The Healthy Business Show The Real Network

Today we see Discovery as one of South Africa’s biggest businesses with thousands of employees and hundreds of thousands of clients, but in 1992 it was just a small team trying to pitch their idea and break into the market. Barry Swartzberg (Vitality Group CEO) chats to Fred Roed about when and how to scale your business. How important is honing your product and market validation? In this first exciting episode, we hear why, when it comes to entrepreneurship, you need to 'fall in love with the process’. Barry gives valuable insights into how they succeeded and overcame major hurdles to grow Discovery into a global organisation, ranked as the second-strongest insurance brand in the world in the 2019 Brand Finance Insurance 100 report. Join the conversation: #DSYHealthyBusiness

What mindset does it take to ‘make it’ in business? Is work-life balance a myth? What turns great employees disloyal, and how damaging is burnout really? Open your mind as Fred Roed speaks to Marc Rogatschnig, an organisational psychologist, about the psychological dynamics of leading a business and the personal attributes and awareness that can set you apart in a competitive environment.

SA’s challenges are a breeding ground for innovative opportunities, says SweepSouth CEO, Aisha Pandor. For her, happy customers are the greatest measure of business success and she says, “word of mouth is still the biggest driver of our new business”. Hear about the SweepSouth growth from an idea created by need to a start-up sensation that is the first on the continent to bring technology to home-cleaning services. Aisha talks to Fred Roed about changing careers, the challenges and the satisfaction of owning your own business, and her vision to address societal needs while running a thriving business.

Why is it important for entrepreneurs to learn to present and communicate well? Rich Mulholland, a seasoned public speaker and entrepreneur who has started multiple businesses, including SA's largest presentation firm, Missing Link, chats to Fred Roed about the must-have skill of building a presentation that works. Rich says you have to “give the audience a reason to care. You’ve got to buy an audience’s attention before you sell them anything – even an idea.” Sharing from his own career and experience with TED Talks, this maestro in public speaking tells all about presentation techniques and tools to get people on your side and to respond to your “call to action”.

In developed nations, the SME sector contributes around 90% to employment, while in South Africa it sits around 50%. Endeavor South Africa, a not-for-profit organisation, has dedicated years to mentoring high-impact entrepreneurs and knows just what SA businesses need to take off. Catherine Townshend, former MD of Endeavor South Africa, speaks to Fred Roed about the importance of good, high-quality mentorship, support providers focused on SME development and the different life cycles of a business. “Do your homework, know your blind spots, and get the right support to navigate your business through each life cycle.”

Having the right partners with the right resources can make all the difference to your business. What are some of the secret ingredients to solid business relationships? For this week’s guests, Mike Anderson, CEO of National Small Business Chamber, and Jos Dirkx, an international consultant and entrepreneur, learning to listen is an important skill in partnerships. Fred Roed speaks to these seasoned entrepreneurs about their personal experiences and the main attributes in attracting lasting business partnerships.