Leadership in small businesses:
The importance of Entrepreneurship
We all know the importance of education, and over the years, the education system in South Africa has gradually improved. I have a passion for learning and full heartedly believe in entrepreneurship. The one place our education system has failed our nation on is failing to equip our children with entrepreneurial skills through training.
From the earliest age we are taught to work hard, pass our matric, get that important degree and find a good job with the biggest companies. This sad but prevalent truth in South Africa causes our Nation’s young to always be followers, always find the biggest companies and work for them. This is the biggest contributing factor to a gradual failure of our nation and even more importantly that of our economy. As Ozzitronics' CEO, I would like to provide a few insights about this matter.
It is unfortunate that many of us do not fully understand the meaning or importance of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs play a vital role in the economy’s development; they provide economic growth through the creation of new and innovative products and services. Through the creation of new companies, entrepreneurs help to build communities by providing people with jobs, building the community through conducting business locally and generating interest from outside forces that may take an interest in investing in that particular business as well as the community.
Within the South African market (Particularly in our market of choice and focus - ICT), entrepreneurs are steadily enjoying much needed support from government as well as private establishments. Notably on the 19th of November 2009 FNB bank hosted its first ever conference for entrepreneurs dubbed “The state of entrepreneurship in South Africa”. This conference was attended by entrepreneurs, academics as well as policy makers and was intended to create awareness about the shortage of South African entrepreneurs.
In summary it is an understatement to say our schools need to change their focus within the system of education they deliver. To much criticism, our education system in South Africa has been changed so many times already, though the focus should be now more than ever on our education system imparting those essential entrepreneurial skills as a must for every learner. Financial accounting, business management and innovation are just some of the cores of existence we need to develop.
Expect then that as a stop gap, right here on our Ozzitronics domain, I will be watching this situation, giving advice to newcomers, small businesses, and academics. My advice will be well researched, even implemented here at our own company. As we too are a young and upcoming organisation, we will share our insights, our experiences, mistakes and successes right as we go along. We hope to make for a good case study one day, as the pioneers that beat the fear and stood above mount Kilimanjaro holding the banner of accomplishment.