Tag: mentorship

Mentorship is one of the most powerful ways businesses can close the gender gap in business leadership. Despite steady progress in gender representation, women remain underrepresented in senior leadership roles. While companies may employ more women than before, it is not enough. Senior leaders, in my view, are obligated to offer better support to women in the workforce. One way to do that is through mentoring.

Running a business is often portrayed as a path to independence and success. However, behind the scenes, many entrepreneurs quietly battle overwhelming levels of stress. In a survey of more than 400 early-stage startup founders, 72% reported that entrepreneurship has impacted their mental health. Of these, 37% suffer from anxiety.

Industrial operations are, like the rest of the world, facing a fundamental generational workforce change. Today, most baby boomers, those experienced operators aged between 61 and 79, are projected to retire by 2035. As a younger, more mobile generation steps in, the traditional model of long apprenticeships and gradual knowledge transfer is no longer sustainable.

Amidst a current tidal wave of negativity, Raising Champions emerges as a powerful and timely antidote for our country. The book draws from the personal journeys of three of South Africa’s most celebrated sports figures. These include Olympic gold medallist Chad le Clos, Bafana Bafana legend Shaun Bartlett, and 2007 Rugby World Cup winner CJ van der Linde.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of South Africa's economy. They contribute more than R5 trillion in turnover and account for roughly 34% of the country's GDP. SMEs also employ 11.4 million people. These vital economic engines drive innovation, create jobs and fuel growth across the nation.

This book is a journey of triumph and setback. It tells the story of building something good in a world that doesn’t always welcome it. It explores the roles of allies and adversaries, as well as the impact of mentors and obstacles. Above all, the story centres on social justice. It shows how education holds the power to change lives. It also highlights the resilience needed to protect that power when it faces its greatest threats.

It is undeniable that Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, even though still in its relative infancy, has a multiplier effect on student outcomes. I have seen how individualised learning impacts performance, and when combined with daily advances in real life, it often raises concern about the role of human educators in classrooms.

Supporting female entrepreneurs isn’t just a moral imperative, it’s also a business opportunity. Numerous studies show that women-led businesses are often more capital-efficient, demonstrate higher returns on investment and foster inclusive team cultures.

South Africa’s unemployment figures are not abstract statistics. They are the lived reality of millions of parents unable to provide, of young people whose talents lie dormant, and of communities yearning for hope. We must move beyond analysis to action.

South Africa stands at a pivotal moment. The transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) now intersects with the urgent need for economic revitalisation. While AI holds immense promise, particularly for the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector, realising this potential requires a strategic and united effort.