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Dr Abraham Brink was a leading figure in the manufacturing industry for decades. This is shown by the fact that in 2014 he was chosen as president of the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers in Houston. Brink joined the Karbochem division of Sentrachem in 1977 as head of research and development.

More than 30 years later, as a director of Karbochem, he played a key role in the management buyout of Dow SA in 2003. Brink believes there is always a solution for every problem, no matter how big. However, he also thinks that South Africa currently lacks the specific niche skills to handle large projects.

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Come along on a journey with me as we delve into the African business world with Dr. Rutendo Hwindingwi. With over 20 years of expertise, he's the man and founder behind Tribe Africa Advisory, crafting business programs for major companies across the continent. Beyond the suits and strategies, he also wears hats as the non-exec director of the British Chamber of Business in Southern Africa and the Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce Digital Forum Committee. Rutendo recently gifted us with his latest book, "Reflections Of A Son Of The Soil: A Collection Of 55 African Proverbs." and that was also the starting point of a fun and laughter episode as we delve into his vast experience, the nuances and opportunities of doing business in Africa.

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Workplace productivity is commonly assessed by evaluating the influence an employee has on the business and its stakeholders, explains Marie Huyser, HR Director of Porcupine Union.

Porcupine Union is a company specialising in providing user-friendly HR technology, HR systems, and innovations to diverse industries and part of the King Price group of companies.

They are currently in the midst of establishing an office in the United Kingdom.

According to Huyser, despite the potential support from artificial intelligence in recruitment technology, it can never entirely substitute human interaction.

She emphasizes the difficulty of creating a system that is both straightforward and user-friendly for both managers and employees.

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Seeking to transform service delivery in the motor industry, Julie Calidicott became an automotive industry entrepreneur.

She established Pinewood SA, addressing the challenge of reselling, implementing, and managing the Pinewood Dealer Management System software for South African motor dealerships.

This product is intended to help dealerships deliver better client service in a very complex, multifaceted environment. Now, years later, the motor industry and the vehicle dealership franchise model are experiencing disruption and revolution.

Customers are also becoming even more demanding, while the world is increasingly moving online, making big data all the more important.

At it again, Julie has recently launched an auto tech company, Motify, exploiting new opportunities to improve automotive customer service delivery through people-driven big data.

I talked to her about this and other developments around vehicle industry service delivery.

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While there are ongoing discussions regarding the perceived shortage of skills in Africa, an entrepreneur from Soweto, Africa Nkosi, the co-founder of Khonology, a software development business, is dedicated to demonstrating that Africa unquestionably possesses the capability to create world-class business solutions through technology, digitisation, and automation, as well as compete on a global scale.

"The core issue is not the potential or skills," he emphasizes, "but what is taught at universities, in contrast to what the market truly demands. With Khonology, we have successfully harnessed the power to deliver substantial business value, promote equal revenue sharing, and drive employment opportunities."

A substantial portion of their business revolves around bringing ideas to life, creating scalable solutions, and identifying and nurturing the right talent.

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Venete Klein, a renowned business author and the owner of a highly successful consulting firm, shares the winning formula for success: "Keep your focus sharp and outwork everyone around you."

With humble beginnings as a waste clerk in the banking sector in 1978, Klein's determination propelled her to become the first female Executive Director for Barclays in South Africa in 2005.

In 1997, she participated in the Nelson Mandela professional development program, which provided valuable international experience in the US banking sector.

As the first female president of the Afrikaans chamber of business, Klein emphasizes the importance of making a meaningful impact and understanding the intricate details of one's business to ensure sustained growth.

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Jason Morris's journey started in the cinema business before taking a daring leap and founding a freight company with just R750, resulting in an impressive R20 million turnover in one year. Later, excelling in law as a debt counsellor, Jason emphasizes the importance of an information-driven society and advanced technology, giving the younger generation a 'business headstart.'

As the Managing Co-Director of Snaid and Morris, a prominent law firm in South Africa and the UK, they specialize in insolvency, litigation, and family law, thriving on strong relationships, even attracting foreign interest. Jason's tenacious "do-it-yourself" attitude keeps him ahead in the game.