BizCrush

BizCrush Sponsored by the SLC Group: https://slcgroup.co.za

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This is Yaron Assabi’s mission in life.

As a proud cancer survivor, Assabi is an entrepreneur who is passionate about ICT.

The Digital Solutions Group (www.dsg.co.za), established in 1998, was his brainchild. DSG specialises in relationship marketing solutions. 

The art of relationship marketing, says Assabi, is about having real relationships.

As was the case with his fight against cancer, Assabi also believes that one has to be resilient, and have the necessary tenacity, to make it in business.

Most of all, however, you need to keep things exciting, and have fun!

BizCrush Sponsored by the SLC Group: https://slcgroup.co.za

Although not as hands-on as he used to be 20 years ago, Duram MD Mike Stekhoven still has his finger firmly on the pulse of the paint industry.

The Duram family business originated in 1981, when Stekhoven bought a company that had developed a polyurethane waterproofing product called Duram 195.

Since then, Duram has continuously pushed the boundaries of ‘smart paint’ over the past 40 years.

Such as their introduction of Raincote, the first acrylic waterproofer for the retail trade in South Africa.

Describing an entrepreneur as the eternal optimist, Stekhoven maintains that focus, in business, is the most critical ingredient for success. klipkouers.com

BizCrush Sponsored by the SLC Group: https://slcgroup.co.za

Alex MacPhail had a fascination with flying from a young age and has been a professional pilot for 21 years.

Trained as an Air Force pilot, MacPhail spent three years flying formation aerobatic displays with the Silver Falcons. Thereafter he piloted Airbus and Boeing airliners all over the world for 12 years, before being retrenched due to the demise of SAA.

MacPhail’s entrepreneurial instincts took over, though, and he now shares insights, from more than two decades of professional aviation, as a keynote speaker.

And, as host of 'Alex MacPhail Podcast' and 'World Championship Air Race' podcast, he has interviewed more than 100 world class performers from across the globe.

www.klipkouers.com #klipkouers #podcast

As one of the continent’s most knowledgeable leaders in Mining Engineering, Bernard Swanepoel demonstrated, as CEO of Harmony Gold, the ability to manage the delicate balance between cost and optimised productivity through team work.

With more than 40 years’ experience in the South African mining industry, of which a quarter of a decade was in executive management, Swanepoel was recently appointed an independent non-executive director of construction and engineering group Aveng’s board, and he also serves on the boards of Impala Platinum, Zimplats and Omnia Holdings.

As a leader, he has passionately strived throughout his career to flatten the corporate hierarchy and remove unnecessary layers of management. klipkouers.com #klipkouers #podcast

Paul Higgins' see possibilities and make things work has been key in establishing DINGO as an industry-standard in predictive maintenance.

Originally from Queensland, Australia, Paul completed an MSc in Engineering Management in Missouri, USA, before spending a number of years with Clorox in California, leading maintenance improvement efforts at 34 manufacturing facilities worldwide.

Returning Down Under in 1994, he joined DINGO Software, where he swiftly introduced an innovative approach to mining maintenance that dramatically increases operational efficiency and saves millions of dollars by proactively caring for equipment.

As Paul quips, it takes some sort of a genius to believe in the unknown. klipkouers.com #klipkouers

Duncan Blackburn, retired owner of Karbochem Holdings, boasts extensive experience in process engineering and change management.

He explains how Karbochem became a private holding company, holding assets purchased from Sentrachem Ltd. The buyout signalled the start of an era focusing on innovative product development, process improvement and environmental best practice.

However, Duncan suggests that, due to the current political and economical climate, South Africa has become a rather negligible part of the global market and that the chemical industry faces challenging times.

To succeed, companies need to follow the example of one of Karbochem’s former subsidiaries, SLC, who are developing new, revolutionary products that enable them to still compete globally. klipkouers.com #klipkouers

Stephan Colle, Chairman of the Board of Belgotex International, is a carpet and textile entrepreneur who has exceeded industry benchmarks to boost the flooring trade.

The son in law of the late Roger De Clerck, a highly influential Belgian ‘captain of industry’, Stephan recalls how he and wife Anne established a progressive manufacturing plant in Pietermaritzburg in 1983 to manufacture hi-tech nylon yarn.

The following year, Colle expanded the operation into a vertically integrated carpet manufacturer, Belgotex Carpets, which diversified into vinyl, artificial grass and rubber. Belgotex’s market share has grown significantly on the back of technological innovations and state-of-the-art products. klipkouers.com #klipkouers

The Synthetic Latex Company plays a pivotal role in the SA chemical industry. MD Quentin van den Heever recounts how SLC originated in 1967 as a joint venture with Revertex SA, which 50 years later culminated in an acquisition from Karbochem Holdings.

SLC produces latex polymers for the coatings, construction, paper & board and carpet & textile industries, and branched out into chemical distribution, integrated warehousing, industrial cleaning, toll manufacturing, bulk storage and dust suppression.

They also tapped into the coworking phenomenon by setting up WorkZone@SLC, while another initiative, The Shared Services Company, offers Corporate Services to entrepreneurs and SMEs. klipkouers.com #klipkouers