Entrepreneurs and the Tshwane University of Technology, March 17

Beata, our DOT leader,  had arranged with the South African Youth Chamber of Commerce (SAYCC) and Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) for a Community day on Saturday with young entrepreneurs from the area and students inclined to become entrepreneurs.  Since we came from 11 different countries, we each presented a bit about ourselves then a bit about an entrepreneur from our respective countries to get the session going.  Next it was on to a set of topics the students and young entrepreneurs had asked to learn about and discuss, including: 

• THE EVOLUTION OF TECHNOLOGY AND THE INTERNET, AND HOW THEY AFFECTED OUR LIVES
• SKILLS REQUIRED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN USING THE INTERNET TO CONDUCT BUSINESS
• ENTREPRENEURSHIP, FROM IDEA TO IMPLEMENTATION
• HOW TO BE CONFIDENT IN YOURSELF, YOUR IDEAS AS A STUDENT AND ENTREPRENEUR
• DIFFERENCES BETWEEN UNIVERSITY AND INDUSTRY
• NEGOTIATION SKILLS
• DECISION MAKING
• TEAM BUILDING 

 The audience had several questions, including how to get practical experience via an internship to make them more competitive for the available jobs.  In preparing for this session, I learned the US has over 25 million entrepreneurs.  The best hope for South African unemployment is to broadly support entrepreneurship through training, maker spaces, investment, access to open source cloud, and fostering a culture that already exists to make the most of what you have.  The roads in and around the township areas (TUT is in Soshanguve) are crowded with all manner of small businesses.  I saw one for tombstones and kitchen counter tops in Soweto.

After the session we stopped at the Short Left cafe for a meal.  I had pap (like grits only firmer), hard body chicken, salad and Castle Light beer.  I learned hard body chicken is equivalent to free range, township style.  The skin was much thicker than I am used to.  Notice the electrified wire on the building.  It is everywhere, it was all around our hotel in Pretoria too.

 #CSCZA19 #IBMCSA