Willem Gous

With 24 years of entrepreneurship experience, Willem is a mentor and a proven leader in creating sustainable businesses from scratch. His awards and recognitions speak to his expertise and commitment to fostering entrepreneurial skills among novices and professionals alike.

Willem founded The Human Entrepreneur, a business that created a recipe for job creation in Africa. He takes unemployed people in townships and gets them to start a business without external funding in just 5 weeks, and the business is profitable enough to sustain themselves financially.

As a dedicated father and an avid reader, Willem balances his professional excellence with a rich personal life. Holding a Master’s degree in Information Systems Management, he's a respected professional speaker, facilitator, and member of prestigious advisory boards, including the Professional Interest Network of the University of Liverpool Management School.

Achievements & Recognitions

• Winner 2023: Startup Mentor of the Year
• Finalist 2022: Startup Mentor of the Year
• Finalist 2022: Incubator of the Year – The Human Entrepreneur
• Winner 2023: Entrepreneurship Education Programme – The Human Entrepreneur
• Thinkers 360 – Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Lean Startup 2022 & 2023