MEET YOUNG MEN WHO ARE MAKING STRIDES...

 

WINNERS OF THE WITS BUSINESS IDEA COMPETITION

 

 

Lebohang Makhoro

Onion Braai Cleaner

 

Entrepreneurship has become very synonymous with youth. Daily we see young driven people exploring new avenues and coming up with great innovative ideas on how to better our lives. These young people continuously seek opportunities and never fail to cease them to their advantage. If this is the type of attitude we instill on the youth, then South Africa is going far.

 

Lebo Leroy Makhoro is a young well outspoken individual from Diepkloof Soweto. He has always had a keen interest in people and how things work and with that studied B. com marketing with IMM. He loves driving and never misses and opportunity to share his perspective on things which is a quality that seems to have played to his advantage.  . He is one of the winners of the Wits business plan competition 2012. He has a creative eye in all he does and one random day on a field trip he came up with an exciting on how to emit air pollution while using a solar braai stand. He did not only stop there but started thinking of ways to effectively clean the stand before and after it has been used. And since the green industry is on everyone’s lips lately he thought why not keep it natural instead of using toxic chemical…with that idea alone, he become one of the winners.

 

Mr. Makhoro decided to become an entrepreneur because he wanted to expand explore more opportunities in life. He has started a logistics company inspired by his passion of driving and has partnered with some of his classmates of the Raymond Ackerman academy. He got to know about the academy through a friend and says it is one of the best experiences he has ever had. He is inspired by Mr. Ackerman himself and says it’s an honor to be part of an academy of such a successful person in our nation who does not only contribute to the growth of the economy but also has a big heart that goes as far as developing the youth to follow in his footsteps. . He also looks up to Mr. Mike Herington who he says is a man of good values and integrity and also a successful business person.

 

Some of the valuable skills he learned from the Academy are networking. He has met many youth people who are as driven and motivated to success as he is and with that great partnerships were formed.

Thabiso Pule

2 in 1 Shirt

 

 

Meet another inspiring youth entrepreneur by the name of Thabiso Pule who in the other hand is very laid back. He regards himself as being honest, self-motivated and a lover of art. Even though life has many twists and turns he has proven that limitations are only a state of mind. He did not give up when finance became a challenge but become more driven and with that was granted a design leadership, at Greenside College of design where his arts skills got more refined.

No knowledge or skill is ever at vain hence he also regarded working as a Data Capture something of value. Computers become an interest for him enjoys very moment net surfing and this is the reason why he is became part of the Raymond Ackerman Academy as he found out about it whilst browsing the internet.

He was ecstatic to say winning the Wits business plan competition is an achievement he never anticipated yet he is willing to go all out to ensure that this idea succeeds. Mr. Pule’s business idea is to have a 2 in 1 school T-Shirt, gone are the days of buying many shirts. This idea really impressed the judges and is now even getting mentorship from SAP and humbly stated that this competition has opened many doors for him. Learning about the business world has really opened up his perspective on life and people. Daily he meets a lot of successful business people because of this opportunity and gets to learn more from them. He says being part of the Academy has actually transformed his life for the better. No success is without hard work, and Mr. Pule is driven and motivated to do all it takes to make sure is business vision is realized.

 

Sindiso Nobula

Mobile Hardware

 

 

 

Who said young people do not have the ability and drive to develop others? Sandiso Nobula proves it can be done. He is a very responsible young person, someone who would never let circumstances stand in the way for making a difference. He is passionate about developing his community and often helps at the local development community forum. He is very active in things that can help the youth become well equip and developed all around.

His business idea which is a Mobile hardware is inspired by people and making their day to day operations easier. He also won the wits business idea competition simply because he found a way to sell building materials in new built locations which would make life convenient for those in need of should materials.  This idea was triggered by an article he read in the newspaper. The reason this idea had substance and potential was due to his passion and experience as an electrician. He would do small projects in newly developed areas where he sow a gap and wanted to fill it.

He got to the academy through a relative and says being part of the academy is one of the best things that can ever happen to young person. He enjoyed accounting studies and business numeracy because he loves mind challenging things and calculations are just that challenge he strives on. Sandiso wants to further his studies after the course and He advises any entrepreneur or those that aspire to be entrepreneurs to be strong and dedicate their time in their business in that way they will prosper.

Well done once again!

Advice from Paul Smith (Entrepreneurship lecture):

Stop limiting others but seek opportunities that will make you a renowned entrepreneur