October in the marketing department at SAP, is sort of like tax season for accountants. For example, this week my team executed 7 events in our region including a 700 person Oil & Gas Conference, 2 football games, 2 golf outings, and 2 stops on the Big Data Bus tour. In addition to our regular activities, it is also Fall Forum time at SAP. This year, SAP's customer forums are sweeping the nation from New York to LA under the theme "Conversations on the Future of Business". One of our sub-themes for this event series is Unlocking Human Potential and targets the HR line of business. To me, this theme really resonates with my project in South Africa and speaks perfectly to their mission.
I have been placed with The Awethu Project. Their vision? To equip thousands of young entrepreneurs from under-resourced backgrounds with the skills & resources to lead SA to prosperity. In other words, everyone has the power to do great things, they may just not have received the same access to resources growing up. (Awethu 60-second pitch) Their goal is unlocking the human potential for those individuals that reside in the under served communities in and around Joburg. My specific role as it relates to The Awethu Project is to help with an expansion plan, specifically one that includes an extensive marketing strategy.
The Awethu Project opened its doors in 2011 and started by only serving 5 entrepreneurs. Today, they serve more than 500 individuals and they hope to grow their services and reach more than 10,000 by 2020. For that, they have called in the 'big dogs' i.e. me and my colleagues Vivek (above) and Soichiro (left). Hey, we work for free and I know at least 1 of us is very bossy ;)
The Co-Founder and CEO of Awethu is not much older than me. Yusuf Randera-Rees grew up in South Africa and attended college at Harvard in the States. He states, “Entrepreneurs in under-resourced South African communities can compete with graduates of Harvard Business School… we just need to make sure they have equivalent training and resources”. I invite you to watch a TEDx talk Yusuf gave. He speaks much more eloquently to Awethu's story than I could ever explain it.
I can't wait to see what the Future of this business has in store for the people of South Africa. And I am thrilled to be taking part in such an amazing endeavor.
#TheAwethuProject
What does Awethu mean?
Awethu’s name is in reference to the iconic call and response of the Anti-Apartheid movement: “Amandla – Awethu”. At political rallies, leaders would start and finish their speeches by shouting “Amandla” (“Power”),with a clenched fist raised in the air. The crowd would respond “Awethu” (“is ours”). In the New South Africa, our leaders have made economic power possible through legislation and resources, but there has been no vehicle through which under-resourced people could claim that power for themselves. Awethu is providing that vehicle.
I have been placed with The Awethu Project. Their vision? To equip thousands of young entrepreneurs from under-resourced backgrounds with the skills & resources to lead SA to prosperity. In other words, everyone has the power to do great things, they may just not have received the same access to resources growing up. (Awethu 60-second pitch) Their goal is unlocking the human potential for those individuals that reside in the under served communities in and around Joburg. My specific role as it relates to The Awethu Project is to help with an expansion plan, specifically one that includes an extensive marketing strategy.
The Awethu Project opened its doors in 2011 and started by only serving 5 entrepreneurs. Today, they serve more than 500 individuals and they hope to grow their services and reach more than 10,000 by 2020. For that, they have called in the 'big dogs' i.e. me and my colleagues Vivek (above) and Soichiro (left). Hey, we work for free and I know at least 1 of us is very bossy ;)The Co-Founder and CEO of Awethu is not much older than me. Yusuf Randera-Rees grew up in South Africa and attended college at Harvard in the States. He states, “Entrepreneurs in under-resourced South African communities can compete with graduates of Harvard Business School… we just need to make sure they have equivalent training and resources”. I invite you to watch a TEDx talk Yusuf gave. He speaks much more eloquently to Awethu's story than I could ever explain it.
I can't wait to see what the Future of this business has in store for the people of South Africa. And I am thrilled to be taking part in such an amazing endeavor.
#TheAwethuProject
What does Awethu mean?
Awethu’s name is in reference to the iconic call and response of the Anti-Apartheid movement: “Amandla – Awethu”. At political rallies, leaders would start and finish their speeches by shouting “Amandla” (“Power”),with a clenched fist raised in the air. The crowd would respond “Awethu” (“is ours”). In the New South Africa, our leaders have made economic power possible through legislation and resources, but there has been no vehicle through which under-resourced people could claim that power for themselves. Awethu is providing that vehicle.
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