Set to kick-off in Johannesburg on the 20th of November 2013, the Small Business Growth Conference series is designed for the purpose of convening distinguished leaders to brainstorm some of the challenges related to business start-ups and best practices within the SMME sector.
Joining the speaker panel in the facilitation of constructive conversation toward SMME development is MWEB‘s Head of Small Business, Paul Hobden. Hobden has been in the online space for well over a decade having worked both locally and internationally. He was instrumental in setting up the MWEB Entrepreneur Zone and continues the drive to bring small business owners compelling content and resources. His experience spans the range from start-ups through to large multi-nationals and beyond the online space in technology and travel.
Seven other key industry leaders will present relevant industry case studies and facilitate interactive discussions on building strong business strategies, identifying complexities and deriving commerce solutions using the four major business focuses including Financial Management, Product Development, Operations and Logistics and Promotion and Marketing.
A few of these key speakers include:
- Sisa Ntshona | Heads of Enterprise Development (ED) Banking at ABSA
Sisa heads up Enterprise Development Banking for Barclays Africa. He is responsible for the Pan African ED strategy for Africa and the development of competitive SME propositions across 12 geographies on the continent where Barclays is represented. Over 9 years, he‘s held positions of General Manager at the Small Business division and Investment Banker at Absa Capital. Sisa has an MBA from GIBS and an International Executive Programme from INSEAD in France and Singapore.
- Rebecca Cronje | Founder of Cultivate Communications
Rebecca founded Cultivate Communications in June 2013 after spotting a gap in the local PR market for a strategically-driven, integrated public relations offering that is rooted in traditional best practice but digitally-nimble in nature. Rebecca previously spent 7 years at one of SA‘s leading PR firms, Atmosphere Communications as Head of Strategy. Through her work with The Branson Centre, she launched the successful Open For Business campaign; an entrepreneurship festival hosted in three Johannesburg townships.
- Wanda Matandela | Managing Executive: SMME and Partner Channels at Vodacom
Wanda‘s work with SME‘s stretches across multiple industries including Banking, FMCG and Telecommunications. He was regional GM for Absa Small Business division for years before joining WesBank Corporate as the Divisional CEO for Commercials Vehicles, working closely with SME‘s through structured OEM joint Venture partnerships in the sector. He is currently responsible for the ever growing and highly profitable segment as the Managing Executive: SMME & Partner Channels at Vodacom.
- Mike Joubert | CEO of The Brandsrock Group
Mike is the Founder and CEO of The BrandsRock Group, a strategic marketing company specialising in brand strategy and creative brand solutions. They service a portfolio of blue chip clients including HarleyDavidson®, eBucks, Nando‘s & Puma to name a few. He has over 22 years‘ experience working as VP of Marketing at Levi Strauss and Co, EMEA; MD of Levi Strauss and Co. South Africa; MD of Diageo SA; strategic MD at Ogilvy & Mather RSTM and marketing development director for Computicket.
- Leon Lategan | Founder of Conversion Camel
Leon is a Conversion Analyst who assists companies by optimising their online presence including websites, mobile sites, email etc. He consults with companies on how to increase the business they get from their online initiatives using these various platforms and getting the maximum output from them. His extensive knowledge in internet marketing comes from his previous position as MD of Independent Online www.iol.co.za and also being the founder of Purple Cow Communications which he recently sold.
For more information on this event, please visit www.smmeconference.com/johannesburg/ or contact Living Your Brand on 021 180 4111. For regular updates on the conference, please visit Facebook and Twitter. Bookings are now open.
