Executive Head - Entrepreneur of the Year®

Another showcase of entrepreneurial excellence

Mar 012011

1 March 2011
Posted by The EOY Team at 9:46 am
No Responses
In the media
Tagged with: Cobalt Solutions, Emerging Entrepreneur, Executive Head, Medium Business Entrepreneur, press release, Small Business Entrepreneur, SME

2011 EOY competition entries open

South Africa’s most prestigious entrepreneurial awards are once again open for entries.

The 2011 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® awards recognise and celebrate the innovation, drive and commitment of small and medium enterprise (SME) decision makers – the men and women that feed, clothe and grow our country.

Now in its 22nd year, the awards will also introduce a number of new initiatives to further the SME cause.

This includes an SME Conference in May where industry representatives, civil society and senior government decision makers debate the future of the sector.

In addition, the hugely successful workshop series has been expanded and 11 regional centres will play host to SME experts in the coming months.

The cream of South Africa’s entrepreneurs will be celebrated in September during the Gala awards ceremony… more

2010 EOY winner the embodiment of real entrepreneurship

Oct 292010

29 October 2010
Posted by The EOY Team at 9:54 am
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In the media
Tagged with: CERadvance, Executive Head, Martin Beyers, past winners, press release, Richard Branson, SME, youth

Martin Beyers is no Richard Branson; he does not instantly draw you into his world with a wealth of charisma.

Neither is he a Steve Jobs; intent on taking over the world one iPod at a time.

He also does not remind you of Lakshmi Mittal; the creator of a global empire.

Yet, Beyers beat hundreds of South African business owners to win the 2010 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year ® competition.

The reason for his success in the competition – and in business – is that Beyers is the embodiment of real entrepreneurship.

Vision, creativity, innovation, careful planning, passion and hard work are the best adjectives to use.

The competition saw entrepreneurs from across the country vie for the title of Entrepreneur of the Year ®… more

Contain the clash

Jul 152010

15 July 2010
Posted by The EOY Team at 2:41 pm
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Articles
Tagged with: advice, BATNA, Christo Botes, conflict resolution, Executive Head, Jan Steenkamp, joint venture, partnership, SME

How to close deals and deal with conflict

In any business, partnership or joint venture, there will be conflict.

Mostly, SME decision makers will enter the fray thinking of the outcome in terms of winners and losers.

Similarly, when these decision makers enter into negotiations with a potential partner, client or supplier, the battle lines are often drawn around who will win and who will lose.

Negotiation and conflict resolution are arts of the business world and one needs to know how to play the game.

How to haggle

When SME decision makers enter into negotiations on a deal, they accept that it is a give and take situation. Usually, everyone wants to be the taker but this is simply not the reality.

Big business will always try to negotiate from a position of strength and Business Partners Executive Director, Christo Botes, says you cannot negotiate as an SME if your back is against the wall… more