Nelson Sebati is an empowerment guru.
He also has 10 years’ experience in recruitment, talent acquisition, career transitioning & on-boarding, with a specific focus on Information Technology (IT) and Executive skills.
He also has 10 years’ experience in recruitment, talent acquisition, career transitioning & on-boarding, with a specific focus on Information Technology (IT) and Executive skills.
His talents and skills have proven 'they can stand the test of time'. This became clear at Raizorp, a market leading provider of
Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) solutions across Africa.
Sebati is also an entrepreneur, Professional Empowered Advisor (Pr EAd), Certified Recruitment Practitioner and Enterprise Development and Supplier Development (ESD) Specialist with over 10 years extensive experience in specialist ICT Recruitment, Resource Management, Business Development, Training Coordination, People Management, Business Transaction/Joint-Venture Brokering, New Venture Creation/Development Advisory and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBBEE).
"I am as SHARP as a tack, ENTHUSIASTIC as hell & an AUTHORITY on Enterprise Development + Supplier Development (ESD). I can help your company confirm its position as a socially and economically responsible corporate citizen through a seamless solution to Enterprise Development + Supplier Development (ESD) that will not only feed into your business strategy & provide the requisite B-BBEE points, but will meaningfully contribute towards sustainable & impactful socio-economic change in the communities that it operates and the country at large."
Sebati, is a qualified Career Strategist and Job Search Coach. He is also a certified BBBEE Champion and BBBEE Master.
He studied Entrepreneurship at Wits Business School, Law at UNISA,BBBEE at School of Business Leadership among other numerous qualifications. He is currently a member of the YBSA, BMF, REC-UK, APSO, CSSA, ASA-USA, and IoDSA.
In recent times, Sebati explained that, "In terms of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) the consolidation of the Preferential Procurement (PP) and Enterprise Development (ED) elements of the scorecard to create a single element called Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD) is a strategic move by government to facilitate and support National Development Goals."
"The overall objective is to strengthen the capacity and capabilities of Black-owned enterprises in order for them to be integrated into the mainstream supply chain of larger corporates and ensure symbiotic relations."
"The end result is the creation of more effective Black-owned enterprises that strengthen local procurement and a more inclusive and representative South African economy," says Nelson Sebati a B-BBEE Champion & Master."
On his work at the Black Management Forum (BMF), Sebati comments, “My role is to co-ordinate training and development opportunities for individual members and corporate member representatives via educational service providers such as Business Schools and other professional institutions.”
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH NELSON SEBATI
Q: HOW IS THE ORGANISATION RUNNED?
Q: WHEN WAS THE GROUP FOUNDED AND WHY?
Q: WHAT IS THE DESTINATION?
Q: WHICH OTHER AREAS DO YOU FOCUS ON?
Q: CAN YOU TELL US THE ACTIVITIES YOU ARE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
Q: WHAT INSPIRES RAIZCORP TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT IT IS DOING?
Q: ANY OTHER SUCCESS STORIES?
Q: HOW CAN YOU MAKE IT EASIER FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS MODEL?
Q: WHERE TO FROM HERE?
Sebati is also an entrepreneur, Professional Empowered Advisor (Pr EAd), Certified Recruitment Practitioner and Enterprise Development and Supplier Development (ESD) Specialist with over 10 years extensive experience in specialist ICT Recruitment, Resource Management, Business Development, Training Coordination, People Management, Business Transaction/Joint-Venture Brokering, New Venture Creation/Development Advisory and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBBEE).
"I am as SHARP as a tack, ENTHUSIASTIC as hell & an AUTHORITY on Enterprise Development + Supplier Development (ESD). I can help your company confirm its position as a socially and economically responsible corporate citizen through a seamless solution to Enterprise Development + Supplier Development (ESD) that will not only feed into your business strategy & provide the requisite B-BBEE points, but will meaningfully contribute towards sustainable & impactful socio-economic change in the communities that it operates and the country at large."
Sebati, is a qualified Career Strategist and Job Search Coach. He is also a certified BBBEE Champion and BBBEE Master.
He studied Entrepreneurship at Wits Business School, Law at UNISA,BBBEE at School of Business Leadership among other numerous qualifications. He is currently a member of the YBSA, BMF, REC-UK, APSO, CSSA, ASA-USA, and IoDSA.
In recent times, Sebati explained that, "In terms of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) the consolidation of the Preferential Procurement (PP) and Enterprise Development (ED) elements of the scorecard to create a single element called Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD) is a strategic move by government to facilitate and support National Development Goals."
"The overall objective is to strengthen the capacity and capabilities of Black-owned enterprises in order for them to be integrated into the mainstream supply chain of larger corporates and ensure symbiotic relations."
"The end result is the creation of more effective Black-owned enterprises that strengthen local procurement and a more inclusive and representative South African economy," says Nelson Sebati a B-BBEE Champion & Master."
On his work at the Black Management Forum (BMF), Sebati comments, “My role is to co-ordinate training and development opportunities for individual members and corporate member representatives via educational service providers such as Business Schools and other professional institutions.”
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH NELSON SEBATI
Q: WHAT IS RAIZCORP ALL ABOUT?
A: Raizcorp is Africa’s only unfunded
for-profit business incubator model, which provides full-service
business support programmes that guide entrepreneurs to profitability.
Drawing on the best practices of
business incubator models, worldwide, Raizcorp has created
“Prosperation™” – its own unique, world-renowned model of business
incubation.
A: Raizcorp works with entrepreneurs,
corporates and governments around the globe in order to support
entrepreneurial development strategies and initiatives.
A: Raizcorp was founded in 2000
unofficially and 2002 officially, after it was discovered that within
ten years of opening the businesses, 96% of all entrepreneurs fail; and
in this environment, Raizcorp has made it its life’s purpose to turn
this statistic around.
Q: WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENNING SO FAR?
A: The group has over 900 companies that
have graduated from its Prosperator, programmes currently supports 400
plus companies in Prosperation, programmes develops over 3 000 companies
per annum in “other” programmes has 8 physical business incubators
known as Prosperators (7 in RSA and 1 in Angola). IT is also in
discussions and negotiations with numerous African countries.
The groups employs approximately 109
full time staff. We been profitable since 2006. We operate using urban,
peri-urban and rural models processes between 10 and 40 applications to
incubation programmes per day.
A: Raizcorps’s mission is to increase the
survival rate of small businesses by providing them with a proven model,
capable of both scaling and adaptation to various economic and
socio-political environments. The 4% of small businesses that do survive
are doing something right: Raizcorp’s achievement is founded on our
ability to identify and capture this entrepreneurial spirit, thereby
building and growing successful and, most importantly, profitable
entrepreneurs.
Furthermore, capturing the
entrepreneurial spirit relies on new ways of thinking about business.
For this reason, business plans do not interest Raizcorp – it is common
knowledge that they are not predictors of success. In their stead,
Raizcorp looks at the psychological makeup of the entrepreneur: it is
the hearts and minds of entrepreneurs that will, ultimately, determine
their success.
A: The focus at Raizcorp is on quality, not
quantity. It is thus a model built on measuring efficacy: Raizcorp
prides itself on its ability to measure the impact of its interventions
across each of its key focus areas – sales, marketing, strategy,
finance, and personal development.
A: Currently, Raizcorp is involved in
wide-ranging projects, from deep rural environments to its headquarters
in urban Johannesburg. This is testimony both to the adaptability of the
model and Raizcorp belief that entrepreneurs hold the key to unlocking
wealth in the developing world.
A: As such, its unparalleled track record
and remarkable track record has led to Raizcorp being recognised by the
*World Economic Forum*, the *African Heritage Society*, and many other
local and international socio-economic organisations as a pioneer in the
field of business incubation.
The unprecedented success of Raizcorp’s
projects led the US Under-Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public
Affairs Judith McHale to visit Raizcorp in 2011. She lauded Prosperation
as “a model for Africa”.
Raizcorp’s innovative high-touch,
adaptable entrepreneurial development programmes and its successful
funding model allow Raizcorp to meet the local economic development
investment needs of large companies, multinational corporations,
government agencies, and NGOs.
Also, many international and local
universities have incorporated Raizcorp’s work into their MBA
programmes. These include Harvard Business School, The Wharton School
(University of Pennsylvania), The Haas School of Business (University of
California: Berkeley), The Gordon Institute of Business Science
(University of Pretoria – South Africa).
A: As Africa’s premier business incubator
model, *Raizcorp has developed a rigorous selection process.* This
documented, measurable, and replicable process, a core feature of
Raizcorp’s methodology, ensures that those who make it into the various
programmes are indeed those with the highest potential to succeed. Once
selected, the entrepreneurs are exposed to a high-touch support
programme that produces excellent results.
A: As a small business incubator, Raizcorp
instils an opportunity mindset into the entrepreneurs that are accepted
into its programmes.
Raizcorp also offers unique solutions
combining coaching (by qualified Raizcorp Guides), courses, and
facilitation to help entrepreneurs enrolled in the various programmes
offered by the company to grow their businesses.
The Raizcorp Model is represented by a
unique six-tier pyramid consisting of infrastructure, personnel,
learning, guiding, sales, and magic!
All programmes have the core objective
of fundamentally increasing the entrepreneurial culture of the
communities that they affect.
By developing a culture of
entrepreneurship, Raizcorp ensures that entrepreneurial thinking spreads
across and transcends generations. Each Raizcorp product is created
using a combination of the various elements of the Model depicted below:
Infrastructure:
Raizcorp focuses intensely on *providing
companies with the infrastructure required* to get a small business off
the ground, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on building their business
without having to be concerned with the setup costs and effort of
creating an office environment.
Personnel:
Raizcorp employs full-time staff whose
role it is to *assist entrepreneurs to meet their business objectives*.
These include, among others, chartered accountants, bookkeepers,
trainers, guides, receptionist, administrative assistant, cleaners, and
hospitality hostesses.
Learning:
In association with the Da Vinci
Institute, the learning offered by *Raizcorp is accredited by the CHE
(the South African Council for Higher Education).
Therefore, Raizcorp acts as a Faculty of
Entrepreneurship, allowing beneficiaries to accumulate credits towards a
diploma or degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Learning is seen
as the core of Raizcorp’s value-add. The Raizcorp curriculum is aimed at
developing and honing life skills as well as business acumen.
Guiding:
Guiding is one of Raizcorp’s most
intensive and specialised offerings. *The Raizcorp Guiding Academy has
been accredited by SFEDI *(the Small Firms Enterprise Development
Initiative), the standards setting body for entrepreneurial development
of the UK government.
In Raizcorp’s enterprise development
programmes, beneficiaries receive specialised interventions from various
Growth Guides in the following areas: personal growth, marketing,
sales, finance, and strategy. Please see supporting documentation for
press coverage of
Raizcorp’s SFEDI accreditation.
Sales and Networking
Raizcorp is a readily-available market.
As Raizcorp grows, so too does the market for each company’s services
and products. Many of the Raizcorp companies sell their services to one
another, as well as the greater market. Raizcorp also provides
assistance in the creation of linkage programmes. Raizcorp works with
Principals to develop their beneficiaries into their own supply chains.
Raizcorp also provides intense guidance by offering several sales
programmes and functions.
Magic:
The entrepreneurial journey is often a
lonely one. Raizcorp understands this. This is why we value community
and create a positive, encouraging, supportive, and friendly environment
for and with our beneficiaries. Companies understand that, as a
community, we are stronger than as individuals. It is difficult to
define ‘magic’. Perhaps, this is best left to one our beneficiaries:
“*I have had to walk barefoot for two
days just to feel grounded. To be part of this great energy called
Raizcorp … it is truly magic. It has given me back to myself.” – Lwazi
Hlope, 2009 *SEED – Raizcorp’s LED division.
A: By 2020, Africa has the potential to
create 72 million more stable wage-paying jobs. This figure, published
in Africa at work, a 2012 McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) report, is
based on the strong economic growth that the continent has been
experiencing for a decade as the second-fastest growing region globally.
The experience of countries such as
Thailand, South Korea, and Brazil suggests that these wage-paying jobs
will be created across all sectors.
These jobs would lift millions out of
poverty, raise living standards across the continent, and entrench
economic growth by strengthening Africa’s emerging consuming class.
To achieve this, however, policy makers
and business leaders will have to map out explicit private sector job
creation strategies – and then deliver on them.
In addition, SEED is the division of
Raizcorp dedicated to developing and delivering entrepreneurial support
and development initiatives to achieve the strategic Local Economic
Development (LED) objectives of Raizcorp’s government, corporate,
development agency, and local community partners.
Raizcorp’s SEED programmes are designed
to take account of the general complexities of doing business in the
developing world and to be adaptable to the specific challenges to be
found at a local level. These programmes empower and educate local
entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs to generate the employment
their communities require – and to link their local industries to
national and international markets.
Further, the SEED programmes produce
results because their delivery is based on detailed, on-site contextual
analyses combined with Raizcorp’s highly successful and adaptable
enterprise development approaches and methodologies.
Q: IS THE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?
A: Our website www.raizcorp.com has more information including our contacts.
KEY POINTS:
Raizcorp is Africa’s only unfunded
for-profit business incubator model, which provides full-service
business support programmes that guide entrepreneurs to profitability.
Drawing on the best practices of business incubator models, worldwide,
Raizcorp has created “Prosperation” – its own unique, world-renowned
model of business incubation. Raizcorp works with
entrepreneurs, corporates and governments around the globe in order to
support entrepreneurial development strategies and initiatives.
Raizcorp:
• was founded in 2000 unofficially and 2002 officially
• has over 900 companies that have graduated from its Prosperator programmes
• currently supports 400 plus companies in Prosperation programmes
• develops over 3 000 companies per annum in “other” programmes
• has 8 physical business incubators known as Prosperators (7 in RSA and 1 in Angola)
• is in discussions and negotiations with numerous African countries
• employs approximately 109 full time staff
• has been profitable since 2006
• operates using urban, peri-urban and rural models
• processes between 10 and 40 applications to incubation programmes per day
• was founded in 2000 unofficially and 2002 officially
• has over 900 companies that have graduated from its Prosperator programmes
• currently supports 400 plus companies in Prosperation programmes
• develops over 3 000 companies per annum in “other” programmes
• has 8 physical business incubators known as Prosperators (7 in RSA and 1 in Angola)
• is in discussions and negotiations with numerous African countries
• employs approximately 109 full time staff
• has been profitable since 2006
• operates using urban, peri-urban and rural models
• processes between 10 and 40 applications to incubation programmes per day
For more information visit: www.raizcorp.com
