Navigating the intricacies of entrepreneurship successfully in a VUCA world | Alumni Thought Leadership networking event
Alumni Thought Leadership networking event
Discover how you can navigate meaningful success as an entrepreneur in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) world. Our esteemed panel and speakers would be sharing key lessons learned in their admirable journey entrepreneurship journeys so far.
Book now to join our experts Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Christiaan van den Berg, Cobus van den Berg, Craig Kensley and Louw Barnardt, as they help you navigate the intricacies of entrepreneurship and equip you to succeed in a challenging business landscape.
This event is facilitated by the Stellenbosch Business School Alumni Association,
Western Cape chapter. We look forward to hosting you.
SPEAKERS
Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy
Managing Director: Spotify in Sub-Saharan Africa
Jocelyne Muhutu-Rémy is a seasoned media executive and the Managing Director of Spotify in Sub-Saharan Africa, working on a mission to amplify African voices and make digital technology accessible to all. Throughout her career at the intersections of tech, culture, entertainment, and journalism (Facebook, Disney, Viacom, Reuters), Jocelyne has developed deep expertise in Africa's creative economy and a strong belief in the power of storytelling to shift perceptions and unite cultures.
As a committed pan-Africanist, she is also passionate about the rise of the global south, the role of diasporas in the world, inclusive leadership, and the impact of technological change on Africans and humanity at large.
Christiaan van den Berg
Co-founder and Co-CEO: JOBJACK
Christiaan van den Berg is the co-founder and co-CEO of JOBJACK, a tech solution that automates entry-level recruitment at scale. He is first and foremost a husband to his wife and father of a lively 2-year-old boy. Christiaan studied accounting at Stellenbosch (2012-2015) and began his career as a Chartered Accountant at PKF before embarking on his journey into entrepreneurship alongside co-founder and fellow Matie, Heine Bellingan.
As co-CEO of JOBJACK, Christiaan's focus is on driving the business' mantra to employ the world with its team of 50+ members, servicing approximately 5000 employer sites across South Africa, with over 3 million registered job seekers. Christiaan’s meaningful contribution to the South African business landscape has been recognised by being named to the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans, as well as recently winning the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award by the Oppenheimer's South Africa Future Trust.
Christiaan was also awarded the Influence Category Winner for SAICA's Top 35 under 35 in 2022. And as proof that he really is an influencer, there is a video of him dancing for his wife at their wedding a few years ago that now has over 10 million views on YouTube.
Cobus van den Berg
Film Producer and Entrepreneur
Cobus van den Berg is a South African film producer who, alongside co-producer Tim Theron, has achieved success with eight feature films (one international) and two local and international TV series over the past 12 years. Their first movie was the most successful Afrikaans-language feature film of 2013 at the South African box office and was also a profitable venture. Their second film, released in 2015, was a runner-up in box office earnings but turned out to be the most profitable Afrikaans film of that year.
In 2019, their last two feature films won the SAFTA award for Best Movie of the Year, along with several other SAFTA awards. Additionally, Cobus co-produced the highest-budget South African TV series ever made for international distribution in collaboration with HBO and ZDF. In March 2024, Cobus and Tim produced their biggest-budget film for Netflix Africa, which topped the platform's performance charts for two consecutive weeks. Currently, five international feature films and TV series are under development.
Cobus registered as a Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) in 1991 after completing his articles with the international auditing firm KPMG in 1990. His background in entrepreneurship, combined with years of practical experience in diverse fields such as the hotel, restaurant, clothing, transport, music, and film industries, as well as the oil and fuel resources sector, has provided him with a deep understanding of business and the world at large.
Cobus has also served as a director for two listed public companies, leveraging this experience and knowledge in his current work, particularly within the film industry. Beyond his film production ventures, Cobus has developed, managed, and co-owns several high-end accommodation establishments aimed at international markets in South Africa. He is currently the owner of Moditlo River Lodge (www.moditlo.com) and Swartberg Country Manor (www.swartbergmanor.co.za).
His signature style of staying at the forefront of new developments, remaining calm under pressure, and encouraging others to perform at their best is widely appreciated across the industries in which he operates.
Craig Kensley
Executive Director: GrowZA
Craig Kensley is a development thinker, currently serving as the Executive Director of GrowZA (an organisation he founded) which develops innovative social investment strategies that empower underserved communities across Africa. With a strong background in business development and stakeholder management, Craig has successfully led and scaled projects that integrate economic growth with social impact with the expressed mission of accelerating social progress.
Throughout his career, Craig has held influential roles, including Director of the Coalition of the Committed at Community Chest and board member positions at Cape Town Tourism and Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography. His work is guided by a passion for creating pragmatic responses to complex societal challenges.
Louw Barnardt
Founder and Managing Director: Outsourced CFO
Louw Barnardt is the founder and managing director of Outsourced CFO, a financial services company he established in 2013 to assist businesses with accountancy, financial consulting, growth, automation, and funding. Recognised for his entrepreneurial spirit, Louw has been honoured as one of South Africa's Top 35 under 35 CAs and has received multiple accolades, including the Lead Category award from the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Fast Company Top 20 under 30.
In 2022, he founded the non-profit Founders’ Foundation, which has raised nearly R100 million for early-stage entrepreneurs and created over 800 jobs through various CSI programs. Louw was named the top Emerging Entrepreneur in South Africa at the Sanlam Business/Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® Competition in 2018 and is a proud member of the Westerwelle Foundation's Young Founders Alumni and Insight Success's Top 40 under 40.