12 Nov 2024

Stanford Seed Southern Africa Network, in partnership with De Beers Group recently hosted a ground-breaking Master Class titled ‘Doing Business in Africa Scaling for Success: Amplifying Business Presence Across Africa.

The event that took place in Gaborone recently, drew Africa’s leading entrepreneurial minds and served as an essential platform for discussing how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs) can successfully navigate the unique challenges of scaling businesses across the continent.

Keynote speaker, Mr Robert Brozin, co-founder of Nando’s known for transforming the restaurant from a single location in South Africa to a global brand, shared his journey and essential principles for building resilient businesses.

Mr Brozin emphasised the importance of ‘A Legacy of Impact’, highlighting values like resilience, adaptability, and innovation.

“Doing business in Africa means navigating challenges with grit, vision, and commitment to the communities we serve. Our journey with Nando’s has shown us that African businesses have immense potential to create meaningful impact on a global stage,” he said.

Mr Brozin inspired attendees to think beyond immediate goals, urging them to build businesses that leave a lasting legacy within their communities and industries.

The event also featured dynamic panel discussion that included Mr Tyler Schooley, Chief Operations Officer of De Beers Group; Mr Lerang Selolwane, co-founder of Lucient Engineering; and Mr Justin Schmidt, a key entrepreneur from Stanford Seed network. Together with Mr Brozin, they provided diverse insights into achieving sustained growth and tackling distinctive challenges in the African market.

Mr Schooley shared insights into De Beers’ commitment to sustainable economic development across Africa, stressing the value of long-term partnerships, ethical business practices, and creating enduring value.

He suggested that building a legacy in business entailed considering the broader impact on employees, communities, and the environment.

Mr Selolwane shared valuable experience on scaling his business into West Africa, underscoring the importance of adaptability, understanding local markets, and fostering leadership within teams. “Scaling requires more than just ambition,” he remarked.

“It’s about empowering a team that believes in the vision and is equipped to carry it forward.”

Mr Schmidt offered a fresh perspective on innovation in business strategy and leadership, discussing how technology and strategic foresight play crucial roles in sustainable business expansion. He urged SMMEs to view innovation not just as a growth tool, but as vital for maintaining competitiveness and relevance in evolving markets.

The Master Class was part of De Beers’ “Building Forever” initiative, which emphasises long-term impact and sustainable development. In collaboration with the Stanford Seed Transformation Programme, De Beers has supported over 90 African businesses, generating over P2.2billion in revenue and creating more than 2 800 jobs across Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia.

The partnership aims to equip African entrepreneurs with tools necessary for business growth, job creation, and positive community impact. ENDS