Tag: mentorship

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.

Ten years after her ground-breaking book Rough Diamond inspired a generation of entrepreneurs, the author returns with Rough Diamond II: Lessons from the Road Less Travelled. This is an unfiltered reflection on resilience, mentorship, business survival and the personal costs of chasing success.

Dedicated to supporting small businesses, I have been reflecting on two decades of change since 2005. What do small business owners, and mentors require in 2025 to thrive? What do future-proof business look like, and how can we ensure our programs remain both timely and relevant in an ever-accelerating world?

The network effect of building your own professional network early in life offers huge advantages. However, most graduates are unaware of the benefits of building connections with a large number of people working in their industry. Graduates are also unsure of how to create a significant professional network.

Can you really have it all? As a leader, balance often feels like an illusion. Lately, I have been thinking differently. Maybe leadership is not about balance but about rhythm. Within that rhythm, one feeling often surfaces yet remains unspoken: self-doubt.

Supporting women in the workplace requires action, not just advice. As such, sponsorship is the key to achieving real progress. Indeed, we acknowledge progress in advancing women in leadership. However, barriers to equality still persist. Despite mentorship programs and leadership training, women remain underrepresented in senior roles.

Competence forms the foundation of a secure and efficient workplace. It equips employees with skills to execute tasks proficiently. Additionally, competence fosters adaptability to industry changes and technological advancements. In workplace safety, it elevates technical expertise into accurate risk assessment.

Back when computers filled entire rooms, diversity was barely a conversation. The gender gap in technology remains significant. According to the Skillsoft 2024 Women in Tech Report, women make up less than a third of the global technology workforce. Currently, only 25% of the industry consists of women, with lower numbers in artificial intelligence (22%) and engineering (28%).

There is a pervasive myth that entrepreneurship cannot be taught. If you were not born an entrepreneur, you are out of luck. If you are a born entrepreneur, success is presumed to come naturally. Both ideas are problematic. If entrepreneurship means setting up a business and taking financial risks to realise profit, it is teachable.

Continuous learning is essential for professionals to stay relevant, adapt to changing demands and advance in their careers. Professionalism demands continuous learning may be a cliché, but the world of work is changing at an unprecedented pace. As the future unfolds, evolving workplace demands require even seasoned professionals to keep learning.