make the difference and that value is derived from a motivated organisation.


Dr Morne Mostert, Managing Director of Leadership Options in Cape Town, commented on the Western Cape adjudication stating that the focus of this year’s entrants in that region was placed primarily on an international perspective. Various sizes of businesses had a systemic awareness of the role of entities outside South Africa, from seeking foreign markets to sourcing global suppliers and from using internationally recognised processes to studying international best practice for certification by multinational bodies.


“Such an international perspective is encouraging for technology and innovation in South Africa, as it deliberately departs from an insular view and works towards global competitiveness,” says Mostert.


Bradley Coward, Chief Information Officer for Sappi Ltd who adjudicated entrants from Gauteng, says that although the economic climate has dampened the rate of entrepreneurial growth, huge opportunities within both the private and public sectors exist. Like many other entrants, those that Coward adjudicated,


indicated that their greatest on-going challenge remains the lack of funding, which limits their bigger- picture aspirations.


Coward says, “Essentially, it is not a lack of good ideas hampering growth but rather the rate of commercialisation and to some degree a lack of access to high growth markets. The level of enthusiasm and sheer energy invested in the various innovative companies has been very impressive and there is no doubt that good people, tops the list of success factors.”


Coward is of the view that lack of recognition and appropriate structures within both government and large corporations are also major stumbling blocks to the successful commercialisation of innovation in this country.


Despite some of these eminent challenges, Coward echoes a common sentiment among fellow TT100 2011 adjudicators and concludes, “You cannot box entrepreneurial spirit nor keep them down, so focus on liberating that spirit and sit back and be amazed at what happens!”























EDGE | November 2011 21


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100