Our love for entrepreneurship

We all have our stories to tell, and your stories serve as a huge source of inspiration for me. Speaking to all of you empowered me to explore, develop, and follow my entrepreneurial energy and, more importantly, made me feel less lonely. Our love for entrepreneurship already connected us without knowing each other. It is a community that we all need to receive support when times are tough. I am grateful that we were able to meet in real life.

In her speech at the annual One Young World Summit 2016, Actor and Global Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women Emma Watson addressed 1,300 young leaders. She decided to share the following seven statements with them:

“I am willing to be seen. I am willing to speak up. I am willing to keep going. I am willing to listen to what others have to say. I am willing to go forward even if I feel alone. I am willing to go to bed each night at peace with myself. I am willing to be my biggest, bestest, most powerful self.”

Since these statements resonated with me, I would like to encourage you to watch the full video. Even the strongest people need reassurance that their feelings are valid and that the path that they chose is for the greater good. Whenever you feel like giving up, I hope that you can return to this video to regain strength and decide to continue this journey.

This is because……without the work of Elke, we would have less dialogue about our painful history and the beauty of diversity between Germany and South Africa….without Elizabeth’s Sunrise Pre-School, Charlene’s Bethel Babes Educare Centre, or Tia’s Family Restoration Services, lots of curious kids in Greenbushes, Gelvandale, and Motherwell would have no place to go while their parents are absent or at work….without the spirit of Anne-Louise, we would have fewer leaders standing up for children’s rights….without Kim, the provision of solutions in the space of female reproductive health would be poorer….without Laura and Louise from Greencycle, Gqeberha would have no reliable, convenient, and inexpensive recycling collection service….without the work of Organic Footprints, our farmers would not get paid what they deserve for their high-quality goods….without Thulisile, fewer young African women would feel inspired to start a business in the tech industry….without Mathokoza from Sithabe African Craft and Tracey from The Clothing Bank in Cape Town, fewer jobs would be in the hands of mothers….without Nobubele, the Xhosa culture would be less represented….without Amy, Bulelwa, and Linda, talents in the creative industry would miss out on international opportunities created by these three extremely passionate women….without the work of Nicola and her team at PLAY HANDBALL, this wonderful sport would probably not be played as frequently in South Africa today.

Thank you. Enkosi. Siyabonga. Kea leboha. Dankie. Danke!