkable combination of enlightened users & these technologies in emerging countries, it will bring a unique structural ecosystem, as technology, data, and socioeconomic development converge, the formation of new models across accustomed public and private sphere. It is therefore significantly important to invest heavily in the areas of technological advancement where it seems fit in these institutions. Introducing ethics to stakeholders and into different strata of socio-economic development in these countries could be quiet challenging. Both the public and private sectors sometimes fail to meet their initial intended objectives, it can be argued that public sectors having the unique settings of intrinsic implementation control and centralization extrinsic control, embedding ethics into the continuous transformative culture are highly feasible as compared to the private sector. A constant factor, for this to work, is that it would require bringing active stakeholders into an enabling eco-structural system that works under duress and stands reliability test when implementing ethics in all facet of the economy in emerging countries. How can this be achieved? Nurturing, and upscaling best practices.
Emmanuel Akinbobola Master’s in Public Administration Columbia University
Meet the founder of Fichaya service, the automated cleaning service Lagos is buzzing about BY MOYO JOLAOLU
Tell us a little about Ejimonye Ofodum and your work founding the company: Fichaya along with your co-founders. I am a simple person hoping to do something really important that affects lives. (laughs) I am very awkward talking about myself. I am however awesome at selling people and companies. I co-founded the company because I needed the service.
As released recently on our blog, I needed the service but I had little or no help getting access to a verified cleaner after a long long week at work. Because I needed an awesome team, my co-founders including Tolu Adetula, who is the CTO is helping a lot with process automation and Deji Fasore, who helps us with Corporate sales & possible investor relations. You’re a tech fiend. Why is that your chosen forte? And what has informed your drive for innovation and disruption? It was what I’ll term, ‘happenstance.’ I have my major in Economics and Management. However, I joined an I.T company in the Telecoms industry and then moved on to being a part of 2 Fintech startups. What has informed my drive for innovation & disruption is probably my background being a part of the awesome minds around the industry but primarily because I just wanted easy access to my everyday needs. Do you think there’s potential on the continent in the world of technology? (Feel free to go into specifics. Absolutely. Especially considering government bodies here in Africa, to companies in the private sector, there is a lot that 'tech' can do especially when it comes to process automation. As founder of an automated cleaning company; what are some of the challenges you have faced along the way and how have you combatted them? PAYMENTS! Keeping up with payments. Now that our service is automated, we do not need
to keep sending invoices to customers month or month to follow up with payments. My biggest challenge is ensuring my team and I are able to train our cleaning associates with the soft skills required to represent the brand. It is also one of our proudest moment when we see it through testimonies of our clients. Another challenge we have had in the past is the lead time it takes getting to the next customer that needs their home cleaned. What we have done is to improve the time it takes to get to the next customer considering common factors such as traffic. Why was it necessary to take it one step further and create a digital platform that allowed for young working class people to order a cleaner? Process automation makes it one less thing to worry about when building a company that can scale to 1,000, 10,000 or 50,000 customers. With Fichaya.com, customers can book their home cleaning easily, choose the cycle that best fits their working schedule, and make payment using their bank card. Another step we took towards automation is, like UBER or any other automated service, our customers can change their subscription, see their next billing cycle, book a cleaning for a loved one. And, our cleaning associates can also have a visual representation of how well they are doing and how much they have made so far etc. Oh! For the Ops team, we also trigger pay-outs to our cleaning associates from our system; very important angle to run more efficiently once the system is able to calculate total amount payable to individual cleaning associate!
How do you ensure security what with the data of your clients on this platform? Security is super important to us. Every customer's data is encrypted and when it comes to payment, our payment partners are PCI DSS & PA DSS level 1 certified. Entrepreneurship is glamourised but true entrepreneurs know that it is painstaking work. What has been the fuel that has kept you going? I cannot let down the people that trust me. More especially with my cleaning associates. With our business model, we are able to economically empower our associates by increasing the industry payment standard to an average of $330/month from $69/month. Where will Fichaya be in 5 years? It is a secret. But what I can tell you is that we hope to be able to license our automated technology to other cleaning companies to run efficiently. What is your advice for entrepreneurs on the continent looking to also enter into novel territory? Honestly, I still consider myself really early into this although we have been running manually and testing for roughly 18 months. But I would say- whatever you want to do, get it done. There is always a way.