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Arnold Chatz Motors: Arnold Chatz
Entrepreneur talks to Arnold Chatz about Alfa Romeos, motor racing and how to build a personal brand that stands the test of time.
Auction Alliance: Rael Levitt
At the age of 38, Rael Levitt is an industry veteran who – over two decades – has changed the face of the auction industry and grown a multibillion-rand company that offers a full spectrum of asset sales and services. He shares his story with Entrepreneur.
Big Concerts: Attie Van Wyk
An accountant with musical aspirations talks to entrepreneur about how he built South Africa’s biggest live events promotions company.
Billy Selekane
Author, speaker, organisational effectiveness specialist and business man Billy Selekane is driven by one goal: motivating people to be their best. Born poor in Tembisa in 1967, Selekane changed his destiny by reading and giving expression to his indomitable spirit – one that refused to admit defeat even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Today he is the owner of a group of companies with interests in consulting, investment, aviation, property and petroleum. An imminent deal with a security giant is about to turn his own security interest into a R300 million business. Selekane has inspired more than three million people worldwide with his words. This is one man who knows about being knocked down and getting up again.
Black Like Me: Connie Mashaba
In the early 80s, Connie Mashaba worked for Southern Sun hotels as a junior bookkeeper. In 1985, her husband Herman Mashaba asked her to join his fledgling business in Garankuwa, north of Pretoria. What started out as a small manufacturer of hair care and grooming products for the black consumer has grown into a multi-billion rand business and a household name.
Blue Label Telecoms: Mark and Brett Levy
Growth and innovation has been the Blue Label Telecoms hallmark since its inception. In a few short years, co-founders Mark and Brett Levy have created a global company worth billions
Boardmans: Tom Boardman
How can I learn about business? What does it take to be an effective business leader? How do i foster business acumen and insight? What are the key lessons that lead to success in business?
Building A Competitive Advantage-Michael And Brian Coppin
Fruit & Veg City has grown from a single store to a household name with a huge national footprint. Brothers Brian and Michael Coppin share their growth challenges and new plans for the international market.
Carrol Boyes
Teacher turned manufacturer, retailer and international exporter, Carrol Boyes has deftly crafted a coveted, high-end product range associated with fine living the world over
Chicken Licken: George Sombonos
It hasn’t been an easy journey but it’s certainly been an interesting one. George Sombonos, founder of Chicken Licken, shares his story.
FirstRand Bank: Sizwe Nxasana
Sizwe Nxasana, chief executive of FirstRand Bank and a leading business personality, speaks about his approach to leadership and some of the challenges he has overcome on his way to the top
Herdbuoys: Peter Vundla
Johnnie Walker and Entrepreneur magazine bring you “Lead the Way”, a competition that puts winners on the fast track to success.
Hirsch's Homeware: Allan Hirsch
The story of how Allan Hirsch established the Hirsch’s Homeware Store brand and turned it into a multi-million rand business is one that every aspirant entrepreneur who has lost hope in the future should read. It’s not only a lesson in the importance of tenacity and passion but it provides a timely reminder of how going back to basics can be the most important thing you do for your business.
Imperial: Dawn Jones
Imperial CEO and 2007 Boss of the Year, Dawn Jones, talks frankly about her career, the changing face of the car rental industry and what it takes to be a leader.
Internet Solutions: Ronnie Apteker
Frenetic, intelligent, eccentric. These are some of the words used to describe South Africa’s youthful Internet pioneer Ronnie Apteker. Becoming a millionaire many times over has given the Internet Solutions founder the freedom to experiment.
Jenni Button
Jenni button Nearly lost it all save for her unrelenting spirit and creative passion. This is her story.
Jupiter Drawing Room: Renee Silverstone and Graham Warsop
Two entrepreneurs build a creative reputation worthy of the title "legendary". Renee Silverstone and Graham Warsop tell the story of how they took advertising powerhouse, The Jupiter Drawing Room, from a two-man band to one of the top agencies in the world.
KreditInform: Ivor Jones
Long before the journey began from bank clerk to managing director and 40% owner of a highly successful, debt free company, there was one thing certain about Ivor Jones: failure was not a word in his dictionary.
Kulula: Erik Venter and Gidon Novick
Erik Venter and Gidon Novick made history eight years ago when the two Comair employees, with some help from senior management, launched South Africa’s first no-frills airline on a tiny budget. In 2008, Kulula generated turnover of R1,8 billion through its website. It’s no wonder that the carrier’s competitors are green with envy.
MKB Property Group: Jonathan Molyneux Killik
A property developer tells how he carved a niche in the market by focusing on perfection and providing a turnkey solution.
Murray & Roberts: Brian Bruce
He orchestrated his own appointment and delivered over 800% in shareholder value creation. He is Brian Bruce, a corporate entrepreneur and a master of strategic implementation
Nkhensani Nkosi: Fashioning A Distinctive Brand
Stoned Cherrie has come a long way since its early vision of capturing a new urban African aesthetic. We spoke to the brand’s creator, Nkhensani Nkosi, about big dreams, being inspired and making it happen.
Outsurance: Willem Roos
When Outsurance was launched in a depressed market in 1998, its catchy advertising (who doesn’t know that you have to call 08 600 60 000), the vibrant green and purple branding and an innovative approach to short-term insurance soon captured the imagination of the public. By 2003 turnover had hit R1 billion. Last year, net earned premium income increased by 24% to R2,1 billion. Entrepreneur spoke to joint CEO Willem Roos to find out more about how the founders of the company perfected the direct insurance model.
Pamodzi Property Developers: Ndaba Ntsele
Ndaba Ntsele talks to Juliet Pitman about how he’s taken Pamodzi Investment Holdings into the success stratosphere – even though many believed it couldn’t be done.
Peppadew International: Phil Ovens
Phil Ovens, MD of Peppadew International, speaks to entrepreneur about how a clear strategy, marketing innovation and a brand vision helped to turn around a struggling company.
Pioneer Financial Planning: Bryan Hirsch
Bryan Hirsch is well-known to South Africans as an erudite insurance pro and a trusted “regular” on radio and in newsprint. In this interview, his business mettle and moral integrity shine through
Primi Piatti: Francesco Zanasi & Peter Castle
Success in the food industry is not easily won but Francesco Zanasi and Peter Castle, co-founders of Primi Piatti, have cooked up a profitable recipe of passion and energy.
Private Property: Justin Clarke
The story of how Justin Clarke developed Private Property into the leading alternative means of buying and selling real estate is, above all, one of determination in the face of adversity.
Robert Kiyosaki And Donald Trump
Always wished you could sit down and chat with the Rich Dad and the Donald? We got the chance — and we’re sharing their insights with you
Spartan Technology Rentals: Kumaran Padayachee
CEO of Spartan Technology Rentals, Kumaran Padayachee, talks to entrepreneur about people skills, negative perceptions and seeing opportunity in adversity.
Spartan Technology Rentals: Kumaran Padayachee
The ability to listen and learn has set Kumaran Padayachee on a solid growth path
Starbucks: Howard Schultz
A case study of how passion drove Howard Schultz to grow Starbucks from eight stores in 1987 to over 13 000 stores in 2007 with revenues exceeding $9 billion.
Tasha's: Natasha Sideris And Sivya Sideris
Two young entrepreneurs have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to expand their dream restaurant into a nationwide franchise
Taste Holdings: Carlo Gonzaga
A pizza takeaway concept formed the base for a consumer brand franchise holding company launched in 2005. Built on formula-driven, quick service restaurant brands, Taste Holdings listed on the AltX in 2006, and used the listing to grow its two existing brands and acquire a new retail brand. Carlo Gonzaga with his father, Luigi, first started in the franchise business as Debonairs Pizza franchisees. They later sold their stores and created the Scooters Pizza brand, opening their first Scooters outlet in 2000. Today, Scooters is the number two pizza franchise in South Africa based on the number of outlets. Maxis, their other franchise, has gone from strength to strength since its acquisition in 2005 from the brand founder. Last year the company bought NWJ Holdings, the largest franchised retail jewellery chain in the country. Taste’s 2009 revenue increased 303% to R136,3 million.
Top Billing: Basetsana Kumalo
A media specialist with interests in mining and property, and a former Miss South Africa to boot, Basetsana Kumalo is a woman of considerable business acumen. She spoke for the first time about her business journey to Entrepreneur.
Transman: Angela Dick
Angela Dick, MD of Transman, and one of South Africa’s leading entrepreneurs, lets us in on what it’s like to be at the helm of a R400 million business and tells us how she got there
Virgin: Richard Branson
Richard Branson – innovator, philanthropist and the ultimate entrepreneur – has developed a powerful business philosophy that generates opportunity from conflict and contradiction.
Vox Telecom: Douglas Reed
The inside story of how telecommunications entrepreneur, Douglas Reed, believes in generating wealth, not competing for it.
Weigh Less: Mary Holroyd
The story of how Mary Holroyd built the Weigh-Less empire is as much a story about heart as it is about having a business head.
Weylandt: Chris Weylandt
Managing growth and knowing when to let go have been important success factors forChris Weylandt in taking his namesake store from family-owned outlet to national homeware leader.
Yola: Vinny Lingham
In the middle of a global financial crisis that has everyone talking about how funding is impossible to get and how all you can do is focus on survival, one South African entrepreneur has landed a $20 million investment for his Silicon Valley start-up.
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