WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS TRAIN FOR EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS STRATEGY AND STRATEGIC COLLABORATION

(June 12, 2017) It was all systems go for 21 women business owners attending modules 3 and 4 of the South African P&G Training Programme in Johannesburg, for a full day of interactive training. Among them was Rene Gopaul, a women’s business enterprise (WBE) and Managing Director of Goya Experiences, whose enthusiasm for her business was matched by her determination to absorb and apply learning from this training. “I am here to found out everything I can to make my business successful,” said Rene.

Presented in partnership with WEConnect International in South Africa, the 10-module P&G programme (running from May to August 2017) selected 21 women business owners, on the basis of P&G’s business criteria for business relationship building with women-owned businesses.

A recap on Modules 1 and 2 by Shereen Wardakan, Group Purchasing Manager, P&G, SSA Marketing & SEA Purchasing Cluster Leader & IMEA Gender Equality Leader, and Jean Chawapiwa, Country Director, WEConnect International in South Africa, through led into the presentation of Modules 3 and 4 on the topics, Aligning and Executing your Business Strategy and Strategic Collaboration.

Module 3 started with trainer Khululiwe Mabaso’s clear and inspiring description of corporate social responsibility, which was echoed in the group by current projects in a range of sectors. Facilitator Dr Olu Coker took the video introduction on strategy for small business by Vusi Thembekwayo, to a conversation on realm of SMART goals, with participants interrogating and checking his practical suggestions on improving examples of actual and suggested goals.  Endre Frankl (P&G) led an interactive session on how action plans and how to adapt the plans to maintain growth, illustrated with lively and interesting examples. Guest contributor to Module 4 was  Janice Scheckter, MD and Founder of Indigo New Media, Managing Director. Janice is a specialist on collaboration, she spent an hour going through her experience and real business examples she has worked on that prove collaboration is the new growth strategy.

Derek Engelbrecht (EY Consumer Products & Retail sector leader: Africa) took over and completed the detailed module sharing his experiences at EY. Joining was his associates Amelia Young and Ziningi Khoza. EY is a global corporate member, committed to increasing spend with women-owned businesses.

The intensive and challenging full day of training and networking with the other enthusiastic women business owners left Rene both exhausted and elated, “Wow, there is so much to take in! I am encouraged by the support of the knowledgeable presenters and excited at the prospect of applying what I learnt  in my business.” Rene recently certified her business in WEConnect International, Goya Experiences specialises in unique eventing services for conferences, client hospitality, team building and internal celebrations, branding building and corporate social responsibility.

P&G’s commitment to training women business owners is underpinned by its global gender equality strategy and aims to foster leadership skills and business development.  The programme is the first in IMEA, and follows on the successful presentation of similar training courses in the US, Turkey, China and Mexico.

For more information, contact: Jean Chawapiwa, Country Director of WEConnect International in SA I  jchawapiwa@weconnectinternational.org I +27 836606586