Media Release from EY (formerly Ernst and Young):
EY is calling for nominations for the 18th Southern Africa World Entrepreneur Award programme. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, the programme honours exceptional individuals who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses.
There are three categories for which EY will be accepting nominations:
- Master: Individuals whose achievements have made them world class entrepreneurs. Nominees would have to be running and organisation with revenues starting from US$100m to qualify for this category.
- Exceptional: Individuals who have shown exceptional tenacity and determination in building a successful and established enterprise, that is well on its way to becoming a market leader in its sector.
- Emerging: Individuals building young businesses with high potential.
The minimum threshold for participants in the Exceptional and Emerging categories is US$6m.
Our past winning entrepreneurs embody the reason why we stage these Awards – the willingness to take risks, confront failure and grab opportunities.
Justin Clarke, founder of One Africa Media, was the Emerging Category winner in 2014. “I’ve had a lot more failure than I’ve had successes. That’s where the learning comes in: you’ve got to understand that taking chances is what it’s all about,” he said.
Exceptional Category winner Divine Ndhlukula – who owns security firm Securico – understands what it means to take that chance. “I wasn’t financially secure; I had nothing to my name. I was just an employer on a salary that was going to end the moment I stopped working. So I wasn’t financially secure at all. But what I did see was an opportunity,” she said of becoming an entrepreneur.
EY is now looking for other entrepreneurs who possess that same can-do attitude. “At EY, we are committed to building a better working world by encouraging entrepreneurs and celebrating their success. At a time when jobs are scarce and economies are struggling, entrepreneurship offers a lifeline to many. In Africa, it is part of the DNA of many Africans who have over the years proved that it only takes determination, entrepreneurial spirit and hard work to create a business empire. We want to celebrate that entrepreneurial spirit and one of the ways we do it is through the Award programme,” says Cheryl-Jane Kujenga, Strategic Growth Markets leader for EY Africa.
“It is important to foster a supportive entrepreneurial environment – to celebrate entrepreneurs and recognise their impact, while encouraging others to follow in their footsteps. The programme extends beyond the concept of an honour. Our finalists are given the opportunity to engage with like-minded entrepreneurs and our illustrious alumni and business leaders, who will help them take their business to the next level. They will also gain access to a range of events and workshops covering the main issues that impact their organisations,” she concludes.
While any individual can nominate an entrepreneur, self-nomination is encouraged. Entry forms need to be completed by all nominees and submitted to Kyla Nel (kyla.nel@za.ey.com) by 30 March 2015, accompanied by all supporting documentation. The final list of nominees will be announced in May, with the winners for Southern Africa being named at an awards ceremony in October.
Click here for more information or to download nomination forms: http://www.ey.com/ZA/en/About-us/World-Entrepreneur-Awards-Programme/EY-EOY-nomination