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David says, "I dedicate my time to ensuring that I clearly articulate the purpose and desired outcomes the business wishes to achieve, sharing how the business works and the important measurements of enterprise performance, especially customer and shareholder expectations; helping my team to better understand themselves, and their passions and goals. My desire is to help people understand their zone of influence in the business, how they contribute, so that they too can become thinkers and leaders in the business." Subscribe Home KZN Leaders Up Up David White David says, "I dedicate my time to ensuring that I clearly articulate the purpose and desired outcomes the business wishes to achieve, sharing how the business works and the important measurements of enterprise performance, especially customer and shareholder expectations; helping my team to better understand themselves, and their passions and goals. My desire is to help people understand their zone of influence in the business, how they contribute, so that they too can become thinkers and leaders in the business." The true value of any organisation is its sustainability, and at the heart of sustainability is good people relationships. DAVID WHITE is an authentic leader with a passion for people development. A highly accomplished businessman, David took a start-up company he founded in 1996, to a listing on the Johannesburg stock exchange in 1998. The company is DRG, and although it delisted shortly after the dotcom era, the company has become an essential service provider in human resource management reporting and compliance services in South Africa. DRG has also become a valuable contact for many foreign companies coming into South Africa, who need the support of a human resource management company to help them set up a solid human resource platform for their business. David further extended his passion for people into co-creating the DRG Leadership Programme. This programme came about after many years in helping companies meet employer HR reporting and compliance responsibilities. David said, "We understood that as much as two thirds of people do not like their jobs nor work environment, and in general companies are as little as 40% productive". This prompted David and his co-director Charles Henzi into action, and now three years later, the DRG leadership model is a highly sought-after programme, bringing purpose into the workplace - the outcome being improved "productivity through people". David's vision and leadership extended further into an organisation called BusinessFit, which provides entrepreneur development services. BusinessFit started in 2012 and is regarded as a leading contributor to entrepreneurial development in South Africa. BusinessFit has mentored approximately 250 entrepreneurs, many of whom have created successful companies. David involves his colleagues and networks in his vision and passions, and has a huge following of entrepreneurs, business leaders and community leaders, who enjoy his desire to help to make the world of business a better place for all. David says, "I dedicate my time to ensuring that I clearly articulate the purpose and desired outcomes the business wishes to achieve, sharing how the business works and the important measurements of enterprise performance, especially customer and shareholder expectations; helping my team to better understand themselves, and their passions and goals. My desire is to help people understand their zone of influence in the business, how they contribute, so that they too can become thinkers and leaders in the business." David is inspired by working with authentic business leaders, who create energy and commitment within their teams. "In my view, the true value of any organisation is its sustainability, and at the heart of sustainability is good people relationships. The best companies, the companies that thrive in all business climates, are those with engaged staff and work teams. These companies have people working together, governed by shared values, understanding and identifying with the business model, striving for common goals and outcomes. Seeing employees within the business treat the company as if they were the owners - and holding themselves accountable for results is the reward." David believes that his success has been based on a single-minded approach to his work. "I have learned that what is important in our line of work is to develop long-term strategic partnerships with our clients. We like to work side by side with our clients, sharing our knowledge, and enjoying the successes they achieve. We keep up to date with industry best practice, have absolute integrity, and share our knowledge and expertise." David is a non-executive director of THINK, a nonprofit company established in 2013. Through DRG he provides essential HR services, allowing THINK's founder to focus on conducting research to improve the lives of those affected by TB and HIV. THINK is now a renowned force for government and public health funders to count on, making a difference in policy making and health service delivery locally and internationally. David's expertise within HR policy making and business development has provided the executive team of THINK with mentorship that has enabled the organisation to impact the lives of thousands of people affected by TB and HIV.

< Back Airports Company South Africa Limited (ACSA) Nature of Business: On-Site This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. About This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. You can create as many collections as you need. Your collection is already set up for you with fields and content. Add your own, or import content from a CSV file. Add fields for any type of content you want to display, such as rich text, images, videos and more. You can also collect and store information from your site visitors using input elements like custom forms and fields. Be sure to click Sync after making changes in a collection, so visitors can see your newest content on your live site. Preview your site to check that all your elements are displaying content from the right collection fields. Latest News Company News Blog Keep up with the latest trends and insights. Check out our blog today! Click Here

ABERDARE CABLES < Back Next VISION To be the leading supplier of intelligent inter- connection products and services in Africa. MISSION Through our highly trained and dedicated employees we foster excellent customer relationships, delivering quality cabling solutions, innovative products and value-added services. VALUES Teamwork, Integrity, Excellence, Responsibility, 1nnovation (TIER1). POWERING PROGRESS Aberdare Cables is southern Africa’s largest and leading supplier of intelligent energy inter connection products and services in Africa. Established in 1946, the company offers cable designs, product development, installation support, commissioning and diagnostic testing through their engineering service division. In 2021, Aberdare celebrated its 75th Anniversary and since its humble beginnings, the organisation has grown significantly through mergers and acquisitions. Aberdare Cables has three manufacturing sites in South Africa located respectively in Pietermaritzburg, Gqeberha, and Gauteng. These are assigned to manufacture a wide variety of cables with customer service centres in each province as well as in Maputo, Mozambique. In 2016, Aberdare Cables was acquired by Hengtong, as a majority shareholder. The Hengtong group operates in 147 countries with 11 overseas manufacturing bases and owns seven brands, including Aberdare Research and Development Aberdare is a technology leader driven by cutting edge research and development to provide worldclass innovative solutions. Aberdare positions itself, and has indeed been recognised throughout the world, as a pioneer in technological advancement. This philosophy has been amply illustrated by its success in developing unique solutions to everyday problems faced by an incredibly wide range of industries. In co-operation with the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS - the national standards organisation), Aberdare serves on a number of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) cable working groups, one of which deals with the development of test methods for cables in fire situations. Aberdare works closely with the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and various major Universities and Technikons in the quest to continuously upgrade its product range and manufacturing capabilities. Aberdare is determined to retain its leadership in the cable industry through the development of cost-effective solutions to common problems faced by many of the world’s developing nations, and by working closely with customers to meet their every possible need. We are determined to remain abreast of international developments, and indeed set our own goals to maximise our company’s growth. It is this philosophy that Aberdare is determined to follow, now and into the future. Employees The company has highly trained and motivated employees who make it an employer of choice. We actively promote and follow a number of educational initiatives, including apprenticeship training, learnership programmes as well as formal educational assistance, to all our employees. In the year 2022, Aberdare awarded and created more than 200 job opportunities across the country. These positions vary across all the branches, manufacturing sites as well as head quarters. To further develop young professionals who require an opportunity and introduction to the corporate sphere, Aberdare continues to create learnership and trainee positions located in the factory as well as at headquarters. The business continues to be passionate and driven in curbing the unemployment rate in South-Africa, through job creation. This is to further ensure that Aberdare contributes to the healthy economic growth of the country and increasing social cohesion. Socio-Economic Development Socio-Economic Development is an integral part of Aberdare Cables, as the company aims to contribute to the communities in which they operate. They strive to strengthen their commitment to sustainable development by building mutually beneficial relations with their stakeholders and the communities. Aberdare Cables ensures that the identified initiatives and projects in previously disadvantaged communities are properly managed to ensure that the contributions made will continually sustain the community. They are investing in the education of their communities through a variety of projects enabling them to create a brighter future for themselves. Aberdare Cables believes in providing the leaders of tomorrow with every advantage possible. Access to high-quality education in rural areas can be one of the contributing factors to local economic development, while assisting the rural community to adapt to a fast-changing environment. This is the reason Aberdare Cables proudly sponsored a rural high school in KZN, Buhlebethu High School with a mobile science lab that can further assist Science learners in the school with practicals. Aberdare Cables are passionate about community development and the development of future leaders. KEY PERSONNEL Andy Wang CEO CONTACT DETAILS Read More CEO: Andy Wang CFO: Jenny Chen Executive: Technical, Manufacturing & SHEQ: Wayne Munilall Executive Director: Marketing, Sales & Distribution: Mishack Matla Manufacturing Executive: Jian Wang CONTACT DETAILS HEAD OFFICE Physical Address: 1 Corobrik Street, Meadowdale, Germiston, 1614 Tel: +27 (0)11 396 8000 Email: info@aberdare.co.za KWAZULU-NATAL Physical Addres: 67 Gladys Manzi Road, Mkondeni, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, 3201 Tel: +27 (0)33 845 3207 Website: www.aberdare.co.za Media Releases. Stay updated with the latest business news and articles on KZN Top Business News Blogs It just makes good business sense Previous Media Releases Read More Next

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Your attitude determines your altitude. Be a sponge. Be prepared to learn at all times. Don’t work with a job description because it limits your growth < Back Thalente Madonda Business Centre Manager for the Hibiscus Coast, Standard Bank KZN Thalente Madonda plays and occupies various roles in her capacity as a woman. Professionally, Thalente is the Business Centre Manager for the Hibiscus Coast area (the south node of Durban). Her current role is in the Business Banking segment, looking after both business banking as well as small enterprise clients. Thalente has been with Standard Bank for 22 years and she has held various roles ranging from junior, middle, and now to senior management. Some of the roles she has held were branch manager, account executive, and small enterprises manager. Speaking of her role she explains, “Being in Business Banking gives me an opportunity to contribute to our economy, indirectly and directly, by assisting our entrepreneurs with their business operations...granting them facilities, short and long term, to fund the growth in their businesses.” “It is an exciting and very rewarding role in a sense that we look after entrepreneurs who are the most important people in our economy. The people that contribute to the growth of our economy. The employers of our professional as well as our ordinary South Africans who contribute directly to the GDP of our country.” On the personal front, a role that she occupies as a woman is being the mother of three beautiful kids – one being a teenager. Other roles are wife, sister, daughter-in-law ... the list is endless. Personal achievements Thalente’s achievements have been based around seeing herself as a ‘young woman’ from Inanda Township who has grown and progressed successfully in a big organisation like Standard Bank. These achievements include moving from junior positions such a teller and progressing to managing a business centre, to looking after a balance sheet of over R6.5 billion with her team. “It is really an honour, and I am grateful to Standard Bank and the team that I work with. Some of my other achievements include winning a Top Performer in Business Banking in 2015 and winning a trip to Portugal with my partner. That was a very special moment.” Shaping the person A number of factors have inspired Thalente to get to where she is today. These include the environment she grew up in, which was a poor community, with a lack of role models, that resulted in girls getting pregnant at a tender age, amongst other challenges. Thalente explains, “I knew that this would not be my destiny as I wanted better. In addition, my mom was my biggest inspiration to achieve.” Once Thalente had joined Standard Bank, she had many great leaders that believed and supported her in her journey. “These were leaders that saw potential in me and helped to shape the person that I am today,” she said. Some of these leaders, says Thalente, are still with the organisation today, while others have left. In addition, much of Thalente’s career in the bank has been driven by her own desire to grow and learn. She explains that after spending a number of years as an enquiries clerk in the bank, she started coming in early to work to learn about other departments. Thalente added, “I used my lunch hour, as well, to get to know what other departments were all about. I started getting invitations to join the meetings in the other departments, invitations to apply for the positions. That’s how I grew...” Challenges faced A major challenge that Thalente faced was when, after being appointed an account executive, she had clients in her portfolio who told her that they would not deal with a black person. “This was an interesting challenge, which I did not take personally because I understood that clients have their preferences. But it was a learning curve for me,” she explained. Thalente dealt with this challenge through engaging with the clients to understand their experiences with black people and their expectations of her as their account executive. The result was that she developed relationships with the majority of these clients through constant engagement and the support of her leadership team. Future goals In the future, Thalente’s goals are to execute her dream, which is to work with young girls in her community around career growth. She has in mind a concept similar to taking a girl child to a business, exposing them to institutions of higher learning such as universities and having career expo days. “I still see young girls showing no signs of a bright future despite education being free now,” she explains. Thalente would also like to do more around growing young women in the workplace. She said, “I play a role of a mentor, sometimes without not even realising it and I would like to continue with my journey of mentoring young women. I am passionate about growing young girls.” “I have contributed to the growth of many young people in my organisation. Because somebody believed in me, I took it upon myself to develop and grow young people in my organisation. Some of the guys are now branch managers, leader of teams etc. Some of the young stars who were not studying and had no reason why not, now have qualifications. It’s a heart-warming feeling.” Advice to young woman In giving advice to young women who may follow in her footsteps, Thalente says that they need to have the right attitude. She concludes, “After all, your attitude determines your altitude. Be a sponge. Be prepared to learn at all times. Don’t work with a job description because it limits your growth. Raise your hand when you are ready for the next role.”

Thank you for participating in our event! Tell us what you thought about it. First name Last name Position Email* Phone Overall Experience: Overall, how would you rate the conference How likely are you to recommend this conference to a family member Content and Sessions: Which session did you find most valuable ? How relevant was the content to current challenges you are facing as a family business or family office? Speakers and Presenters: Which speaker or presenter did you find most engaging and why? Networking and Engagement: How satisfied were you with the networking sessions? Did the event’s format encourage meaningful connections? What improvements could be made to enhance networking opportunities? General Questions: What did you like most about the conference? What could we improve for future events? What topics would you like to see covered in future conferences? Any additional comments or suggestions? Send Feedback

The Dube TradePort Corporation is charged with the responsibility to develop the province’s biggest infrastructural project. The designated Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is home to the state-of-the art King Shaka International Airport and is ideally positioned 30 minutes from Africa’s busiest cargo port, Durban Harbour, and 90 minutes from Richards Bay HarbourDube TradePortHamish ErskineThe Dube TradePort Corporation is charged with the responsibility to develop the province’s biggest infrastructural project. The designated Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is home to the state-of-the art King Shaka International Airport and is ideally positioned 30 minutes from Africa’s busiest cargo port, Durban Harbour, and 90 minutes from Richards Bay Harbour. Dube TradePort takes advantage of its prime location as the only facility in Africa combining an international airport, dedicated cargo terminal, warehousing, offices, retail, hotels and agriculture. Dube TradePort, a highly competitive business operating environment, forms the heart of the emerging Durban Aerotropolis. The first purpose built aerotropolis in Africa and destined to become a premier business and trade hub, this coastal location in KwaZulu-Natal makes logistics a cost effective proposition. Special Economic Zones Special Economic Zones (SEZ) are one of the Government’s strategic instruments implemented to drive an inclusive economic growth and deepen industrialisation and industrial rebalancing. The precinct is also aligned to the National Development Plan. Over and above the fact is that the Dube TradePort SEZ enjoys full support from both national and provincial government as well as local government. Dube TradePort is a key priority infrastructural development project for the Province of KwaZulu-Natal. The designation of the Dube TradePort as a SEZ demonstrates an effort by the Government to enhance the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector and encourage the beneficiation of available resources in the country, by offering a range of benefits for enterprises located within the designated zone. Priority Sectors The targeted priority sectors include: Aerospace and aviation-linked manufacturing and related services; agriculture and agro-processing including horticulture, aquaculture, and floriculture; electronics manufacturing and assembly; medical and pharmaceutical production and distribution; and clothing and textiles. The supplementary sectors include: Freight-forwarding and aviation services; warehousing and storage; logistics and distribution; light manufacturing and assembly; high-tech and automotive industries; general manufacturing; renewable industry; and cold storage. Dube TradePort SEZ is working closely with the dti aerospace development programme to enhance the manufacturing and assembling of the value-added manufactured products and services e.g. maintenance, repair and overhaul (MOR) services. Development Zones Dube TradePort is surrounded by development zones, namely: Dube Cargo Terminal As a purpose-planned airport city and master-planned business environment, infrastructure has been designed in line with freight-orientation and cargo and is supported by the King Shaka International Airport, which accommodates the world’s largest new generation aircraft. Digital tracking and cargo flow through on-site statutory bodies ensures that the cargo facility is the most secure in Africa. Dube TradeZone Comprising 77 hectares, growing to 300 hectares, of specialised, prime and fully-serviced industrial estate within the SEZ. In close proximity to Dube Cargo Terminal, this zone is ideally positioned for new generation warehousing, manufacturing, assembling, air-related cargo distribution and more. TradeZone One is fully leased, attracted approximately R1.08bn investments in the zone and has led to the creation of 9 880 jobs in the South African economy (both direct and indirect jobs), of which 7 395 have been created within KwaZulu-Natal. TradeZone Two will comprise of light industrial development, which is going to be the centre piece of the drive to attract R 18 billion of new investment over the next five years. The 45ha development will create hundreds of jobs that will have an economic impact throughout the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Dube City Comprising 12 hectares of premium office, retail and hospitality space - all located within an ultramodern, urban ‘green’ hub just three minutes from the passenger terminal. Dube AgriZone Part of the SEZ, this zone provides world-class facilities and technical support for propagating, growing, packing and distributing high-value perishables and horticultural products through an efficient supply chain. Dube iConnect All these zones are supported by Dube iConnect, the precinct’s dedicated IT and telecommunications provider and KwaZulu-Natal’s only locally-hosted cloud service, making it the premier offering for regional data recovery. Service Offering With its team of skilled experts, Dube TradePort SEZ drives the development of this competitive business environment, links both investors and developers to various regulatory bodies, thus assisting to facilitate the development process. Full Name of Company: Dube TradePort Corporation Nature of Business: Airport-related development Services / Products: TradePort comprises a world-class passenger and airfreight hub and is surrounded by development zones Date Established: 2010 VISION To be the leading global air logistics platform in Southern Africa, seamlessly integrated with intermodal road, rail and sea infrastructure MISSION • To enable the development of an aerotropolis by providing leading edge spatial planning and infrastructure; • To attract investment through the creation and operation of a special economic zone and related commercial zones; • To grow business and trade through enabling new regional and international air services. KEY PERSONNEL CEO: Mr Hamish Erskine Chairperson: Zanele Bridgette Gasa CONTACT DETAILS Head Office: 29° South Physical Address: 29° South, 7 Umsinsi Junction, Dube City, La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, 4399 Postal Address: P.O. Box 57757, King Shaka Airport, 4407 Tel: +27 (0)32 814 0000 E-mail: info@dubetradeport.co.za Website: www.dubetradeport.co.za Hamish Erskine A Premier Business Hub The Dube TradePort Corporation is charged with the responsibility to develop the province’s biggest infrastructural project. The designated Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is home to the state-of-the art King Shaka International Airport and is ideally positioned 30 minutes from Africa’s busiest cargo port, Durban Harbour, and 90 minutes from Richards Bay Harbour. Dube TradePort takes advantage of its prime location as the only facility in Africa combining an international airport, dedicated cargo terminal, warehousing, offices, retail, hotels and agriculture. Dube TradePort, a highly competitive business operating environment, forms the heart of the emerging Durban Aerotropolis. The first purpose built aerotropolis in Africa and destined to become a premier business and trade hub, this coastal location in KwaZulu-Natal makes logistics a cost effective proposition. Special Economic Zones Special Economic Zones (SEZ) are one of the Government’s strategic instruments implemented to drive an inclusive economic growth and deepen industrialisation and industrial rebalancing. The precinct is also aligned to the National Development Plan. Over and above the fact is that the Dube TradePort SEZ enjoys full support from both national and provincial government as well as local government. Dube TradePort is a key priority infrastructural development project for the Province of KwaZulu-Natal. The designation of the Dube TradePort as a SEZ demonstrates an effort by the Government to enhance the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector and encourage the beneficiation of available resources in the country, by offering a range of benefits for enterprises located within the designated zone. Priority Sectors The targeted priority sectors include: Aerospace and aviation-linked manufacturing and related services; agriculture and agro-processing including horticulture, aquaculture, and floriculture; electronics manufacturing and assembly; medical and pharmaceutical production and distribution; and clothing and textiles. The supplementary sectors include: Freight-forwarding and aviation services; warehousing and storage; logistics and distribution; light manufacturing and assembly; high-tech and automotive industries; general manufacturing; renewable industry; and cold storage. Dube TradePort SEZ is working closely with the dti aerospace development programme to enhance the manufacturing and assembling of the value-added manufactured products and services e.g. maintenance, repair and overhaul (MOR) services. Development Zones Dube TradePort is surrounded by development zones, namely: Dube Cargo Terminal As a purpose-planned airport city and master-planned business environment, infrastructure has been designed in line with freight-orientation and cargo and is supported by the King Shaka International Airport, which accommodates the world’s largest new generation aircraft. Digital tracking and cargo flow through on-site statutory bodies ensures that the cargo facility is the most secure in Africa. Dube TradeZone Comprising 77 hectares, growing to 300 hectares, of specialised, prime and fully-serviced industrial estate within the SEZ. In close proximity to Dube Cargo Terminal, this zone is ideally positioned for new generation warehousing, manufacturing, assembling, air-related cargo distribution and more. TradeZone One is fully leased, attracted approximately R1.08bn investments in the zone and has led to the creation of 9 880 jobs in the South African economy (both direct and indirect jobs), of which 7 395 have been created within KwaZulu-Natal. TradeZone Two will comprise of light industrial development, which is going to be the centre piece of the drive to attract R 18 billion of new investment over the next five years. The 45ha development will create hundreds of jobs that will have an economic impact throughout the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Dube City Comprising 12 hectares of premium office, retail and hospitality space - all located within an ultramodern, urban ‘green’ hub just three minutes from the passenger terminal. Dube AgriZone Part of the SEZ, this zone provides world-class facilities and technical support for propagating, growing, packing and distributing high-value perishables and horticultural products through an efficient supply chain. Dube iConnect All these zones are supported by Dube iConnect, the precinct’s dedicated IT and telecommunications provider and KwaZulu-Natal’s only locally-hosted cloud service, making it the premier offering for regional data recovery. Service Offering With its team of skilled experts, Dube TradePort SEZ drives the development of this competitive business environment, links both investors and developers to various regulatory bodies, thus assisting to facilitate the development process. Full Name of Company: Dube TradePort Corporation Nature of Business: Airport-related development Services / Products: TradePort comprises a world-class passenger and airfreight hub and is surrounded by development zones Date Established: 2010 VISION To be the leading global air logistics platform in Southern Africa, seamlessly integrated with intermodal road, rail and sea infrastructure MISSION • To enable the development of an aerotropolis by providing leading edge spatial planning and infrastructure; • To attract investment through the creation and operation of a special economic zone and related commercial zones; • To grow business and trade through enabling new regional and international air services. KEY PERSONNEL CEO: Mr Hamish Erskine Chairperson: Zanele Bridgette Gasa CONTACT DETAILS Head Office: 29° South Physical Address: 29° South, 7 Umsinsi Junction, Dube City, La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, 4399 Postal Address: P.O. Box 57757, King Shaka Airport, 4407 Tel: +27 (0)32 814 0000 E-mail: info@dubetradeport.co.za Website: www.dubetradeport.co.za Dube TradePort The Dube TradePort Corporation is charged with the responsibility to develop the province’s biggest infrastructural project. The designated Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is home to the state-of-the art King Shaka International Airport and is ideally positioned 30 minutes from Africa’s busiest cargo port, Durban Harbour, and 90 minutes from Richards Bay Harbour

For Mills, one day is never the same as the next which he says is fantastic. "The wonderful thing about Boxer is that there's always a buzz and it's fast paced." He explained that he is the first to come in, in the morning and the last to leave and he travels a lot both locally and internationally Subscribe Home KZN Leaders Up Up Andrew Mills For Mills, one day is never the same as the next which he says is fantastic. "The wonderful thing about Boxer is that there's always a buzz and it's fast paced." He explained that he is the first to come in, in the morning and the last to leave and he travels a lot both locally and internationally By seeing other people and inspiring other people that inspires you to be a better individual ANDREW MILLS, the marketing director at Boxer Superstores, says that his job is to ensure that he is inspiring his staff and others throughout the business, while implementing marketing strategies that retain and attract shoppers. Mills matriculated at Kearsney College and then went on to complete a diploma in marketing. Following this qualification, Mills entered the direct sales environment and worked his way up to sales manager. This was a position that he thoroughly enjoyed as he said he was able to inspire and drive his staff. After two years in that position, Mills joined a multinational business in FMCG and he then joined Boxer in the retail industry, where he has been for two decades. He says, "I remember coming into the Boxer reception area, where were a whole lot of people sitting and we were literally lined up like sardines. I was sitting amongst a very mature generation of fantastic candidates and eventually got my chance to go and sit with the then merchandise director Eugene Stoop. I then described my journey up to that point." He explained further that Stoop then asked him the question: "If I was given the opportunity to look after the Boxer brand what would I do?" Mills said that he gave a whole shopping list of things that he believed that he would be able to inject into the Boxer business. "When I finished the interview, I left feeling positive and later that day I received a call from Eugene saying I was hired. I then joined Boxer and 22 years later I have never looked back." He says that the points that he raised in that interview were implemented just three short years later and that he made good on his commitments to the business. Mills describes his job, "I am the brand custodian for the Boxer company, I put together and coordinate the national marketing activities for the greater Boxer business across the different divisions. I also implement marketing strategies that best engage our shoppers and potential new shoppers into our Boxer stores. We are based here in KwaZulu-Natal, we have a business which has close to 250 stores and we've traded for over 40 years, it's a fantastic environment to be in." He says that the management team does not pigeon hole themselves into a particular area of responsibility and that their years of experience mean that they are able to move across all the different portfolios to inject their understanding. "We are a very close-knit unit and the fantastic thing about working for this company and within the Pick n Pay Group is that we utilise our time to inspire, groom and coach others through the company. This company has been a business that really looks at the individual regardless of race, gender or creed, it's about the person and what they are capable of. It's up to us to make sure that we can groom the generations that will follow through to make sure they will take this business into the next few generations with successful healthy leadership." For Mills, one day is never the same as the next which he says is fantastic. "The wonderful thing about Boxer is that there's always a buzz and it's fast paced." He explained that he is the first to come in, in the morning and the last to leave and he travels a lot both locally and internationally. "There is always something happening. You've got to have fun, even if there are deadline pressures or you have to do massive distance or work long hours. You've got to enjoy what you are doing." He says that he is blessed to work alongside some fantastic individuals within his team. Mills added that every single person in his particular department really goes out of the way to excel and perform as well as share their energy with him. Mills concluded, "It's about meeting and inspiring people and getting the opportunity to coach others and groom others. Sometimes just a word or a sentence said to somebody else can inspire them to do their best. By seeing other people and inspiring other people that inspires you to be a better individual, that's a fantastic part of the job within the industry that I operate in." He has always had a passion for marketing and sales and positively influencing other people.

We all need to play our part in making positive social, environmental and economic changes by supporting local and ethical producers < Back Donna Barnard Business Owner and Founder of Greenheart Organics Pty Ltd and Organic Farmer, Member of PGSSA / Greenpeace Activist Donna Barnard has over a decade of business experience, which was gained through the start-up and running of Console Care, a home-based nursing agency. Currently, Donna has found herself in an entirely different arena with a growing passion for organic food and farming. In 2017, Donna embarked on an entrepreneurial journey and centred Greenheart Organics, which is a one stop organic food store, around a vision that started with the simple purpose of sourcing chemical and pesticide free food for her children, family, friends, and community. Fundamental to Greenheart Organics is sustainable living and food sovereignty, which is an ethos set in stone. She explains, “I have always believed that health is one’s greatest wealth and so the business has evolved around a natural journey to wellness. I went in search of organic food for my own personal preference and for my family’s wellbeing. The more I searched and the more I researched, the more I realised just how difficult it was to find bona fide organic and additive free food, and so for me the business was born out of necessity really.” A new role as a farmer The demand for organic food has grown steadily bringing Donna varied challenges from packing orders until the early hours of the morning, to building an ecommerce website. More recently, she has been arriving home covered in black jacks, boots caked in dirt, while attempting a new role as a farmer. One of Donna’s biggest challenges has been to source and maintain a consistent supply of organic produce. In addition, small scale farmers face many issues and despite their best efforts, yields are often low. In an effort to overcome supply challenges, Donna has recently taken on a small-scale farmstead. She adds, “I would now say that farming has become the greatest challenge of all, with worms at top of the list! I don’t think farming is something I was born to do, but it has been an incredibly fun learning experience and I can honestly say that I love what I do. At the end of the day, the challenges are so worth it when I know exactly where my food has come from, and I can say, I grew that!” Supporting local, reducing waste, and activating for change Greenheart Organics’ grass roots ethos is to support local, to reduce waste, and to gain momentum in the organic and wholefood movement. Currently, the company is enjoying much growth and has tripled their customer following over the last year. The present focus is on expanding their plant-based range of products and increasing their network of small-scale producers. “We source ethical products and suppliers with clean ingredients. No nasties are allowed, which means no GMOs (genetically modified organisms), no pesticides, no routine antibiotics or hormones, colourants, or artificial additives are allowed. Our strict criteria ensures that our suppliers source quality, raw ingredients and engage in sustainable practices. Farmers must also engage in ethical and humane treatment of animals.” In order to reduce waste, Greenheart Organics has introduced a deposit and re-use rebate system as well as certified compostable packaging for all of their fresh produce. This means that customers are rewarded when they return their empty, used, plastic waste to Greenheart Organics, which then gets refilled, reused, or recycled. For example, remember the milk bottle exchange system from way back then, well its back and its better! Fresh farm milk gets delivered in glass bottles, which just tastes better for a start. Customers then return their empty glass bottles from the previous week, and they receive a rebate for the return. Customers may also return boxes, crates and any empty plastic container bought from the Greenheart Organics’ store for a rebate on their account. “So,” says Donna, “We actually pay customers to return their waste to us! Customers are actively participating in this waste reduction drive, which has been a huge success. This is the first waste free initiative of its kind in KZN, which is very exciting for us!” “We also advocate organic and sustainable living by being active members of a Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) South Africa, which inspires local supply chains and organic growing methods. Greenheart Organics is the first PGS group in KZN to introduce an organic assurance system into the KZN marketplace. The group is basically a network of organic farmers who monitor and mentor each other and this has really helped to overcome many farming and supply challenges. The group audits farms on a biannual basis to ensure that organic standards are being met and are well maintained. In addition, they aim to ensure for social justice in that fair labour practice and fair pricing are audit criterias. On a personal level, Donna has recently become a Greenpeace activist and aims to campaign against the growing food sovereignty crisis. She explains, “We all have the right to choose what food to eat, where it comes from and how it is grown. We are at a pivotal point in our fight against climate change and conscious consumerism is key. We all need to play our part in making positive social, environmental and economic changes by supporting local and ethical producers and engaging in sustainable living practices.” Follow your passion Donna’s motivation to pursue her vision has been provided by her family. “I wanted my children to grow up understanding the importance of clean nutrition and biodiversity conservation. My husband has always been my rock. He patiently picks up the pieces every time the going gets tough and reminds me to count my blessings and persevere.” In reflecting on the advice that she would give to young women with a vision, Donna said, “Follow your passion and do what you love. Inevitably the rest will follow.”

Tracy Engelbrecht Salesforce Support Specialist