Durban Entrepreneur Social
Tue Jun 12, 18:00 - Tue Dec 11, 20:00
The Corner Office
ABOUT
Once a month we will introduce you to a local entrepreneur who will share their inspirational entrepreneurial journey. These socials are a fantastic opportunity to network with business owners and entrepreneurs, to learn and inspire you to push your business further.
SPEAKERS
Introducing Emil Venter
A born and bred entrepreneur, Emil Venter fell in love with the restaurant industry while working as a waiter after he finished school. He chased this love all the way to the UK where he and his wife worked for 11 years in london restaurants followed by 4 years in Scotland as a project manager, but his heart yearned for home and the restaurant business.
Returning to Durban in 2010 he set up Stretta at The Heritage Market in Hillcrest, but his ADD need for another challenge started to itch! Armed with a killer chicken recipe and the revelation that a simple menu offering still draws a crowd, he and his friend Kevin set to some brainstorming resulting in the distinctive Afro’s brand.
Afro’s, the story of how a simple business which was born in a trailer that was hitched around to events in Durban, turned into a thriving food chain with outlets in KZN and the Western Cape. Afros is now rolling out stores around the country and serves upwards of 50 000 meals a month.
Introducing Craig Charity
Craig is a young entrepreneur from the Upper Highway with a passion for great coffee, good people, and has taken the coffee scene by storm. He had a dream of pursuing a career in coffee, and put the wheels into motion in 2012 by beginning to roast small batches of coffee in his garage with the help of Thulani Fanie Myeza, who is now a full time Roaster at Lineage Coffee. From two men with a 2.5kg Roaster in a garage, Lineage has grown into a thriving roastery that produces and distributes over a ton of coffee a month to different clients all over Africa, from hotels to corporates.
Lineage continued to evolve as it branched out into two bustling cafes, with a third opening soon in the midlands. Lineage also has its own busy technical department which installs, repairs and services machines throughout the province.
Lineage has become a household name that has not only introduced speciality coffee into the Upper Highway area but has created an incredible coffee culture and community. Their cafes and Baristas are like no other, giving you a truly unique and exceptional coffee experience
Introducing Gary Watkins
Gary started in business at age 17 as a young entrepreneur. He has since started numerous businesses and today helps other entrepreneurs in their businesses.
Gary assists people achieve their financial objectives for both their personal and business needs. The Quattro Group has specialists within each company to advise you on the most appropriate products and structures needed to cater for your needs. Quattro's services range from Fund Management, Stock Broking, Forex, Short Term Insurance, Health Care, Longterm Assurance, Investments, Pension funds, Estate Planning, Accounting, Tax, Legal and Secretarial Services.
Gary speaks at many forums, discussing the principals of investing, the structuring of financial plans, National Reform and Entrepreneurs in business. Quattro fits in between your Accountant, Attorney and Financial Plans, helping you get the best results for both you and your business.
Introducing Bonita Cherry
Introducing our Guest speaker for 10 July 20178!
Bonita Cherry is a Kloof based mom of three children under the age of seven years.
She is the driving force behind Outlook Orange- Creative Business Development and offers a wealth of knowledge, experience and inspiration. She is a passionate advocate for brands that have meaning, and which serve a purpose rather than a generic, empty promise.
As a brand strategist and speaker with a love for growing brands, Bonita trains individuals to develop their businesses creatively, with a clear vision beyond mere economic success.
Some of Bonita’s speaking topics are:
· Personal Branding
· Building Brands with Vision and purpose
· Breathing Creativity into Business
· Applying Trends to Brands
· Building a Powerful Digital Marketing Strategy
· Branding: From the Inside Out
· If Content Is Currency, how do I earn it, create it and sell it.
Introducing Wayne Fyvie
Wayne Fyvie is married to Gina and Daughter Courtney. He started his business career while he was still playing rugby professionally. His business, Green Office, is pioneering document solutions by stremlining existing processes, with the view to make business more efficient and sustainable. Wayne's driving purpose is to add value to people, and helping them to produce positive and sustainable results .
A born entrepreneur, Mike’s journey has been fuelled by a love of technology and a passion for people. Mike is an international keynote speaker, digital thought leader and author. He has the unique ability to lead a business with a crystal-clear leadership philosophy that encompasses “unlocking potential,” “nurturing trust” and “developing narrative.”
Introducing the fabulous speaker for our October Durban Entrepreneur Social. Jennifer Morris, exceptional travel expert, accidental entrepreneur and owner of Travel Savvy SA, invites you to journey back with her as she enumerates the lessons along the line, and guesses at the ones still to be learnt.
A born and bred Durban boy and former Michaelhouse student, Justin describes himself as a die-hard entrepreneur. Having never had a ‘formal’ job, he says he was involved in at least 10 ventures before co-founding Private Property in 1998. He recently won the EY Entrepreneur of the year Award for his online portal business, One Africa Media (OAM). The company includes Private Property and a number of other online portals in property, travel, cars and jobs across Africa.
Despite having been paralysed from the waist down in a skiing accident in 2008, Justin has achieved incredible success both in his business and private life.
SCHEDULE
Line up for the evening
6.30pm - 6.40pm: Welcome by Durban City Circle Leader Jonathan Acutt
6.40pm - 7.20pm: Guest Speaker presentation
7.20pm - 7.40pm: Q&A with the Guest Speaker
7.40pm onwards: networking with your new-found friends/ collaborators