In this episode, we explore the origins story of Dominque Laverdeu. Dominque is a multi-talented businesswoman President Rouge marketing and communication, aspirant politician and serial entrepreneur.  Get ready for candid conversations, impactful stories, and valuable insights from her journey as an entrepreneur.

My key Takeaways:

1. Navigating Crisis with Courage: Hear Dominques' story of steering her marketing agency, Rouge Marketing, through the tumultuous times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn how she transformed challenges into opportunities, from rebuilding the business to spearheading impactful community projects during the crisis.
   

2. Having The Audacity to Lead: Discover the importance of having the audacity to address tough discussions within your business. Uncover the pivotal moments where Dominque realised the need to confront obstacles head-on, make difficult decisions, and how this audacity became a catalyst for positive change.
   

3. Empowering Your Team for Success: She shares her innovative approaches to employee well-being and corporate culture. How she redefined the work environment at Rouge, fostering a happy employee program and empowering her team to achieve peak productivity, even in the face of adversity.
   

I was inspired by how she balances humility and ambition. And ultimately has driven to achieving sustainability in the business. Full disclosure she part of My Global Leadership Academy class so I am biased.

Enjoy.

Tune in every week for the insights

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More about Dominique:

With over 25 years of marketing and communications experience, Dominique Laverdure is a seasoned strategist known for her work with top brands in Quebec. In 2004, she founded Rouge marketing in Mont-Tremblant, gaining recognition in Quebec and France. Dominique excels in integrated communications, public relations, and business development.

A visionary leader, Dominique inspires teams and supports entrepreneurs in their growth. She is a member of EO Montreal, serving as President and Member Experience Director on the Board of EO Canada. Dominique is also VP of Marketing at Origine Nature and a board member of various organizations, including Domaine Saint-Bernard and Chefs à la rescousse.

In November 2021, Dominique became a councillor and deputy mayor for the City of Mont-Tremblant. Known for her bold and daring style, she is a born leader who embraces innovation and success.

In this episode, we explore the inspiring story of Cindy Norcott. Cindy is a multi-talented businesswoman who wears many hats, including motivational speaker, author, recruitment agency owner, and founder of the Robin Hood Foundation.

Cindy shares her journey and how the pandemic has caused her to refocus her priorities and realize the benefits of the virtual world, allowing her to expand internationally. She emphasizes the importance of finding the right people and trusting them to delegate effectively. She also stresses the need for coaching and mentoring, cultivating a culture of trust and communication, and hiring based on past behaviour and values.

Cindy also discusses the challenges of delegating tasks and responsibilities to team members when travelling. She shares that fully disconnecting and trusting the team is critical to avoid issues and emphasizes that trust takes time to build but is crucial in order to delegate effectively.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cindy's business started a soup kitchen to help the community, which grew into a bigger movement with community involvement and donations.

Overall, Cindy Norcott's story is one of resilience, adaptability, and impact. Her experiences offer valuable insights into leadership, delegation, and community engagement. Tune in to this episode to hear more about Cindy's journey and the lessons she has learned along the way.

Tune in every week for the insights

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More about Cindy:

Cindy Norcott is a motivational speaker, winning recruitment agencies, Pro

Appointments and Pro Talent. Cindy is also the founder and chairperson of the well-known

charity, the Robin Hood Foundation.

Cindy is the author of the best-selling business book, “How to be Unstoppable”. Cindy has won many awards for her entrepreneurial abilities and has won the BWA Regional Achiever of the Year and the Sanlam 3 Talk Business Person of the Year Award.

In 2013, Cindy was awarded the Most Influential Women in Business and Government award for services businesses by CEO Communications. Cosmopolitan magazine also hailed her as one of the 29 Awesome Women of the Year. Cindy was voted the Lead SA KZN Local Hero of the year in 2015 for her community involvement. Cindy’s presentation style combines practical advice, wisdom and humour that leaves her audiences inspired.

In this episode of RadEO, we talk to Jamie Pujara - an entrepreneur in catering and property

He shares his entrepreneurial journey, which involved a family restaurant business, a catering company, a property platform, and a development project, as well as his struggles with balancing work and personal life, managing his ego, and overcoming challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the difficulties he faced during the pandemic, Jamie and his team were able to pivot their business model and focus on new product lines, such as corporate catering, which helped them survive and continue to operate. Jamie also spoke about his struggle to balance work and personal life, particularly being a present father and husband. He acknowledged that his ego has influenced his decision-making and caused him to make many mistakes. However, he also recognised that his ego has driven him to take bold steps that he might not have taken otherwise. Jamie emphasised the importance of finding a balance and keeping his ego in check to avoid making bad decisions that could hurt those around him.

During our chat, Jamie discussed the impact of COVID-19 on his family business and the lack of government support during the crisis. He talked about the panic he felt initially and his concern for the welfare of his staff who depended on the business for their livelihood. He also reflected on the resilience and determination that he developed during the pandemic, which enabled him to fulfil his obligations to those who were owed money. Additionally, Jamie discussed the value he sees in continuing and expanding his current property business, as well as applying the skills he has learned to future projects.

Overall, Jamie's entrepreneurial journey is characterized by adaptability, resilience, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. He has faced numerous challenges, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on his businesses and personal life, but has remained focused on his goals and continued to pursue his passions. His story serves as an inspiration to other entrepreneurs, highlighting the importance of flexibility, self-reflection, and a willingness to take risks.

Tune in every week for the insights

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More about Jamie:

Jamie is an entrepreneur, born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. He is fascinated by innovation, technology and emerging markets and is the Founder of Kenya's number one real estate portal buyrentkenya.com. He is also the property developer of Aspire Heights a 65 unit apartment building in Riruta. His other passion is food and his other businesses include restaurant and catering companies in Nairobi Kenya.

Jamie is a member of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) and serves as a Director on their Global Board (2022-2025). Prior to that he served as the Regional Chair for the Middle East, Pakistan and Africa Region (2019 & 2020). He has been nominated as one of Kenya's Top 40 under 40 businessmen (2015) and was included on the Forbes list of "30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs in Africa" (2016 & 2017)

Through his experiences across various industries and countries, he has acquired a diverse skillset that includes, leadership, business development, brand building, customer service, and strategy planning.

In this episode of RadEO, we talk to Pieter Geldenhuys - A lifelong tourism professional - who loves to figure out problems on long hikes.

We chat about how he used the covid crisis to fast-forward the things he was going to do in 10 years' time.

PG is a successful entrepreneur in the travel and tourism industry, who runs several businesses including a custom safari experience company, a coaching and facilitating walking business, and an NGO aimed at helping disadvantaged groups in South Africa's tourism industry. He believes in the principle of "checking out", which is about being mindful and intentional about the choices we make in life, setting clear boundaries and priorities, and being selective about the opportunities we take on, to create a more fulfilling and purposeful life. He also shares his experience with how he and his business partner Caroline handled the challenges when disaster strikes and how they managed to stay financially secure in the long term by merging their businesses. He also emphasizes the importance of integrating knowledge and skills into one's products and processes to set oneself apart and create unique and valuable products.

More about PG:

Unfazed Adventurerand Curious CoachPGGeldenhuys has dedicated a lifetime to transformational journeys. Whether it is through his tourism venture Classic Escapes, Executive Coaching company PG Tops, his educational NGO Tourism Boot Camp or his writing... He is in the business of effecting change through the power of words, and nature.

He holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance and a Master's of Business Administration at Stellenbosch. He is an Accelerator Trainer, Enneagram Coach and certified distance Learning instructor. As a global keynote speaker, he advocates how to leverage regret through the PDP process.

After a successful exit from the family business in 2003 and a stint in senior leadership for a large listed company, PG bootstrapped his first tourism venture in 2008 to an award-winning tour operator in Cape Town. Out of the original PG TOPS Travel and Tours was born Luxury Safaris (now merged with Classic Escapes), Tourism Boot Camp and Shoshin Walks.

• PG Tops Executive Coaching facilitates cohort-based online courses for key executivesandPG does individual coaching for founders and CEOs.
• Classic Escapes, which he runs with his wife Caroline, curates luxury experiences in Africa’s untouched regions.
• Tourism Boot Camp is a South Africa-based NGO dedicated to Scaling Up People, specifically the talented youth of South Africa with network access and historic challenges.
• PG’s novels include Offsides, and the first book in the ShoshinWalks Series: Max and the Mulligan, a cautionary tale about second chances.

In 2023 he will release BEBEMS: The A-player’s inaction handbook. He lives on the slopes of Table Mountain with Caroline, their two boys Matie and AJ, and Leia, the fur baby.

In this episode of RadEO, we talk to Mike Scott - Former CEO and co-founder of Nona Digital and EO Brisbane member

Mike talks about the importance of specialisation for small business success. He discusses how his team identified an opportunity in the market for helping small businesses with their online presence, particularly in the blockchain space and the shift the focus of their business to web development specifically in the fintech and blockchain industries.

Mike shares valuable insights on how collaboration and co-creation helped Nona Digital to build a strong reputation and portfolio of work, establish themselves as experts in their field, and ultimately led to the successful sale of their company to Yoco.

Tune in every week for the insights

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More about Mike:

With over 20 years as an ‘in the trenches’ entrepreneur, I have developed a deep understanding, capability, and passion for small business operating systems and leadership.

Together with some of my favourite humans we built and grew Nona Digital to become a globally respected software design and development agency with a focus on FinTech and Blockchain scale-ups.

As a result of a deep focus on our positioning, Nona was acquired by Yoco in 2022 and as a result, I am privileged to head up the Product Partnerships function as well as Yoco’s entry into Web3.

I was lucky enough to be introduced to Blockchain in 2012 and have had a passion for the space ever since. I have given talks and workshops on blockchain and crypto on 3 continents, the first of which was in 2018...and I would still not refer to myself as an expert

My podcast is what it says on the tin: ‘How to be Moderately Successful’ and is really just about me sharing my own experience of what’s worked and what hasn’t…and people seem to like that.

I moved to Australia in 2019 and really love it here and am grateful to be here but I do miss Cape Town.

Outside of Yoco, you’ll find me on my mountain bike, with my family outdoors or working with an exciting small business leadership team…wherever possible listening to an audiobook or podcast.

Recognized international speaker: Leadership | Culture | Strategy | Remote leadership | Blockchain | Small business operating systems | Entrepreneurship

In this episode, we talk to Aaron Lee founder and CEO of Iluma Agency. Co-Founder of Pythos and Regional Chair for US East South Florida Chapter.

We talk about his entrepreneurial journey. How he found and doubled down on a niche. What it was like running a retail-focused business during the pandemic. He shares what it is like starting a business with your son and he shares how he is thinking about the next step in his life and entrepreneurial journey.

Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or Overcast

More about Aaron:

Aaron Lee has 30+ years of entrepreneurship, marketing, creative and internet experience producing a wide range of successful brand and marketing programs and projects for some of the world’s top brands, including Orangetheory Fitness, Massage Envy, Disney and many more.

In 2001, Aaron founded iluma Agency, now a leader in the franchise marketing industry. Through its proprietary program, iluma Agency provides corporate, local digital and franchise recruitment marketing for franchise and multi-unit businesses. iluma Agency was recognized 4 times on the Inc5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America and has also been named on the Florida Trend and South Florida Business Journal’s Best Places to Work lists.

Aaron is also currently serving his 11th consecutive year in volunteer member leadership in the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO). As the Regional Chair for the U.S. East Region, Aaron leads a professional and volunteer advisory board to support 22 local chapters. This follows terms as Member Experience Director, Area Director and also as President of the South Florida Chapter. He was invited to join EO in 2010, served the Board of Directors as the Communications Chair for 3 years, was awarded the EO Global Communications Chair of the Year Award in 2013, and oversaw communications and marketing for the 2013 EO Global University in Miami and most recently as the Marketing chair for EO Nerve 2019 in Charleston, SC. Aaron is also a graduate of the EO Global Leadership Academy and was recently awarded the EO “Living Beyond Yourself” award for his ongoing contributions to the organization. In these various roles and as a membership committee member of the International Franchise Association, Aaron has been frequently interviewed and has delivered talks on the topics of entrepreneurship, marketing and scaling businesses.

Most recently, Aaron co-founded and launched PYTHOS.gg, an online startup focused on establishing a scalable platform designed to offer young people a legitimate professional path to an esports gaming career. This turnkey platform combines professional esports coaching and educational courses with hands-on local esports clubs to combine the skills, experience and education required to become a professional in the industry. Aaron’s prior experience also includes serving as Chief Marketing Officer for an international application service provider and more than 10 years in the role of Creative Director for advertising and design agencies, multimedia and post-production studios. Aaron obtained his degree in communication design and is an active member of the GLG Council of Advisors for Media.

After a year of head-down hard work, we are excited to announce this special edition of RadEO Ross and Rich do a follow-up from episode #39. They talk about how they see the world starting to open up again. How they have seen the opportunities present themselves and the struggles with holding the mindset to seize them.

Tune in every two weeks for the insights

Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or Overcast

– RadEO is a podcast for Entrepreneurs by Entrepreneurs. It is hosted by Ross Drakes and Rich Mulholland and produced by the Entrepreneurs Organisation in South Africa. Tune in every 2 weeks to hear conversations with business owners who will share their experiences and stories of what they have learnt building their business and what drives them to keep going. For all the episodes go to anchor.fm/radeo

If you have a business and want more information on the Entrepreneurs Organization, visit our website eonetwork.org

In this episode of RadEO Ross and Rich talk to Carrie Santos the CEO of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization. We chat to her about how she has lead EO at this time. She shares what it is like to lead an organisation of professionals who work with member volunteers. We chat about how EO is thinking about the shifts we need to make as we move forward and the best and the worst of what she has seen through this time.

Tune in every week for the insights

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About Carrie

Carrie Timko Santos is the Chief Executive Officer of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), a global business network of 14,000+ leading entrepreneurs in 195 chapters and 58 countries.  Prior to joining EO, Carrie worked eight years at the American Red Cross. In her last role, she served as the American Red Cross Executive Director for International Response and Programs, leading international disaster response and long-term programs, including disaster preparedness, measles/rubella vaccination campaigns, HIV/AIDs prevention, and local organization development. She managed more than 100 staff in over 20 countries and an annual budget over US$110 million. Before her position at the American Red Cross, Carrie worked for 10 years in the U.S. Department of State on humanitarian issues, refugee assistance and human rights and oversaw annual grants of more than US$150 million.

Carrie holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and was a Fulbright Scholar to Poland as Communism collapsed.

– RadEO is a podcast for Entrepreneurs by Entrepreneurs. It is hosted by Ross Drakes and Rich Mulholland and produced by the Entrepreneurs Organisation in South Africa. Tune in every 2 weeks to hear conversations with business owners who will share their experiences and stories of what they have learnt building their business and what drives them to keep going.

If you have a business and want more information on the Entrepreneurs Organization, visit our website eonetwork.org

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In this episode of RadEO Ross and Rich talk to Miranda Naiman Founder & Managing Director Empower and Inspire Centre & Café. She talks about how she has had to adapt, move faster and with more intent in the last few months. How focusing on your mindset can help you move forward to normal. We discuss the future of team building and strategy. Listen to the end to hear her take on the biggest lesson of the pandemic.

Tune in every week for the insights

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About Miranda:

Founder & Managing Director Empower and Inspire Centre & Café.

Miranda is an ‘Accidental Entrepreneur’ with an academic background in Theatre for Development who strategically transferred her skillset to the private sector in 2009 when she founded Empower a flourishing Human Capital Consulting Firm servicing East Africa and beyond.

She is a Mother, writer, motivational speaker & tenacious advocate of Skills Development having spearheaded Empower Academy and the ‘Kidpreneur Movement’ to prepare Tanzania’s future generation for business.

Miranda is a Member of The Africa List – a select community of next-generation CEOs in Africa’s most exciting growth markets and sits on the Board of READ International, AIESEC Tanzania, TPSF Audit Committee and is the President of the Tanzania Chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization.

Her Life Mantra: ‘Always strive to be a better version of yourself.’

– RadEO is a podcast for Entrepreneurs by Entrepreneurs. It is hosted by Ross Drakes and Rich Mulholland and produced by the Entrepreneurs Organisation in South Africa. Tune in every 2 weeks to hear conversations with business owners who will share their experiences and stories of what they have learnt building their business and what drives them to keep going. 

If you have a business and want more information on the Entrepreneurs Organization, visit our website eonetwork.org

In this special edition of RadEO Ross and Rich do a follow-up from episode #36. They discuss what they tried. More importantly, what worked what failed and what is the next thing they are trying. Onwards and upwards. Seems like the internet did not want Ross in focus.

Tune in every week for the insights

Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or Overcast

– RadEO is a podcast for Entrepreneurs by Entrepreneurs. It is hosted by Ross Drakes and Rich Mulholland and produced by the Entrepreneurs Organisation in South Africa. Tune in every 2 weeks to hear conversations with business owners who will share their experiences and stories of what they have learnt building their business and what drives them to keep going. For all the episodes go to www.radeo.co.za

If you have a business and want more information on the Entrepreneurs Organization, visit our website eonetwork.org

In this special edition of RadEO Ross and Rich chat to Roger Fitzsimons CEO of Promobasket and Matt Fitzsimons CEO of Big Eye Branding. They share their story of how they reacted to the pandemic quickly. How they framed their thinking and how they shared it with their team. We hear what it is like to conceive build and launch a new company in 4 days without ever sitting in the same room together. We enjoy how they created more value than the parts with Happy Hygiene.

Tune in every week for the insights

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About the brothers:

Roger Fitzsimons, 47ys 5 months old. Supreme athlete. Studied art at school and likes to think out the box. CEO of Promobasket.

Matthew Fitzsimons 47 yrs 5 months old and 5 minutes ( the older twin). Designed for endurance races. A natural people’s person and a lot nicer to people than Roger is.

– RadEO is a podcast for Entrepreneurs by Entrepreneurs. It is hosted by Ross Drakes and Rich Mulholland and produced by the Entrepreneurs Organisation in South Africa. Tune in every 2 weeks to hear conversations with business owners who will share their experiences and stories of what they have learnt building their business and what drives them to keep going. For all the episodes go to www.radeo.co.za

If you have a business and want more information on the Entrepreneurs Organization, visit our website eonetwork.org