CAPITAL: The Voice of Business Issue 1, 2015 | Page 67
KwaZulu-Natal winner of The Entrepreneur
den Pyramid, with his colleague Nontobeko
HOTO: PCB.
PRENEUR
l business environment
ours in the inaugural
eneur competition
bbie Turrell
ENTREPRENEUR
Municipality. With R500 000 worth of
training, mentorship, advertising and cash
as an enticement, the PCB was flooded
with entries.
Throughout October last year, the 19
finalists, under the guidance of Di Milford
and a team of speakers and coaches, were
put through their paces on various aspects
of business planning, development and
administration.
Each finalist was paired with a mentor
who provided personalised support
to help them reach their specific goals
and to address their individual business
challenges. The participants were advised
on strategic planning, financial planning,
marketing and business administration.
Contributions from such experienced
mentors, and a willingness on the part
of entrepreneurs to learn constantly, are
vital components for building a successful
small business environment, said PCB CEO
Melanie Veness.
“Successful entrepreneurs don’t go
it alone and don’t always have all the
answers,” said Veness. “They surround
themselves with valuable people, and they
constantly learn and constantly question.
They aren’t afraid to ask others important
questions and they aren’t afraid to ask
themselves either.”
After the finalists’ revised business plans
were adjudicated, Wooden Pyramid’s Phila
Ngcobo was declared the regional winner
at the PCB Annual Banquet on November
7, and later that month he won the KZN
title as the PCB representative.
The first runner-up in the PCB round was
Kaamani Jangali, trading as Izimbali Florist.
Jangali began a home-based, family-run
florist business in 2008 supplying flowers
and floral arrangements, gifts and hampers,
and offering floral décor classes. Last year
Jangali moved Izimbali Florist to Parklane
Shopping Centre, where she now employs
four people.
The second runner-up was Taryn
Govender, trading as TarynG Training, who
started her corporate training business in
Capital | Issue 1 |
67