February 2023

SA sits in a rut. Energy, politics, and energy politics continue to blight. Growth is stagnant and stagnation is growing. Looking only at the stats, you’d be disheartened, or even worse.

But, as always, in times of crisis there is opportunity. Those that search for it are those that find it. Optimism is a choice.

At Trencon Construction, lockdowns shut the business for a time. Then, the market crashed. Then, the company’s visionary founder passed. But CEO Yavani Singh-Ninan has installed new confidence and ambition in the team. The result has been a world-class project completed in Alberton as one of the country’s biggest Netcare hospitals has risen from the ground.

At the Beekman Group, the pandemic’s devastation was terribly obvious – tourism was choked. But the company is breathing once again as the Beekman family remained calm and used its historic strength to ride out the storm. Exec Director Wayne Beekman tells us more about the challenges.

In Mauritius, Jan Wandrag is taking Heimdall to new heights as it helps High Net Worth Individuals and corporate clients to offshore their business and internationalise, in an effort to spread risk. Providing a vast range of services, this expert business of businesses is growing exponentially.

Even Starbucks SA has a new kick. After a tough start, Rand Capital Coffee is steaming on with a considered growth plan that will see the company grow to become one of the global corporation’s most critical contributors. Director Adrian Maizey speaks to us about the new spark in the cup.

For all of these businesses, and more, the choice to capitulate in recent times is the easy one. But to go out and attack the market, creating jobs, and driving opportunity, is the mark of success and true entrepreneurialism.

Tell us how your business is taking the bull by the horns. We’re on LinkedIn.