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Articles by Heather Lowe
Lifelong learning for entrepreneurs - key to growth
Heather Lowe | Head | SME Development | FNB | mail me | There is a pervasive myth that entrepreneurship cannot be taught. If you were not born an entrepreneur, you are out of luck. If you are a born entrepreneur, success is presumed to come naturally. Both ideas are problematic. If entrepreneurship means setting up a business and taking financial risks to realise profit, it is teachable.
California Fires Destroy Priceless Theosophical Archive
According to Prof. Wouter Hanegraff, writing on social media this morning, the apocalyptic fires devastating the Los Angeles area have completely destroyed the archives of the Theosophical Society, one of the largest collections of material on nineteenth-century esoteric beliefs in the world: I was just told that the entire property of the Theosophical Society in Altadena near Pasadena has been completely destroyed by the fires in Los Angeles.
No magic genes needed: Anyone can master entrepreneurship Original
Advertise your job vacancies 2 days7 days30 daysBy Industry Show more A common misconception is that entrepreneurship is an innate skill and if you are lucky enough to be born with it, you will always be successful. The art and science of entrepreneurship If we agree that the definition of entrepreneurship is the activity of setting up a business and taking on financial risk in the hope of realising a profit, then it is very clearly something that can be taught.
The Psychology of Being a Successful Entrepreneur: Can it be taught or is it a natural talent?
There is a pervasive myth that entrepreneurship can’t be taught. If you weren’t lucky enough to be born an entrepreneur, then you’re simply out of luck. And if you are a born entrepreneur, then success presumably just falls in your lap. Both ideas are problematic. If we agree that the definition of entrepreneurship is the activity of setting up a business and taking on financial risk in the hope of realising a profit, then it is very clearly something that can be taught.
Unathi Nuku: Building a new era in IT Original
Advertise your job vacancies Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and founder of Grameen Bank, Muhammed Yunus, highlighted, "Social entrepreneurship is the pursuit of sustainable solutions to neglected problems with positive social impact, with the ultimate goal of changing society for the better." Unathi Nuku, the founder of New Era IT, embodies this magnificent description.
#YouthMonth: From homelessness to success, Talent Ncube's journey with Liberty Two Degrees Original
Advertise your job vacancies As part of our Youth Month feature, we introduce Talent Ncube, a 31-year-old Zimbabwean artist who found new opportunities in Johannesburg. Source: Supplied. Talent Ncube. Benefitting from Liberty Two Degrees' Enterprise Development initiative, Talent's journey from homelessness to successful portrait artist at Nelson Mandela Square exemplifies resilience and dedication.
Construction through coaching Original
Business coaching is a discipline that has changed, evolved, and transformed in leaps and bounds since the 1800s. It's been almost 200 years since the term ‘coaching’ was coined by Oxford University. Professional “business coaching,” on the other hand, originated in the 1980’s with Sir John Whitmore.
FNB stokvel savings increase to R9.6bn despite tough economic environment Original
Stokvels continue to show tenacity and commitment in promoting a savings culture in South Africa despite the tough economic environment. This is shown by the 15% increase in net deposits, surpassing the R9.6bn mark in total member contributions over the past year. Source: Supplied. Himal Parbhoo, chief executive officer of FNB Retail Cash Investments.
Mastering the art and science of strategic pricing for SMEs Original
When it comes to running a small or medium-sized business, setting the right price tag for your goods or services isn't just a case of slapping on a markup and calling it a day. Pricing is a highly strategic undertaking that involves a very careful balancing act between making a profit and staying attractive to customers, both of which are essential for a sustainable business.
14 SA creatives join Cultural Producers Programme Original
In an environment where the creative sector often navigates challenges related to career sustainability, the Cultural Producers Programme steps forward to empower young talent. This initiative, delivered by the British Council in partnership with Business and Arts South Africa NPC (BASA), Common Purpose South Africa, and the Pan-African Creative Exchange (PACE), aims to bridge the gap in leadership succession within the cultural sector.
4 African banks including FNB and Capitec are world's strongest banking brands
2 days7 days30 daysBy Industry Four African banks, Equity Bank (92.46), First National Bank (92.29), and Kenya Commercial Bank (91.47), have secured positions among the top five strongest banks, according to Brand Finance's most valuable brand list. Additionally, Capitec, with a score of 89.08, has claimed the seventh spot on the prestigious list. FNB is one of the most valuable banking brands. Source: FNB.
4 African banks including FNB and Capitec are world's strongest banking brands
Four African banks, Equity Bank (92.46), First National Bank (92.29), and Kenya Commercial Bank (91.47), have secured positions among the top five strongest banks, according to Brand Finance's most valuable brand list. Additionally, Capitec, with a score of 89.08, has claimed the seventh spot on the prestigious list. FNB is one of the most valuable banking brands. Source: FNB.
The future of South Africa lies in fostering youth entrepreneurship
It’s been said more than once that South Africa’s survival and prosperity have hinged upon, and continues to depend upon entrepreneurship. Looking to the future, however, we have to ensure that this entrepreneurial spirit survives, and is further fostered. Mikaeel Moti | image supplied {{ijmage}} The challenges facing young entrepreneurs Young people’s ideas and enthusiasm are exactly what a forward-looking country needs.
Profit and purpose: The twin engines driving social entrepreneurship
Search jobs In the last twenty years, social entrepreneurship has garnered growing attention and acknowledgement. The notion of blending profit generation with beneficial social outcomes has ignited a worldwide movement, disrupting the conventional belief that these pursuits are incompatible.
The combined power of profit and purpose: the impact of social entrepreneurship
By: Heather Lowe, Head of SME Development at FNB Over the past two decades the concept of social entrepreneurship has gained increasing attention and recognition. The idea of combining profit-making with positive social impact has sparked a global movement, challenging the traditional notion that the two endeavours are mutually exclusive.
The need for forward-thinking ESD strategies in South Africa's rural communities
In South Africa's corporate engagement within rural and peri-urban communities, a recurring narrative persists: a bias towards non-core ESD programmes and interventions overshadows the essential need for holistic, forward-thinking Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) strategies to boost small business growth.
Stellenbosch Municipality teams up with The StartUp Tribe to boost entrepreneurship
The Stellenbosch Municipality, in collaboration with The StartUp Tribe, introduces the Stellenbosch Entrepreneurship Academy. Powered by the online platform StartUp Tribe, this initiative offers free training and education through various online short courses. The courses cover a spectrum of business and entrepreneurship topics, catering to aspiring entrepreneurs in the Greater Stellenbosch municipal area.
Brands maximise DOOH domination as Springboks land at OR Tambo
The Springboks have returned to South Africa following a record-breaking victory at the 2023 Men's Rugby World Cup. When the team landed at OR Tambo International Airport, thousands of fans gathered to welcome the champions home as they made their entrance via the airport's international arrivals terminal. Brands took advantage of the moment by ensuring their visibility on the Airport Ads® atrium screens.
Inaugural Africa's Business Heroes Entrepreneurship Journalism Excellence Award winners
The inaugural Africa's Business Heroes Entrepreneurship Journalism Excellence Award, recognising and celebrating the role journalists play in promoting and supporting African entrepreneurship, have been announced. Image supplied.
Personal development is critical for entrepreneurial success
Heather Lowe | Head | SME Development | FNB | mail me | As a founder or entrepreneur, especially in the early stages of business, you are the business. At least at the beginning of the lifecycle of a business it is almost impossible to separate it from the character and mind of the entrepreneur who brought it to life. The business reflects your ideas, values, skills, knowledge, wellbeing, mental state, personal perspectives, worldview, and personality.
Agency Scope introduces trophies for SA winners
If you win it, flaunt it... For the first time in South Africa, Agency Scope will be replacing certificates with trophies for the winners in six of its categories, having introduced trophies internationally six months ago. Image supplied.
The importance of personal growth for achieving entrepreneurial success
As a founder or entrepreneur, especially in the early stages of business, you are the business. At least at the beginning of the lifecycle of a business it is almost impossible to separate it from the character and mind of the entrepreneur who brought it to life. Heather Lowe | image supplied The business reflects your ideas, values, skills, knowledge, well-being, mental state, personal perspectives, worldview, and personality.
SA's consumer confidence drops in fourth quarter - survey
South Africa's fourth-quarter consumer confidence fell to the lowest in two decades for the festive season, according to a survey released on Thursday, 7 December 2023, as the country struggles with higher interest rates and a cost-of-living crisis. A woman uses a trolley as she shops at a Pick n Pay store at Maponya mall in Soweto, South Africa.
Festive spending in SA faces decline; luxury retailers brace for impact
With consumer confidence lower in the fourth quarter, South Africans may have no choice but to curb their end-of-year spending this festive season. In Q4, the FNB/BER Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) declined from -16 in Q3 to -17, marking its lowest festive-season reading in more than two decades. Notably, this figure is lower than the -12 level recorded in Q4 2020, a period when the economy was grappling with the impact of Covid-19 restrictions.
Drunk Again on the 4th of July
It is 2016. I am on a sober experiment, maybe 14 days in and it is the 4th of July. We are out of town spontaneously visiting friends. One of them works in hospitality and got us a beautiful hotel room in a nearly sold out city. When we check in there's chilled champagne for us, a sweet note, and milk & cookies for the kids. It was such a sweet surprise! We felt VIPs. I have never had this kind of service upon arrival. I am really touched, but I don't touch the champagne.
Nostalgic Thinking About Drinking
Some of my best memories are from some of my biggest drinking moments. It's been helpful to think that my drinking was bad, unhealthy and alcohol took me away from myself. And now that I've removed alcohol, I am happy, healthy, free, and all is well. Although this is 100% true, it is not the whole truth. It is a story that I have been telling myself for years. I had to tell myself this story to get to the place I am at now, which is 5 years sober, happy, and free.
A Sober American in Paris
When I was just starting out on my sober journey I had this voice in my head, Let's call that voice by name, the Wine Witch. She tried to sabotage me every step of the way. When I would see some progress (maybe 4 days alcohol free) she would start screaming at me: "What are you going to do? Like really not drink? Like not even drink when you get to Paris? Then the real me would hear that Wine Witch.
Social Media and Addiction
By Heather Lowe Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash My Social Media Experiment was to stop using Instagram and Facebook for business for 7 weeks. What happened was not what I expected. Why did I do this? Like many, I have a love/hate relationship with social media. I love it because I have made both virtual and real life friends from it. It helps me market my business. I am an extrovert, I love to share and get...
Sober Milestones and Graduations
This weekend was my first born daughter's high school graduation. My sobriety made everything so much better. In some ways it felt like a stress test: Host a party for 50 people. Pray for good weather. Say hello. Say goodbye. Introduce people to each other. Lose sleep for 3 nights in a row. Get the cake out at the right time. Whoops you're too late. Host my family for 6 days. There's light bulbs out in the basement. We need more coffee. Host a houseful of in laws for a day.
Heather Lowe of Gravis Law joins IR as the exclusive Crypto and Digital Asset Advisory member in Massachusetts
IR Global, the world’s largest exclusive network of advisory firms is delighted to introduce that Heather Lowe has joined IR as our exclusive Crypto and Digital Asset Advisory member in Massachusetts. Heather Lowe is a Senior Attorney based in the metro Boston area and a member of the Business Law team at Gravis.
How to make a business investable
Heather Lowe | Head | SME Development | FNB | mail me | There are two sides to the business investment equation. Financial institutions and venture capitalists need to offer suitable investment packages and correctly identify suitable funding recipients. But businesses themselves have a responsibility to ensure they are investment ready. Investment readiness – the ability of a company to successfully attract and secure financing – is often misunderstood.
The importance of objectivity to the entrepreneur
Twitter began as a podcast app. Nokia was originally a paper mill. If Jeff Bezos had stuck to his guns Amazon would still just sell books. The ability to pivot and not become emotionally attached to a single idea is the mark of a professional entrepreneur. It’s only natural for you to form an emotional attachment to your creation. If you’re an artist, you’ll love the painting you’ve worked on. If you’re an architect, you’ll be proud of the new design you’ve come up with.
How to make your business investable
There are two sides to the business investment equation. Financial institutions and venture capitalists need to offer suitable investment packages and correctly identify suitable funding recipients. But businesses themselves have a responsibility to ensure they are investment ready. Investment readiness – the ability of a company to successfully attract and secure financing – is often misunderstood.
Breast Cancer, Women, and Alcohol
By Heather Lowe October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You can support and donate to a variety of options to fight against breast cancer. There are pink ribbons, lip gloss, blankets, shoes, stickers, t-shirts and more. The most well known good that you can purchase to fight against breast cancer is alcohol. Many well meaning organizations are fighting breast cancer with alcohol. There are...
Are you a budding entrepreneur? Why finding an effective business mentor is important for your success
By Heather Lowe Some entrepreneurs seem born to the role. Others are clearly a product of their environment. But what unites successful entrepreneurs is the degree to which they are able to grow and adapt personally throughout their journey. Their ability to do so, to mirror and lead the growth of their company on a personal level, is helped immeasurably by the presence of a skilled, experienced, and compatible mentor. Story continues below Advertisement What does mentorship look like?
Making business funding pay off for your business
With South Africa continuing to battle a dampened economy, small to medium enterprise (SME) business owners are having to be both resourceful and creative in their approach to remain successful. For many SMEs wanting to grow during this period, ensuring that they have access to funding and a clear plan on how to use it is absolutely vital. “Business funding can come with quite a few roadblocks,” says Tom Stuart, chief marketing officer at Lulalend.
Celebrating the resilience of women-owned businesses in SA
Two years into the pandemic, the world continues to grapple with the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) and businesses are still trying to recover. Though businesses the world over have been hit hard by pandemic, women-led businesses have experienced disproportionately negative effects.
Cabinet approves draft small enterprise development masterplan
The cabinet has approved the publication of the draft National Integrated Small Enterprise Development (Nised) Masterplan for public comment. The initial Integrated Strategy for Entrepreneurship and Small Enterprises was adopted in 2005. The strategy and the subsequent Nised give effect to the 1995 White Paper on the National Strategy for the Development and Promotion of Small Business in South Africa.
How entrepreneurs can unlock a host of business benefits by being open to coaching
Entrepreneurs and small business owners are a bold and courageous breed. Most are willing to throw everything they have behind their big dreams and work tirelessly to see them realised. Unfortunately, as is clear from the very high small business failure rates across South Africa, and indeed the world, courage, determination and hard work alone are no guarantee of entrepreneurial success. Heather Lowe, head of SME development at FNB Commercial.
How to keep your employees’ spirits bright this holiday season
Traditions hold value in most workplaces, but it is OK for traditions to change. New activities and connections can come from remaining open to new ways of doing things. The holidays can be stressful, both personally and professionally. This has never been more true than this year considering the continued state of pandemic and lagging economic indicators for businesses. Chances are many of your employees are feeling decreased mental/physical health, and/or financial fears at this some.
Vegas is Better Sober
I’ve been to Vegas seven times. For five of them, I went as a drinking party girl. For one, I was doing a sober curious experiment. On my most recent trip, I arrived in Vegas as a happy, healthy, comfortable, non drinker. There is such a thing, and I am proof of it. I have enjoying my alcohol free lifestyle, so much, I made it my career.
The Missing Link In Corporate Wellness Programs
Talking about substance use is the missing link in Corporate Wellness conversations. We have this idea that people are addicts or they are not addicts. We think you have a drinking problem or you don’t. We think an addict is living under a bridge somewhere drinking from a brown paper bag. We think everyone else is someone who casually enjoys one glass of wine at dinner.
National Sober Day
Happy National Sober Day! I celebrate today because I am 3 ½ years sober. I am a Certified Professional Life and Recovery Coach, and a Certified Facilitator of Addiction Awareness. I wasn’t always so enthusiastic about ditching the drink. Believe me, sober was the last resort for me. I tried everything I could to keep […] The Thrive Global Community welcomes voices from many spheres on our open platform.
(No) Motivation -Do It Anyway Monday
I started the week with a cycle class at my new gym. It’s been a while since I took a spin class. I was intimidated. When I scheduled the class at the end of last week… I wanted to start the week off with a bang. I wanted to put myself first, get a hard thing out of the way, and create new energy for my week. I usually start Monday’s really slow. I sit and sip my coffee on the couch, under a blanket, with Rocky at my feet. I journal. I write a blog. I write a newsletter. I stay in my pajamas.
Sober is Boring and I Have Lost Friends
I always preach #sobertnoboring but the more I think about it… …maybe I am boring. Maybe my sober life is boring? Maybe I don’t have to defend this anymore. Maybe this will not inspire you to quit drinking. Maybe this is your biggest fear come true. It was mine. I didn’t want to be boring or lose friends, and it happened. Truth be told… There are people who don’t want to hang out with me since I’ve quit drinking. I don’t get invited to events that I used to. I have lost friends since I quit drinking.
Why Can’t I Stop Drinking?
Why cant I stop drinking? It is a question that has pained millions, including me. These words are typed into a Google search, daily by people feeling broken, confused, and desperate for answers. I am here to tell you, there is nothing wrong with you. It’s not you, it’s alcohol. I know because I became dependent on alcohol too. After years of exploration, I came out on the other side. I had a lot of things going for me, and still I was sucked into alcohol’s hole of despair.
Alcohol is No Longer a Temptation
There was a moment this weekend where I picked up a glass of whiskey, so I could wash the table underneath so we could play cards after dinner. I put my nose in and smelled it. It smelled so good!!! It gave me a warm, boozy, fuzzy feeling just to sniff it. I knew I would love the burn going down my throat. Whiskey wasn’t my drink of choice, but I always did like it. Did I want a sip of whiskey? Maybe? Did I want that happy burn and fuzzy buzz to come over me? Yes, I definitely did.
The Illusion of the Two Beer Buzz
This weekend we will be on a lake. Woo Hoo! Welcome Summer! I heard an interview by the band Old Dominion about their new song titled, “I Was On A Boat That Day”. It’s a super fun song and I love Old Dominion’s music. They said they were drinking when they recorded it because they wanted it to sound free and loose, like the meaning of the song. I totally get that. I love that too. It gives me a jolt. I want that kind of two beer buzz they talk about in the country songs.
International Women’s Day, There’s no Power in Pinot
International Women’s Day, March 8th 2020, is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The IWD 2020 campaign theme is drawn from a notion of ‘Collective Individualism.’ We are all parts of a whole. Our individual actions, conversations, behaviors and mindsets can have an impact on our larger society. Collectively we can help create a gender equal world and we can all choose to be #EqualforEqual.
SuperBowl 2020 Proves We Don’t Need Alcohol to Be Successful or Empowered
You Don't Need Alcohol to Dance The Thrive Global Community welcomes voices from many spheres on our open platform. We publish pieces as written by outside contributors with a wide range of opinions, which don’t necessarily reflect our own. Community stories are not commissioned by our editorial team and must meet our guidelines prior to being published.
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