If you love creative work that highlights a powerful, socially uplifting message, look at the Loeries Shared Value category, sponsored in 2019 by Vodacom. It’s a showcase of brilliant campaigns that are socially useful and commercially successful. Shared value takes corporate social responsibility much further.

“Rather than being charitable,” explains Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter, and Harvard Kennedy School of Government Senior Fellow, Mark Kramer, “corporate shared value is a management strategy in which companies find business opportunities in social problems.” Vodacom’s Managing Executive: Brand & Comms Abey Mokgwatsane says the Loeries Shared Value category is in line with Vodacom’s values and a natural sponsorship fit.

“Our commitment is to bring a meaningful, sustainable economic transformation of South Africa and beyond,” he explains. “We laud all companies that are creating jobs, stimulating the economy and being innovative about the way they make money, while still tackling the social issues of our times.” Safaricom's “DigiFarm”, the Kenyan mobile solution for smallholder farmers – which took gold in the Loeries Shared Value category last year – is a good example of adding value to the community while helping to build the brand experience.

The app enables farmers to expand and improve their business activities by providing education, access to loans, easier purchases and eliminating the middleman when they sell their crops. It simply helps farmers to do better business while empowering their lives and their community. Perhaps a question to be posed is, if business can be socially uplifting, does that mean it should be?

Pepe Marais, CEO of Joe Public United, and #1 ranked Chief Creative Officer in the Loeries Official Rankings, offers this hypothesis: “Aspiring to be bigger than yourself isn’t just a nice ideal, it’s the driving force of successful businesses.” Marais says: “Any entrepreneur will tell you that there is something far greater that drives her or his business. Without that drive, most would not have made it past the first year – it is simply too tough. The challenge is that this drive is so deeply unconscious that the conscious answer often may be money.” But, in reality, Marais insists we need something greater to motivate us.

“That drive is at the heart of the greater purpose of the business.” Ultimately, doing business with a purpose helps you do better business. Considering that Joe Public United is rated the number one agency in the Loeries Official Rankings, Marais certainly knows a thing or two about operating a company on the philosophy of shared value. “We believe that the growth of our people is linked to the growth of our creative product, which impacts the growth of our clients, and which ultimately contributes to the growth of the country,” he says.

Mokgwatsane agrees: “Vodacom is in the business of connecting people for a better future. Technology gives us tremendous power, but ultimately, it’s what we do with it that counts. We remain committed to responding to the needs of millions of people that can benefit from the capacity of technology to democratise access to the life changing services of a connected future.

By sponsoring the Loeries Shared Value category, we support companies and creatives who are using the power of shared value to inspire.” P2/.... The Loeries extended deadline for entries is June 7, 2019. Details at loeries.com Major Partners:     DStv Media Sales, Gearhouse        Category Partners:    AB InBev, Barron, Brand South Africa, Facebook, Gagasi FM, Google, JCDecaux, Nando’s, Tsogo Sun, Vodacom, Woolworths 

Additional Partners and Official Suppliers:    AAA School of Advertising, Antalis South Africa, Aon South Africa, Backsberg, BEE Online, First     Source, Fresh RSVP Guest Logistics, Funk Productions, Gallo Images, Grid Worldwide, Hetzner,     Mama Creative, Newsclip, Paygate, Rocketseed, Shared Value Initiative, Shift Social Development,  Vega School, VQI Communications Nigeria

Endorsed by:    Association of Communication and Design, Brand Council South Africa, Commercial Producers     Association, Creative Circle, EXCA, IAB, South African Institute of Architects, IID        Official Media Partners    Bizcommunity.com, Book of Swag, Brand Communicator Nigeria, Business Insider by Pulse, Campaign Middle East, Film & Event Media, Modern Marketing,The Redzone.        Twitter: @loeries    Instagram: Loerieawards    Facebook: The Loeries

Distributed on behalf of the  Loeries  by:    Riana Greenblo Communications Date: May 27, 2019   For more information,interview requests or high-res images, please contact:    Riana Greenblo on 011 3256006; 0825675159 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Gina McLoughlin on 0113256006 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (mornings only) IMAGES INCLUDED:    Abey Mokgwatsane Digi Farm 2018 Gold Shared Value Joe Public agency of the year 2018 Joe Public Craft Gold CAPTIONS Caption 1: Abey Mokgwatsane, Vodacom’s Managing Executive: Brand & Comms Caption 2: Digi Farm took Gold for the 2018 Shared Value category Caption 3: Joe Public won agency of the year at the Loeries 2018. Caption 4: Joe Public won Campaign Craft Golf in 2018 for their A Little Hungry - Mine, Temple, Bank for Chicken Licken

Priority Corporation, a new marketing company has opened its doors in Cape Town South Africa and Lesotho. The company’s specialty is on helping SME’s to launch and market new and existing products inland and across borders.

Priority Corporation is a group of street smart professionals with concentrated backgrounds in marketing gathered from serving Non-Governmental Organisation’s and independent Blue Chip Companies. The wealth of expertise provided by the team is complemented by latest innovative infrastructure, a nationwide and international footprint and a network of power agents across every major distribution channel.

The results of our Current SME’s Sales and Marketing Review indicates that 67% of SME’s do not market themselves and the very same alludes that the absence of marketing is the reason for sluggish growth and incurring losses instead of profits. Priority Corporation has been incorporated to address this problem which is causing closure of SME’s daily or keeping the remainder as Small Businesses without growth forever.

Priority Corporation Managing Director, Zwelithini Matsoso Says, “SME’s lose focus on what put them in the business in the first place which is selling and generating income and marketing is the area in which they need to capitalize on to make sales and revenues, marketing is like sowing a 5Kg of maize seeds in order to harvest 10 silos.” “We therefore work with brand developers, manufacturers, and retail outlets to ensure smooth transition from product packaging, product launch, product distribution, to consumer purchase all under one roof, this is the entire ecosystem that a brand requires to succeed.”

Matsoso Continues to say “As we built the brands and help them be cash generating machines for their owners, it is equally important that the bottom line performance can render sustainable brands, those which will be able to generate money even after decades not once off. We are even happier that we will be providing all our services at a reasonable amount for all SME’s, but most importantly we will be taking small business out of being small businesses to being global and legacy businesses not forgetting Batho Pele (People first)in our service offering.” Says Matsoso.

Email Us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tel: South Africa: +27 82 703 1495 Lesotho:+266 27 00 1495

As the pace of digital transformation increases, so does the frequency of high profile security incidents and information leaks. This often prompts complex and costly responses, as those who have suffered security breaches – and those who are trying to avoid them – seek ways to manage their exposures and comply with a plethora of industry standards, best practices and government regulations.

Joint silver sponsors at the 6th IT Leaders Africa Summit, SLVA and Ubusha will explore the mechanisms you could use to ensure a secure information-processing environment during their workshop presented by Kris Budnik, Managing Director for SLVA Information Security.

Attendees will hear how they can maximise existing capabilities and leverage the emerging wave of enterprise security technologies that tip the balance away from cyber-criminals and dishonest employees.

SLVA and Ubusha’s holistic response to minimising information security risks requires the ability to:

-Understand and manage who has access to information and systems within your environment and what they are able to do with such access

-Track and have the capability to influence the way that data is accessed, processed and shared within your environment

-Maintain oversight over that environment – ensuring that it remains reliable and free from vulnerabilities which may be exploited to bypass your access control and data governance policies  

Please note that the cut off date for applications to present a workshop at the IT Leaders Africa Summit is the 27th of February 2015.  

During these 60 minute educational workshops, leading industry vendors present their solutions and services in case study format to attending CIOs and IT Heads. Each session is limited to 15 delegates in order to encourage debate and discussion. The workshops are scheduled in advance as the topics are marketed to CIOs and business leaders during the build up to the Summit.  

For IT Leaders Africa Summit brochure advertising opportunities, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   The 6th IT Leaders Africa Summit takes place on 18 & 19 March 2015 at the Maslow Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg.

I spoke with Prof EN Barkhuizen from the Talent Management Blueprint Conference and asked her for some of the Key Takeout’s from the conference held on 16th and 17th of October which unpacked Talent Management and Organisational Energy and behaviour

‘Are we making a Difference? ’Was her biggest question for Industry Leaders.

‘There are Only about 100 scientific publications on talent management. ‘There are 32, 4 million people aged between 15 and 64 years (working age population) in South Africa.

Of these 13, 1 million (40%) were employed and 4, 5 million (3, 8%) were unemployed.

This report further pointed out that 41, 0% of the unemployed were students

15, 0% were discouraged work seekers.

38 236 doctors and 5 560 dentists.

The doctor-to-population ratio is estimated to be 0.77 per 1 000.

But because the vast majority of GPs – 73% – work in the private sector, there is just one practicing doctor for every 4 219 people.

(Source: RSA.info, 2014)

From the above stats, it is apparent that we clearly need to become more Talent Intelligent.

Other staggering Stats from hashtag Marius Meyer were the following:         

Human Capital is the biggest concern for CEOs (PwC).        

Only 18% of CEOs feel confident that they have the right people in place to execute strategy (CEB).        

Human Capital is the biggest risk in business (HCI Africa).        

Skills crisis is the top obstacle to economic growth.        

Strikes cost SA R 200 million+ per day.        

SA losing R12 billion a year due to absenteeism.        

Only 19% auditors feel they use HR optimally (CG Index – Institute of Internal Auditors)        

Only 5% employees understand business strategy.        

World-wide 13% of employees actively engaged.        

Companies with engaged employees outperform others by 202% (Dale Carnegie).

Companies with good HR Practices outperform others by treating HR as critical business function, these companies are 105% more profitable.

Average ROI on wellness programmes: 300%.

‘So what do we do about all this? ‘I asked like Dr Lynne Derman, who is a renowned expert in the field of organisational energy and whose Doctoral Study was the first to investigate organizational energy in the South African context.’

‘I am passionate about employee well being, in fact managing talent effectively gives business a competitive advantage.

Aligning Talent Management with Business Strategy is imperative. It is equally important to be equipped with the correct tools‘.

For more information on individual and organisational well-being visit goldfish-consulting

Link: http://goldfish-consulting.co.za/services/talent-management

Techno Brain Officially Opens New Global Headquarters in Nairobi

The move positively impacts its service capabilities, and increases opportunities for Kenya's youth for learning, development and employment

Techno Brain Africa's leading IT Company, has officially opened its new global headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. The sprawling new office space spread over 44,000 sq. ft. will house all the three business units of the company in Kenya - IT Solutions, IT Education & Training and BPO/ITES. The consolidation will result in greater collaboration and increased productivity and quality of work for its various clients across the globe. “This state-of-the-art building with world class infrastructure is an investment in our future and accompanies the strategic plan we have for the continued global expansion of Techno Brain.” stated Manoj Shanker, Group CEO, Techno Brain.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was presided over by the Guest of Honour, Honourable Dr Fred Matiangi, The Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communication & Technology, Kenya. Dr Matiangi during his address said ”I am lucky to be acquainted with the ways of Techno Brain, and I am always amazed by how much emphasis they place on development, generating employment, engaging with the community, developing leaders; qualities that positively impact our communities, our country and the world at large”.

A leading technology company in Africa opening its own campus in Nairobi again puts Kenya in the lime-light as the epicentre of ICT development in the continent. The country will receive a major boost, both in monetary terms and as a knowledge-based investment, which will benefit it in the long run. The move will also be a big shot in the arm for the youth of Africa and Kenya, as opportunities for learning, development and employment will increase manifold.

Techno Brain's capacity building investments for 'Empowering Lives' and 'Africa 1st' are well documented. "Our new international headquarters puts us on equal footing with the world's leading IT companies, and that's exactly where we want to be. As a truly global African IT company, this is a very important step as we scale our technology and business to the next level. The new premise is a celebration of our past and a harbinger of greater things to come" added Manoj Shanker. Group CEO, Techno Brain.

About Techno Brain

Techno Brain is an African IT company that provides innovative solutions to advance the way organizations do business. Assessed at CMMI Level 3 and with operations in 20 African countries and 24 countries worldwide, Techno Brain provides industry leading technology solutions to NGOs, Government and Private organizations globally.

Techno Brain offers IT Solutions and Products in the areas of Enterprise Business, Identity Management, ICT Consulting & Business Automation, IT Infrastructure, Managed IT Services, RFID & GIS and BI / Data Warehousing.

For more information, visit: www.technobraingroup.com