I am a serial entrepreneur that has built and sold a number of businesses over a period of 50 years. Best known amongst these is the Sorbet beauty salon group which grew to 225 franchise stores and became the largest salon chain in Africa. I sold this business in 2017.

Currently I run the Hatch Institute, a coaching and consulting business that specialises in the people side of business, with specific focus on leadership, culture, diversity and customer service. South Africa is in urgent need of a new approach to business leadership that will solve its many unique and complex socio-political challenges. Running a business in a polarised country with a melting pot of diversity requires leaders to understand the complexity of building a an inclusive culture out of a fragmented workforce . This is called culture driven leadership and is based on the “Cultureneering” concept, which I created and can be described as how to build a strong culture in a diverse workforce that lays the platform for obsessive customer service.

Hatch has a number of large corporate clients such as the Sanlam Group, Santam, Investec, Standard Bank and Bidvest, amongst others. I clients also include medium size businesses, including Food Lovers Market, Joe Public, Sparks Schools, the Windhoek Municipality, and Vida e. Furthermore I coach entrepreneurs and start up businesses. I do a fair amount of public speaking, mainly on my entrepreneurial journey and the “Cultureneeering” concept.

In addition to Hatch, I have recently become a shareholder in a new nail bar business called Popsicle in which I do the culture and customer service training and support my fellow partners in launching the Popsicle franchise model.

I believe my 50 year entrepreneurial history of starting and building a number of successful businesses could be the reason I was nominated for this award. I also believe my socio-political slant on business leadership and my Cultureneering framework are unique.

My lifelong vision/purpose has been to contribute, in my own small way, to building an integrated and inclusive South Africa. This involves racial healing, eliminating racial hierarchy and creating a country in which every individual has an equal access to the economy and the opportunity to build a sustainable livelihood. I have practiced this belief in all my businesses and have also coached and consulted to other businesses on this critical aspect of our future.

Recreational activities

Walking, Gym, Travel, Watching sport, Playing chess.