South African entrepreneurs answer your questions

Last month, we invited readers of this blog to submit questions to South African entrepreneurs supported by the Branson School of Entrepreneurship.  The School, based in Johannesburg, provides training, mentoring and seed funding to young entrepreneurs, helping them launch successful businesses which will in turn create jobs and help boost the local economy.
We received loads [...]

What’s it like to be a young entrepreneur in South Africa?

Virgin Unite is heading to South Africa to visit several young entrepreneurs whose businesses have been supported by the Branson School of Entrepreneurship.  We’re taking along our video camera, so why not post a question for them to this blog?  We’ll film the responses and share them upon our return.
The School, based in Johannesburg, provides [...]

Meet Heaven’s Angels rider - Helen Adipo

Following on recent posts about how innovation is a key factor in Virgin’s success, this principle is also fundamental to the work of Virgin’s not-for-profit foundation, Virgin Unite. We aim to harness the entrepreneurial energy that has made Virgin so successful in the commercial realm and apply it to solving social and environmental problems.
One example [...]

Meet Lazarus Seema

As described in the previous post about the Branson School of Entrepreneurship, Richard and Virgin Unite are supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs in South Africa. Watch the video here to meet Lazarus Seema - one of the first students to graduate from the school and launch the business of his dreams, Milestone Communications. [...]

The Branson School of Entrepreneurship

Following up on recent posts about what it takes to be an entrepreneur, I think it’s interesting to also consider how entrepreneurs can have a positive impact on wider society, especially in places like South Africa where they are identifying gaps, providing critical new services and creating jobs.  In fact, it’s been reported* that [...]

Add your name to the Every Human Has Rights pledge

Following up on Richard’s recent post about Entrepreneurs and leadership, I think one of the most exciting initiatives supported by Richard and Virgin Unite under this banner has been The Elders. This esteemed group of global leaders, headed by Nelson Mandela, Graça Machel and Desmond Tutu, are contributing their wisdom, independent leadership [...]

14 and a half hours with Richard: 3pm - 10pm

Here’s the final part of my big day with Virgin Group chairman Richard Branson on his visit to Toronto to promote his Business Stripped Bare book…
3:10 pm
We head back downtown. Richard is about to become the first non-Canadian to receive the ‘Recognition of Achievement Award’ by the National Quality Institute in Canada for his success [...]

14 and a half hours with Richard: 9am - 3pm

So - carrying on from yesterday’s post: 14 and a half hours with Richard, here’s the next bit of the big day in Toronto…
9 am
We have to make a stop at Harry Rosen so Richard can pick up a Hugo Boss suit for tonight’s gala. Richard is on the phone to the skipper of [...]