Top Performing Companies and Public Sector - 18th Edition by Topco Media

Get your company to turn R1.5-billion

and beyond & scale Are you keeping your customers

satisfied?

ZOOMING IN ON

ABE SMITH HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL FOR ZOOM VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS

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ON THE COVER Zooming in on Abe Smith

IN THIS ISSUE

ELON MUSK To infinity and beyond

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

CONTENTS

CONTENTS 72

UPFRONT 9

Featured clients

Contributors

Editor ’s letter

ARTICLES 30

Stats SA looks at the South African Economy in Q1, Q2 and Q3, 2021

From surviving to thriving

Scaling your business

Do you have a revenue-growth approach? Here is how to imoact your profitablity.

5 Tips for growth

How to get your company to turn R1-billion+

How to tap the full potential of remote working

How to categorise relationships to succeed in business

Customer attention = customer retention

Business Networks are key to business success

S E C TO R OV E RV I E WS

Business Support Services

Construction Sector

Transport and Logistics

CONTENTS

I N T E RV I E WS 48

Deon Geyser - Advancing through ICT & Tech

Jackie Carroll - How to thrive and progress

Scott Picken - Be proactive, not reactive

P O D CAST S

62 52

Ashraf Garder Champion South Africa

Scott Picken Fintech is booming in Africa!

Brett M. Cooper Are you experincing conflict at work?

Sean Sanders Will currency as we know it become extinct?

Johan Minnie Life 2.0

102

L I F E ST Y L E 94

Top 5 Apps that will streamline your day-to-day processes

Mzansi, meet Mo’s Crib

102

Wellness at the Westin

104

Give yourself a break when working from home

AT T H E BAC K ATW PER

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

FEATURED CLIENTS

CREDITS CEO Ralf Fletcher

ACCA

Boschendal

Ithuba Holdings

MiX Telematics

Savino Del Bene

CONTRIBUTORS Andrew Honey Chairman, ThinkSales Global Chantelle Smith Recruitment Specialist, HR Company Solutions

Associate Publisher Twaambo Judy Chileshe twaambo.chileshe@topco.co.za

TOPCO STUDIO Production Director Van Fletcher van.fletcher@topco.co.za Group Editor Fiona Wakelin Assistant Editor Charndre Emma Kippie Art Direction / Designer Christine Siljeur Traffic Manager Daniel Bouwer artwork@topco.co.za Financial Manager Haley Fletcher

Cheryl Benadie CEO, Whole Person Academy

Researcher Veronique Anderson

Chris Ogden CEO, RubiBlue

Images iStock Pexels

Denise Persson CMO, Snowflake Greig Jansen Founder and CEO, PURA Beverage Company Louise Botha Recruitment Specialist, HR Company Solutions Nick Bell Group CEO, Decision Inc. Paul Keursten CEO, Workshop 17

Head Office Top Media & Communications (Pty) Ltd T/A Topco Media 2nd Floor, Elkay House 186 Loop Street, Cape Town, 8001 Tel: +27 86 000 9590 | Fax: +21 423 7576 Email: info@topco.co.za Website: www.topco.co.za

DISCLAIMER All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Top Media & Communications (Pty) Ltd T/A Topco Media. Reg. No. 2011/105655/07. While every care has been taken when compiling this publication, the publishers, editor and contributors accept no responsibility for any consequences arising from any errors or emissions.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

And, as a result of the travel bans imposed on African countries,

families are no longer able to look forward to seeing loved ones from whom they have been apart.

From what I have read, Omicron is showing signs of a weakening of the

virus and scientists are hoping that this is signaling the wane of Covid-19. Only time will tell.

Some kinds of uncertainty are good for us – it’s where possibility lies – other kinds are depleting and eroding, especially when they affect our mental,

physical, financial and emotional well being. In its 25 years of existence,

Topco Media has been deliberate about its focus: celebrating success and

providing inspiration for businesses and entrepreneurs in South Africa and

around the world. And now more than ever we all need that boost that comes from others who are resiliently pushing through and sharing their stories.

When I took a step back and had a look at 2021 in terms of what there was to celebrate for the theme of this 18th edition of Top Performing, the stand

out sector was technology, which should have its own cape and suit of lycra because it really did save the day for companies, like Topco, which two years ago had to pivot to digital-first with no prior warning.

And who better as our cover icon to represent what technology was able

to do to help us not only survive, but eventually thrive, than Abe Smith, the If I had to think of an image that

sums up the last couple of years (without including expletives) it would be building a ship at the same time as sailing it.

And then, just when we were

starting to allow ourselves a frisson

of happy expectation at the thought of celebrating the end of 2021 – boom!!! A limpet the shape of Omicron blew a hole in the hull.

Head of International for Zoom Video Communications? Abe is an industry-

decorated technology executive, who is recognised for building high-growth global teams at leading enterprise cloud companies such as Oracle and

Cisco, where he held senior roles. Inside we have articles on Elon Musk, a Stats SA economic overview of 2021, interviews and podcasts with Ashraf Garder, Scott Picken, Brett Cooper, Sean Sanders and a wealth (literally)

of tips and advice on how to scale, manage remotely, keep your customers satisfied and engineer B2B growth.

This publication would not have been possible without the tireless

dedication of a great team: Van Fletcher, Director; Charndré Emma Kippie, Senior Editorial Assistant; Christine Siljeur, Designer; and Daniel Bouwer, Traffic Manager.

Our tourism/hospitality industry

We hope you enjoy the read.

knee-jerk, illogical, travel bans

#BeSafe

is reeling from the subsequent

imposed upon South Africa, when in fact our amazing scientists

identified the strain which was already loose in the world.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

FIONA WAKELIN GROUP EDITOR

www.topperforming.co.za

17TH EDITION | 2019

Proudly brought to you by

16TH EDITION | 2017

15TH EDITION | 2016

Zooming in on

Abe Smith Zoom Video Communications

B y F i o n a Wa k e l i n

12 12

TOP TOP PERFORMING PERFORMING COMPANIES COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

ZOOMING IN ON ABE SMITH EDITORIAL

Abe Smith is the Head of International for Zoom Video Communications. An

industry decorated technology executive,

Abe is recognised for building high-growth global teams at leading enterprise cloud companies such as Oracle and Cisco

where he held senior roles. Bringing almost two decades of experience in SaaS, Smith is an authority on scaling operations in

Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Drawing on over eight years of leadership at

WebEx, where he was responsible for

pioneering the web-conferencing category across emerging markets globally, Abe

joined Zoom in 2019 to accelerate revenue growth while delivering happiness in all

markets outside of the USA and Canada. Ahead of Zoom, Abe spent some time in London to serve as President of EMEA for communications and earned media technology firm Cision (at the time,

NYSE listed). Based in London, he was responsible for all operations across

Europe with a dedicated team of roughly 2,000 professionals. Abe graduated with highest honors from the University of

Massachusetts, Amherst where he studied Political Science with a certificate in International Relations.

Given that the theme of this year’s

Top Performing digi mag is top tech

Please give us an overview of the journey which led you to becoming the Head of International for Zoom Video Communications. After graduating, I moved to Japan to immerse myself in

the culture and learn the language. Living in a small fishing village, I fell in love with the way of life. But I also began to appreciate the power of international business and knew I

wanted this to be a part of my career. When I moved back to

the US, I found a brilliant mentor who helped me develop my

passion for growing businesses around the world and helped guide me in becoming a leader.

I moved to Silicon Valley in 2000 and stumbled across a

then small tech company called Webex, and it was here that I met Eric Yuan, now CEO at Zoom. During this time I built

my expertise in cloud enterprise applications and the impact

they can have on the world, as well as growing a multi-million

dollar global business. I learnt many important lessons, and it helped shape who I am as a leader today. Fast forward some years later and the connection I made with Eric developed into a lifelong partnership as we continue to collaborate together at Zoom.

What does your role entail? As Head of International at Zoom, my role involves taking a global view on all go-to-market strategies, in Europe,

the Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific, Japan and Latin

America. We’ve seen some incredible growth over the past couple of years, and as a result, I have had the privilege of

hiring some amazingly talented people to help accelerate this growth around the world.

and the seismic impact Zoom has had on enabling businesses and families to continue operating and communication during

the pandemic, featuring Abe

Smith on our front cover was

a no-brainer! Read on to find out more about the Head of

International for Zoom Video

Communications, his journey, what drives him and who he would invite to dinner.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

During Covid “to Zoom” has taken on a new meaning globally. What are some of the growth statistics for the company overthe past 2 years? Our recent growth has accelerated trends we were seeing before

the pandemic, with more people

understanding the value of video

conferencing. We have seen a 30x

increase in the use of the platform, and we ended 2020 with more

than three trillion meeting minutes logged. Looking at our customers, we’re always inspired by the ways people have used Zoom to stay

connected and collaborate, from

birthday parties to board meetings. As a result, we now have over

504,000 businesses with ten or more employees as paying customers,

including over half of the Fortune

What have been some of your major milestones? There are lots of points in my life that I would consider to be milestones.

Living in Japan at a young age stands

out to me, it was an exciting time and I was able to learn so much. Having the

chance to drive intense global business development while still in my twenties,

and then being able to move to Silicon

Valley while the internet was still taking

shape and the cloud was being created meant that I was living at the heart of

so much innovation. Working for some of the most prominent technology

companies taught me a lot about scale

and what it means to be an international business. But, the crown jewel has to

be joining Zoom in 2019 and helping to

take the company public and developing and maturing it through the pandemic.

500 and 70% of the Fortune 100.

What’s even more exciting however is

What excites you about your role?

to come, and that’s the future of Zoom in

that the most amazing milestone is yet 2022 and beyond.

I have a lot of intellectual curiosity,

which I think is crucial to have in my role. I am privileged to work with so

many different cultures across Asia,

Europe and Latin America and to be in a position where I can constantly learn about new parts of the world. At Zoom, we have been able to

participate in people’s everyday

lives in such an impactful way. For

example, helping people learn and improve their education. While

that’s a huge responsibility, it’s also a privilege. Of course, I also love

being able to interact with hundreds of Zoomies around the world who are all equally passionate and committed to our mission.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

ZOOMING IN ON ABE SMITH EDITORIAL

These are just some of the small

steps in our journey to create a space where people can work together and collaborate and aren’t held back by technology, but supported by it. But we don’t want video

communications to replace human

interaction entirely. We see it as a way

to support people in their daily lives, to make everything that bit easier and to supplement face-to-face interaction.

Do you take a particular approach when building high-growth teams? It always starts with being bold in

my decisions. The market potential is endless, so I always have to

think about how we can stretch

ourselves, where we can go and how we can do it quickly, without overly

stressing my team or the company. It’s important how we source and

develop our leaders so we can scale

and recognise the business’ potential. However, people always come first,

so compassion is key. That’s a core

What is your “why”?

How far away are we from making the video experience as real as face-to-face?

I have two guiding principles in

The technology is getting better

family, to ensure they are protected,

we’re focused on making video

enjoy my work as much as I do.

to-face experience as possible.

vindicated — what I’m doing now

means Zoom Whiteboard and Zoom

technology landscape for over a

long as I can remember. Having a

Workrooms to create virtual meeting

The opportunity within the region is

impact people’s lives in so many

to work together seamlessly, no

precise when you develop into

every day.

Other features such as smart

consideration you need to figure out

communications, and we believe the

intentionally as it is a very technically

value of our company and how people should live.

With your experience of scaling operations in Asia and Latin America, what is your view on Africa’s readiness for technological innovation?

everything I do. The first is my

and better every day, and

have endless opportunities and

communications as close to a face-

The second is feeling professionally

Our recent partnership with Oculus

I have been interested in Africa’s

is what I’ve wanted to do for as

Meetings will integrate with Horizon

decade, and this is the final frontier.

canvas like Zoom means we can

spaces. Whiteboard allows people

massive, but you have to be very

ways, and that is what drives me

matter what device they are using.

the continent. Over time and with

gallery help to bring equity to video

how to best build intelligently and

future of comms is equity.

advanced continent.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

EDITORIAL ZOOMING IN ON ABE SMITH

There is lots of organic interest in the product which has created spirited

interest from the company internally to pursue it. Because of this innovative

drive, we hope businesses within the region takes advantage of our Zoom App Fund, as we’d love to invest in

What exciting plans do you have for the future? Getting 1% better every single day and building Zoom to be the

greatest SaaS company ever. We want people to look at Zoom as

the video and communication operating system for their life. Once

Zoom and Zoom Video is woven into every aspect of personal and professional life, that’s when we know we’ve achieved our goal.

companies in the region whose mission is to make communications more engaging, productive and effective

If you could invite 5 people past or present to dinner who would they be?

Do you have a message for people out there struggling to survive?

This dinner table would be very diverse,

Never give up.

and would include John F. Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth, Bono and

Emperor Akihito. The final seat would be reserved for my

mother, Marcia Smith, as she will always have a place at the table and has offered so much insight into the world that has shaped my thinking.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

There are always opportunities out there, and even

when it seems too difficult, try your best and know that people care and will help. Part of our commitment

to the Zoom Cares Programme is to bring some of the best of Zoom to help people, help make the

world a better place and solve some of humanity’s biggest challenges. From educational and social

inequities to climate change, we deploy funding, technology and technical expertise that make a difference and help those who need it.

W h e n y o u t h i n k “ E l o n M u s k ” w h a t wo rd s f i rs t c o m e t o m i n d ? B i l l i o n a i re? E l e c t r i c c a rs? Te s l a? S p a c e X? M a rs? H ow a b o u t b o r i n g? W h a t ? Ye s – h e a l s o fo u n d e d T h e B o r i n g C o m p a n y . N o t the kind that puts you to sleep – the kind t h a t a c t u a l l y b o re s t h ro u g h t h i n g s . C o m b i n i n g t u n n e l l i n g w i t h a n e l e c t r i c p u b l i c t ra n s p o r t s y s t e m t h i s m a ke s fa s t, ef f i c i e n t l o n g d i s t a n c e t rave l a re a l i t y .

Elon Musk To infinity and beyond B y F i o n a Wa k e l i n

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

ELON MUSK EDITORIAL

What Elon Musk is also making a reality

Some of the SpaceX milestones

You know the expression “shoot

Hardly boring. And definitely not part of

• 2008: Falcon 1, the first privately

Musk-speak that is just the

is unleashing a dragon into space.

a Game of Thrones script. In April 2020 Jim Bridenstine from NASA tweeted:

include:

developed liquid fuel rocket to go into orbit

• 2017: re-flying a Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft for the first time BREAKING: On May 27, @NASA will once again launch American astronauts on American rockets from American soil! With our @SpaceX partners, @Astro_Doug and @AstroBehnken will launch to the @Space_Station on the #CrewDragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket. Let’s #LaunchAmerica

• 2018: Falcon Heavy, the most

powerful operational rocket in the world, completed its first flight

• 2019: crew-capable version of

the Dragon spacecraft completed its first demonstration mission

“

• 2020: flying NASA astronauts to the International Space Station for the first time

– Starship Enterprise, Star Trek

Col. Doug Hurley, the pilot of the final Space Shuttle mission, and another

Space Shuttle veteran Bob Behnken. Their Crew Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket is one of two crafts

that NASA chose to launch American

astronauts into space during May 2020 – a very large feather in Elon Musk’s already feather-filled cap.

Born in South Africa, Elon Musk is an

engineer. As lead designer at SpaceX,

he “oversees the development of rockets and spacecraft for missions to Earth orbit and ultimately to other planets” – Tesla.

start of his plans for Starship, a reusable transportation system

that comprises a spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket that will fly

to the Moon, Mars and beyond.

“By pioneering reusable rockets,

SpaceX is pursuing the long-term goal of making humans a multi-

planet species by creating a selfsustaining city on Mars.” – Tesla

“We [SpaceX] started off with just a few people who really didn’t know

how to make rockets. And the reason that I ended up being the chief

engineer or chief designer, was not

“ G oing where no man has gone before”

@Astro Doug and @Astro Behnken are

for the moon”? Well, in Elon

because I want to, it’s because I

couldn’t hire anyone. Nobody good would join. So I ended up being

that by default. And I messed up

the first three launches.” SpaceX

CEO and Lead Designer Elon Musk,

International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Adelaide, Australia, 2017

STARSHIP FAST FACTS - SPACEX SUPER HEAVY

The first stage, or booster,

has a gross lift off mass of over

3 million kg and uses sub-cooled

liquid methane and liquid oxygen

(CH4/LOX) propellants. The booster will return to land at the launch

site on its 6 legs. Diameter: 9 m Height: 68 m

Propellant Capacity: 3300 t

Thrust: 72 MN

STARSHIP

Starship is the fully reusable second stage and has an

integrated payload section.

Starship serves as a large, longduration spacecraft capable of carrying passengers or cargo to Earth orbit and planetary destinations.

Diameter: 9 m Height: 50 m

Propellant Capacity: 1200 t Payload capacity: 100+ t

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

TESLA

shares in 2010 for an outlay of

Joe Rogan Experience - SMOKING CANNABIS AND NASA

with a value of around $76 900 –

In 2018 on Joe Rogan’s show Elon Musk

So if you had bought a hundred

In 2002, at the age of 31, Elon

$1 700, today you would be sitting

eBay bought PayPal for $1.5-billion

not too shabby.

smoked cannabis – and broke the internet with

$180-million. Two years later in

Tesla’s current market value is

Smoking weed on national television was not

electric motor, clean energy startup

with shares sitting at an all-time

contractor to the US military, who are not big

He became CEO in 2008, even

average market cap reached

ordered SpaceX to conduct a $5-miilion audit

Kimbal, in the Third Row Tesla

$750-million windfall for Elon Musk

requirements for workplace safety, including

Musk became a millionaire when – his share as co-founder was

more than 33 million views – and counting.

2004 he invested $6.3-million in the

$143-billion (April 2020) and

a great idea, not least because SpaceX is a

Tesla Motors, now known as Tesla.

high, the company’s 6-month

fans of cannabis. So what did they do? They

though, according to his brother,

around $97-million, which means a

to ensure “the companies are meeting NASA’s

podcast, this was a role he tried

got just that bit closer?

the adherence to a drug-free environment.”

How?

Other interesting glimpses into this one-of-a-kind

really hard not to get. Elon replied “Yes. This will be misinterpreted as

In terms of his 2018 compensation

I do. It’s just like, I was trying not to

to purchase shares – IF - Tesla

extreme.”

this is the important one – one of

Tesla went public in 2010, and then

capitilisation averaging $100-billion

later in April 2020 they are going

market cap average is reached, he

thinker that we got from the YouTube clip were:

somehow I don’t love Tesla, which

package, Musk will receive options

“Wikipedia is wrong – I am not a business

go insane. I mean [the] pain level is

reaches certain benchmarks. And

– please can someone change that.”

the benchmarks includes market

shares were $17 each. Ten years

for 6 months! Once the $100-billion

for $769 a pop.

will have the option to buy about

magnate – I am a business magnet “I am an alien.”

“I do engineering 80% of my time – designing things – structural, mechanical, electrical, software, user interface – outer space engineering.”

1.7 million shares at $350.02 a

“A company is essentially a cybernetic

prices will mean a profit of around

“My mind explodes with ideas all the time.

share, and selling them at current $750-million.

Why? Why has Tesla stock surged? One of the factors could be that they

brought out the Model Y crossover in 2020 and during the COVID-19 linked-recession, legacy car

manufacturers like General Motors are moving away from the petroldriven towards battery-powered vehicles – and Tesla has the

advantage of already being out of those blocks!

collection of humans and machines.”

When I was 5 or 6 I thought I was insane.” His favourite philosopher?

Richard Adams, author of Life, the Universe and

Everything – and for him, it is getting the question right, not just the answer – which, if you are interested, is 42.

And his views on the future?

“I think fundamentally the future is vastly more exciting and interesting if we're a spacefaring civilization and a multiplanet species than if

we're not. You want to be inspired by things.

You want to wake up in the morning and think the future is going to be great. And that's

what being a spacefaring civilization is all

about.” Elon Musk, International Astronautical

Congress (IAC) in Adelaide, Australia, SpaceX CEO and Lead Designer, 2017

20 20

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES

ELON MUSK EDITORIAL

ELON MUSK

Is the world’s #2 richest billionaire with an eye-watering 2021 net worth of

$151-billion

Is planning to take a trip into space with Virgin Atlantic Says that Starship could

His son’s name was changed from “X Æ A-12” to “X Æ A-Xii” Image by: BY TODD ANDERSON/THE NEW YORK TIMES/REDUX. Source: https://www.vanityfair.com/

news/2018/02/elon-musk-greatest-showman-on-earth

LAND PEOPLE ON THE MOON IN 2024 , and

take them to Mars within the decade

ITHUBA - Changing the narrative

and using the national lottery as a vehicle for change - A case study Excellence from the start Zamani Holdings was founded in

2008 as an equity funding business by Charmaine and Advocate Eric

Mabuza. A consortium of credible

B-BBEE and high profile investors

Zamani’s strategic intent was

the digital realm. With the latest

awarded the third National Lottery

digitised its online playing options and

positively met when ITHUBA was

license, effective June 2015, under

the leadership of Charmaine Mabuza,

All draws are now conducted using

countrywide.

Through the RNG (Random Number

which employs 240 employees

Within just 5 months of being awarded

purpose vehicle created to operate

all the roll-out requirements necessary

the South African National Lottery.

In inviting investors to ITHUBA, the leadership gave consideration to

various national imperatives which they believed were vital to South Africa’s economic development. These imperatives included

acknowledging and implementing

the BEE strategy, as a mechanism

through which to increase economic participation of previously-

draw processes.

the Group CEO of Zamani Holdings,

were attracted to form ITHUBA

Holdings (RF) (PTY) LTD (RF), a sole

technology and innovation ITHUBA

the license, ITHUBA had completed

to begin the National Lottery trading. This included installing 9000

a safe and secured digital method. Generator), ITHUBA was able to

proceed with draw-based games without interruption, while other

Lotteries around the world had to close due to the pandemic.

terminals in urban and peri-urban

ITHUBA is the only operator in the

Lottery footprint to 45%; ensuring

banks, setting the benchmark for

areas, increasing the National

that retailers were fully equipped

and trained to promote and sell the

National Lottery games; and ensuring that every operational detail was in

place to ensure a smooth transition from the previous operator.

world that sells the Lottery through Lotteries across the globe. The

World Lotteries Association (WLA) recognises ITHUBA as part of the

top 5 performing Lotteries globally. Leveraging off the success of the South African National Lottery operator, ITHUBA, Zamani

Holdings is looking to use its

disadvantaged black South Africans.

knowledge and expertise to

responsive to the needs of all

...its ultimate goal is to become a truly pan-African group...”

and civil society, particularly

Long before we knew pandemics such

to become a truly pan-African

ITHUBA embarked on a journey

continent.

A further imperative was being stakeholders, including government in addressing socio-economic

disparities which still exist amongst most sectors of our population.

as COVID-19 were so destructive, to move the National Lottery to

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

expand north of South Africa’s borders, into southern Africa. However, its ultimate goal is group supplying the whole

I T H U B A CA S E S T U DY

Game Portfolio: • Since 2015, Ithuba has more than

• In over a year since its launch in

• The launch of DAILY LOTTO

Lottery portfolio. This includes the

paid out more than R817-million

USSD and website channels

doubled the games in the National launch of 6 online EaZiwin games, SportStake 8 and Daily LOTTO

• After comprehensive research,

Ithuba established that players

wanted to play for bigger amounts daily and, as a result, DAILY LOTTO was launched

March 2019, DAILY LOTTO has to more than 71-million winners

• In 2020 ITHUBA launched 9 EAZIWIN online games

• The launch of USSD and

1 Voucher for greater player convenience in 2020

with Standard Bank on their

• The continued expansion of B2B channel sales with

ABSA launching LOTTO and

POWERBALL games as their

initial offering and FNB launching DAILY LOTTO in March 2021.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

Charmaine Mabuza Founding member and group CEO of Zamani Holdings; CEO of Ithuba Holdings Charmaine Mabuza is one of South Africa’s leading

businesswomen and a true

example of entrepreneurial

excellence. Women in executive leadership positions are a rarity

in the gaming industry and she is among a very small percentage of women who lead gaming

companies, and an even smaller percentage of women who lead

such industries globally. Charmaine is the first black female to run a

lottery operation in South Africa. In the six years ITHUBA has

been operating, she has led the charge to align the company

with international best practices and cutting-edge technology,

implementing a strategy to move the National Lottery into a digital realm. Charmaine Mabuza is someone entrepreneurs and

aspiring leaders can look up to, she truly encapsulates what a true leader is.

She is a firm believer in education and that one should never stop

learning. She is setting an example

by furthering her studies at Harvard Business School.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

I T H U B A CA S E S T U DY

Charmaine has displayed remarkable resilience in rising above difficult challenges.”

Of all the hats that she wears,

a director in Wiphold, the first

her favourite roles. In her busy

the JSE in 1999.

mom, wife and grandmother are schedule, Charmaine always finds

female-owned company to list on

the time to spend quality time with

Charmaine Mabuza has displayed

cooking and traveling.

above difficult challenges. She

her family. She enjoys gardening,

Her hard work and resilience

have been exemplary and have

inspired other women, especially young women to go for their

dreams. Long before her role as

the CEO of ITHUBA, Charmaine

was already breaking boundaries in the business world. She

established a name for herself as

remarkable resilience in rising

has been praised for her forward-

thinking leadership style and ability to handle high-pressure situations,

seeking to solve challenges quickly and decisively. She is the driving force behind the formation of

ITHUBA. Under her leadership,

ITHUBA transformed and changed the narrative of the South African National Lottery.

LEADERSHIP POSITIONS:

AWARDS

• Deputy Chair for the Mpumalanga

• Vision 2030 Top Woman

Provincial University Council

• Former Managing Director of Empilweni Payout Services (Pty) Ltd

• Former Trustee on the Board of

GRIP (Greater Rape Intervention Project)

• Former Sheriff of the High Court • Former member of South African Board for Sheriffs.

in Education Award for her role in affording

access to education for disadvantaged youths. • Forbes Africa Social

Impact Award (2020)

for philanthropy through various projects that

have uplifted the lives

of South Africans from all walks of life.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

Ithuba: Enhancing the socio-economic development of South African society INTERVIEW WITH CHARMAINE MABUZA, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ITHUBA HOLDINGS

Congratulations on winning the Top Empowerment Business Leader of the Year Award 2021. What does winning this headline award mean to you?

I am delighted to be acknowledged for the efforts ITHUBA is making to empower black people and women

across all our operations. At ITHUBA we see empowerment as vital to long-term business success, so

being named Top Empowerment Business Leader of the Year

confirms that our vision is working. Having black women in leadership positions is nothing new for me. My entrepreneurial spirit was

nurtured by my mother, who singlehandedly managed a number of small businesses in KwaZulu-

Natal. Her dedication inspired me

to follow in her tracks. I am proud

that ITHUBA is a leader in Africa’s

gaming world and especially proud

that our success is primarily due to confident black women.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

ITHUBA: CHARMAINE MABUZA INTERVIEW

“ I am proud that ITHUBA is a leader in Africa’s gaming world and especially proud that our success is primarily due to confident black women.”

To what do you attribute your success? We believe that transformation is

What is your “why”? What excites you about what you do?

What have been some of your major milestones – both personal and business?

business promise. Within the gaming

more than knowing that I have

cannot have a sustainable economy

part and parcel of delivering on our

sector ITHUBA stands out because we have 60% women representation in

our executive compared to the industry average of 20%. Our operations are

aligned with international best practice and we invest heavily in technology innovation.

There is nothing that excites me made a difference to somebody’s

life. We provide income-generating opportunities to our small business partners across South Africa and

through our selection of games we

give all South Africans the chance to increase their wealth.

I have always been convinced that we if women and black people remain on the fringes. In 2015, when ITHUBA

started operating the National Lottery, I was the only female CEO in the

gaming sector. Today, gaming is still heavily male dominated, so I see transformation as essential.

Our ITHUBA team has reinvigorated

Our success in expanding the

There were fewer games available

provided more opportunities for players

enhances the socio-economic

started operating the National

the National Lottery brand and

to win life-changing jackpots through

a revived game portfolio. Well before the national lockdown we moved the

National Lottery to a digital realm. This meant that throughout the various

lockdown restrictions that we have

faced due to Covid-19, South Africans

footprint of the National Lottery development of South African society, as we give back approximately 27% of the value of ticket sales to the

National Lottery Distribution Trust

Fund, which disburses the funds to good causes.

could continue playing on the National

In February this year, ITHUBA

and through the digital platforms of

82 BBEEE-owned businesses

Lottery website, on the Mobile App, our banking partners – Absa, FNB, Standard Bank and Nedbank.

ITHUBA also introduced the ground-

breaking Random Number Generator draw system, a new method of

drawing lottery numbers, which is now the industry standard. The RNG has

contributed financial relief to

across South Africa. A total sum of

R15 million in grants was dispersed to beneficiaries of the ITHUBA

Supplier and Enterprise Funding Programme, with companies receiving amounts of up to R1.5 million.

a high level of systems security as

The opportunity to run the National

systems that can verify the complete

enabled ITHUBA to give back to the

well as internal and independent audit integrity of lottery draws.

Lottery is a privilege that has

wonderful people of our country.

to lottery players when ITHUBA

Lottery. Within 6 years of operation, we have doubled the number of games in the National Lottery

portfolio, thanks to our innovative game design team.

Our partnership with all the major

banks has strategically expanded

access to the National Lottery. Players can now access National Lottery

games on their internet platforms.

Three years ago, ITHUBA launched

the first ever National Lottery Mobile App. At the same time we mobilised the National Lottery by rolling out 175 000 handheld devices.

Just a year after ITHUBA took over the National Lottery we achieved a significant percentage increase in

sales. This made ITHUBA one of the

best performing lotteries in the world.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

INTERVIEW ITHUBA: CHARMAINE MABUZA

In 2017, the World Lottery

Association announced that the South African National Lottery

accounted for half of the lottery sales of the entire African continent.

This year, in recognition of our

empowerment efforts, ITHUBA

prevailed in two categories of the Gender Mainstreaming Awards:

Large National Company Positive Role Model Gauteng, and Large

National Company Positive Role

Model – South Africa. ITHUBA was

also a finalist in the Investing in Young Women category. On the global front, ITHUBA was recognized by Gaming Intelligence as Lottery Operator of

the Year in Africa, and, as ITHUBA

CEO, iGaming Business positioned

me among the Top 10 Most Influential Women in Gaming.

From a purely business perspective, what particular challenges have you experienced and how did you solve them?

When ITHUBA started operating the National Lottery, we had to ensure that we address the gender representation gap within the industry which is primarily male-dominated. We had to ensure that we appoint and equal number of female executives compared to our male-counter-parts. This is a global challenge within the gaming industry, and I am pleased to say that within our executive committee, we have 50% female representation.

What differences have your solutions made to your company?

Growing online gaming has been one of the best things we have done for

the economy. Africa will get a piece of

ITHUBA’s ability to keep abreast

this big pie.

advancement has allowed us to

expand the footprint of the National

What would you say is your leadership style?

turn has meant we have been able

A leader knows how to get the best

the South African economy and to

to know and understand my subject-

entrepreneurship, and support

to debate and find solutions that

of innovation and technology

Lottery and increase sales. This in

I tend towards a collaborative style.

to put back substantial amounts into

out of their team and I take the time

educate young professionals, develop

matter experts and encourage them

women and youth.

are a win-win for all.

When we were awarded the National

However when the going is tough I

the first female CEO in the gaming

to follow the toughest and loneliest

one of the few in the world. From

strong vision of where you want the

transforming the racial and the

ITHUBA opening out further across

Lottery contract in 2015, I became

am prepared, as any leader must be,

sector for the whole of Africa and

path. And you need to have a

the outset I have made sure that

business to go. For example, we see

gender profile of the gaming sector

the African continent.

remains a top priority.

How has COVID affected your business model? I believe that any business – big or

How do you relax?

I have a very hectic and demanding

job as the CEO, so what I value above all is spending time with family over

small – should have a continuity plan

the weekend.

of crisis. We were all caught off guard

by COVID-19, but ITHUBA was a jump

Do you have a message of hope for our readers out there?

Africa – we had a strongly flexible

been devastating for our lives and for

adopted the innovative technology

become more realistic about how

gaming. Our players were able to

learnt some valuable lessons in how

in place, ready to implement in a time

ahead when the pandemic hit South

While the COVID-19 pandemic has

team in place, and we had already

many people’s livelihoods, we have

that enabled us to transition to online

to handle it. As a country we have

make use of our digital platforms.

to survive the challenges that it has brought. Now that the government has relaxed the restrictions, our

priority should be to re-energise the

economy and create more jobs. If we work together with our government, by creating opportunities for more citizens to enter the productive

economy, we will be building a better future for ourselves.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

We are Top Peformers in innovations that change lives and the world.

ITHUBA’s innovations and empowerment programmes have positioned us as The Best in the Game. Our continued support and development of cutting-edge technologies has rewritten the lottery space globally. We are proud to be industry leaders in the game of changing lives and making a difference.

www.nationallottery.co.za

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

STATS SA LOOKS AT THE SOUTH AFRICAN ECONOMY IN Q1, Q2 AND Q3, 2021

– And how far we need to go to get to pre-COVID levels

This summary from http://www.statssa.gov.za provides an overview of how the economy did in the first and second quarters of 2021 – looking at which were the growth sectors and the industries which recorded positive gains - and how far we have to go to get to pre-Covid levels:

GDP RISES IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2021

The finance, mining and trade

The South African economy grew

inventories helped spur growth on

by 1,1% in the first quarter of

2021 (January–March), translating

industries were the main drivers of output on the production

(supply) side of the economy, while

household spending and changes in the expenditure (demand) side.

into an annualised growth rate of

Despite this being the third

(annualised: 5,8%) rise in real

growth, the South African economy

4,6%. This follows a revised 1,4% gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2020.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

consecutive quarter of positive

is 2,7% smaller than it was in the first quarter of 2020.

STATS SA ECONOMIC OVERVIEW 2021 EDITORIAL

FINANCE, MINING AND TRADE DRIVE PRODUCTION

Strong wholesale and retail activity underpinned growth in the trade

Eight of the ten industries recorded positive gains in the first quarter of 2021, with finance, mining and trade making the most significant contributions.

industry. Wholesalers recorded

increases in sales of petroleum, as

well as in consumer electronics (most notably digital appliances and high-

end TVs). Retailers enjoyed a positive quarter, led by increases in sales of

grocery products, healthcare services, vitamins and drugs.

Manufacturing output increased at an

annualised rate of 1,6%, mostly driven by strong growth in the production of

motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment. Economic activity in the finance, real estate & business services industry

Manufactures in wood, paper and

This was mostly driven by property

too, supported by strong demand

advances and bond registrations) and

newspaper sales.

the number of credit extensions).

Load shedding and a decline in

The mining industry had a positive

the contraction in the electricity,

of 18,1%, boosted by the production

agriculture, forestry & fishing industry

gold and chromium. On the downside,

quarter in comparison with the

diamonds recorded lower production

weaker production figures for field

increased at an annualised rate of 7,4%.

printing made a notable contribution

services (recording a rise in mortgage

for packing materials and increased

the banking sector (registering a rise in

the supply of water contributed to

quarter too with annualised growth

gas & water supply industry. The

of platinum group metals, iron ore,

also performed poorly in the first

miners in manganese ore, coal and

previous quarter, dragged lower by

figures in the first quarter.

crops and animal products.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

HOUSEHOLDS SPEND MORE ON INSURANCE, RETAIL, CLOTHING AND FURNITURE

Notable items in the ‘miscellaneous

Stats SA also measures the expenditure side of GDP, providing an indication of

related products, as well as retail

government spending, investment spending (gross fixed capital formation and

jewellery and other personal effects.

total demand in the economy. This includes measures of household spending, changes in inventories), and net exports.

Household final consumption expenditure increased at an annualised rate of 4,7% in the first quarter, driven largely by miscellaneous goods & services, clothing &

goods & services’ category that

recorded growth include insurancegoods such as electrical appliances,

Clothing & footwear expenditure increased at an annualised rate of 22,2%.

footwear, and furnishings, household equipment & maintenance.

Changes in inventories, particularly

in the mining and trade industries, also spurred growth on the

expenditure side of the economy. How far to go before we return to pre-COVID levels?

The COVID-19 pandemic and

subsequent lockdown restrictions

caused significant disruptions to the

South African economy. Real GDP was R782 billion in the first quarter of 2020

(January–March). In the second quarter of 2020 (April–June), when lockdown

restrictions were at their most stringent,

economic output slumped to R652-billion Economic activity has increased since then, in line with easing lockdown

restrictions, with real GDP rising to

R761-billion in the first quarter of 2021. This level is roughly comparable to

what the economy was producing in the first quarter of 2016, and is 2,7% down from the R782-billion recorded in the first quarter of 2020.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

STATS SA ECONOMIC OVERVIEW 2021 EDITORIAL

QUARTER 2 – THE ECONOMY GREW BY 1.2%

GDP PRODUCTION: COVID-19 RELATED ACTIVITIES SPUR GROWTH IN PERSONAL SERVICES

The South African economy recorded

most significant drivers of growth in the second quarter, with transport

its fourth consecutive quarter of

growth, expanding by 1.2% in the

Six of the ten industries recorded a rise in production in the second quarter of 2021. The transport & communication, personal services and trade industries were the & communication and agriculture recording the highest growth rates.

second quarter of 2021 (April–June). This followed a revised 1,0% rise in real gross domestic product (GDP)

in the first quarter (January–March).

Despite the gains made over the last four quarters, the economy is 1,4% smaller than what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The results from this release cover

the months of April, May and June.

This means that the economic impact of the wave of severe economic

disruption, protest action and violence in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, which took place in July, will reflect in the

third quarter GDP results that are due for release in December.

COVID-19: WE’RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET

A surge in economic activity related

during the second quarter of 2020,

underpinned the 6,9% rise in transport,

The sudden drop in economic activity when lockdown restrictions were at their most severe, is evident in the chart below. In the first quarter of that year, real GDP was R1,147-

billion, tumbling to R947-billion in

the following quarter as the country

barricaded itself against the pandemic.

to land transport and communications storage & communication.

Personal services, which includes

health related activities, increased by 2,5% in the second quarter. This was on the back of increased economic

activity related to the second phase

of the national COVID-19 vaccination The economy has seen consistent

programme that kicked off on 17 May.

enough to return to pre-COVID-19

services was from medical schemes that

growth since that shock, but not

Another contributor to growth in personal

levels. Real GDP was R1,131-billion

recorded a rise in membership numbers.

down from the reading in the first

Trade increased by 2,2%, driven by

in the second quarter of 2021, 1,4% quarter of 2020.

a rise in economic activity across all trade sectors.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

EXPENDITURE ON GDP: EXPORTS AND HOUSEHOLD SPENDING SUPPORT GROWTH The rise in trade activity in the second quarter is reflected on the demand

(expenditure) side of the economy. Household final consumption expenditure

increased by 0,5%, driven mostly by a rise in household spending on transport, food & non-alcoholic beverages, and health.

Exports increased by 4,0%, driven mostly by trade in mineral

products, pearls, precious and semi-precious stones, precious metals and vehicles and other transport equipment.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

STATS SA ECONOMIC OVERVIEW 2021 EDITORIAL

THIRD QUARTER The economy took a step back

General government and personal

second quarter, falling by 1.5% in

and 0.5% respectively. Finance, real

growth was seen in no less than

way with third quarter growth of 1.2%

and fishing were the worst hit in

Decreased trade in vehicles and

decrease as the country saw lower

the 5.9% decrease in the export of

products. Mining and quarrying fared

decreased by 2.8%, largely as a

0.9% in the third quarter.

as mineral products; prepared

The story does not get better when

of base metals.

sector. Manufacturing saw the

Household final consumption

4.2%. This was driven mainly

quarter expenditure on transport,

of motor vehicles, parts and

fell significantly. HFCE decreased by

equipment, as eight of the ten

points to total growth. Expenditure

negative growth.

indicates a sustained interest in health

Notable was the decline in food and

Government final consumption

non-ferrous metal products as well

hand, increased by 0.1% in the third

Electricity, gas and water saw

rose in the third quarter.

construction industry a decrease

Unless otherwise stated, growth rates

residential buildings and construction

adjusted and in real (volume) terms.

from the trajectory it was on in the

services both saw small gains of 0.4%

the third quarter of 2021. Negative

estate and business services led the

six industries, Agriculture, forestry the primary sector, seeing a 13.6%

other transport equipment influenced

production of field crops and animal

goods and service, while imports

better, albeit with a decrease of only

result of a decrease in goods such

one moves onto the secondary

foodstuffs; base metals and articles

biggest decline, dropping by

expenditure (HFCE) dropped as third

by a decrease in the production

furnishings, recreation and restaurants

accessories and other transport

2.4%, contributing -1.6% percentage

manufacturing divisions reported

on health and life insurance services and wellbeing amidst the pandemic.

beverages, basic iron and steel,

expenditure (GFCE), on the other

as metal products and machinery.

quarter as employee compensation

negative growth of 0.4%, and the of 0.5%, after decreases in non-

are quarter-on-quarter, seasonally

works were reported.

This is Stats SA’s first GDP release

The tertiary sector did not come

benchmarking and rebasing exercise.

welcomed growth. Trade, catering

the annualised rate as the headline

after the completion of its latest

out unscathed, however it did see

Note that Stats SA no longer uses

and accommodation continued to

growth rate.

feel the pressure of restrictions and

health concerns, falling by 5.5% in the third quarter. Transport, storage and communication dropped 2.2%.

Source: http://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=14423

BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES SECTOR

T H E I M PACT OF BUSINESS SUPPORT S E RV I C E S BY CHARNDRÉ EMMA KIPPIE

A leading field filled with innovation and adaptability that is essential for the smooth functioning of businesses in all industries.

With the global pandemic reaching a third wave, South

This meant that many were battling to find

to once again pivot, adjusting practices and outlooks

major pressure on recruitment and staffing entities

African businesses and recruitment agencies are forced to meet pending changes, and a growing need for

constant technological innovation, required to keep the workforce going strong.

who experienced major shifts in acquiring new

skills and talent, retrenchment and organisational strategies geared towards weathering the storm.

OVERVIEW

Despite a reasonable plummet in overall hiring

(QLFS), South Africa witnessed an increase of 333

are steadily improving for professionals in sectors

According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey

000 in the number of employed persons near the end

of 2020. However, data collected also indicated a rise

in the number of unemployed individuals, documenting that 701 000 individuals were without employment by the fourth quarter of 2020.

These changes significantly impacted all major labour

market rates. South Africa’s unemployment rate, thus, soared from 30,8% to 32,5% by the end of the year.

This was the highest unemployment rate recorded since the start of the QLFS in 2008. The employment-to-

population ratio also increased from 37,5% to 38,2%,

and the labour force participation rate increased from

54,2% to 56,6% during this period, indicating that more people are participating in the labour market.

employment throughout the lockdown period, putting

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

activity throughout 2020, employment prospects such as: the business management, ICT and logistics sectors.

MAKING ACCELERATED PROGRESS In April 2021, South Africa was ranked as The Top

Global Business Services Sector Location for 2021, in the Annual Front Office BPO Omnibus Survey.

This comes as a wonderful recognition as the sector continues to add new jobs to the economy.

This accomplishment, made by the South African

business service industry, comes as no surprise as the industry has positioned itself as a top location (internationally speaking) for business services.

BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES SECTOR OVERVIEW

THE FUTURE OF RECRUITMENT AND EMPLOYMENT HYBRID WORK MODEL 2.0

AI and automation. This trend is set

and if 2020 has taught us anything,

requiring less time, and enhancing

Times are constantly changing,

remote working may be efficient, but employees miss the human element

to continue, bettering hiring quality, talent acquisition procedures.

of the workforce. Hybrid employment

REASSESSING REQUIRED

will be a major trend this year, as

This year has taught us to pivot,

terms and hub-and-spoke workspaces employers opt for smaller offices and permit employees to work remotely, allowing for flexibility.

INNOVATIVE HR TECHNOLOGY The adoption of cloud-based HR

technologies will be emphasized, in order to provide a better employee

experience while working remotely.

New HR Analytics Programmes may also assist in keeping employees

motivated and productive. HR tech

proves useful for virtual hiring, online

SKILL SETS

compromise, and value the smaller steps taken forward. The same can be said for emerging jobs

markets and skills development. more invested in Soft Skills. These take the form of communication

methods, collaboration, adaptability, and capacity for team-working and relationship-building. These skills

Information Technology

will be looked for when evaluating applicants.

learning and development, tracking

PERFORMANCE ANALYTICS

making.

A critical business aspect that has

performance and smart decision-

TOP 5 DIVISIONS REQUIRING MORE RECRUITS

Going forward, recruiters will be

Business & Management

TRENDS

changed considerably this last year is

REMOTE INTERVIEWS

As companies learn to embrace

remote working more and more, employers now rely on digital

recruitment practices, such as Zoom and Google Meet interviews, as

well as online skills tests. To sift

through the massive talent pool, recruiters are learning to adopt

new hiring technologies, such as

performance management. Business

Finance

entities are now measuring what

matters: a focus on work completed

efficiently and visions accomplished

Sales

- it’s not about hours on the clock

anymore. We will see performance reviews and continuous feedback

happening more frequently. Talent

Admin, Office & Support

analytics tools will also be used to gather new data on employees.

Sources

MOST IN-DEMAND SKILLS

State of the Nation Address 2020 Carte Blanche Money Web

Software development

Middle/department management

Representative/sales consulting

IOL Business Day Treasury South Africa

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

CONSTRUCTION SECTOR

C O N ST R U CT I O N S E CTO R OV E RV I E W BY FIONA WAKELIN A key development objective, as set out by the National Development Plan, is that public infrastructure investment should be 10% of GDP by the year 2030. The road to achieving this is currently a rocky one. Infrastructure development is one of the key sectors that

it is mandatory to employ 30% of the community, but the

focus area for the National Development Plan. So what is

clearly make no difference to the extortionists, and an

contributes to the national GDP and was identified as a happening? Why the slump?

Key challenges for the construction industry Include: • Stagnant economy – exacerbated by the COVID-19 • South Africa’s sovereign credit rating • Outstanding payments for construction work completed • Intimidation by the construction mafia Billions of rands have been lost in the construction industry due to extortion by so-called “business

forums”. The South African investigative journalism

television series that airs on M-Net during prime time viewing on Sunday nights, Carte Blanche, reported that large projects like the N2 Wild Coast Road

(value R1.65-billion) and Saldanha Bay Oil Storage

(value R2.4-billion) have had to be put on hold due to extortion and thuggery – what President Ramaphosa terms “radical economic robbery”.

The already beleaguered construction industry is being held to ransom by groups of organised members (read

mafia) who arrive, belligerent and armed at construction sites and demand to be paid for not destroying the work done, or closing down the sites because they had not

been employed. For public sector construction projects,

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

private sector has no such obligation. These distinctions already struggling industry, a key contributor to the

economy, requires immediate intervention to rid itself of these opportunists.

After a contraction of 20.3% in 2020 and 4 consecutive years of decline in real terms, the South African

construction industry is expected to grow by 6.2% in real terms in 2021 - although this must be seen as relative to previous years. The sector was particularly hard hit by the pandemic.

“To revive the economy from crisis, the government

announced plans to provide ZAR791.2 billion (US$45.3

billion) of investment for infrastructure development in the 2021 Budget, which includes the repair and replacement of the existing dam, bridge and railway line, the

development of the housing, energy, agriculture, transport, water and sanitation and digital infrastructure sectors.

“The industry is expected to register an annual average growth of 3.4% between 2022-2025, as government

initiatives to ramp up capital spending on infrastructure and energy sector gather momentum. The government expects the country’s public debt to rise from 63.3% of

GDP in 2020 to 81.8% by 2021, and further increase to 93.5% by 2026.” - Businesswire

CONSTRUCTION SECTOR OVERVIEW

AND WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THE OVERALL DECLINE IN THE INDUSTRY? Government is addressing the stagnant

GOOD NEWS “In the first two years of our ambitious investment drive we have raised a total of R664-billion in investment

commitments which is more than half

growth in the construction sector

of our five-year target of R1,2-trillion...

includes the Infrastructure Fund. During

“Already projects with an investment

President Ramaphosa announced that

and 27 projects worth just over R250-

potential investments of over

more coming on stream this year.”

engage all our key stakeholders

The fund had been initiated by

CONSTRUCTION COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM

managed by the Development Bank of

A Covid-19 Construction Rapid

Matthews.

through a variety of measures which

the same State of the Nation address,

value of R9-billion have been completed

the Fund has a project pipeline with

billion are in implementation phase with

R700-billion over the next 10 years.

President Ramaphosa in 2019 and is Southern Africa. It has a list of ready

to go projects and work has begun to

expand private investment into public infrastructure programmes:

Response Task Team has been

established by the sector to look at the recovery of the industry once lockdown ends.

“Among the issues the task team

in private investment), social housing

opportunities where the construction

(at an implementation stage and

could leverage R9-billion of private

investment in the construction of 37,000 rental apartments) independent water production, rail freight branch lines, embedded electricity generation, municipal bulk infrastructure and broadband rollout.”

President Ramaphosa announced that the

government’s investment

drive would be enhanced with the establishment of an integrated

investment and

promotion facilitation capability co-

ordinated from

the presidency.

and private sector - investing in

infrastructure development,” said

“The task team aims to collectively unblock relief measures for the

industry to remain sustainable and

“These include areas like student

accommodation (leveraging R64-billion

- particularly the government

wants to deal with include identifying and built environment can assist in

the national disaster and relief efforts, both on a volunteer and professional basis and supporting emergency

procurement for the next 12 months.” - Chairperson and spokesperson of the task team John Matthews The task team wants to

partner with the public and

private sectors to ensure the

to help the industry navigate its way through these uncharted territories. “This is unprecedented and has placed the country in a very

challenging position, requiring

sacrifice by the population and businesses to comply with the

lockdown, but at the same time

requiring definitive action by the

government to implement structural

economic reforms and address poor economic growth while dealing with the pandemic,” said Matthews.

“effective and integrated rollout

of infrastructure projects”.

“We have realised that the current situation

requires a collective approach, hence we would like to urgently

Sources Businesswire State of the Nation Address 2020 Carte Blanche Money Web IOL

Business Day Treasury South Africa

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

GERT PRETORIUS - Managing Director MIX TELEMATICS INTERNATIONAL

CEO: Stefan Joselowitz COO: Charles Tasker

MIX TELEMATICS AFRICA Chief Financial Officer: Daniel Reichenberg Chief Technical Officer: Kay Moodley Sales Director – Fleet: Henry Smith Sales Director – Consumer: Richard Coates Executive - Human Resources & Transformation: Kgomotso Bokaba Senior Marketing Manager: Monica O’Neil Operations Director: Jeandre Koen Divisional Director – Client Services: Quinten Indarjith

asset management solutions delivered as SaaS to 789,000

subscribers in over 120 countries. MiX Telematics was founded

in 1996 and has offices in South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uganda, Brazil, Australia, Mexico and the United

Arab Emirates as well as a network of more than 130 fleet partners worldwide. MiX Telematics shares are publicly traded on the

Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE: MIX) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MIXT).

Our solutions provide enterprise fleets, small fleets and consumers with solutions for efficiency, safety, security and compliance.

Our commercial fleet solutions are built on the basis of in-vehicle hardware, on-demand software services, as well as accessories

and applications that enhance overall performance. Through the

web-based software platform, global fleet customers can access

Divisional Director – Special Projects: Thabo Mans

their fleet information and generate key reports.

Divisional Director – KZN: Pieter Smuts

Our consumer offering comprises of vehicle tracking and recovery

Senior Manager BI and Analytics: Heidi De Jager CONTACT DETAILS Physical address: Howick Close, Waterfall Park, Midrand, 1686 Postal address: PO Box 12326, Vorna Valley, South Africa, 1686 Telephone: +27 11 654 8000 Fax: +27 11 654 8122 Email: info@mixtelematics.com or fleetsa@mixtelematics.com Website: www.mixtelematics.co.za E-commerce facilities: - Beame: https://www.beam-e.com/get-a-beame/ - Matrix: https://www.matrix.co.za/buy-matrix-device - Matrix Protect: h ttps://www.matrix.co.za/matrixprotect/buy-matrix-protect Toll-free / call centre / customer care number: 0800 33 99 88

MiX Telematics is a leading global provider of fleet and mobile

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

solutions sold under the Matrix and Beame brands in South Africa. Value-added personal safety services such as Crash Alert, RoadSide Assistance and GeoLock Advanced Alerts are a few of the differentiators in this range.

M I X T E L E M AT I C S P R O F I L E

TRAINING & CSI C O M PA N Y S TAT I S T I C S /

Training programmes:

DEMOGRAPHICS / HISTORY

MiX Telematics provides training and development

Year founded: Established in 1996 as Matrix Vehicle Tracking

short courses and offers “Learnerships” on an annual

Founding members: Stefan Joselowitz Employees: 1000+

opportunities to employees by virtue of SETA accredited basis. Learnerships are work-based education and

training programmes that are linked to a qualification registered on the National Qualifications Framework

Branches: The Company has offices in South Africa,

(NQF) with the South African Qualifications Authority.

Australia, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates. In

that consist of both structured theoretical learning

Umhlanga and Cape Town.

opportunities include Fleet Management and Management

the United Kingdom, the United States, Uganda, Brazil,

Learnerships are occupationally directed programmes

South Africa there are 3 main branches in Midrand,

and practical workplace experience. Learnership

Memberships: VESA, RFA, SABOA, MIOSA Current customer base: 789,000 subscribers in over 120 countries 5 Top brands: MiX Telematics, Matrix, Beame New products: MiX Vision Bureau Services, MiX Vision Live Streaming, MiX Talk BUSINESS & FINANCE Turnover: R 1 975 863 000 (Revenue) Operating profit: R 338 912 000 Net profit: R 1 386 000 Financial year-end: 31 March Holding company: MiX Telematics International Auditors: Deloitte & Touche JSE listing & date: Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE: MIX); 2007 Foreign listing & date: New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MIXT); 2013 Current customer base: 583 935 (Africa) Key clients (Fleet):

• Transport & Distribution: Unitrans, Bidvest,

Imperial Logistics, SPAR, Shoprite, Barloworld Logistics, Bakers Transport, Ni-Da Transport

• Oil & Gas: Total • Rental & Leasing: Avis, Europcar • Government: Eskom, Joburg Municipality • Bus & Coach: Intercape, Eldo Coaches

Development. Managerial staff are afforded opportunities to attend management, senior management and

executive development programmes presented by

various universities across the country and specialised internationally recognised institutions. In addition, the

company has an extensive bouquet of courses available on its internet based MiX Learning Centre platform. Empowerment initiatives:

MiX Telematics has an extensive Enterprise and Supplier Development programme where small black owned

companies are selected to partake in a development

journey tailor made according to their specific needs. Apart from financial assistance, MiX professionals also dedicate

their expertise and time to these beneficiaries. In addition, formal training to the employees of these beneficiaries

are also facilitated and funded. MiX has also co-opted the services of an expert to transfer skills in entrepreneurship to these companies in a ten week focussed intervention. Evidence of the astounding success of this programme

can be found in the exponential growth of the enterprises from EME’s to QSE’s, job creation and sustainability that has been created and established. CSI initiatives:

MiX Telematics supports Little Eden, Matla a bana, Reach for a Dream, Rise against Hunger, Physical Literacy,

Read Education Trust, Growing Up Without a Father and Diepsloot Pre School Projects. In addition, the

Clover Mama Afrika community project has also been a longstanding beneficiary.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS SECTOR

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS INDUSTRY IN SA BY CHARNDRÉ EMMA KIPPIE

With blended capabilities, the sector is navigating an ongoing collison with technological innovations. But what will this mean for the future of our country?

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS MADE EASY

THE TRANSPORT SECTOR’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE GDP IN SOUTH AFRICA

As the world embraces more and more transport

• Prior to Quarter 4 in 2021, the South African

technology innovations, and younger generations develop a knack for apps and mobile payment

solutions, South Africa has been prompted to pay more attention to mobility and tech upgrades even in the midst of a global pandemic.

With lockdown implications, service providers have

economy grew by 1.2%. This was larger than had been anticipated.

• The largest contributor to GDP growth was the

transport, storage and communication industry - which increased 6.9% during the quarter.

• KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape still remain the

taken quite a knock which has affected service

two provinces with the highest level of individuals

no exception. Companies who offer transportation

since last year’s results came out.

delivery. The transport and logistics industry was and logistics services were forced to pivot and

make necessary technological upgrades to keep business going in the ‘new normal’.

The Transport and Logistics industry feeds into

many other sectors throughout the country, acting as a ‘feeder-network’ to a variety of industries,

including agriculture, manufacturing, retail and so forth etc. Without streamlining our industry, the

fundamental economic principles of ‘supply and

demand’ cannot be fulfilled. Thus, technological adaptation and innovation plays a huge role in keeping our economy going.

employed in the transport and logistics industry,

6 TRANSPORT TECH TRENDS SHAPING SA 1. BIG DATA

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), with its many

innovative technologies, has assisted in shaping a bright future for South Africa’s logistics industry. No matter the size of any given operational fleet, be it 5 or 10

vehicles, logistics companies find themselves in need of

appropriate telematics tools for limiting expenses incurred, whilst driving productivity and the overall success of their fleets. Fleets in South Africa are now able to gain better

insight into their vehicle activities, thanks to a newfound capacity for producing and simplifying Big Data. This

development currently enables our fleet managers to

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS SECTOR OVERVIEW

recognise and address shortcomings found in their fleets.

2. ACCIDENT-PREVENTION FEATURES Parking lot crashes are one of the

biggest causes of accidents experienced

platforms. This has expanded the use and value of telematics, but has also

allowed fleets to foster better data quality

and obtain an extensive understanding of fleet behaviour and requirements.

by our transportation fleets. With

5. CYBERSECURITY ENHANCED FOR

technology, such as CSIR’s Smart

Cybersecurity is highly important

the help of new proximity detection Mobility technology and Geotab Africa’s

Advanced Fleet Management Solutions, fleets are now able to decrease risks

which occur in parking lots, ensuring the safety of drivers. We now have access to technological solutions for detecting

in-reverse vehicle movement, which aids drivers with oncoming traffic awareness. 3. BETTER QUALITY CONTROL

Distracted driving is a common occurrence in all societies. Unfortunately, many

drivers behave irresponsibly, using mobile phones, eating and drinking whilst on the

road. In today’s day and age, businesses are able to eliminate distracted driving by implementing dashboard camera

surveillance measures. For example,

DATA PROTECTION

for securing digital infrastructures,

devices, and identities. According to the Cybersecurity Exposure Index (CEI), at the end of 2020 South Africa took 34th place in the rankings, with a score of 0,417 out of 1 (The higher the score, the higher the exposure). The index

also revealed that Africa had the highest exposure score per country (0.643).

The 2021 index is yet to show any new

• App Travel

offer clients complete authority and

• Design Control Frameworks

adoption of intensive security audits,

• Real-Time Route Optimisation

adjustments. In order for our fleets to

control over their data, SA has seen the vulnerability scanning, multi-factor

authentication services, and advanced, real-time fortigate reporting.

a local company called FleetCam SA

6. NEW E-HAILING TECHNOLOGY

throughout the country. Whilst giving fleet

is gaining momentum in the country. We

provides Vehicle Camera Systems

managers more insight into bad driving behaviours, the integration of these

cameras will provide fleet managers with quality video footage geared towards identifying risky behaviours exhibited

by drivers that, otherwise, would not be documented by telematics.

4. IOT APPLICATIONS IN TRANSPORT Telematics have proven great with

gathering data on fleet management.

However, customer requirements are becoming more complex, making it

difficult to run an efficient fleet with only

the help of telematics. We’ve seen much innovation in IoT technology, with the

integration between telematics and other

TOP FEATURES OF MOBILITY TECH:

Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) is a trend that

• Track and Trace Capabilities • Secure Mobile Payments • Digital ID Ecosystems

are moving from traditional, personally-

• User-friendly Navigation Portals

mobility solutions that consumers are

• Always-On Connectivity

owned types of transport, towards new becoming increasingly fond of. The

South African minibus taxi industry is

experiencing this shift the most. Public transport has become the cornerstone

of ‘technology-driven mobility solutions’, with ‘ride-sharing services’ becoming

popular in areas where public transport is

a predominant source of travel. Here, tech is revolutionising transport infrastructure for low-income earners. As South Africa

moves towards the creation of Smart Cities with Smart Technologies, transportation

networks should see further upgrades as of 2025 and beyond.

Sources engineeringnews.co.za itweb.co.za infrastructurenews.co.za satc.org.za weforum.org passwordmanagers.co businesstech.co.za deloitte.com businessforsa.org statista.com

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

SAVINO DEL BENE SOUTH AFRICA INTERVIEW WITH KOBUS MAREE, MANAGING DIRECTOR

Please give a brief summary of the company, its current products and/or services, and which markets it caters to. Savino Del Bene, which bears the

name of its founder, was established in Florence in 1899.

Savino Del Bene has built a

reputation over the past 120 years

as a reliable partner for businesses

requiring shipping and transportation services, operating in 60 countries

with facilities in America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia. Founded

on innovation and a determination to deliver, their business activities are focused on providing a totally integrated logistics service.

The company’s expertise extends

to the automotive and tyre industry; the fashion industry; the food and beverage sector; fresh fruit and

vegetables; marble and ceramics;

pharmaceuticals and healthcare; and project cargo.

What distinguishes you from your competitors? What do you do differently? Our differentiator is Client Intimacy • Developing a profound knowledge of the client’s business.

• Analysing all the data available

from a client’s business processes.

• Introducing and Integrating

operations to transform the

client’s supply chain to realise maximum efficiencies.

• This approach enables us to offer a personalized service

with the understanding of what needs to be delivered.

• Offering strategic

recommendations based on data

and intel gathered in the process.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

In summary, our value

proposition in processing

and analysing data is used to

create ‘Business Intelligence’. This approach allows us to implement global best-

practice as part of a truly

intelligent, integrated End-toEnd Supply Chain solution.

S AV I N O D E L B E N E S O U T H A F R I CA I N T E R V I E W

Running a company during Covid has been extremely challenging yet you have met high criteria entry level for the Top Performing Companies publication. Tell us why you think you have achieved such positive results? Personally, there are four main

characteristics that leaders should display to do this.

Agility – It is important to understand and consistently review the key

performance indicators that drive your business strategy.

Leading by example – Now,

more than ever, leaders must set

an example and lead from the front, middle and back.

Committing to your people – A 360-degree leadership approach

is a wise approach. Take personal

responsibility. Actively help. Show that you’re willing to make extra effort to

commit to your organisation’s success. Staying positive – Good leaders provide hope and vision, two

qualities that can keep a workplace going, even during tough times.

Define your management strategy and how has it assisted in achieving your goals? We follow a structured approach

with clear key business drivers and

core values to implement the Savino Del Bene way.

Top-performing organisations know that purpose is both a differentiator and a necessity. A strongly held

sense of corporate purpose is a

company’s unique affirmation of its

identity. Part of future-proofing your

organisation means taking action to

set the company’s purpose in motion

The Savino Del Bene culture is described in four terms:

EXCELLENCE – We strive to be

perfect and don’t accept mediocrity. PARTNERING – Having a strategic relationship with mutual

benefit for all internal and external stakeholders.

EXECUTION – Complete each

task to the last detail. Do what you

and connecting your people to that

purpose. The ability to be future-proof is rooted in the ability to achieve performance goals in a state of constant change.

Another important principle is to ‘sense’ – this means that your organisation is always listening, inside and outside your four walls, to anticipate and drive disruption. Sense involves

collecting data (internal and external) and analysing trends (market and

workforce) through various lenses to

say you will do. Don’t procrastinate.

understand the current context of your

POSITIVE ATTITUDE – We accept

and to evaluate where your organisation

challenges and respond to them positively, turning challenges into opportunities.

How do you ensure sustainability in your organisation?

organisation (and all its complexities), and industry are headed in the future.

It is hard enough to attract good talent, let alone retain it. Please elaborate on any strategies which have worked for your company. Savino Del Bene is focused on the

In the past, future-proofing an

following fundamental strategies to

it does now, but the key principles

• Focus on employee experience and

needs to be both creative and agile

• Shifting responsibilities and

organisation seemed easier than

for doing so remain the same. One

– creative means there is always an answer, and agile means there is always more than one answer.

To succeed we need leaders who can challenge the status quo, who are

comfortable with constant iteration and committed to innovation and personal development.

attract and retain staff:

incentivise high-quality work output. increasing accountability of

employees for their professional and personal development.

• Shifting ownership of

engagement to leaders.

• Building competence within the

workforce by implementing value driven training, learning and development strategies.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

I N T E R V I E W S AV I N O D E L B E N E S O U T H A F R I CA

During the last few years, we have

created and implemented a substantial

Hence, we will strive to diversify our client base.

Savino Del Bene contributes social

for young people. These learners

The plethora of black swan events

develops disadvantaged communities.

readiness programmes to equip them

covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated

amount of learnership positions

also undergo orientation and workwith the knowledge and skills they

need to successfully transition from the education system to the formal economy.

What do you see as your main growth areas for the year ahead and why? Companies need to adapt to a post-

that took place in coalition with the the fragility of the current global supply chain, accentuated by

globalisation. Therefore, we must

ensure that our very own supply chain is versatile and flexible enough to mitigate such future disruptions.

What are your key social responsibility initiatives?

pandemic world.

Savino Del Bene has achieved

The pandemic has laid bare the need

preferential procurement recognition.

of industries and mitigate the risk of

supply chain and logistics industry

B-BBEE level 2 status with 125%

to diversify amongst the multitude

Our commitment to diversity in the

having all our eggs in one industry.

incorporates 26% black women equity.

responsibility to the EDI Trust which

Savino Del Bene SA, as a successful, growing business, contributes to wealth creation in South Africa,

provides jobs and assists to raise

the standard of living for all in South Africa through trade facilitation.

The process of building world class

facilities and providing skills upgrading our employees so they can contribute within their communities.

What message do you have for potential overseas investors looking to invest in South Africa? Due to the Strategic Geo Location of South Africa and our excellent

infrastructure it is for sure the gateway into Africa. It is a strategic Trade

Route that connects China, India, and Europe with Africa.

Africa is the continent of the future i.e.

it is the biggest continent and we have the knowledge, skills and political will to make it happen.

To prove this point Savino Del Bene

has built a state-of–the-art facility of 24000m² on the R21 between ORT and Pretoria to facilitate the future.

Savino Del Bene has built a reputation over the past 120 years as a reliable partner for businesses requiring shipping and transportation services, operating in 60 countries with facilities in America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

S AV I N O D E L B E N E S O U T H A F R I CA P R O F I L E

MANAGEMENT

With a network of more than 289 offices

To support the shipping and logistics

continents, Savino Del Bene manages

Information Technology develops and

in over 60 countries across the five Managing Director: Kobus Maree Human Resources Director: Elvera Pitt Chief Financial Officer: Ockert Pienaar Chief Operating Officer: Patrick Jansen van Rensburg

air, sea, and land transport services

through established relationships with

the best carriers. We offer tailor-made

logistics solutions for the shipment and

distribution of any type of merchandise.

National Sales Manager: Munesh Maharaj

Customer satisfaction is at the very

National Key Account Manager: Desire Gourdain

mission and has been since its

CONTACT DETAILS Physical address: Eastport Logistics Park, Cnr R21 Expressway and R25, Witfontein Ext. 75, Glen Marais, Kempton Park Telephone: +27(0)11 437 3000

foundation of Savino Del Bene’s

Policy (Quality, Health, Safety and Environment), Savino Del Bene is

committed to training and updating its

staff in every department, with the belief that this business attitude is the main reason behind its customers’ loyalty.

Website: https://southafrica.savinodelbene.com/

Savino Del Bene’s organization in

EMPOWERMENT STATUS

the specializations the company

vertical markets demonstrates all

Empowerment rating: Level 2

has developed over the years in the

Preferential procurement

industry; food and beverage; fresh fruit

recognition: 125%

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

automotive and tyre industry, fashion

and vegetables; pharmaceuticals and

healthcare; and project cargo industries.

• PMR Golden Arrow 2021 & 2020

For each of these, the company offers

• Top 500 Best Managed Companies 2020 & 2015

solutions and services.

• Top Performing Icon Award 2019 • Transport & Logistics Award 2018 • Top Performing Company Recognition 2018 • Freight & Logistics Company Award 2017 • Institute for Quality: ETD Recognition Award 2016

proposes a myriad of solutions that

minimize risks, costs, and distribution times. Operating in complete

transparency and with secure data

and transactions, the traceability of

flows and the exchange of information with the customer and its information systems are guaranteed.

inception. Consistent with its QHSE

Email address: headoffice.jhb@savinodelbene.com

Black women equity: 26%

process, the internal company SDB

personalised and dedicated logistics

C O M PA N Y S TAT I S T I C S / HISTORY

South African offices opened: 1996 Employees: 318 Branches:

Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth Trade affiliations: The

South African Association of

Freight Forwarders (SAAFF), International Air Transport Association (IATA)

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Financial year-end: December

TRAINING & CSI • Training programmes: Learnership programme, mandatory trainings such as firefighting, first aid, forklift and reach operator, CRM, business intelligence

• Employee incentive schemes: Commission-based incentives for Sales and

KAM staff. Recruitment finder and performance-based incentives for all staff.

• Logistics Achiever Silver Award 2015

• Empowerment initiatives: EDI empowerment trust

• Logistics Achiever Platinum Award 2013

• CSI initiatives: SA Cares for Life – Nutribands, Project Flamingo, Operation Healing Hands, Karos and Kambro and Men’s Ministries in Eersterust

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

Advancing Africa Through ICT & Tech Interview with Deon Geyser, CEO at Liquid Intelligent Technologies South Africa B y F i o n a Wa k e l i n a n d C h a r n d r e E m m a K i p p i e

n October 2020, Liquid

Intelligent Technologies

South Africa announced the

appointment of Deon Geyser as its CEO, effective from January 1st 2021. Thus far, Deon has

been instrumental in overseeing

the strategic repositioning of the

company and the execution of its

strategic direction that provides the intelligent integrated technology which enables customers to transform their businesses.

Liquid Intelligent Technologies is a pan-African technology group

with a presence in 20 countries, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa. Established in 2005, Liquid

has firmly established itself as the leading pan-African digital

infrastructure provider, redefining Network, Cloud and Cyber

Security offerings through strategic partnerships with leading global players, innovative business

applications, intelligent Cloud

services and world-class Cyber

Security to the African continent. Liquid is now a full one-stop-shop technology group that provides tailor-made digital solutions to

businesses in the public and private sectors across the continent.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

DEON GEYSER INTERVIEW

The Group also operates state-of-the-

interested in tech. These online events

networks. This was a very exciting

Town, Nairobi, Harare, Kigali, Togo

that we’re all going through in terms of

new technology. I also spent some

art data centres in Johannesburg, Cape and Nigeria with a combined potential 19,000 square metres of rack space and 74 MW of power. Through this

combined offering, Liquid Intelligent

Technologies is enhancing customers’ experience on their digital journey.

Earlier this year, the pioneering ICT company attended the Africa Tech Week 2021 Summit, providing an

insightful expo booth, and playing an essential role in providing audiences

with innovative new ways to adapt to digital transformation. We sat down with Deon for a quick chat on all things technology.

Q: Thank you for a fascinating contribution from your team to Africa Tech Week 2021. What were some of the highlights for you, and what did your participation in the event mean for you and Liquid Intelligent Technologies?

are now part of an interesting season

Covid and whether or not we’ll go back to ‘physical events’ again… it was a

great experience in terms of our brand’s transformation process as well.

interesting journey, though, yes. I

matriculated in 1996, and at that time when you left school most people

would get into medicine, or study to

become a CA, or go into Engineering. However, I had the opportunity to get into electrical and electronic

Engineering. In my third year, I actually started a degree at the University of Johannesburg, and there you could

participation in the event we are

did my Masters in Management and

connectivity. The Africa Tech week

Siemens at the time, so I started with

driving our brand strategy to go beyond

was fortunate to have a bursary with

audience really understands where the

Siemens Telecoms in 2002.

It was also great to have the opportunity to share some of what we’re doing

with the Africa Tech Week audience, and those individuals who are really

of technology in South Africa.

was when we went through a large

a veteran just yet! I have had an

Electrical Engineering degree. I then

customers.

terms of being able to build this level

A: Well, firstly, I wouldn’t call myself

Tech Week, is the fact that through

- whether it be with the media or our

to really see what the future holds in

At the end of 2007, I moved to

do an IT degree together with your

this type of dialogue always excites me

time in Europe and got the opportunity

Q: You’ve been described as a veteran ICT and Telecommunications Executive. Please give us some background about your career before joining Liquid Intelligent Technologies in 2021.

A: What’s important for us, with Africa

needs of technology are going, and

journey at the time because it was

Tanzania, this was during the merger

between Nokia and Siemens and had the opportunity to run our business, and our transformation. The main

question was: “How do we use what’s best in the world - from world market

products - in order to transform?”. This outsourcing programme with two of the largest operators, we brought in the

latest billing and IP technology.- all of that with the idea of investing money for the future at a lower cost per bit, and building an operating model for

us and our customers that would allow us to take the advantage of global

management services, as well as what future technologies could bring about. In 2014, I got the great opportunity to move back to South Africa and head up Nokia. I then moved on and started at Liquid Intelligent

Technologies, and realised that I like transforming businesses! When I

look at the assets that we have, the

Cell C was just starting up; we built

people, customers and team that

[this was almost 20 years ago] and got

to turn this business into something

startups’ across the continent - we

about building our underlying ‘engine’

and all the countries around South

looking ahead at how we can make

the first GPRS network for Vodacom

we have, we are in a great position

involved with a number of ‘operator

really valuable for the future. It’s all

started with Mozambique, Tanzania

- people, capabilities and tools - and

Africa, and built our telecoms

an impact in the future.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

INTERVIEW DEON GEYSER

DECNAVDA REBYC YTIRUCES RUOY ROF SSENISUB

We took Covid as an opportunity

Cyber Security is also a key theme

Technology does not exist just

year and are really well-placed

of understanding Cyber Security just

really about the impact it has on

to transform ourselves in the last to grab hold of all the post-Covid opportunities for growth.

Q: What would be the major changes you’ve seen in the sector? A: There’s been a lot of talk

around ‘work from home, work from anywhere’. Our assessment is that

companies will fundamentally change their way of work post-Covid, and

that is not only us but all businesses

in the sector. So, there’s been a lot of discussion about finding permanent

solutions to the ‘work from anywhere’ conundrum, and being able to

work seamlessly from a technology

perspective, whilst managing costs. Right now, there is also a technology trend where it is possible for us to

change the way that communications work together with Cloud services.

We are witnessing a market demand

where people are trying to get hold of Cloud services, but we’re also seeing the large OTT players and large

companies really considering South Africa as a hub for building data

centre services and Cloud services.

right now and locally there is a lack yet, although companies in certain areas, such as banks, are getting it as they’ve experienced threats.

because it’s nice to ‘play with’. It’s delivering to the business and its customers.

to manage this.

Q: In your view, what should we be doing to encourage more young people to join the ICT sector?

Lastly, another key theme is

That’s a very good question. I

that are available in South

ICT more relevant for people who

homogenous services. That is why

of their lives. If you decide to go

have taken the opportunity in our

there’s IT and then there’s ICT.

Africa-focused, but Group-focused -

from a space where they are used

the continent.

loving technology, there is a good

our customers, but we also get

career options.

We need to get to a point where

everyone, especially at mid-level,

fully understands the risks and how

multinationals and making services

believe that we need to make

Africa, available across Africa as

are leaving the schooling phase

we at Liquid Intelligent Technologies

into the ICT space, you’ll see that

transformation to not only be South

With those young people who come

providing seamless services across

to using computers, gaming and

chance of understanding what the

neeb sah ®TESE ,srsector aeyentails. 03 nThe ahtech t etools rom roF that Q: What excites you about ytiruces TI gnidaeyoung l-yrpeople tsuduse nieveryday gnipoallow leved ICT? them to pick up on how the industry 00,004 revO .develops, secivrmaking es dnit a erawtfos A: We get to do 0 a lot of innovation. more exciting And people su naso an yloperator er edwe iwdon’t dlrow sresuandmrelevant 011 dfornthem. a seYoung ssen isub only get the opportunity to sell need this: more exposure to see .noitcetorp evisneherpm oc ,elbailer reviled ot that and provide the benefits to what is in store for them in terms of the chance to build innovative

technologies for ourselves and witness the benefits thereof.

Q: What is your opinion of the announcement by The Department of Basic Education that will be trialing coding and robotics in the classroom this year?

SSENISUB RUOY ERUCES TESE HTIW ,ATAD

I think this is great. The real

question regarding this is how

do they execute that objective

really well. There is a demand

and requirement for these skills, and as an industry we need to support that.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

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Champion South Africa Ashraf Garda, SAfm Radio host Ashraf Garda, seasoned Programme Director and MC, is a multiple award winning broadcaster with many years of media experience under his belt. He is a former host of SAfm Radio, which was awarded ‘Best Weekend Show’ at the MTN Radio Awards. Ashraf was also voted ‘Best News and Actuality Presenter’ at the MTN radio Awards,

and he is a recipient of the Turquoise Harmony Institute Media

Award (Turkey). To complete his cycle of versatility, he has been invited to be an analyst on international channels, such as CNN, AL Jazeera, and CBC TV: Canada.

Ashraf is the chief driver behind the project titled Champion South Africa – a nation building movement with the

vision to move South Africa from a mid-table nation to a champion nation. #ChampionSouthAfrica identifies and elevates champions and

facilitates networking opportunities to uplift and create more champions across the nation. This project, along with its

podcast titled ‘Champion People Build Champion Nations’, is a movement which celebrates the champion mindset as a crucial tool for

fostering winning citizens and a

winning nation – a project that is great for team building, kickstart events, and organisations that need assistance in adopting a champion mindset.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES

ASHRAF GARDA PODCAST

Key takeaways to listen out for in this podcast: • Life’s journey is never an A to B trajectory. For example, Ashraf started out in the fashion and fabric industry before moving

Group Editor at Topco Media, chats with Ashraf Garda on themes surrounding success, building champions, and the media’s impact on society. Ashraf talks passionately about surviving the Covid-19 pandemic, partnering with strategic partners, and how South Africa has the potential to grow into a winning nation.

• Entrepreneurship needs to be

given a front seat in our country

passion and using it to make a

nation’s DNA for empowering the

history. It’s all about finding your

– it needs to be a part of the

positive impact on society.

economy. The government cannot

and media, you may not have

Podcast, Fiona Wakelin,

we can go.

into community radio – the rest is

• When you start out in broadcasting

In this Business Unusual

push the envelope and see how far

do the hard work all on their own. • Government and big business

a huge audience. This is why it

players need to be ‘enablers’ and

dynamics, figure out what works

There needs to be easier access

the public actually wants and needs

create a strong entrepreneurial

is important to carefully look at

assist startups where possible.

and what doesn’t, and cater to what

to becoming an entrepreneur to

– it’s a process, not a race.

culture in SA.

• Champion SA is a personal

• Economically, it’s been difficult

commitment to building optimism in

lately. We are a developing nation.

ways, but we often don’t celebrate

which requires unique processes

We need to identify the champs in

significant growth.

the country. We celebrate in many

So we are a unique case study

individuals as actual ‘champions’.

and procedures in order to see

our nation, uplift them, and tell their stories to inspire others – inspire ‘championness’ in people.

• Support is vital right now, on all

fronts. Take note of the fact that

we are all experiencing some sort

• Having a champion-thinking

of ‘pain’ at present. Not everyone

mindset involves linking personal

has been ‘infected’ with the virus,

It’s all about collective participation,

Supporting one another is part of

success to the country’s success.

but we are all ‘affected’ by it.

synchronicity between all pillars,

fostering a champion mindset.

creating conducive environments

for productivity, and partnering with strategic partners to identify and solve critical issues.

• It is important to have difficult

conversations, especially with

thought leaders. This will provide food for the mind.

• We need to speak about things

that truly matter – especially those

individuals who have an established platform and influence. We need to

Click here to access the podcast

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

Fintech is booming in Africa! Scott Picken of Wealth Migrate fills us in Scott Picken is a South African-born real estate investor and serial Fintech entrepreneur, popularly known for his amazing business acumen, he is passionate about technology and marrying it with real estate.

He is a published author, an authority on Fintech in real estate and a master real estate analyst and investment expert who’s

active in several global markets, including the United States, the UK, Australia, Asia, and South Africa. Scott is passionate about

Collaborative SMART Investing™ and is one of the first to realise its potential to revolutionise real estate forever and create global wealth for all. He has dedicated his life and career to solving the wealth gap.

As the founder and CEO of Wealth Migrate

(launched in 2010) – the remarkable fintech

company that offers real estate investments on its online marketplace through

crowdfunding – Scott has authored

Property Going Global (2014) and has expert knowledge in acquiring and maintaining wealth.

Scott completed a B.Sc

Construction Management (Cum

Laude) with a dissertation on how technology was going to change construction and real estate at the University of Cape Town,

South Africa. Scott also obtained a Masters in Construction

Technology (Cum Laude).

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES

SCOTT PICKEN PODCAST

Key takeaways to listen out for in this podcast:

• Obtaining a licence for crowdfunding in SA and Africa is a tricky task, as

regulation within the fintech space, still needs some work for positive change to occur.

• Nowadays, with technology, there’s In this Business Unusual podcast, Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media, engages in conversation with Scott Picken to discuss the challenges surrounding crowdfunding, regulation practices and compliance, and the property landscape. Together, Ralf and Scott unpack themes surrounding foreign investment in SA, the ‘global citizen’, and raising local capital. Scott touches on collaboration and partnerships, the ‘Step Growth Formula’, and how fintech is currently booming in Africa.

really no excuse to fall behind and

not invest – tech is the enabler that has made access to wealth and knowledge easier.

• There is a barrier around foreign

investment in SA – bad international investment sentiment due to

political issues that still need to be overcome.

• In order to be a ‘global citizen’ we

must pursue first world assets and first world investments, to achieve financial freedom, best value and become empowered.

• Great companies are built on great

cultures. This is why alignment is so crucial – clear goals, clear direction and purpose will attract best alignment opportunities.

• A model based on partnerships, rather than top-down authority,

can be most fruitful. Assess how you and your partner(s) can add value to people to develop a

winning mindset – it’s not about

what you can get (financially), but rather about what you can ‘give’ for the betterment of society.

• The fastest way to success is to copy a successful person

– mentorship is an important source of key insight and valuable ‘life hacks’.

• Empowering the youth is one

of the best investments we can make right now for the future

of our country and the African

continent – these are our future frontrunners.

• Tip: Within the property industry, more attractive financial returns

can be achieved if one manager owns an entire building, cutting

out the costs of ‘the middle man’.

• Raising ‘local capital’ is

essential – capital can come

from within, rather than outside Africa (international investors). This is where collaboration within African business

ecosystems comes into play.

Click here to access the podcast

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

Are you experiencing conflict at work? Best-selling author, Brett M. Cooper – How to embrace workplace differences and elevate your business President and co-founder of Integris Performance Advisors, Brett M. Cooper is renowned for influencing thousands of people in government, non-profits, and corporate America to work together in more productive, more effective,

and more human ways. He is also a keynote speaker (virtual & stage) and a

business advisor. Brett’s areas of expertise include leadership development, public speaking, executive coaching, training, management consulting, and business consulting.

He is a best-selling author of Solving the People Problem:

Essential Skills You Need to Lead and Succeed in Today’s Workplace (2020), and was listed as number 1 on Entrepreneur’s 2021 Must-Read list.

Brett is a board member at Partners in Sustainable Learning, which is an organisation bringing developmentally sound early childhood

education to marginalised communities in the developing world. He is a Leadership Challenge Certified facilitator, receiving this certification via The Leadership

Challenge, A Wiley Brand. Brett also

completed the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification programme via GoLeanSixSigma.com.

Brett’s professional goal is to help others build work relationships

that really work, and he lives by

the philosophy that the best way to get what you want is to help others achieve their goals.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES

BRETT M. COOPER PODCAST

Key takeaways to listen out for in this podcast: • In order to change the culture of any organisation, we need to look at the real issues surrounding leadership, management and team dynamics. In this Business Unusual

Podcast, Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media sits down

for a profound interview with

Brett, as the two discuss how

workplace cultures are shifting in the ‘new normal’, how

• An organisation will be better off

once differences are accepted and honoured – embracing different points of view will diversify and strengthen the workplace.

• ‘People’ are not the problem!

teams need to honour each

‘People problems’ can be solved

to come up with more efficient

solidified. This is a process that

each other. Brett dives into the

between all parties involved.

members’ differences in order

once work relationships are

ways to communicate with

requires effort and understanding

different types of behaviours found in cohesive teams,

assessing communication styles through the ‘DISC

Analysis’, and the growing importance of soft skills.

How well do you understand

and honour the differences in people? Take the DISC EQ

Survey today, using access code ‘unusual’, and you’ll receive a personalised

report that shows your areas of strength and your opportunities for improvement,

along with specific ideas for how to

apply and expand your knowledge and skill.

• Vulnerability-based trust is essential. Team members need to know

that it’s okay to make mistakes,

apologise, step back and evaluate

what went wrong, and then do better the next time around. Your staff

cannot fear messing up due to strict, authoritarian leadership.

• Conflict can lead to ‘bad fights’

(arguing and bickering) or ‘artificial

harmony’ (fear of judgement met with no communication at all). Business

leaders need to get more comfortable

• Studies show that employees who

work for managers with low emotional intelligence are 4 times more likely to leave their company. Emotional intelligence plays a key role in

communication, and it is a skill set that can be learned.

• It doesn’t matter if you’re good at marketing, sales or advertising – If you can’t communicate or

work with people you and your business will be in trouble.

• Team building exercises are

important to boost morale and motivate each other. Sharing

personal stories and providing

productive/constructive feedback

will get your team to the next level

of trust – better results and business success guaranteed.

• Hard skills are becoming less important. Emotional and

social skills (soft skills) are now considered ‘essential skills’ for

navigating through ‘the new normal’. Organisations need to invest more

in these skills to ensure success and longevity in 2021 and beyond.

with their team members – this

requires empathy, open dialogue,

productive conflict, and being open to everyone’s ideas and opinions.

• Research shows that conflict at work occurs due to personality

clashes. This can be prevented by discovering your own

communication style, and getting to

Click here to access the podcast

know your team member’s styles.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

Will currency as we know it become extinct? Sean Sanders, CEO of Revix, takes the crypto world by storm! Sean Sanders is the young mastermind behind Revix – a platform that enables everyday people to

grow their wealth by investing in emerging themes, sectors and asset classes in an automated and effortless way.

Sean Sanders has a background in investment banking, previously working at Venture Capital firm Knife Capital, at Sabvest as a tech analyst, and at General Pacific

Management Services as a portfolio manager. Sean has founded 3 start-ups

thus far, including Sataya (an event-driven proprietary trading firm), Blocktree Capital (a cryptoasset advisory firm), and Application Portal – a multi-purpose online university application system.

Sean graduated Magna Cum Laude when completing his

Bachelor of Business Science (Honours) in Finance at the University of Cape Town. Following an introduction to the world of modelling and travel opportunities, Sean quickly learned about effective ways to invest and move large sums of money, through assisting fellow models with their investments. Hence, his journey to discovering Bitcoin and cryptocurrency.

Sean and his business partner Louis Buys launched Revix in 2018, and today the business has offices in

both Cape Town and London – and will soon be adding Frankfurt,

Germany, to their list. Just recently, Sean and his team also secured

R58.5m in offshore capital funding – the crypto enthusiast has

definitely come a long way from selling skateboard stickers as a

teen entrepreneur back in the day.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES

SEAN SANDERS PODCAST

Key takeaways to listen out for in this podcast:

• Crypto offers one hell of a ride for

entrepreneurs. Bitcoin investment

is gaining so much momentum that

organisations and regulators will all

soon want a piece of the crypto pie. • Crypto can be your gateway to other In this Business Unusual podcast, Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media engages in conversation with Sean Sanders to discuss the inspiration behind all his profitable endeavours, and how ‘the world of crypto’ has opened doors to opportunities he could never have imagined. Sean goes into detail on topics such as investment diversification, being comfortable with taking risks, and the pain involved in achieving scalability.

transitions and financial opportunities – you don’t need to fully understand

how Blockchain works, for example, but it can be so beneficial to know what Blockchain and crypto is

capable of, especially for the future. • Some like risk and are comfortable with taking them, whilst others are

not. If you’re going to start your own crypto business, you need to have

a real love for entrepreneurship and

learn to accept that risk is part of the package.

• This field comes with many thrills

and ‘aha!’ moments – it’s all about embracing the journey, the wins,

learning curves AND the failures. • Trust, hard work and a keen work

ethic will stand you in good stead – be the type of businessman people would love to have on their team.

• People will tell you that you’re making

• Do not be overconfident when it

comes to scaling your business.

Scaling is not just hiring more staff.

You need to strike a balance between putting the necessary controls in place, onboarding, and keeping existing customers happy.

• Try and find team members who can

work a system manually, then upskill, and keep them on board for when

new processes arrive for automation and optimisation of your business.

This will save time (in terms of hiring and training staff) and money.

• We might very well be witnessing

currency, as we know it, becoming

extinct. Crypto could be the currency of the future. Therefore, we need

to work on new capabilities that will

prompt more value moving forward. • Young entrepreneurs should get

some international experience and

absorb all the information they can from well-established business owners and mentors. See the

rest of Africa, as well, and try to

understand what drives each regions’ growth – there within lies plenty of opportunities.

a mistake. However, you’ve got to believe in yourself, in your timing,

be clear about your objectives and

almost become ‘obsessed’ with what you’re trying to achieve.

Click here to access the podcast

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

Life 2.0 Meet Johan Minnie, Group Executive: Customer and Adviser Experience, at Liberty Group SA Johan Minnie is currently the Group Executive: Customer and Adviser Experience, at Liberty Group SA. He has extensive knowledge of business strategy, execution, marketing and sales management.

After attending law school, graduating with a Corporate Finance honours degree, Johan started out as an entrepreneur running his own consultancy and real estate business. This is also where he gained valuable sales experience. Prior to joining Liberty SA, he worked within Law, taking on mergers

and acquisitions. However, he soon learnt that he felt more passionate about the ‘people’ rather than the hefty amounts of ‘paperwork’.

He joined the Liberty Group in 1997 as a Legal Adviser. In 2001, he joined the Sales and Distribution team and throughout the years has led regional teams, headed up the Broker Division, Sales and Distribution, Emerging Consumer Market Sales and Direct Financial Services.

During the years heading up these businesses he developed marketing, sales and

distribution strategies while continuously ensuring the effective implementation thereof. Johan currently serves on the Liberty Holdings Exco as the Group Executive responsible for

Group Sales and Distribution, the Bancassurance relationship with

Standard Bank and the delivery of profit targets within the group.

For Johan, it’s all about building

trust and meaningful relationships with people to ensure the best

outcome, and overall customer experience.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES

JOHAN MINNIE PODCAST

Key takeaways to listen out for in this podcast:

• Sales is often seen as “A Dark Art”.

However, this mindset is incorrect; it is a critical skill to have in any business - no business can survive without

selling something. Thus, more people need to learn to love Sales.

• A thriving ‘Engagement Platform’ will make financial freedom a possibility

In this Business Unusual

podcast, Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media, engages

in conversation with Johan Minnie to discuss ‘Life 2.0’

for the average Joe out there. It’s

all about helping the customer work towards ensuring a better future for themselves.

• We are in ‘Life 2.0’, where humans

and Succession Planning.

are going to live for much longer

understanding the human

halfway through their life. This is why

Selling - Johan shares major

safeguard a good quality of life after

From the importance of

than usual. Most people will retire

condition to Trustworthy

they need succession planning to

insight on Sales, driving an

retirement.

Engagement Platform, and essential personal finance principles.

• In terms of Audience Reach, you

need to focus on helping as many people as possible, rather than

merely increasing the numbers. Creating an impactful customer experience will change your customers’ lives.

• The concept of ‘Saving’ teaches people discipline. Long Term

investment and compounding are key principles to get across, even from

a young age - make learning about

customers become the authors of

their own lives - it shouldn’t just be

about the finances or monetary value! • Technological advancement in

business, especially in Sales, has been amazing. This cannot be

denied. However, the human touch is irreplaceable. Your customers need to be able to connect with you on a real level.

• Covid has changed the rules in

Sales. We have had to adapt quickly, and in most instances have lost the

emotional connection with customers due to Zoom and online automation. We need to show more empathy as

this period in our lives has made us all aware of our fragility.

• Tip: Know your clients long before

you meet them. Do in depth research so you get a ‘feeling’ of who you

will be dealing with. This is key to Trustworthy Selling - you cannot

even begin to sell unless you have established trust.

• We need to shift our views in

business based on where we are in

society today. Your clients/customers need guidance right now - empower them to be ready and self-sufficient.

financial planning fun.

• It’s all about talking about the future

in today’s context, and understanding people and the situations they find themselves in. Help your clients/

Click here to access the podcast

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

Reaping the benefits of POPIA Interview with Jackie Carroll, MD of Optimi Workplace By Charndré Emma Kippie

orn in Stellenbosch, Cape Town, Jackie Carroll who

is the Managing Director of

Optimi Workplace, is passionate about adult education and training, sharing

knowledge and skills for adults to thrive and progress in the world of work.

Previously the Co-Founder of Media

Works, Jackie went on to work with the Optimi Group to empower individuals throughout South Africa through

learning solutions. Today, she holds

a Higher Diploma in Education and a

Bachelor of Arts (English and History) from Wits University.

Optimi Workplace provides workforce training and community education

material for corporates and the public sector. Media Works, a division of Optimi, is South Africa’s leading

provider of adult education and training. The Optimi Group provides accessible learning solutions that support every step of your learning journey. Optimi provides offerings in four divisions: Home,

Workplace, Classroom and College. Together, these divisions support more than 200 000 learners every year.

JACKIE CARROLL INTERVIEW

Q: How did your journey with Optimi Workplace begin? A: I co-founded the adult education

and training company, Media Works, 25 years ago, and we sold our

company, to what was then known as Future Learn, at the end of

2018. Future Learn evolved into The Optimi Group, a company

that provides accessible learning

increased literacy and numeracy

Q: Please could you tell us a bit about your background.

deliver huge economic benefits. It

A: I have been married to my

for improved job performance, greater

am a proud mother of two wonderful

This, in turn, enables more people to

that being a mother and wife is a job

determined by the United Nations.

I am a teacher by profession and

At the lower education levels,

skills among the less educated also creates the intellectual foundations

husband for the past 23 years and

productivity and higher-level learning.

young adults. I always tell my family

reach a decent standard of living, as

from which I never want to retire.

solutions that support every step of

my true calling. As a teacher, be it in

the learning journey.

Optimi provides offerings in four divisions: Home, Workplace,

Classroom and College. Together, these divisions support more

than 200 000 learners every year. I am pleased to be the MD of

Optimi Workplace, which provides workforce training and community education material for corporates and the public sector.

Q: Why are you so passionate about Adult Education and Training? A: I am committed to the principles of quality education. As a citizen of

South Africa, I firmly believe in quality education for all. I know that this

results in an improved quality of life for all. Quality education assists in

the reduction of unemployment and

have always considered this to be

a formal setting, or be it informally,

“I firmly believe in quality education for all. I know that this results in an improved quality of life for all.”

in the home, we shape the future. This is a responsibility that I take very seriously.

Q: Where does your keen interest in the POPI Act stem from? A: At Media Works, as part of

Optimi Workplace, we focus on sharing knowledge and skills

for adults to thrive and progress in the world of work. We were

interested in the POPI Act, as we saw an opportunity to untangle

the perceived complexity of the

act in a practical, accessible way, empowering people to not only

become compliant as a business,

but to utilise the knowledge about

the protection of personal identity.

crime. Improving education leads

Q: Why do you see the POPI Act as an ‘opportunity’?

South Africa. At the higher levels,

A: The enforcement of the POPI Act in

graduates empowers adults to be

commitment to data security, and

to greater economic benefits for

the development of better skilled

ready to meet the challenges of our ever-advancing economy.

South Africa demonstrates the country’s has the potential to improve its

reputation as a trading partner.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

INTERVIEW JACKIE CARROLL

“South Africa is waking up to the

about what the act covers, and what

As POPI comes into effect, many

leverage competition if we get it right.

an individual and as a company.

threat in the regulator, who could

fact that POPI is an opportunity to

Businesses that show POPI compliance are more likely to earn the respect

and loyalty of their customers and to increase their chances of local and

international trading and success.” says Dr Peter Tobin, a POPI Act compliance specialist from IACT-Africa, who

developed the content for our POPI Works course.

Q: What 3 tips do you have for business to adapt to these new conditions and laws? A: My top tip to companies is to try to change your mindset on POPIA, and embrace it rather than fear

it. Complying with the POPI Act

isn’t only a legal imperative, it also makes sound business sense.

We recommend that every employee

should do a POPI training course, so that there is a clear understanding

their rights and responsibilities are as

Once you have done your training

and your business is fully compliant, make sure that your business has

evidence of POPI compliance. We have seen that major corporate clients are receiving lawyers’ letters from their

customers requesting evidence of POPI compliance. Those that are unable to

supply this evidence are being removed from supplier lists.

Q: In your opinion, what threats should businesses be on the lookout for? A: One of the greatest myths about

POPI is that the threats are primarily external and unknown. When

businesses think of privacy violations they think of malicious hackers half

a world away, devising intricate ways to breach complex security systems

and access data. The reality is that a

business’s greatest risk is often its

employees. Your employees are

dealing with personal information on a

daily basis, and huge

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

implement severe penalties if any

contraventions are brought to light.

But once again, businesses are much more likely to come under fire from

customers who choose to go to the

press or take their business elsewhere if their privacy is infringed upon. This may cause catastrophic reputational

and business damage. The regulator

is not your only concern.

Q: Have you read any books that have inspired you and your business? A: Richard Branson – The

Autobiography. I consider him as the ultimate entrepreneur, so I found it very insightful.

Q: Are there any outreach initiatives, social projects or community work that you’re involved with at the moment? A: I am really passionate about

animals, particularly dogs. We have

five rescue dogs of our own! I support

and work in a rescue, no-kill shelter in Stilfontein.

breaches can take

Q: What advice do you have for women working in your field?

and inadvertently,

Follow your passion, you can never

information to the

money will follow. Believe in yourself,

example. You have

back the right horse – yourself. You

violations, yes, but

to ask for help, we have all been there

by properly training

doing, will help, you just need to ask

place accidentally

businesses may also see a major

by sending private

go wrong. If you do what you love, the

wrong person, for

no one will believe in you more, so

to prevent external

know that you can do it! Don’t be afraid

you’ve got to start

and the people who know what they are

your staff first.

and be prepared to listen.

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Be proactive, not reactive Meet Scott Picken, Founder and CEO of Wealth Migrate By Charndré Emma Kippie

cott Picken is a South Africanborn real estate investor and serial FinTech entrepreneur,

who is popularly known for his

amazing business acumen. As the

co-founder and Chairman of the Board at Wealth Migrate (launched in 2010) – the remarkable FinTech company that offers real estate investments on its online marketplace through

crowdfunding – Scott has authored

Property Going Global (2014) and has expert knowledge in acquiring and maintaining wealth.

Scott is passionate about

Collaborative SMART Investing™

and is one of the first to realise its

potential to revolutionise real estate forever and create global wealth for all. He has dedicated his life and career to solving the wealth gap.

Scott completed a B.Sc Construction Management (Cum Laude) with a dissertation on how technology was going to change

construction and real estate

at University of Cape Town, South Africa. Scott also obtained a Masters in

Construction Technology (Cum Laude).

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

SCOTT PICKEN INTERVIEW

Q: We’d love to know more about Wealth Migrate. What excites you the most about the business? A: What excites me most about the

business is democratisation. When you look at the stats in the western world – that’s England, Australia, and America

The online marketplace has cut out those middlemen, dramatically cut

the cost (which increases the return),

and increased the trust, transparency and the accessibility – which is good

for every investor and supplier in the South African economy.

– by the age of 65, 94% of people are

When you look at it in the UK, some

government, or broke. 5% of people

are there have really enhanced the

and that means that they earn 25% less

fund companies that create jobs, and

– which basically means that they are

jobs. So, it has a big impact on the

either going to be dead, reliant on the

of the crowdfunding platforms that

are going to be financially independent

economy, in terms of being able to

than their last paycheck in retirement

being able to fund projects that create

trapped financially and only 1% of

economy at large.

The wealth gap or income disparity

is getting wider and wider and there

Q: Which major FinTech trends, in your opinion, will be in the forefront during 2021?

the wealthy, the top 1%, invest in

A: There are so many exponential

people retire wealthy.

is only one reason for it; it is because better quality assets. And now using

technology, everyone can participate and invest like the top 1% in those

same quality assets, but with a far lower amount of money – sometimes as little

as $100. And so, for me, it is really about giving people the opportunity to create the freedom they want in their life.

“ I think the biggest FinTech trend is people taking control of their lives”

technologies that are having a

dramatic impact around the world. However, I believe that we can

actually keep it fairly simple, and what I mean by that is due to COVID many

people have learnt how to work online, they’ve learnt how to shop online. I think one of the major trends

Q: In what ways, do you think, online marketplaces are enhancing the South African economy?

that’s happening is that people are

A: There’s 3 things that technology

Data, artificial intelligence, virtual

starting to learn to invest online and how to educate themselves online. And so, we could talk about all the fancy crypto currencies, Defy, Big

does whenever it disrupts an industry:

reality, but I’d rather keep it very

costs, and it dramatically increases

you’re going to see is find more

accessibility. And so, the online

and no longer relying on others.

For example, in property there are

them towards their freedom. I think

investment and the investor.

taking control of their lives.

Q: What goes into obtaining a licence to offer crowdfunding services to investors? How challenging is this process? A: That’s a classic question. The idea for the business started as far back as my

dissertation in 1998 and we launched the business in 2010. We worked with the

regulators, but couldn’t get any results,

and then in 2015 we formed the African

CrowdFunding Association – which had

24 platforms across Africa – and then we worked with them for another 5 years to

it cuts out the middlemen, it cuts the

simple, and say that what I think

the trust, the transparency, and the

people take control of their lives

So, to say that it’s been challenging

marketplaces are doing just that.

With that, empowerment will drive

grateful to have worked with a regulator

16 different middlemen between the

the biggest FinTech trend is people

be able to get the license.

would be an understatement. We are very and now created a regulated space, not only in South Africa but in the African

continent – it is the first one of its kind.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

INTERVIEW SCOTT PICKEN

Q: What tips do you have for businesses/individuals for engaging with a regulator in the best possible way? A:

• Learn the best practices from around the world. Go and find out what’s been happening from around the world in a regulatory space.

• Form a body – so it’s not just about your company, but about a body in general.

• You need to work proactively with the regulator from a dialogue perspective. Be proactive, not reactive.

• Make use of experts that already understand how the regulator works, the questions they’re asking, as well as the risks and concerns they’re trying to solve.

Q: What are your three top tips for ensuring the success of a FinTech business?

create the freedom they want, whether

Q: What are your goals for the future of Wealth Migrate?

using the platform, or people coming

It’s very simple: our purpose is to help

events. It’s when that belief changes and

make investing as simple as a swipe

of their lives and they have the power

we would like to empower a billion

take control of their own lives; they can it’s team members or whether its people through the investing or coming to the live

solve the world GAP. Our vision is to

they realise that they are the stewards

of the finger, using just $1. Ultimately,

to be able to create the life they want.

plus people on this planet and have

Q: What have been some major obstacles in your career, and how did you overcome them?

greatest challenge on the planet –

• The first one is you are only as good as your partners. Make sure you have quality partners.

• Secondly, within your business, try not to have generalists, but rather specialists – specifically in tech, digital marketing, sales revenue, and the commercial space.

• Remember that you are only as good as your community. So, build a community of passionate people who want to see you succeed.

or China, or Europe or England, funding is very challenging. We really had to be

A: I think it’s the same advice I would

challenges. If you are not from America for Fintech and technology companies creative around that.

Dealing with cross border team

as an overnight success.

I’ve been doing this for 23 years now.

especially with time zones and culture.

10 thousand hours, where you go deep

Also, we are in the financial industry,

that you are passionate about; you

is a very difficult task to manage,

compliance – is a phenomenally difficult task. So, with all three of them, the

standard ‘tick the box’ approach doesn’t really work because there is no box to tick. Therefore, we had to follow

It’s very difficult, and I love the rule of

and you really need to find something

need to understand your purpose and

realise that it’s not going to be easy and

that you’re going to make mistakes. The only way that you’ll keep going is if it’s something you love.

basic practise; going out and studying

For example, a mercenary is in it for the

industries. We had to learn a lot.

change the world. If you are a mercenary,

I think the whole idea is to be a learning

quick buck, it’s a long-term game plan.

other businesses, and studying other

leader and consistently be trying to

quick buck, and a missionary is in it to this is not a game to be in – it’s not a

understand what’s working around the

The last thing I would say is find what

into your business, but the most

thing called wealth dynamics. Go and

world, and then bring that base practise important thing Is always to be solution-

A: Seeing the light bulb come on in

Whereas leaders spend 96% of their

have for anyone – there’s no such thing

members, that are all around the world,

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job? people’s eyes when they realise they can

which is the world GAP.

Q: What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs who aspire to work in the FinTech/ online marketplace Industry?

A: Funding has been one of the biggest

and trying to deal with regulators and

a significant impact on solving the

focused. Most people spend 96% of their time focusing on the problem. time focusing on the solution.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

your first base is. There is a great

understand what you are good at and then get people that can compensate for your weaknesses – let your team members contribute by doing what they are good at.

FROM SURVIVING TO THRIVING EDITORIAL

From surviving to thriving B y Chris Ogd en , CEO of RubiBlue

A culture of abundance isn’t packed with cake and coffee, it’s teeming with engaged employees and cooperative thinking.

INIMISE POOR

TAKE A HOLISTIC APPROACH

CREATE HEALTHY HABITS

A culture of abundance in the

The first step is to have a plan. What

So, this means be consistent. Live

PERFORMANCE

business can be easily described as a buzzword. It’s certainly leapt up in

business articles, podcasts and books. It’s the sought-after culture that puts

everyone in the centre of an abundant

workplace where resources, recognition and relationships are equal and

accessible. However, it’s not an easily

achieved goal, nor is it simply a hype or a hot trend. If given the right leadership attention, if made part of a business

strategy, and if embedded within the

organisation’s culture – this trend has the potential to minimise toxicity and poor performance while enhancing

productivity, engagement and growth.

TO PLANNING AHEAD

does a culture of abundance look like to you? How do you plan to achieve this within your current climate and structure? Once you’ve got a clear idea of what kind of culture you

want to achieve, and how this drives

abundance within your business, then you need to document it, and preach it. Yes, include wellness and health

factors. Yes, consider personal and

career growth. Yes, unpack equality and diversity and what this means

TO DELIVER CONSISTENTLY

the plan every day. Be the leader that

upholds what the plan stands for. Erode cynicism and criticism with actions that

prove the plan right, and their concerns wrong. Show people how these actions and strategies deliver meaningful

results, and how they can benefit if they become engaged. Don’t stop, don’t get tired after a year, or two years. Live it

until you don’t notice that you’re doing it anymore – it’s become a habit.

for your people. But also, be realistic

WANT A CULTURE OF ABUNDANCE?

goals and how well they will go down

If you get people to believe in this

about how you can achieve these with your people.

GET YOUR PEOPLE’S BUY-IN

Taking this plan further will need a

set of moral fibres. Loosely translated – you can’t create this vision of a

culture of abundance and then only apply certain rules to leadership.

There has to be moral and ethical tenets that uphold your plan

because these will weave a fabric

that will last. They will also be the

primary reason why other people

buy into your culture. And you need

people’s buy-in. Your culture will fizzle and pop if only two leaders and the guy in Marketing like the plan.

LEAD BY EXAMPLE

vision, then they will become the

multipliers that you need to embed this into your company culture. Lead them by example, and help people when

they’re stuck or unsure. This creates a transparent and engaging platform from which people can engage with

you and your business. If you’re open to discussion around your culture and the vision that shapes it, then you’re

allowing people to connect with what

it represents on their own terms. This transforms a plan from a document to a living breathing culture that

self-evolves, that grows, and that will

consistently take you and your people into a successful and engaged future.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

Thinking forward and upholding standards Interview with Portia Tsakane Mkhabela, Head of ACCA South Africa, Botswana & RMM By Charndré Emma Kippie

Please give a brief summary of the company, its current products and/or services, and which markets it caters to. ACCA is the most forward-thinking accountancy body which upholds the highest professional and ethical values. We’re also a thriving global community of 233 000 members and 536 000 students, based in 178 countries. We believe that accountancy is one of society’s cornerstone professions which supports both the private and public sectors. That’s why we’re committed to the development of a strong global accountancy profession and the many benefits that this brings to organisations, individuals and society.We build public trust by creating an inclusive profession with people from all backgrounds, bound by a common global code of ethics and committed to updating their skills to meet ever-changing needs. Our vision is to develop the accountancy profession into a force for public good, which is inclusive, creates opportunities for everyone to fulfill their potential, drives sustainable economies and enables thriving societies.

PORTIA MKHABELA INTERVIEW

What distinguishes you from your competitors? What do you do differently? What distinguishes us from our competitors is that we are agile and adaptable to new innovations. ACCA has managed to retain service to its stakeholders through our digital strategy, by developing systems which were able to support both our employers and stakeholders during the pandemic. In December 2020 we made commitments to the UN Sustainable Development Goals which we are measuring and will report on in our annual integrated report. We are also different because we offer everyone, everywhere, the opportunity to access a rewarding career in accountancy. We are also committed to harnessing the power of digital technologies to shape the future of the profession. We freely share our leading-edge research and professional insights that answers today’s questions and prepares our profession for tomorrow. We support our global community of members, future members and partners to succeed. And we work in partnership with emerging economies to establish their own professional accountancy organisations and grow their finance ecosystems, bringing together our unrivaled global network, experience and insight to drive this forward. Running a company during COVID has been extremely challenging yet you have met high criteria entry level for the Top Performing Companies publication. Tell us why you think you have achieved such positive results? Keeping connected over the pandemic has been essential, and we have done this in a number of ways, to listen to and connect with our many stakeholders. Over 83% of our initial registrations now happen through a central automated journey and over 68% of people who

paid a subscription renewal this year had engaged with a DMP (digital marketing platform) communication. We know what students and members are talking about in real-time so we can respond quickly to emerging issues and get an overall picture of stakeholder sentiment. The Education Hub gives our learning providers easy access to resources that support their work in nurturing the next generation of professional accountants. We were able to deliver our services through integrated digitisation platforms whilst creating an enabling environment for all key stakeholder we service.

“We support our global community of members, future members and partners to succeed”

Define your management strategy and how has it assisted in achieving your goals? As ACCA we celebrate the vital role our people managers play in the successful delivery of our strategy and helping to make ACCA a great place to work. It’s imperative for us to explore and understand the risks we face as an organisation, so that we make the bestinformed choices and operate and manage ACCA in a responsible way. We build a culture of trust and empowerment, consistently managing teams for high performance, flexing personal style to respond to the individual needs of teams and setting a clear direction that’s in line with ACCA’s vision, values and overall strategy. What are the major pain points you have resolved for your clients – and how did you succeed? One of our successes has been the delivery of remote invigilation for exams which we announced in May 2020. This offers flexibility for ACCA students, enabling them to take their exams at home or in another location in circumstances where centre-based exam sittings are disrupted.

Students are given reassurance that they can continue their exam journey in the face of COVID-19 disruption.Under remote invigilation, exams are taken online and supervised remotely by a live invigilator. There is a thorough system of checks involving biometrics, artificial intelligence and recording – rigour, security and integrity are paramount.

Contact us: Address: 18 Hurlingham Road, Illovo 2196 Sandton, South Africa Tel: 011 459 1912 Email: infoza@accaglobal.com Web: www.accaglobal.com

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

4 tips for

scaling your business By Greig Jansen, Founder and CEO of the PURA Beverage Company

caling means adding resources at an incremental rate,

while creating revenue at an

exponential rate. Scaling is attractive,

but it’s not right for every business and

1. ENHANCE YOUR DIGITAL STRATEGY

has to be rolled out at the right time.

The pandemic has caused a

growing quarter over quarter, year-

behaviours. The value of South

As your business takes off, you’ll begin on-year. That is, until the day comes

when you’ve either grown so fast you

can’t keep up with customer demands

and expectations, or you’ve reached a growth plateau.

As consumers demand greater

convenience and embrace online

purchasing, e-commerce sales continue to rise. It is critical for today’s business owners to equip themselves with the

right solutions to remain competitive. So what steps can business leaders

– especially those looking to scale up this year – take to keep up?

major change in our purchasing Africa’s online retailers has more than doubled in two years, and

while the growth rate is expected to be more subdued in 2021,

online retail is still expected to top R40 billion and account for 4% of all retail in South Africa. It’s

clear that customers have started to shift more towards online

transactions and businesses will

need to adapt to this trend. If you haven’t already, invest in your

digital sales strategy and have a clear plan on how this will grow over the short and longer term.

2. FOCUS ON YOUR CORE OFFERINGS

Although it might make sense for you to try to expand your

target market, you risk spreading yourself too thin, and that can

harm your business as it scales up. When you’re scaling up, it’s prudent to narrow down

your focus on the services and

products you know will succeed. Once you’re confident in your

business position, you can then start to introduce new products and services.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

4 TIPS FOR SCALING YOUR BUSINESS EDITORIAL

3. INVEST IN YOUR EMPLOYEES

Investing in employees is vital for companies that

are looking to grow. This

entails training, upskilling

4. REVIEW OFTEN Even the best business plans need readjustments from time to time.

Tracking key metrics can help you

keep your finger on the pulse. Doing

so can also help you monitor how well

and nurturing a work culture

the objectives, goals, and strategies

of each worker. You will be

The nature of your business and

Greig Jansen has been involved

determine how often your reviews

of his professional life. He was

company is progressing as planned,

African Bottling Company,

ongoing attention. This year is an

Coca-Cola. His role entailed

presents an opportunity to develop a

companies to advance trading

the past and to create more success

creating positive opportunities

that recognises the value rewarded when you find yourself surrounded by

people who share the same goals and vision for your

business. You also need the

right people, not necessarily more people. You need

high-performing people who

care about their work and the company; people who invest themselves in their jobs.

outlined in your plan are working. the competitive environment will

in the FMCG industry for most

should take place. Even if your

previously the CEO of the East

certain parts of your plan demand

the Ethiopian subsidiary of

opportunity to rewrite the rules. It

promoting collaboration with

strategic vision that is different from

workflows across the globe and

and growth in your business.

for an open society. He was responsible for identifying social responsibility as a

priority, supporting sustainable business, and stimulating

economic growth with smart business practices. This

ultimately led to reinforcing initiatives that encouraged human well-being and ecosystem integrity.

Upon leaving Coca-Cola in

East Africa, Greig wanted to

stay involved in the beverage industry, however, wanted to add his own spin on things

based on the consumer insights and emerging trends that he had learned. This was when

PURA Soda was conceptualised and brought to life.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

Do you have a revenue-growth approach? Here is how to impact your profitability B y A n d r e w H o n e y, C h a i r m a n a t T h i n k S a l e s G l o b a l

2B market-leading companies are led by CEOs who

understand the factors that

impact revenue growth and profitability and then design a strategy to address these factors.

FACTORS IMPACTING

REVENUE GROWTH AND

PROFITABILITY IN THE B2B LANDSCAPE:

• Attempting to out-do competitors in a head-to-head battle in a

defined, limited growth market. • Driving up costs and lowering

profits by adding more features and benefits to differentiate.

• Competing on price, even

though the company is not the market’s top low-cost option

with the fastest service delivery.

REVENUE GROWTH ENGINEERING: HOW MARKET LEADING B2B COMPANIES DO IT

• They design a company strategy that is different to their competitors. It’s not just a business strategy, it’s a

new way of planning and executing. • They develop a set of sales

organisation activities that are different to their competitors.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

• They create market growth

opportunities by ensuring their

company strategy enables the sales organisation’s revenue drivers.

Ultimately, for B2B companies to excel,

they must enable the Sales organisation within the business to deploy a

customer-centric, differentiated

customer engagement process.

DO YOU HAVE A REVENUE-GROWTH APPROACH?

EDITORIAL

THE 5-PILLARS OF A MARKET-LEADING B2B SALES ORGANISATION

The foundation of a successful B2B

organisation is what we call a ‘revenue growth approach’ that simultaneously focuses on sales growth and margin protection. There are five key pillars that must be developed and then matured in every organisation to

achieve this goal, finally reaching

a level of optimisation that ensures

a strong, sustainable and above-all competitive B2B business.

The five key pillars of a high-

performance sales organisation: COMPETITIVE STRATEGY Many companies do not have a

documented, customer-centric sales

organisation strategy that differentiates the organisation for a competitive

advantage. Instead, many companies simply have a set of actions they will take to make a budget, not founded

on market opportunity, but rather an

increase on the previous year’s sales. Furthermore, strategy too often fails to be translated into an execution.

As a result, sales managers are not equipped with a clear road map of

where to focus or what exactly their

CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT If the process and systems for

sales reps who report to them. The

is either not defined or randomly

case, particularly if the sales rep in

has no control over how customers

relationship-building skills to close

prospecting and customer engagement

reality is that this is seldom the

followed by sales reps, the business

question relied on their charisma and

are perceiving a B2B organisation.

deals.

unable to articulate value to customers

The solution: Strong sales

decision-making process.

systematic, metrics-driven approach

The solution: B2B organisations

activities and outcomes. They also

This can result in sales teams who are or guide them through a quality

must develop an agile approach to

mapping, refining and testing processes in response to changing business

environments and customer needs. SALES TALENT An ill-defined approach to hiring and

including coaching to drive sales rep need good change management

capabilities as B2B customers are

constantly evolving and changing, and so how an organisation sells to them must be both agile and adaptable. SALES ENABLEMENT Since 70% of B2B buyers are doing

performers who are able to articulate

they even reach out to a brand,

leadership teams do not develop star value and differentiate the business.

This often leads to missed opportunities and missed targets, because the sales

team is unable to engage on value and

with the correct level of stakeholders on a B2B level.

The solution: Building a strong sales

The solution: Executives should

rely on scientific assessment tools over

of their sales organisation and then

DNA will win in the end – as this will

The potential for a competitive

who can meet their revenue targets.

force starts with hiring. Companies that

conduct a 360-degree GAP analysis

gut instinct to identify competitive sales

design an ideal future-state strategy.

result in a high percentage of sales reps

sales organisation to perform a set of

management abilities rely on a

developing sales talent means that

sales reps should do differently.

advantage for a company is for the

performer will somehow rub off on

their own online research before

presenting compelling collateral that effectively positions your solution is an important foundational principle. How a customer engages with your

brand is therefore the product of sales collateral that supports the entire buying funnel.

The solution: A buyer-centric

view is essential when developing engaging collateral. Industry-

aligned and needs-driven content

captures a buyer’s attention, while

evidence-based case study content that demonstrates a strong return-

SALES MANAGEMENT

on-investment is important to help

activities differently to their competitors.

In many organisations, top sales reps

position your brand as a leader,

and difficult to commoditise.

positions in the hope that a star

buying decisions.

This is simultaneously differentiating

are promoted into sales management

overcome scepticism and justify

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

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5 TIPS FOR GROWTH EDITORIAL

5 tips for

growth Here are five tips worth

considering when getting a new

By Nick Bell, Group CEO of Decision Inc.

business off the ground based

on my experience in helping lead

he business-to-business

GET UP AND GO

evolved significantly in recent

Technology has had a big impact on

(B2B) organisation has

years. Much of this has been driven by changes in the product needs of

customers, their evolving relationships

Decision Inc. into a world-leading

the ability to get a business started.

organisation:

has been removed as the system scale

proposition has reduced dramatically. It

hardest working and most

In many industries the capital barrier

You are the only one that is going to make this happen.

and investment needed to deliver a

You must be willing to be the

is now possible to compete and deliver

committed person in the business.

means that the cost to run a business can scale along with its growth.

As markets have grown, we have

Further contributing to this more

help grow the business.

and partners that have challenged the

how digital sales channels have

made it easier to access customers.

connect and share relevance. In

service helps them.

looking for partners that can bring

something new and innovative to their

explore new opportunities.

you need to get in the door is based

with suppliers, and the technology

itself. While the rate of innovation in the

business-to-consumer (B2C) space has

traditionally been faster than in B2B, this is changing as technology introduces new capabilities into this segment.

seen the emergence of new vendors

traditional incumbents that defined B2B services in the past. New providers are innovating and working faster to show value to customers.

A shift is also taking place in the

organisational design. Modern B2B

organisations are more collaborative

and their people are more connected

better value than the incumbents. This

business-friendly environment is

There are now more mediums to

many instances, customers are often

business, meaning they are open to

Be on the lookout for

talented people that you

believe can compliment you and

Stay close to your

clients and make sure you

understand how your product or

Pay attention to your

competitors and their

offerings. Often, the first opportunity on one of their weak areas.

than ever. This has seen the traditional

Those starting B2B organisations

companies moving faster to deliver a

clients that they would consider too

passion and energy with technology

long your product or service has a

hierarchical structures changing with

better customer experience. There is a far greater expectation on the B2B

business to be more agile and deliver a dynamic proposition than before.

should not be afraid of going after

Be aware of how your

market is going to change

large for them to service. Combining

in the future. Ask yourself how

innovation provide startups with more

life until you risk being disrupted.

on the incumbents. However, these

Fundamentally, the best advice I

finding great talent and giving them

committed and passionate, and

areas of the business. The business

In a world driven by innovation, the

delegate more so that they can help

the most significant keys to success.

flexibility to scale and the ability to take new companies must focus early on

can give is to work hard, remain

opportunities to take ownership of

deliver value to your customers.

owners should not be afraid to

customer experience will be one of

create the next future wave.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

How to

get your company to turn R1-billion+ B y Denise Persso n, CM O at Snowf lak e

ow can your

company scale

and break through

the competition to get to

US$100 million (R1.5 billion) in revenue? This has been

the biggest challenge at every

CREATE STRONG POSITIONING

You also get a lot of data and insight

pillar of marketing—it’s the entire

driven process makes it easier to get

Positioning is actually more than a foundation. And just as with a

house, if the foundation isn’t strong, the walls will crack. With strong

positioning, you can avoid cracks in your marketing, and your program

back from prospects, and this data-

buy-in internally, which is vital to create consistency in your positioning. Your

employees, partners, and customers all need to describe you the same way.

investments will be more effective.

So for more than three years, our Data

25 years, including Snowflake.

Author Al Reis describes positioning

was everywhere, and if anyone described

It’s no small feat. Back when

Winning the battle is about how well

startup I’ve marketed for and taken public over the past

Snowflake was founded in 2012, an extremely small percentage

of companies made it. According to a 2013 study by the Ewing

as the battle for your prospects’ minds. you differentiate yourself in their minds. The first thing you need to do is define the category you wish to own.

Marion Kauffman Foundation,

In 2016 at Snowflake, the category

companies founded in the United

Data Warehouse Built for the Cloud.”

only about 0.02 to 0.05 percent of States reached US$100 million in revenues in a reasonable timeframe.

There’s also no magic formula,

cornerstones of our marketing

success at Snowflake during our journey to US$100 million.

who you are every six months. The more consistent you are, the more impactful your marketing will be.

brands in the world have in common,

then, and today, Snowflake delivers

the Data Cloud. But for our journey to

$100 million, that was our positioning.

positioning worked with people who

scale. These pillars were the

prospects’ minds if you are changing

Our positioning has evolved since

there are a few strategies or teams should follow as they

it. You can’t win the battle for your

BE THE MOST CUSTOMER-CENTRIC

We ran extensive focus groups with

pillars that I believe marketing

us differently, we asked them to change

we were determined to own was “The

and what’s most important

is how well you execute. But

Warehouse Built for the Cloud positioning

When you look at what the most admired you’ll see that they all own their

categories, they’re extremely consistent with their brand experience, and they have incredible customer loyalty.

real prospects to make sure that our

Within Snowflake’s marketing team, our

didn’t know Snowflake. Most often,

has been to put the customer first. That

companies do a few interviews with

current prospects or customers, but

that isn’t really enough. The category that you’re creating needs to be

relevant to companies you will sell to at the next stage of growth.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

number-one priority from the beginning means that we think from the outsidein, all the time. What do customers need from us?

We did a few things to make sure we always kept our focus on customers.

HOW TO GET YOUR COMPANY TO TURN R1-BILLION+ EDITORIAL

These pillars were the cornerstones of our marketing success at Snowflake during our journey to US$100-million.

Our marketing team ran almost daily

survey as early as possible. This also

In addition, we scaled every component

were out in the field with our customers.

Score (NPS) score. Every year, we

we introduced live product demos to

meetings with our sales engineers who That helped us learn which questions and concerns we needed to address. To scale our content development in

those early days, we got almost every

helps you establish your Net Promoter measure every single component

of our customers’ experience with

Snowflake, and the survey provides us with invaluable insights. BUILD FOR SCALE

focused on what our customers wanted

experience a slowdown in growth. This

to learn. This helped us create trust and credibility, which startups often lack. Whenever possible, we put actual customers at the forefront of our

Many startups get to US$20-million and

building direct relationships with them and made sure there was value for

them to participate. We also started customer advisory board meetings, where we gave our customers fake

dollar bills and asked them to invest

them in different parts of our roadmap.

This helped us prioritise the things that mattered most to them.

Finally, I recommend companies start an annual customer engagement

one-to-one reference call request and helps us respect our customers’ time.

hamsters as soon as you can, make

and processes to scale.

around automating more work so

marketing efforts, we worked on

a reference customer and get all their

build their marketing technology stack

manual work, and because they don’t

among our customers today, and they

To get customers involved in our

session where prospects can talk live to

For startups looking to scale to

In 2017, the big topic at every all-

are our most effective marketing.

We instituted a weekly Office Hours

often happens because they rely on

marketing programs. We have

thousands of brand ambassadors

cut down on one-to-one meetings.

questions answered. This eliminates the

employee involved with writing content and creating videos that were laser-

of our demand process. For example,

hands meeting at Snowflake was

US$100 million quickly, get rid of the sure your technology can grow with

you, and find ways to improve every component of your buyers’ journey that is time-consuming.

we could get rid of the “hamsters.” The hamsters were all of the

resources doing work that should be automated. In the beginning,

they were very important in doing

things such as setting up accounts for our customers. But it wasn’t

really until we had a fully automated

provisioning system that our free-trial sign-ups took off.

We also built our marketing technology stack to scale with our growth from the beginning. If you don’t, you’ll have to slow down and start replacing parts, hindering your momentum.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

EDITORIAL HOW TO GET YOUR COMPANY TO TURN R1-BILLION+

If your marketing programs don’t align with your sales strategy and goals, much of your effort will go to waste.

My job is to make sure that every day,

our marketing team is 100% partnered with our sales team and that we

execute at the same pace all the time. In the early days at Snowflake, I spent every Monday morning with our eight

sales development representatives to

plan our marketing programs alongside their efforts. Today, we have more than

a thousand people in our marketing and sales organisations, and we still have the same alignment.

Some people believe that it’s good to BE BOLD

Our messages on the billboards were

market and compete with large, well-

we always made sure to come back to

To break through in today’s competitive known brands, you have to get noticed. The challenge is that building brand

awareness takes time and money— which most startups don’t have.

So, what are your options? I think that

being bold is the best chance you have

often reflections of current events, but the data to reinforce our positioning. Most people really enjoyed them. Some didn’t. But they were bold,

Silicon Valley recognised us for our

billboards on Highway 101—and they

turned out to be critical for hiring. As a

The last pillar is the most important

to work as one team. This is essential for both marketing efficiency and

revenue growth. If your marketing

programs don’t align with your sales

strategy and goals, much of your effort will go to waste.

small startup, you are fighting for talent

A big reason for our fast growth at

new-hire onboarding session, at least

across our entire company from the

and you have to stand out. At every

half of the people said they first learned about Snowflake from our billboards.

marketer, you need a deep understanding and respect for the craft of sales.

early years, these five pillars had a

one: Sales and marketing teams need

In the early years, a lot of people in

negative tension. To succeed as a

beginning.

had a big vision, and we created a bold culture.

lead to misunderstandings and create

A STRUCTURE FOR FAST GROWTH

the attention that we needed in the

ALIGN WITH SALES

brand that fit well with our values and

marketing, but I think that can quickly

they were different, and they got us

of getting noticed. Being bold is clearly not without risk. But at Snowflake, we

have healthy tension between sales and

Snowflake is the strong alignment beginning. Our alignment point is around the sales pipeline.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

If I look back at Snowflake in the

tremendous impact on our speed and our growth. I think they’re relevant

to most startups. Make sure that you

invest in your positioning early on, and be consistent. Put customers at the

forefront of all your marketing and find a

way to get constant feedback. Build your

marketing stack and processes for scale. Be as bold as you dare to be. And most

importantly, align not just marketing and

sales teams but your entire organisation behind one mission, so that everyone is sharing the same objectives. Executing on these pillars will create a strong

marketing foundation for your startup to get to US$100 million – and beyond.

HOW TO TAP THE FULL POTENTIAL OF REMOTE WORKING EDITORIAL

How to tap the full potential of

remote working By Paul Keursten, CEO of Workshop 17

or co-workspace solutions

UTILISE THE SAME

content. If you feel that the message

office of the future is no longer

Through technology, we have multiple

through a phone call.

provider, Workshop17, the

a specific space in one building, but a combination of physical spaces

for remote working and virtual office

resources for meetings, planning and

collaboration. Whether you are working

in the office or remotely, communication and employee engagement are very

important aspects for any business that is focused on productivity and success.

COMMUNICATION TOOLS

tools available, all of which have made communication much easier and more

FOSTER A PERSONAL TOUCH

conferencing or instant messaging

lost in a remote worker environment.

effective. However, using various video platforms for different remote workers can get confusing. To ensure that everyone remains on the same

page, choose the same platforms to communicate.

Personal connections can often get

Remote working can make employees feel like work machines, with no value to the organisation. To foster a sense of belonging, create sceneries where

the whole team can share in non-work matters such as a ‘happy hour’ before

To tap into the full potential of remote

MAKE ACCESS TO DATA

how to go about it:

Giving remote workers access to data

working, here are a few guidelines on

might cause confusion, rather clarify

or after a video meeting. Recognise

POSSIBLE AND EASY

is always challenging especially due to the rise of cybercrime and data theft.

Without important data to perform their tasks, employees can encounter problems in productivity. Always

work closely with your IT department

to ensure that the necessary security measures are in place.

AVOID MISCOMMUNICATION Even with the most effective communication tools,

miscommunication can still crop

up which in turn can lead to costly

employees’ pivotal moments and celebrate together.

RECOGNISE AND REWARD

Recognising stellar performance goes a long way in making employees feel

appreciated and valued. They are more motivated to keep working towards the company’s goals when what they are doing is acknowledged. If there are

rewards in the organisation, include remote workers. Have a system in

place for honest feedback and offer

guidelines to remote employees on the projects they work on.

mistakes. One can easily end up

In a nutshell, effective communication

delays and missed deadlines for

together. Keeping them engaged is

working on a wrong project, causing other urgent projects just because

of incorrect phrasing in a message.

Always double-check your messages for spelling, grammar, phrases and

is key in bringing remote workers

crucial in making them feel a part of

the greater good. Be intentional and

creative in ensuring that these two are constantly pursued.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

How to categorise relationships so you succeed in business B y C her yl Ben ad ie, CE O , W hole Per s on Ac adem y

ou’ve heard the saying that

CONDUCT A RELATIONSHIP AUDIT

the five closest people to

Pursuing your passion looks romantic

you become the average of

you. It’s true that the people that you align yourself with, will directly affect the success of your business. Once you take the road less travelled of

entrepreneurship, your relationship needs will change.

Think of the relationships in your life depicted as circles on a dart board. The bull’s eye represents your

on the outside. But once you’ve made the commitment, you start to realise

how much time, energy and attention

you need to invest to create long term success. Now you have to choose between social time and business

building time (which, let’s be honest, feels like it’s constant because you never stop thinking about ways to grow the business).

1. C ategorise your relationships as

high, medium and low investment:

• In a journal, write down the names of the five closest people to you. These are your high investment relationships and can include colleagues, family or friends.

• Medium investment relationships make up the second tier and

can include people that are your clients, peers, extended family members, etc.

• Finally, your low investment

relationship with yourself. You are the

The people that form your inner circle

relationships are going to be those

business. For your business to grow,

shift of focus. You may find that while

source of negativity in your life. It

are unable to help you navigate the

a friendship that you’ve had since

the entrepreneurial journey.

obligation is the only reason why

leadership lid on your life – and in your you need to keep growing your level of self-awareness.

You will need to become more

intentional about who has access

may or may not understand your

people that have been a constant

they support you in principle, they

might be close family members, or

turbulent emotions that are inherent in

high school. A sense of duty or

to your time and energy and which

One of the tools we use in our

the periphery to enable you to move

helping people conduct a relationship

relationships need to be shifted to forward with your business.

relationship management workshops is audit. In order to do this, you need to:

they remain in your life.

2. Assess the level of energy you need to expend when you are with them:

• With each name, close your eyes

and picture yourself meeting them

for a coffee. Are you excited about the prospect of spending time with them, or do you feel a sense of

dread? When you say goodbye to leave, are you feeling energised or drained?

• Place a plus next to their name if

they are adding to your energy and a minus next to their name if they drain your energy.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

HOW TO CATEGORISE RELATIONSHIPS SO YOU SUCCEED IN BUSINESS EDITORIAL

IT IS VITAL TO THE SUCCESS OF YOUR BUSINESS – AND YOU AS A BUSINESS OWNER – TO CREATE A SUPPORT CIRCLE OF PEOPLE THAT YOU TRUST AND CAN BE VULNERABLE WITH. CREATE A ‘BOARD OF LIFE’

BUSINESS SUPPORT CIRCLE It is vital to the success of your

business – and you as a business owner – to create a support circle

of people that you trust and can be

understands what you’re trying to

a part to play in growing you.

do with your business and have a

creates a safe environment for you to process your challenges, emotions, struggles and achievements.

process any hidden emotional

the people who feed your energy.

success

or psychological barriers to your • Business coach: helps you

current circle? You might have

create action plans to move your

time with and feed your energy,

accountable

emotional or psychological support for your business journey. It isn’t

fair to expect the people who are

in your life currently to understand the passion that you have for your business. If you feel that you are

lacking the business support you

need, it might be time to broaden your relational circle.

similar mission

• Acquaintances from networking groups: lockdown restrictions

has resulted in an emergence of

mastermind groups on WhatsApp that you can join. These will help you connect with like-minded

professionals who have similar goals and interests and the resources that are shared are invaluable.

• Counsellor/therapist: helps you

time with the people who drain

but they aren’t able to provide

• Peer group of start-up business

business, but they will each have

This should be your core group that

people that you enjoy spending

collaborate with.

people in your line of work that

High investment relationships:

• Are there relational gaps in your

individuals that you can potentially

directly involved in growing your

and medium investment relationships.

your energy and prioritise time with

minded and like passioned

owners: you might interact with

structure should include a mix of high

• Think of ways that you can limit

• These are people that are like

vulnerable with. They may not be

A ‘board of life’ business support

3. Create a relationship plan:

Medium investment relationships:

business forward and will keep you • Mentor: this is someone who has

known you for a while and is able to

provide support and encouragement as you take on new business challenges

Allow your relationships

to evolve as you and your business evolves. Don’t

waste your time or energy

explaining yourself to people who are not on the same path as you. Love them,

release them and focus on

what you need to do in order

to grow. Relationships are the treasure trove of resources,

• Best friend: helps you celebrate your successes, calls you out when you

are making excuses – and offers you

so be intentional about the relationships in your life – and in your business.

unconditional love and acceptance

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

Customer attention = customer retention By Louise Both a – Recr uit m ent Spec ialis t HR Com pa n y S o l u t i o n s

ustomer satisfaction is the

So, how do we keep them happy if or

happy customer is a returning

professional opinion?

ultimate success in business. A

customer. You will get repeat business,

when they are not always right in our

good reviews, and recommendations

You need to adapt your style and

brand your company to the world.

with each of your customers as they are

which all grow your reputation and

Is the customer always right? To them, they need to feel that they are – or

treated with respect when not. That

approach that you use to communicate all different. You need to nurture and

build on your customer relationships in order for them to last.

means that they need your guidance

Apart from building long-lasting

the field of what they hired you to do.

benefits:

and opinion on the expertise within

relationships, there are many other

1. When you invest in your

customers, you need to listen and understand their needs in order to meet their demands. If you

offer a great service, you will get

repeat business and loyalty from the customer. This will ultimately

reduce your marketing efforts and

costs. You can spend more time on your customers than trying to get more once off business. Keep an

existing client base happy and you will save overall.

2. A happy customer is a great

marketing tool to promote your

brand. Look after your customer

and they will look after you. Your

reputation is what keeps you in the

game and it will increase awareness of your great service and business. 3. Use your network. Now that you

have the relationships, use them to build on your own experience

and extend your knowledge of what you can offer to more and other customers.

4. Get your customers to leave

recommendations. There are many platforms, including your own

website, where it is important for

you to have your satisfied clients

leave positive reviews to accelerate your business growth. Perhaps ask

them to email you their thoughts too!

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

CUSTOMER ATTENTION = CUSTOMER RETENTION EDITORIAL

WAYS TO KEEP YOUR CLIENTS HAPPY • LISTEN

– To build any strong

relationship -personal, business, social – you need to listen.

Give the other party the time to

share their thoughts and needs. You need to listen carefully to

understand them. Avoid being overpowering with words and use your listening skills to

identify where and how you

need to respond to make an impression.

• REGULAR UPDATES

AND COMMUNICATION

– Just because you have

established the relationship with your customer now, does not

mean that you just leave them and wait for them to approach

Do not rely on the client to

next. This will make the client

questions and cover what you

not just offering a service, but a

provide you with all the info, ask were not able to find.

• MANAGE EXPECTATIONS

feel worthy and that you are

partnership and interest in their business.

• FEEDBACK

you when they need you. They

– Never overpromise and

they don’t know it yet. Maintain

client on what are reasonable

need for you to get a client’s

updates and checking in by

be demanding, and you can be

forward. But when you have

promise results before you know

a door where there can be

client why it will take longer, if so,

your performance and service

might need you, even when

underdeliver. Be open to your

– Do not underestimate the

your relationship with regular

expectations. Many clients can

feedback. You might be moving

communicating effectively.

tempted to give in to that and

the relationship, it opens

you can attain them. Explain to the

transparency and feedback on

and that it will ultimately improve

can be shared with ease.

• BE AN EXPERT

– Always do your homework! Research! You don’t want

to be left with no words or

answers when you approach or communicate with a client. You will save time for you and your client if you already know their background and idea of their

requirements as well as what is

happening in their sector. Leave them impressed. It will show

your expertise and make them

feel that they are in good hands.

the service you offer to them to

make them feel secure that you can commit to the deadline.

Knowing where you can

• PERSONALISE YOUR

identify and work on areas will

APPROACH

– Not all clients are the same, so you will have to personalise the needs of each one. Where you identify the way you work with

one, can help you to handle the

improve your service and allow you to be better than the best!

In the end, it’s all about regular

communication – the long term benefits will surprise you.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

Business networks are key to business success Chant elle Smith HR Co m pany Solut ions

ow do you get your great idea – your BHAG from a lightbulb moment to reality? It’s no

longer just about what you know, it is about WHO you know that is going to make the difference - and that all depends on how well you

build your business network. The importance of having a truly professional and exceptionally strong business network, is something that cannot be

emphasised enough in today’s highly competitive and challenging markets.

Strong professional networks are

the key to proving you with opportunities for learning, new collaborative

relationships – which are particularly

vital in the gig economy – your growth

and your exposure in the marketplace.

Having a strong network, also provides

technology we

a high degree of credibility.

have today and the

The more influential your network is,

web, there is no need to leave your

influencers today, the more likely it is

effectively. This is even more prevalent

to be reassured about who you are and

working to fight against the pandemic

availability of information freely on the

filled with top decision makers and

desk to build your business network

for prospective new clients and partners

now as the globe stands together

your trustworthiness.

which is not only restricting our daily

Building a business network no longer

forms of these ‘gatherings’ of like-

requires endless meetings - with the

normal activity, but it’s preventing any minded people.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

So, how does one go

about building this network

that will provide you with the exposure you need to grow both personally and professionally?

Where you begin is with your existing

network that might be unknown to you – it’s made up of your existing clients and business partners, those people you

speak to just about every day, the ones you send emails to every day.

BUSINESS NETWORKS ARE KEY TO BUSINESS SUCCESS EDITORIAL

Word of mouth is your best asset in this building of your network because the

people you already know and work with, are your best points of referral because they’ve had first-hand dealings with

“ Word of mouth is your best asset in this building of your network because the people you already know and work with, are your best points of referral”

you. “So, when using this line, ensure that you are always professional and

using your personal brand to gain trust

and momentum in this network. It’s your most powerful weapon.”

Other ways of building your business network involves a combination of

activity, using the technology that we

have at our disposal and the fact that

people are constantly mobile. You can reach anyone at any time these days with the technology we have, and

it makes the world a ‘smaller’ place through connectivity.

Use the social platforms we have in

LinkedIn and other groups to build your network. “LinkedIn is like Facebook for professionals and businesses.” Build

your ‘friends’ network on LinkedIn with

like-minded professionals and influencers in your space and market, it builds

credibility and trust and shows the world that you take your job seriously too.

Join alumni and other relevant groups. “Find those people (like you hunt for

people on Facebook) that you went to school and university with, it’ll extend your reach exponentially.” They’re all working at various companies now in so many sectors, nationally and

internationally, and that will help you

to gain even more exposure into new markets that you may not have even thought about.

Use LinkedIn and join a variety of

groups there too. Consider joining

those that are in your industry first

and up-to-date skills, makes you

professionals in those groups which

company but also to those in your

and have valuable conversations with will broaden your network. This also gives you the power of information – you’ll stay in touch with industry

trends and developments, you know

an invaluable asset to your current network – it drives others to connect with you when you share valuable insights and information.

the quality of your connections will be

Lastly, keep in touch with your

jobs and growth opportunities within

Don’t ever just disappear of fall

excellent and you also gain access to these groups of like-minded people.

Ensure you stay relevant in your field

or network. In this light, make sure you are always keeping up to date with the industry trends and developments in your industry. Read industry-related articles and publications, follow

network, existing and new, constantly. off the radar in your network and constantly follow-up and engage

in conversations. Even if it’s just a

check-in to see how they’re doing, wishing them a happy birthday or

congratulating them on a working anniversary. Stay in touch.

industry leaders on LinkedIn and keep

Building your business network is one

greets in your sector that you can

personal and professional development

an eye out for events and meet-andattend to expand your network. Also stay relevant by upskilling yourself

and continuing your education in your chosen field. Gaining new, relevant

of the most important tools in your

and it’ll build your confidence through enhancing your personal branding

too. Use it, constantly and leverage off those you know.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

THE NEW

FRONTIER INVESTING

AFRICAS

TECH

VIRTUAL 2 DAY SUMMIT | 5-6 MAY 2021

Proudly Sponsored by:

Brought to you by

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

Letter from the Founder Welcome to 2021’s Africa Tech week Virtual Summit

here is no silver bullet to success, is there? Like many of you, we at Topco have for a number of years been searching for the answers

to digitization challenges. It was out of curiosity, frustration and the

numerous hurdles we had with technology that Africa Tech Week was born. How is it that some companies get it right, and the rest of us struggle? The event is a remarkable opportunity for African entrepreneurs, big business, policyholders, funders, investors and startups to come together, learn, be

inspired and meet their new customers or partners. It is a chance for us fans of tech innovation and disruption to drive impact and inspire the rest of the world about the abundant possibilities that exist on the continent.

Everyone is aware that Africa has faced challenges, and it is together that we can solve them. Africa is a hotbed of potential in terms of measuring and testing concepts and ideas. What we lack in capital,

we make up for in ingenuity, resilience and a ‘can do’

attitude. Covid has been a great chance to reset and equalize the playing field, and Africa Tech Week is a golden opportunity we need to seize NOW.

Our purpose at Topco Media is to inspire the world to do good business. The mission of Africa Tech Week is to demonstrate how

Africa is transforming the world. This can be

accelerated with advocates, like you, giving us

feedback about the challenges you are facing, and by connecting with one another. It is

going to take each of us shining a light on

the good and great that is happening around

tech in Africa to help propel the continent’s growth and reputation.

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the ‘new frontier.’ Created in Africa, for Africans, by Africans.

Best wishes Ralf Fletcher Founder, Africa Tech Week TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

2021 Speakers

MARIAN CROAK

Vice President of Engineering | Google

DR VALANATHAN MUNSAMI Chief Executive Officer | South African National Space Agency

PAUL STAFFORD

Vice President | Mimecast

JANINE REBELO

Co-Founder & Chief Executive | ThinkWifi PTY LTD

ASHISH. J. THAKKAR

DR AYODELE ODUSOLA

DR ANINO EMUWA

BRADWIN ROPER

MARLOES POMP

PONCELET O. ILELEJI

Group Chief Executive Officer Mara Phones

Resident Representative | United Nations Development Programme

Founder and Managing Director | Avandis Consulting

Initiator and Program Officer | Dutch Government

BOYD CHISLETT

Board Memner & Founder | Liquid Intelligent Technologies

CEO | FNB Connect

CEO | Jokkolabs Banjul

DEON GEYSER

Founder & CEO | Liquid Intelligent Technologies

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

JAMES MILNE

Co-Founder | Sillicon Cape

ZAHRA BAITIE

Head of Partnerships & Programmes, Africa’s Heroes Prize | Jack Ma Foundation

YEMI KERI

CEO | Heckerbella Co-Founder | Rising Tide Africa

SANDILE NTSELE

Chief Financial Officer | Liquid Intelligent Technologies

DR RACHEL CHIKWAMBA Group Executive | Industrial Development, CSIR-Leadership

IBRAHIM DIKKO

CEO | Backbone Connectivity Network

SHUBNA HARILAL

Managing Director | Gijima Technology Services

ADRIAN SAVILLE Professor | GIBS

MARK SCHOEMAN

Principal | Centre of Digital Excellence

LINDIWE MATLALI

ALDO LAUBSCHER General Manager, South Africa | VISA

VERONICA MOTLOUTSI

Founder & CEO | Africa Teen Geeks

Board Memner & Founder | Digital Council Africa Lead

LAWRANCE REDDY

ENVER GROENEWALD

Cloud CTO | Vaxowave

DYLAN PIATTI

Managing Director Africa | Advantage Group International

HON. EMMA INAMUTILA THEOFELUS

Deputy minister of Infomation and Technology | Namibian Government

Group CEO | Ogilvy

SNOWDEN MMADI

Infrastructure Expert | African Union Development

TIM MITCHELL

Head of Digital Tranformation | Flux Labs

JOHAN MAREE

CEO | Retail & Commercial Africa, FNB

ABE SMITH

Head of international | Zoom

CLICK HERE

To read the full 2-day Virtual Summit programme

VUYO DUBESE

Innovation Consultant & Corporate Moderator

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

How confident do you feel in your ability to integrate multiple technologies into daily work tasks?

52.6% Confident – intermediate experience 23.7% Very confident – an expert experience 18.4% Somewhat confident – limited working experience 5.3% Not confident yet – very limited abilities

Conference Highlights Conference Highlights When it comes to finances, what is currently your biggest challenge? 50.0% Access to funding

27.5% Cost of financing your business 22.5% Attracting Investors

Live Streaming Results on

Attendee Feedback JACQUES LUDIK

y to

amme, ly

@Topco Media Congratulations with a great event!

What is your main motivation for joining or launching a FinTech startup?

via comments

58.3% Opportunity to impact an emerging industry

Watch day 1 highlightsLORAINE GREENWOOD

22.2% Enable or develop technological advancement

experience

11.1% High potential financial return

ations of tech

Fantastically organised thank you!

8.3% Build or own a new financial product

mmendations

Watch day 2 highlights

via comments

0.0% More positive outlook for the job market

aming Results on

Attendee Feedback

LEIGH DESAI

Great insights from Vaxowave! via comments

This Is Us

Intro Video

eport | 6

Watch

JACQUES LUDIK

Ralf Address

Watch

@Topco Media Congratulations7 | Africa Tech week Virtual Summit | Impac HLOBISILE MAHLANGU with a great event!

Watch

Very insightful and informative. I thorough enjoyed listening to all the speakers. THANK YOU.

via comments

LORAINE GREENWOOD

dustry

Fantastically organised thank you!

Watch day 1 highlights

ncement

Attendee AttendeeFeedback Feedback Event Promo

Watch day 2 highlights

Watch

ro Video

Ralf Address

Watch

JACQUES LUDIK 7 | Africa Tech week Virtual Summit | Impact Report

@Topco Media Congratulations with a great event! via comments

via comments

LEIGH DESAI

Excellent! The live event was 1st class and enlightening.

Great initiative. Africa needs this!

Great insights from Vaxowave! - very inspiring via comments

HLOBISILE MAHLANGU Very insightful and informative. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to all the speakers. THANK YOU. via comments

Venice Moonsamy

Dr Ayodele Odusola

British Chamber of Business SA

UNDP Resident Representativ

LORAINE GREENWOOD

Fantastically organised thank you!

Africa Tech week Virtual Summit | Impact Report | 8

via comments

ent Promo

LEIGH DESAI

Watch

Great insights from Vaxowave!

Excellent! The live event was 1st class - very inspiring and enlightening.

9 | Africa Tech week Virtual Summ

Great initiative. Africa needs this!

via comments

HLOBISILE MAHLANGU Very insightful and informative. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to all the speakers. Venice Moonsamy THANK YOU. via comments

British Chamber of Business SA

ort | 8

Dr Ayodele Odusola

UNDP Resident Representative

9 | Africa Tech week Virtual Summit | Impact Report

Excellent! The live TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION event was 1st class - very inspiring and

Great initiative. Africa needs this!

Thank you to our THANK YOU Sponsors &Partners To our Partners & Sponsors THANK YOU

THANK YO

To our Partners & Spo MAINSTAGE SESSION PARTNERS

T T F

MAINSTAGE SESSION PARTNERS To our Partners & Sponsors

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TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION Africa Tech week Virtual Summit | Impac

Top 5 Apps that will streamline your day-to-day processes By Charndre Emma Kippie

QuickBooks Getting a business off the ground and running is a daunting task all on its own. Now, factor in a virus that catapults society to ‘global pandemic’ status, and the task seems near impossible. These last two years have pushed businesses beyond their ‘safe’ boundaries and reinforced the need for improved organisational strategies and business processes. It has never been more important to employ business management software than the times business owners find themselves in. These nifty advancements in app technology can assist businesses with avoiding common errors and breaking laws, improving employee efficiency and productivity, better communication between teams, and enhancing logistics. Here is a list of the top 5 business apps that could take your company from ‘surviving’ to ‘thriving’:

ACCOUNTING & FINANCE Keep your ducks in a row! With

QuickBooks web-based accounting

software, your small business will be

able to keep its books up to date with a simple tap on any mobile device. Sounds crazy, right?

QuickBooks Online (founded by Scott

Cook) delivers on its promise of providing ‘seriously easy accounting for small

businesses’; the amazing integration

The web-based system can be

you to track expenses, customise

there are no installations or downloads

between finance and technology allows invoices, run reports and more - all in one place. This software is ideal for

small or mid-sized businesses, in any industry, and even freelancers (it’s perfect for remote bookkeeping).

Quickbooks Online comes with free intuit

mobile apps for Android and IOS devices.

accessed from any web browser, and necessary in order to utilise the

software. Quickbooks users can even take photographs of bills and submit them as expense proofs. They may

also opt to share this proof with the concerned stakeholders, as well as download and reconcile credit card transactions.

Special Features:

Cons:

• Track VAT

• High costs incurred depending on the

• Manage employees

• It may take some time for employees

• Download insights & reports • Multi-currency

• Track inventory

• Track projects & locations

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

plan that works best for your business to get used to some of the changes from Quickbooks Desktop to Quickbooks online.

TOP 5 APPS THAT WILL STREAMLINE YOUR DAY-TO-DAY PROCESSES LIFESTYLE

Zoom

COMMUNICATIONS Founded in 2011, by Eric Yuan, the Zoom video conferencing software programme helps bring people together in a unified, frictionless

environment. And with the onset of the Covid-19 global pandemic, the company has been able to drive innovation of video communications, by including new solutions that are geared towards empowering the hybrid workforce.

Zoom has received much recognition for providing reliable

communication services whilst powering even more productive

workforces - allowing teams to get more done together. In 2020,

the company was recognised as Frost & Sullivan’s Company of the Year, and won several Forbes Education Awards, as well.

In July 2021, the company launched its latest innovations, in response

to the effects of Covid-19, namely Zoom Apps and Zoom Events. Zoom

Special Features: • HD video, audio, collaboration & chats

• Rooms and Workspaces - power up your conference rooms with video

• Create full-featured, easy-to-use, engaging video webinars

• App Marketplace - with cool integrations and bots

Cons:

Apps cleverly embeds third-party apps within the Zoom Meetings and

• The mobile application does not display some of the

and entertainment for today’s hybrid workforce. Zoom Events, however,

• Paid plans have slightly higher pricing

desktop client experience. This enhances productivity, collaboration, is an all-in-one platform for creating a wide range of interactive and immersive virtual events to reach and engage audiences.

features that are available on the desktop version.

• ‘Zoombombing’ & ‘Zoominvaders’ - unwanted individuals crashing a conference call

experiences using the integrated

Special Features:

Customer 360. This platform

• Lead Registration and Rules-Based Lead Scoring

Started by Marc Benioff and

products for improving your

• Workflow and Approval Automation

is a cloud-based software

service, IT, and more.

acts as a customer relationship

By opting to invest in your

providing an innovative suite of

services of Salesforce, you’re

towards enhancing customer

you’re joining an inclusive

application development and

innovators, disruptors, and

Salesforce CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

Parker Harris, in 1999, Salesforce company based in the USA. It

CRM platform called Salesforce

• Cloud-Native Platform

provides powerful, connected

• Collaborative Forecasting

marketing, sales, commerce,

• 24/7 Support and Configuration Services

management service, whilst also

company and employing the

enterprise applications geared

not just buying a CRM platform;

service, marketing automation,

community of over 10 million

analytics.

community shapers. You are also

Worth well over $120 billion, now,

use of the free online learning

and customers together,

skills to improve your company

Cons: • You could lose track of all the regular (costly) customisations and add-ons

• Limited Technical Support

afforded the opportunity to make

Salesforce brings companies

option called Trailhead - adopting

delivering personalised customer

and your employees’ careers.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

LIFESTYLE TOP 5 APPS THAT WILL STREAMLINE YOUR DAY-TO-DAY PROCESSES

Trello

PROJECT MANAGEMENT This nifty tool was initially launched 10

years ago at a TechCrunch event, by Fog Creek founder Joel Spolsky. Trello is a web-based, organisational application that is a subsidiary of the developer

known as Atlassian. It acts as the ultimate project management tool, allowing teams

Now, under the wing of CEO

Michael Pryor, Trello offers a

Kanban look and feel where you get a real-time view on all work

coming in, in process, and being signed off. The streamlined app is also available for both iOS

and Android devices, and allows

you to share files with your team members, instantly.

to set up a board in seconds, automate tasks, and collaborate from anywhere even via any mobile device.

Special Features:

Cons:

Organisation gets ‘visual’ with Trello,

• Attractive user interface

which has gained more than 4.6 million

• Different cards for each aspect of a project

• Trello doesn’t natively offer support for calendar integration

monthly active users — turning their

• Makes transparency and

registered users — with one million projects into visual boards using its cloud-based software.

Teamdeck

TIME TRACKING & TEAM UPDATES Teamdeck is a time tracking and resource scheduling tool for companies that want to assist their teams with planning and

measure their work effectively - on a daily basis. It is a truly employee-friendly tool,

allowing all employees (not just managers) to track their time management and give other team members an indication of

their availability - directly from one app.

On top of that, the Teamdeck dashboard

gives team members valuable information regarding their work patterns.

• Can be integrated with other apps accountability between team members effortless

• Keyboard shortcuts and keyboard productivity usage is limited • Low storage limit

converted into timesheets which will hold accurate records concerning employees’ invoiceable hours.

Teamdeck is, basically, a one-stop shop for streamlined resource management. However, it also has functionality for

Leave Management. Employees can

request days off and holidays directly from the app. Managers will then

receive these requests and manage

them within Teamdeck, as well. People who work remotely or on a part-time

basis can also inform their supervisors about their exact availability.

The app’s resource scheduling option

gives an incredible view of the available resources in a calendar view, and team members can also edit their individual bookings. Employees can also use

one-click time tracking to record the

time spent on each project. These time entries may then also be automatically

Special Features: • Offers a free plan for early

stage startups (up to 6 people)

• Measure employee performance

• Forecast your company’s recruitment needs

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

Cons: • Costs for full feature Business Plan

• The tool may lag sometimes

“INVESTING IN AFRICA’S TECH“ AFRICATECHWEEK.CO.ZA

Mzansi, Meet

Sustainability Sisters, Mo & Michelle Mokone, are taking SA’s innovative décor international By Charndre Emma Kippie

Mo’s Crib is a black-owned, female-

This is exciting news for the décor

Founded in Gauteng, Mo’s Crib is a

staff. They’ve recently collaborated

build a brighter future for their

in handmade, sustainable, and ethical

and Mr Price Home, alongside five-star

(HR Specialist) and Michelle Mokone

made remarkable local industry moves

Cultivating ethnicity around the globe

founded business with over 90% female

South African decor brand specialising

with Woolworths, Builders Warehouse,

homewares. Founded by sisters Mo

resorts. The Pretoria-born sisters have

(Agricultural Economist), the brand

that have caught the eye of U.S retail

is best known for its innovative, handwoven baskets, planters, and hampers made from

unique materials such as

ultra-durable PVC plastic reclaimed from landfills and construction sites

throughout South Africa.

giant Crate & Barrel stores, which now grants the business the

opportunity to sell their oneof-a-kind products to U.S customers online and in-store for the very first time.

duo as it allows the business to

female artisans who hand make

all of Mo’s Crib’s products, along

with providing fair wages, housing,

hot meals, transportation, in-house healthcare, and wellness check-

ups, in addition to skills training including English language lessons. Mo’s Crib going international allows

the sisters to create

opportunities and

make an impact in their community.

INTERIOR DESIGN: MO’S CRIB LIFESTYLE

What got you two into décor? While we were both entrepreneurial

One of our proudest moments this

of crochet as a little girl in the 90s –

employees recently bought a car

them into rugs as a creative outlet.

in Pretoria. How amazing is that?

to think about her artistic hobby as a

first three containers to the USA, it

origami Swans at a market that we both

to contribute to the overall export of

had corporate careers, we both had a

while also ensuring that we limit the

was the gateway. Building upon this, we

thus far been able to secure jobs

a year later which was the PVC Range,

of locally made products and in our

recycled PVC water pipes which sold

difference to the economy.

pursue the business full time in 2019.

In some industries that are interlinked

growing up, Mo fell in love with the art

year was learning that one of our

using old plastic bags and to weave

– which doesn’t happen every day

It wasn’t until 2016 that Mo started

While we have recently shipped our

potential business, selling her creative

has always been a mission for us

attended as guests at first. Although we

South African products internationally,

love for homeware, and we knew this

export of internal products. We have

introduced a new product to the market

through creating a consistent supply

which is laundry baskets made from

small way, we believe we are making a

out within days. This led us to decide to

What excites you guys the most about the work you do?

with our mandate such as suppliers and male employees, there are

gender dynamics that get in the way

Being able to share the success of Mo’s

build opportunities for themselves.

where our role as leaders is not

make a difference in the lives of those

our products are compensated with

effort from us to get the goals met.

been the most rewarding part because

transportation. They also have access

The Future of The Business

created an impact in the communities

medical needs with weekly classes

dedicated team members.

and hygiene. Lastly, employees

Crib with our employees. Being able to

The artisans who hand-make all

that are employed by Mo’s Crib has

fair wages, housing, hot meals, and

the small steps we took have now

to an on-site health clinic for basic

that we serve and in the homes of our

on sexual health, mental health,

In addition to that, we find it incredibly satisfying to be able to launch

creative, sustainable products that change that decor landscape both

are provided with English lessons and weekly classes on financial

management to help them understand how to stretch their dollar and pay for their kids’ schools.

respected and that requires more

Mo’s Crib, as an innovative entity,

looks forward to continuing to actively make a difference in the African (and international) interior design sphere, as well in its very own surrounding local communities, by offering

sustainable jobs, more conscious

product offerings, and being the best homeware brand globally.

locally and internationally. Offering

products that are functional, artistic and resemble high quality.

In what ways is Mo’s Crib enhancing the South African economy? Through Mo’s Crib, we are able to create employment opportunities

and skills training lessons that lift

On the dynamic duo’s reading list: Michelle: Rising Strong by Brene Brown – It taught me to embrace my vulnerabilities and be more conscious of authenticity.

Morongwe: John Mackey’s Conscious Capitalism taught me that conscious leadership is key to business success and growth.

individuals up so that they can then TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

LIFESTYLE INTERIOR DESIGN: MO’S CRIB

The Mlaza Grass Woven Collection Using natural leaves as a principle

fiber, the environmentally non-invasive product design embodies a blend of

tradition and nature. This round shaped grass range is made from the natural

fiber of earthly grown ilala palm leaves derived from abundant fields in Africa. Mo’s Crib’s unique basketry design

features a minimalistic craft that offers a multifunctional purpose of storage utility, decor design and art.

Even though they are all-natural, the

Recycled PVC Range

creates a strong and durable basket

Mo’s Crib specialises in baskets and

stylish, resistant and durable design which

any space in a home. The unique grass

pipes, each individually handpicked and

outdoors. This quality basket and planter

an organic, textural element to home

sites. During the production phase, the

texture and warm colours, it brings

this grass range, size and design may

the flexibility to cut into strips. The strips

baskets and planters are water resistant,

structure that gives the basket a strong

functionality making it a multipurpose

principle is our way of preserving

4-7 hours to make, coupled with attention

the PVC range; size and design may vary

our carbon footprint, this also

handmade and finished with a solid and

thought to each product.”

to no maintenance for years to come.

combined mix of thick grass-layers

The PVC range features a remarkable,

with a steady design to complement

planters made from old PVC water

is perfectly suitable for both indoors and

range, with its natural colour adds

collected from landfills and construction

transforms a space, with its peculiar

décor. Due to the handmade nature of

pipes are exposed to heat which allows

an element of art and neutrality. The

vary slightly in each basket

are then neatly woven through a wire

none-rustic and have a versatile storage

“The ‘handmade in South Africa’

and reinforced structure. With between

product. Due to the handmade nature of

talent, creating jobs and reducing

to detail, it means the basket is uniquely

slightly in each basket.

guarantees authenticity, style and

long-lasting structure that will require little

Their advice to young entrepreneurs in SA: • Be unique! • Have a product that tells a story.

• Be willing to go beyond the standard practices as it

pertains to design and art in the home space.

*Learn more about Mo’s Crib at https://moscrib.com/

100

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

Wellness at

By Elske Joubert

The Westin Cape Town, a luxury hotel situated at the Cape Town International Convention Centre’s precinct, is one of the most popular hotels for both domestic and international business travellers. I was fortunate enough to spend a night there and experience the hotel’s commitment to wellness – first hand.

102

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

WELLNESS AT THE WESTIN LIFESTYLE

Work well

Sleep well

The Westin is the only hotel in the

To celebrate South Africa’s cultural

Cape Town International Convention

adorned with modern, African-inspired

city that has direct connectivity to the Centre. Designed with the meeting planner in mind, their personalised

services make it effortless to provide a memorable experience for every

heritage, every room and suite is

décor, featuring vibrant colors and

authentic accents in African iroko wood and honey maple.

invitee. Located on the ground floor

Awaken refreshed in your luxury

Business Centre offers a full range

the panoramic windows fills your

of the hotel, The Westin’s convenient of office equipment and services, such as printing, faxing, copying,

and binding, plus postage service.

Secretarial services as well as cellular phone and office equipment rentals

are also offered. Leave your laptop at

home? Take advantage of four on-site PCs complete with complimentary high-speed internet access.

Westin Heavenly® Bed, as light from waterfront suite. Begin your day with an invigorating scrub under the signature Heavenly® Shower or relax in your

separate bathtub using the aromatic Westin White Tea Heavenly™ bath

amenities. Stroll downstairs at your

leisure for a complimentary breakfast at the hotel restaurant, Thirty7 Showkitchen.

Eat well

Relax well

Start a culinary journey when you step

After a day of meetings or adventures in

Town. Home to two restaurants and a

at Heavenly Spa by Westin™ – the

into the first floor of The Westin Cape whiskey lounge, the hotel showcases the exciting diversity of South African

cuisine – from the French-inspired fare at Louis B’s to Thirty7 Showkitchen’s globally infused menus.

Crafted from fresh, artisanal ingredients, each dish we serve is balanced with

your health in mind, and so on offer is

also nutritious SuperFoodsRx™ items to fuel your day.

Join us on our sun-lit terrace overlooking

Cape Town, refresh your body and mind hotel’s award-winning day spa. Select

from a menu of luxury treatments, and soak up the panoramic ocean and city views from the infinity pool. Heavenly Spa by Westin™ is an international,

award-winning spa located on the 19th floor, with panoramic ocean and city

views. Inspired by nature, as well as

the finest techniques and most potent

herbal infusions from around the world, the spa philosophy is one of purity and simplicity.

the canal, or make a reservation

To stay active during your tirp, visit

dining rooms. Both settings perfectly

the state-of-the-art fitness center, home

for up to 300 in our contemporary

compliment the flavours of Cape Town,

inspired by the sea and our urban milieu

WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio – to free weights, a TechnoGym circuit and the latest in cardio equipment.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

103

Give yourself a break when

WORKING FROM HOME By Charndre Emma Kippie

Stick to your working hours as far as possible Recent reports have shown that many people who are

now working from home are finding it difficult to stick to

their usual work hours, often working late into the night. “I often find myself

telling our team that they absolutely have to try,

as far as possible, to set

boundaries,” says Adams.

“A balance is required, and family and personal time is

important for mental health.”

for the course in today’s world, many

Schedule actual breaks and stick to them

had anticipated. No one envisioned

“When you plan your day ahead, plan

would result in children being home

many people work right through the

With work-from-home becoming par

are finding that it’s not as easy as they that it would include a pandemic, which more than usual, and families being on top of one another almost 24/7. It’s no secret that many of us are

drained as a result, and clearly in need

the breaks too,” says Adams. “Too

day and don’t ever step away from

their desks. This can not only result in mental strain, but also physical strain on your body.”

of break. We spoke to Maggie Adams,

If you can, go for a walk or even just

Waterfront, to get some advice on

Whatever you do, make sure that it’s far

HR Manager at Radisson Blu Hotel

how employees can give themselves a break while working from home.

104

relax on the couch for a few minutes.

enough away from your workspace for you to disconnect for a while.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

Some advice that Adams

gives her team is to start the day off strong, sleep well, drink lots of water and to

focus on staying positive, A productive day means you

won’t feel guilty enjoying a family walk, a movie night, or even just taking some time to read a book.

“Of course if you are on a deadline and you need to put in the extra hours, go

for it. But don’t do it every

single night when you really need a break.”

GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK WHEN WORKING FROM HOME LIFESTYLE

Take leave

Get some fresh air

“Working from home has meant that

“Fresh air does wonders for your

right now,” Adams points out. “People

can, go for a walk at the end of your

not many people are taking any leave aren’t travelling as much and many

are thinking ‘Well, I’m already home,

so what’s the point?’ The point is that

mental health,” says Adams. “If you

day or just sit outside in your garden if you have one.”

you really need the break.”

Fresh air is not only good for you

You have worked hard for those leave

some Vitamin D from the sunshine

days, and if your work is all taken care

of and you are covered for the days you are away, then the leave can be guilt-

free. Even if all you do is stay home and do nothing but read or watch TV from the couch, it’s still a break from work, and something that everyone needs.

mentally, but physically too. Get on your skin, and breathe some

fresh air into your lungs. All of this actually helps boost your immune

system and improve your quality of life. Just 10 to 15 minutes a day of

sun exposure can make the world of difference to your Vitamin D levels.

Change your scenery If you can’t take time off right

now, then a change is as good as a holiday, right? Adams certainly believes so.

“You will be amazed at what a change of scenery will do for your mental

well-being. Consider booking yourself

“Fresh air does wonders for your mental health”

into a hotel. There are amazing

views to be had from the rooms,

complimentary Wi-Fi, and all the

things you need to turn a hotel room

into your new work-from-home set-up for a day or two. At Radisson Blu

Hotel Waterfront, you can do all of

this while also enjoying the pleasures of in-room dining, ocean view and

spa visits. Whatever your choice, give yourself a change, give yourself a

break, and put yourself first from time to time,” Adams advises.

TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES | 18TH EDITION

105

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Top Performing Companies and Public Sector - 18th Edition

Articles inside

Give yourself a break when WORKING FROM HOME

Top 5 Apps that will streamline your day-to-day processes

Business networks are key to business success

Customer attention = customer retention

How to categorise relationships so you succeed in business

How to tap the full potential of remote working

How to get your company to turn R1-billion+

5 tips for growth

Do you have a revenue-growth approach?

4 tips for scaling your business

From surviving to thriving

Be proactive, not reactive

Reaping the benefits of POPIA

Life 2.0

Will currency as we know it become extinct?

Are you experiencing conflict at work?

Fintech is booming in Africa!

Champion South Africa

Advancing Africa Through ICT & Tech

SAVINO DEL BENE SOUTH AFRICA

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS INDUSTRY IN SA

MiX Telematics

CONSTRUCTION SECTOR OVERVIEW

THE IMPACT OF BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES

STATS SA LOOKS AT THE SOUTH AFRICAN ECONOMY IN Q1, Q2 AND Q3, 2021

Charmaine Mabuza :Founding member and group CEO of Zamani Holdings; CEO of Ithuba Holdings

ITHUBA - Changing the narrative and using the national lottery as a vehicle for change

Elon Musk : To infinity and beyond

Zooming in on Abe Smith