From 1998 to Now: The Unfolding Prophecy of KwaZulu-Natal Business
Grant Adlam
When I look back at the video recordings we have made over the years, it is impossible not to feel a profound sense of gratitude and conviction.
Watching our earlier discussions, from the conversations we captured eight years ago to the interview we recorded four years back, and reflecting on how far we have travelled since starting this entire journey in 1998, it feels like watching a prophecy come true.
When I first set out into advertising at The Star after my early days as a commercial artist, I learnt the power of content and communication. By 1998, it became clear to me that KwaZulu-Natal needed something distinct. Our province did not need cynicism. It needed a digital first, modern platform dedicated to showcasing its immense economic value and investment potential to South Africa and the wider world. My philosophy from day one was straightforward: success breeds success. When you shine a bright light on regional enterprise, you encourage others to raise the bar.
An Evolving Journey
Our initiative has never been static. It has always been a work in progress, evolving alongside the province itself.
Eight years ago, our recorded conversations focused on laying the digital ground rules and encouraging local industry to step into the spotlight. Four years ago, when the pandemic forced everyone to rethink how we gather, we pivoted straight into live broadcasting and virtual connections, proving that our community would not be silenced by adversity.
Through every challenge KwaZulu-Natal has weathered, from economic shifts to severe weather, the underlying thesis has held firm. Today, that steady progression is yielding tangible, undeniable momentum. The vision we spoke about in those videos is no longer just something we are aiming towards. It is actively taking shape around us.
The Proof in the Present
You only have to look at where we stood three months ago at the Durban ICC for our annual awards to see this formula in full flight.
Honouring Advocate Michelle Phillips, Group Chief Executive of Transnet, as our KZN Top Business Woman of the Year was a milestone moment. When you watch her interview and listen to her speak about revitalising our rail corridors and turning around the vital port infrastructure of Durban, you realise the scale of institutional renewal taking root right here.
Alongside Michelle, honouring Ismail Simjee of Tropic Plastic and Packaging as our KZN Top Business Leader of the Year showcased the absolute pinnacle of manufacturing excellence. Here is a homegrown Durban business that has innovated tirelessly, invested in sustainability, and grown into an industrial force across South Africa.
Seeing Michelle, Ismail, and all our exceptional finalists in that room reaffirmed everything we have worked towards since 1998. The big players, the rising leaders, and the resilient teams driving our economy are moving in lockstep in the right direction.
Storytelling That Shapes Tomorrow
Over nearly three decades, one truth has stood out to me above all else: businesses often do not recognise the magnitude of their own success until their story is reflected back to them.
When people watch our reflections from years ago and compare them to the interviews we are releasing today, they see an unbroken chain of belief. Powerful storytelling is not simply about reporting what happened yesterday. It is about setting an agenda, instilling investor confidence, and giving the next generation of entrepreneurs a standard to aspire to.
We started this journey in 1998 with a clear purpose, and seeing that purpose bear fruit today is deeply rewarding. Everything is unfolding in accordance with what it should be, and we will continue championing KwaZulu-Natal every single step of the way.
