Christo Botes As 2015 draws to an end and everyone starts to wind down, now is the ideal time for entrepreneurs to take a step back and reflect on how their business has fared this year, and the lessons they have learnt as a result. Analysing these can help entrepreneurs apply key insights into their business, and avoid certain mistakes and challenges. This is according to Christo Botes of the Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® awards, who says that entrepreneurship unfortunately does not have a  ‘how to’ guide or roadmap, and entrepreneurs are therefore left to find their own ways in business, often facing  a maze of challenging circumstances.  “2015 was a tough year in terms of the economic conditions, but despite the ups and downs, the hard work and dedication paid off for many entrepreneurs and businesses. Perseverance - a trait of any successful entrepreneur – assisted many entrepreneurs with the various challenges witnessed in 2015. This...

2015 Winners South Africa’s premier annual entrepreneurial competition, Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® , named Gil Oved and Ran Neu-Ner, founders and owners of The Creative Counsel (TCC), as the overall winners of the 2015 competition in Johannesburg this morning. Speaking at the event, spokesperson for the 2015 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® competition, Christo Botes, said that the judging process was extremely challenging this year, with judges having to select winners for the seven categories from 15 deserving finalists who were selected to advance to the final round of judging. Botes says that Gil Oved and Ran Neu-Ner of TCC were selected as the overall 2015 Entrepreneur of the Year® winners due to the phenomenal success which the business has achieved in its 14 years of operation. “Founded in 2001 as a two-man agency, TCC is today the largest advertising group in South Africa by staff and turnover, with a targeted presence in A...

2015 Sanlam/Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® finalists announced  Christo Botes After much deliberation and debate, the judges for the 2015 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® have announced the 15 finalists who will advance to the next round of the competition, with the overall winners to be announced at an awards ceremony in September 2015. According to Christo Botes, spokesperson for the 2015 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® competition, the finalist judging process was extremely challenging this year due to the number of high quality entries received. He says that the entrants have once again provided the judges with a vast variety of thriving businesses to select finalists and winners from.  “The judges were seriously impressed by the quality of entries received this year, which have set a precedent in terms of entrepreneurial talent and success in South Africa.”  Botes says that they received entries fro...