so 2016 today I read global reports that talk about how South Africa is lagging
talk about how South Africa is lagging
talk about how South Africa is lagging behind when it comes to intrapreneurial
behind when it comes to intrapreneurial
behind when it comes to intrapreneurial activity I listen to conversations that
activity I listen to conversations that
activity I listen to conversations that say South African entrepreneurs neck
say South African entrepreneurs neck
say South African entrepreneurs neck innovation and lack creativity they say
innovation and lack creativity they say
innovation and lack creativity they say that we have little or no women
that we have little or no women
that we have little or no women intrapreneurs and that being a
intrapreneurs and that being a
intrapreneurs and that being a developing nation we mainly have
developing nation we mainly have
developing nation we mainly have necessity entrepreneurs which are those
necessity entrepreneurs which are those
necessity entrepreneurs which are those intrapreneurs who end up setting a
intrapreneurs who end up setting a
intrapreneurs who end up setting a business when they cannot find a job as
business when they cannot find a job as
business when they cannot find a job as opposed to opportunity driven
opposed to opportunity driven
opposed to opportunity driven intrapreneurs and these are people who
intrapreneurs and these are people who
intrapreneurs and these are people who see an opportunity take the risk and
see an opportunity take the risk and
see an opportunity take the risk and jump into it being a practitioner in the
jump into it being a practitioner in the
jump into it being a practitioner in the Entrepreneurship development space I
Entrepreneurship development space I
Entrepreneurship development space I somehow have a different experience when
somehow have a different experience when
somehow have a different experience when I’m on the ground and the narrative is
I’m on the ground and the narrative is
I’m on the ground and the narrative is different let me give you a better
different let me give you a better
different let me give you a better picture early this year I was one of the
picture early this year I was one of the
picture early this year I was one of the as part of the team that adjudicated on
as part of the team that adjudicated on
as part of the team that adjudicated on the Township entrepreneur Awards the
the Township entrepreneur Awards the
the Township entrepreneur Awards the very first ever Township entrepreneur
very first ever Township entrepreneur
very first ever Township entrepreneur Awards hosted by the province I was very
Awards hosted by the province I was very
Awards hosted by the province I was very thrilled and excited to receive the
thrilled and excited to receive the
thrilled and excited to receive the request to participate and I had my own
request to participate and I had my own
request to participate and I had my own interest obviously over and above the
interest obviously over and above the
interest obviously over and above the education but what I really wanted to do
education but what I really wanted to do
education but what I really wanted to do was to go and explore souther wealth the
was to go and explore souther wealth the
was to go and explore souther wealth the provinces entrepreneurs and going to the
provinces entrepreneurs and going to the
provinces entrepreneurs and going to the township environment and actually
township environment and actually
township environment and actually understand what businesses do we have
understand what businesses do we have
understand what businesses do we have what type of businesses what is the
what type of businesses what is the
what type of businesses what is the variety of businesses that are in the
variety of businesses that are in the
variety of businesses that are in the townships based and secondly who is
townships based and secondly who is
townships based and secondly who is behind these businesses what are the
behind these businesses what are the
behind these businesses what are the characteristics of these entrepreneurs
characteristics of these entrepreneurs
characteristics of these entrepreneurs are they young are they old educated how
are they young are they old educated how
are they young are they old educated how far did they go in the education do they
far did they go in the education do they
far did they go in the education do they have a previous employment history and
have a previous employment history and
have a previous employment history and so we weren’t about with the
so we weren’t about with the
so we weren’t about with the adjudication I think there were probably
adjudication I think there were probably
adjudication I think there were probably 300 plus people that applied after all
300 plus people that applied after all
300 plus people that applied after all the shortlisting and the few that were
the shortlisting and the few that were
the shortlisting and the few that were selected
selected
selected we had about 100 and art that was
we had about 100 and art that was
we had about 100 and art that was shortlisted and then we went her to do
shortlisted and then we went her to do
shortlisted and then we went her to do the site visit and this was traveling
the site visit and this was traveling
the site visit and this was traveling throughout the province literally in all
throughout the province literally in all
throughout the province literally in all the corners all the way for East Far
the corners all the way for East Far
the corners all the way for East Far West by North for South and coming back
West by North for South and coming back
West by North for South and coming back and reflecting on what I saw on my first
and reflecting on what I saw on my first
and reflecting on what I saw on my first question that I had on the variety of
question that I had on the variety of
question that I had on the variety of intrapreneurs I was not surprised
intrapreneurs I was not surprised
intrapreneurs I was not surprised because indeed there’s a huge variety of
because indeed there’s a huge variety of
because indeed there’s a huge variety of businesses it really confirmed my
businesses it really confirmed my
businesses it really confirmed my suspicion Township business is no longer
suspicion Township business is no longer
suspicion Township business is no longer just mainly retail there’s a whole lot
just mainly retail there’s a whole lot
just mainly retail there’s a whole lot of manufacturing that is taking place
of manufacturing that is taking place
of manufacturing that is taking place and services business but when it came
and services business but when it came
and services business but when it came to the second one I was very startled
to the second one I was very startled
to the second one I was very startled and the reason being is that most of the
and the reason being is that most of the
and the reason being is that most of the entrepreneurs that we visited during the
entrepreneurs that we visited during the
entrepreneurs that we visited during the site visit had previously had previous
site visit had previously had previous
site visit had previously had previous employment they actually left their job
employment they actually left their job
employment they actually left their job saw an opportunity risked their assets
saw an opportunity risked their assets
saw an opportunity risked their assets and jumped into this business now that
and jumped into this business now that
and jumped into this business now that is something that we do not see in the
is something that we do not see in the
is something that we do not see in the global reports and so I began to ask
global reports and so I began to ask
global reports and so I began to ask myself a number of questions to say
myself a number of questions to say
myself a number of questions to say where is the disjoint and and why does
where is the disjoint and and why does
where is the disjoint and and why does the narrative on the ground why is it
the narrative on the ground why is it
the narrative on the ground why is it different on the ground versus to what
different on the ground versus to what
different on the ground versus to what you are constantly hearing and when this
you are constantly hearing and when this
you are constantly hearing and when this process of reflecting I was asking
process of reflecting I was asking
process of reflecting I was asking myself hmmm
myself hmmm
myself hmmm are we really that far off and those of
are we really that far off and those of
are we really that far off and those of you who’ve read those reports you
you who’ve read those reports you
you who’ve read those reports you probably do get that feeling are we
probably do get that feeling are we
probably do get that feeling are we really that far off and what is the
really that far off and what is the
really that far off and what is the baseline that we are using to measure
baseline that we are using to measure
baseline that we are using to measure how far we’ve come as a country so in
how far we’ve come as a country so in
how far we’ve come as a country so in this pondering I then went about and
this pondering I then went about and
this pondering I then went about and decided to have a look at what has
decided to have a look at what has
decided to have a look at what has really been going on in the
really been going on in the
really been going on in the intrapreneurship space and I decided to
intrapreneurship space and I decided to
intrapreneurship space and I decided to use 1994 as my baseline now you may
use 1994 as my baseline now you may
use 1994 as my baseline now you may wonder why 1994 the reason being
wonder why 1994 the reason being
wonder why 1994 the reason being obviously pre-1994 let business was huge
obviously pre-1994 let business was huge
obviously pre-1994 let business was huge Lisa
Lisa
Lisa rest and head boundaries in terms of way
rest and head boundaries in terms of way
rest and head boundaries in terms of way and how it could operate and over with
and how it could operate and over with
and how it could operate and over with the low levels of education and little
the low levels of education and little
the low levels of education and little access to freedom and economic
access to freedom and economic
access to freedom and economic participation and there was little room
participation and there was little room
participation and there was little room for black business to grow so if we are
for black business to grow so if we are
for black business to grow so if we are going to grow intrapreneurship in this
going to grow intrapreneurship in this
going to grow intrapreneurship in this country and if we’re going to grow it
country and if we’re going to grow it
country and if we’re going to grow it significantly that difference is
significantly that difference is
significantly that difference is actually going to come from encouraging
actually going to come from encouraging
actually going to come from encouraging black business and getting more black
black business and getting more black
black business and getting more black business entrepreneurs out there hence I
business entrepreneurs out there hence I
business entrepreneurs out there hence I then looked at it from that perspective
then looked at it from that perspective
then looked at it from that perspective so I put together the slide and I’d like
so I put together the slide and I’d like
so I put together the slide and I’d like to draw your attention to it it is a
to draw your attention to it it is a
to draw your attention to it it is a very full slide and it’s supposed to be
very full slide and it’s supposed to be
very full slide and it’s supposed to be if I was to put more stuff would
if I was to put more stuff would
if I was to put more stuff would probably fall out but it is supposed to
probably fall out but it is supposed to
probably fall out but it is supposed to look like a full flight because this
look like a full flight because this
look like a full flight because this slide for me indicates what exactly has
slide for me indicates what exactly has
slide for me indicates what exactly has been happening in our country from 1994
been happening in our country from 1994
been happening in our country from 1994 to 2016 and I’ve kind of color-coded
to 2016 and I’ve kind of color-coded
to 2016 and I’ve kind of color-coded just to give an indication of what I’ve
just to give an indication of what I’ve
just to give an indication of what I’ve looked at so 1995 with the first ever
looked at so 1995 with the first ever
looked at so 1995 with the first ever white paper or national strategy and
white paper or national strategy and
white paper or national strategy and promoting SME development in the country
promoting SME development in the country
promoting SME development in the country that just became almost a leeway that
that just became almost a leeway that
that just became almost a leeway that opened up a whole lot of other
opened up a whole lot of other
opened up a whole lot of other legislation or legislative changes that
legislation or legislative changes that
legislation or legislative changes that came we’ve got legislation on skills
came we’ve got legislation on skills
came we’ve got legislation on skills development intrapreneurial education
development intrapreneurial education
development intrapreneurial education black economic empowerment Enterprise
black economic empowerment Enterprise
black economic empowerment Enterprise Development socio-economic development
Development socio-economic development
Development socio-economic development supplier development and even supplier
supplier development and even supplier
supplier development and even supplier diversity these are all some of the
diversity these are all some of the
diversity these are all some of the things that have happened in the
things that have happened in the
things that have happened in the legislation and regulatory environment
legislation and regulatory environment
legislation and regulatory environment to foster an enabling environment for
to foster an enabling environment for
to foster an enabling environment for entrepreneurs the quick glance at the
entrepreneurs the quick glance at the
entrepreneurs the quick glance at the dark grey color that represents all the
dark grey color that represents all the
dark grey color that represents all the things that are happening when it comes
things that are happening when it comes
things that are happening when it comes to SME support we’ve had incubators in
to SME support we’ve had incubators in
to SME support we’ve had incubators in the past I’m sure we had some incubators
the past I’m sure we had some incubators
the past I’m sure we had some incubators pre-1994
pre-1994
pre-1994 but they’re not nearly as many as the
but they’re not nearly as many as the
but they’re not nearly as many as the number of entrepreneur the number of
number of entrepreneur the number of
number of entrepreneur the number of incubators that we have today
incubators that we have today
incubators that we have today accelerator programs
accelerator programs
accelerator programs programs that are there to support
programs that are there to support
programs that are there to support entrepreneurs that I had a growth phase
entrepreneurs that I had a growth phase
entrepreneurs that I had a growth phase that are saying I’ve done the startup
that are saying I’ve done the startup
that are saying I’ve done the startup thing I’m now growing can I get more
thing I’m now growing can I get more
thing I’m now growing can I get more support can I get to the next level
support can I get to the next level
support can I get to the next level business linkages supporting and
business linkages supporting and
business linkages supporting and facilitating access to market because
facilitating access to market because
facilitating access to market because historically it’s always been the excess
historically it’s always been the excess
historically it’s always been the excess that is actually kept people from
that is actually kept people from
that is actually kept people from participating access to information
participating access to information
participating access to information access to market and that’s us to you
access to market and that’s us to you
access to market and that’s us to you finance and not access to finance today
finance and not access to finance today
finance and not access to finance today we’ve got venture capitalists funds we
we’ve got venture capitalists funds we
we’ve got venture capitalists funds we have French hedge funds we have in fact
have French hedge funds we have in fact
have French hedge funds we have in fact there’s a huge partnership between the
there’s a huge partnership between the
there’s a huge partnership between the jobs Club I mean the job fund and the
jobs Club I mean the job fund and the
jobs Club I mean the job fund and the the finance franchise financing
the finance franchise financing
the finance franchise financing structured finance solutions where
structured finance solutions where
structured finance solutions where entrepreneurs who have contracts or
entrepreneurs who have contracts or
entrepreneurs who have contracts or purchase orders can now actually get
purchase orders can now actually get
purchase orders can now actually get finance to be able to deliver on those
finance to be able to deliver on those
finance to be able to deliver on those services all these when I reflect and
services all these when I reflect and
services all these when I reflect and look at this it is interesting to note
look at this it is interesting to note
look at this it is interesting to note that they happened and they are
that they happened and they are
that they happened and they are happening and it’s a participation of
happening and it’s a participation of
happening and it’s a participation of both public sector private sector NGO
both public sector private sector NGO
both public sector private sector NGO sectors and to a certain extent in
sectors and to a certain extent in
sectors and to a certain extent in international community so this just
international community so this just
international community so this just gives us an indication of all the things
gives us an indication of all the things
gives us an indication of all the things that are happening and like I say I did
that are happening and like I say I did
that are happening and like I say I did not put everything here because they
not put everything here because they
not put everything here because they would have just fallen off and you would
would have just fallen off and you would
would have just fallen off and you would you can barely read it now so if I put
you can barely read it now so if I put
you can barely read it now so if I put everything you wouldn’t be able to read
everything you wouldn’t be able to read
everything you wouldn’t be able to read it so if I had to take another angle and
it so if I had to take another angle and
it so if I had to take another angle and look at the number of business
look at the number of business
look at the number of business businesses that are starting up on a
businesses that are starting up on a
businesses that are starting up on a daily basis there are so many people
daily basis there are so many people
daily basis there are so many people that are starting businesses and I’m
that are starting businesses and I’m
that are starting businesses and I’m sure within your circle you meet people
sure within your circle you meet people
sure within your circle you meet people all the time who are either like we’ve
all the time who are either like we’ve
all the time who are either like we’ve heard earlier this morning either
heard earlier this morning either
heard earlier this morning either leaving their jobs for the boss saying
leaving their jobs for the boss saying
leaving their jobs for the boss saying thank you you fired or have decided they
thank you you fired or have decided they
thank you you fired or have decided they actually want to join this
actually want to join this
actually want to join this intrapreneurship journey more and more
intrapreneurship journey more and more
intrapreneurship journey more and more people are certain businesses so if I
people are certain businesses so if I
people are certain businesses so if I was to draw that graph you know it will
was to draw that graph you know it will
was to draw that graph you know it will probably be yo-yoing but it is
probably be yo-yoing but it is
probably be yo-yoing but it is definitely an upward trend
definitely an upward trend
definitely an upward trend if i had to draw the graph on
if i had to draw the graph on
if i had to draw the graph on entrepreneurial conversations that are
entrepreneurial conversations that are
entrepreneurial conversations that are currently taking place in this country
currently taking place in this country
currently taking place in this country I’m so convinced that it is definitely a
I’m so convinced that it is definitely a
I’m so convinced that it is definitely a very steep curve and so those of guys
very steep curve and so those of guys
very steep curve and so those of guys will live in the province you know
will live in the province you know
will live in the province you know almost every week they are conversations
almost every week they are conversations
almost every week they are conversations on entrepreneurship on all different
on entrepreneurship on all different
on entrepreneurship on all different platforms whether big conferences be it
platforms whether big conferences be it
platforms whether big conferences be it you know just networking events they are
you know just networking events they are
you know just networking events they are constantly happening and the third graph
constantly happening and the third graph
constantly happening and the third graph that I kind of have in my mind is the
that I kind of have in my mind is the
that I kind of have in my mind is the wine on role-models pre-1994
wine on role-models pre-1994
wine on role-models pre-1994 we had probably a handful full of you
we had probably a handful full of you
we had probably a handful full of you know role models intrapreneurial role
know role models intrapreneurial role
know role models intrapreneurial role models 2016 we definitely have a lot
models 2016 we definitely have a lot
models 2016 we definitely have a lot more role models in the intrapreneurial
more role models in the intrapreneurial
more role models in the intrapreneurial space they may not be as steep as the
space they may not be as steep as the
space they may not be as steep as the entrepreneurial conversations but the
entrepreneurial conversations but the
entrepreneurial conversations but the curve is definitely going up and that is
curve is definitely going up and that is
curve is definitely going up and that is why sometimes I do get a little bit hmm
why sometimes I do get a little bit hmm
why sometimes I do get a little bit hmm whenever I see someone or people who are
whenever I see someone or people who are
whenever I see someone or people who are promoting intrapreneur in South Africa
promoting intrapreneur in South Africa
promoting intrapreneur in South Africa and present role models but they present
and present role models but they present
and present role models but they present in all the old role models the term old
in all the old role models the term old
in all the old role models the term old I refer to pre-1994 not all in terms of
I refer to pre-1994 not all in terms of
I refer to pre-1994 not all in terms of their age although that may be true also
their age although that may be true also
their age although that may be true also but the point I’m trying to bring is we
but the point I’m trying to bring is we
but the point I’m trying to bring is we have a whole new breed of fresh
have a whole new breed of fresh
have a whole new breed of fresh entrepreneurs in this country that are
entrepreneurs in this country that are
entrepreneurs in this country that are doing amazing things we’ve got amazing
doing amazing things we’ve got amazing
doing amazing things we’ve got amazing ideas that somehow not been captured and
ideas that somehow not been captured and
ideas that somehow not been captured and not being engaged so my reflection on
not being engaged so my reflection on
not being engaged so my reflection on this is really saying the narrative has
this is really saying the narrative has
this is really saying the narrative has changed and the narrative is changing so
changed and the narrative is changing so
changed and the narrative is changing so why are we constantly stuck in the old
why are we constantly stuck in the old
why are we constantly stuck in the old narrative and the reason why I asked
narrative and the reason why I asked
narrative and the reason why I asked this is because I come from a space
this is because I come from a space
this is because I come from a space where in 2009 I founded a company who
where in 2009 I founded a company who
where in 2009 I founded a company who focuses on supporting entrepreneurs our
focuses on supporting entrepreneurs our
focuses on supporting entrepreneurs our goal is really to create win-win
goal is really to create win-win
goal is really to create win-win solutions for both the corporates
solutions for both the corporates
solutions for both the corporates and the entrepreneurs by matching what
and the entrepreneurs by matching what
and the entrepreneurs by matching what it is that the intrapreneur needs rather
it is that the intrapreneur needs rather
it is that the intrapreneur needs rather what it is that the corporate needs and
what it is that the corporate needs and
what it is that the corporate needs and how does the corporate integrate SMEs or
how does the corporate integrate SMEs or
how does the corporate integrate SMEs or small businesses or entrepreneurs into
small businesses or entrepreneurs into
small businesses or entrepreneurs into their value chain and how do we then
their value chain and how do we then
their value chain and how do we then support that entrepreneur to be able to
support that entrepreneur to be able to
support that entrepreneur to be able to access that opportunity both from a
access that opportunity both from a
access that opportunity both from a finance perspective and from a
finance perspective and from a
finance perspective and from a capacity-building perspective
capacity-building perspective
capacity-building perspective so our often sits on the other side of
so our often sits on the other side of
so our often sits on the other side of the table and get asked where are these
the table and get asked where are these
the table and get asked where are these entrepreneurs rather do we have
entrepreneurs rather do we have
entrepreneurs rather do we have intrapreneurs so seven years ago when
intrapreneurs so seven years ago when
intrapreneurs so seven years ago when when we started the business I would sit
when we started the business I would sit
when we started the business I would sit on the other side of the boardroom table
on the other side of the boardroom table
on the other side of the boardroom table and I would get told but we don’t have
and I would get told but we don’t have
and I would get told but we don’t have this businesses where to be fine to
this businesses where to be fine to
this businesses where to be fine to these businesses and I would sit on the
these businesses and I would sit on the
these businesses and I would sit on the other side and really really really
other side and really really really
other side and really really really struggle to answer the question I first
struggle to answer the question I first
struggle to answer the question I first checked now seven years later asked me
checked now seven years later asked me
checked now seven years later asked me for a business in a group a woman black
for a business in a group a woman black
for a business in a group a woman black woman owned business a competent black
woman owned business a competent black
woman owned business a competent black woman owned business in agribusiness
woman owned business in agribusiness
woman owned business in agribusiness I’ll tell you a fine one for you ask me
I’ll tell you a fine one for you ask me
I’ll tell you a fine one for you ask me for a black woman owned business in
for a black woman owned business in
for a black woman owned business in aviation have find one for you
aviation have find one for you
aviation have find one for you engineering services manufacturing does
engineering services manufacturing does
engineering services manufacturing does control sectors that previously you
control sectors that previously you
control sectors that previously you would not be able to find a black owned
would not be able to find a black owned
would not be able to find a black owned business today we can find them so my
business today we can find them so my
business today we can find them so my view really is that if we go back to the
view really is that if we go back to the
view really is that if we go back to the flight this is all part of sewing it is
flight this is all part of sewing it is
flight this is all part of sewing it is a process of planting and I believe
a process of planting and I believe
a process of planting and I believe South Africa isn’t that phase where we
South Africa isn’t that phase where we
South Africa isn’t that phase where we are planting we have begun to taste the
are planting we have begun to taste the
are planting we have begun to taste the fruit of the harvest but we have not
fruit of the harvest but we have not
fruit of the harvest but we have not really harvested yet we are still
really harvested yet we are still
really harvested yet we are still planting and what happens when one
planting and what happens when one
planting and what happens when one plants the farmers will tell you you
plants the farmers will tell you you
plants the farmers will tell you you can’t sew and reap at the same time the
can’t sew and reap at the same time the
can’t sew and reap at the same time the same crop right
same crop right
same crop right there’s the process of planting and
there’s the process of planting and
there’s the process of planting and sowing you water you weed you wait you
sowing you water you weed you wait you
sowing you water you weed you wait you wait and then you reap the fruit or the
wait and then you reap the fruit or the
wait and then you reap the fruit or the harvest so with all the sowing that is
harvest so with all the sowing that is
harvest so with all the sowing that is happening we need to weed as well and we
happening we need to weed as well and we
happening we need to weed as well and we are in the process of weeding because
are in the process of weeding because
are in the process of weeding because some of our policies some of our
some of our policies some of our
some of our policies some of our conversations and some of our programs
conversations and some of our programs
conversations and some of our programs have unfortunately created unintended
have unfortunately created unintended
have unfortunately created unintended consequences and that is what we are
consequences and that is what we are
consequences and that is what we are weeding out but we are still reaping we
weeding out but we are still reaping we
weeding out but we are still reaping we still have a harvest that we are reaping
still have a harvest that we are reaping
still have a harvest that we are reaping our beta early stage so my question
our beta early stage so my question
our beta early stage so my question really I would like to say let us change
really I would like to say let us change
really I would like to say let us change the question the question is not where
the question the question is not where
the question the question is not where who are they the rather the question the
who are they the rather the question the
who are they the rather the question the question should not be about we don’t
question should not be about we don’t
question should not be about we don’t have entrepreneurs or do they exist
have entrepreneurs or do they exist
have entrepreneurs or do they exist thank you
”
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