Nation Builder is hosting the ‘In Good Company’ conference virtually this year and in aid of the Gap Fund; the goal is to ‘Be the Regeneration’.
South Africa (10 September 2020) – It is time to look at rebuilding and repairing our economy, our society and restoring our people. Nation Builder is working to promote the idea for people and businesses to ‘Be the Regeneration’ South Africa needs to succeed.
That is the theme for their In Good Company Conference; it will focus on how we can rebuild our economy, repair our society, restore our people and find ways to #BuildBackBetter. This is the 6th Annual In Good Company Conference, and it will be held virtually on the mornings of 17th and 18th of September 2020.
The conference will cover a variety of topics by local and international speakers. From the science of thought to finding justice in business, the speakers will help inspire and motivate everyone in attendance.
The best part is that 100% of the ticket sales are donated directly to the Gap Fund – a crisis fund established by the Mergon Group that supports NPOs serving our most vulnerable during and post-COVID-19.
The Gap Fund is filling the gaps in the NPO space, ensuring that non-profits feel supported as they help protect and feed everyday South Africans.
The Gap Fund has already raised more than R7 Million and benefited more than 90 non-profit organisations to date.
Dr Michael Mol of Hello Doctor and Minah Koela Executive Director of Beautiful Gate will be co-hosting the conference. If you would like to find out more and to get your tickets, you can via their website here.
Take a look at some of the speakers and topics you can expect to hear about below.
Science of thought
During her years in clinical practice and her work with underprivileged teachers and students in South Africa and the USA, Dr Caroline Leaf developed her theory of how we think, build memory and learn, into tools and processes that have transformed the lives of people across the globe.
Looking at psychological healing, education, economics and more, Dr Leaf will be talking about ‘The science of thought’ as well as the impact of prolonged trauma and what we have to do to start regaining our ability to overcome challenges.
Justice in business
After a successful corporate career in the IT industry, Patrick Kuwana became a serial entrepreneur – co-founding various specialist media companies, and being involved in numerous business incubators and accelerators in Africa and Asia.
Patrick will unpack the topic of ‘Economic justice: reconstructing our economic foundation’.
‘A nation’s economy cannot grow if resources are forcibly taken from one group and given to another. Likewise, a nation’s economy cannot grow if a large section of the population does not have access to resources and thus cannot participate. We need a new approach to business that does not feed the consumption habits of a few elites – an approach that values and incorporates equality, inclusivity and justice in ways that will drive economic growth rapidly and sustainably. Justice is critical for business to be sustainable,’ says Patrick.
Entrepreneurship
Several entrepreneurs will discuss how entrepreneurship can rejuvenate communities and the economy.
‘The effects of the Coronavirus pandemic on South Africa are wider and deeper than they appear at first glance,’ says Shawn Theunissen. Shawn plays various roles within the property and entrepreneurship ecosystems in South Africa and abroad. He is responsible for corporate social responsibility (CSR) at Growthpoint, where he oversees the transformation, sustainability reporting, CSI and enterprise development portfolios.
‘Lockdown and the shock of having to suddenly close down a business has had a massive psychological impact on entrepreneurs and small business owners, besides the more overt financial impact,’ he says.
Shawn, together with Remmone Modisakeng, founder of Teambix, will be chatting to Brandon Paschal, director of Innovation at LaunchLab about why entrepreneurs are essential in building a thriving South Africa.
Economic risks, challenges and opportunities
Leading political economy analyst and futurist Daniel Silke will talk through the current economic landscape. Daniel is the director of the Political Futures Consultancy based in Cape Town, South Africa, and this will no doubt be an inspiring talk at a pivotal time in South Africa.
Marketer, author and entrepreneur GG Alcock will then offer insights into South Africa’s vast informal economy, delving into the conversation of ‘Discovering the bedrock of SA’s economy: creating interconnected informal and formal sectors’.
GG believes the informal business sector is the next great frontier of Africa, and it is undergoing an economic revolution – a new world of small people doing big things, transforming the continent.
by 