Page 17 - KZN Top Busines Portfolio 2020/21

good performance, effective control, and legitimacy.
“Right leadership is fundamental to the success of
any organisation efforts to achieve its objectives,”
commented Mvundura.
Rowan De Klerk emphasized that the Covid-19
pandemic has ensured that business leaders have
become more aware of the uncertainty that generally
faces them and that this uncertainty has brought a new
sense of reality. He said, “Uncertainty brings us back
to a sense of humility and makes us vulnerable.”
Ashok Sewnarain supported the need for this
attitude in business. He said, “Humbleness will take
you everywhere, arrogance will take you nowhere.”
Sewnarain added that the other leadership charac-
teristics required were, “respect, integrity, simplicity,
and keeping things straight”.
Significantly, added De Klerk, the current situation Staff at Capitol Capitol Caterers
emphasised that as a starting point business leaders
must be in touch with their emotions and those of their Merrill King commented, “Covid has made us do a
employees, clients, and other stakeholders in order good spring clean, to get back to basics and it has
that they may be effective in their decision-making ensured that we’re a slimmer, fitter and efficient
processes. He commented that “above all empathy for outfit for future growth.”
humanity is required.” Mvundura reported that Covid-19 gave THINK an
Pearl Bengu added that empathy was essential opportunity to expand and diversify its portfolio of
in a financial institution. Many of Ithala’s business projects. THINK secured funding from government
operations were impacted by the lockdown restrictions to help with Covid initiatives.
and solutions to their clients’ financial commitments Sewnarian said Covid-19 is an awesome opportunity
needed to be negotiated. to share ideas and to assist young entrepreneurs
Opportunity so that we grow the business industry by default,
alleviating unemployment and poverty. Of his own
Dr Lubisi expressed the view that there was much business initiatives, he commented, “There is no
opportunity for a legacy in how the South African perfect formula. Don’t be afraid to try and try again,
government will function in the future. He said that don’t be afraid to have failures because failure is a
post Covid there should be a change in how the steppingstone to success.” He added, “The mantra of
government works, in the structure of the economy, business is to dream big and to double your dreams.”
and in other parts of South African society.
Non-negotiables
One of the key outcomes of Covid-19 is that business
leaders have had the opportunity to evaluate their However, in paying attention in how to restructure
business models, including their products or services, a business to make it more effective and to increase
and to question whether their models are sustainable. one’s bottom line, being cost effective is imperative.
The importance of making use of this opportunity was To be sustainable, King said that Capitol Caterers
shared by many of the webinar panel members. had to undergo cost cutting measures, in so doing,
De Klerk said, “Covid gave people time to reflect and the company identified two non-negotiables. Capitol
change is inevitable.” He added that leaders have been Caterers was not prepared to compromise on the
provided with the opportunity to test new things and quality of the food that was served to clients or their
to experiment as current business models may not service standards, and all 1400 employees would
be sustainable. However, he cautioned that business maintain their job security. King added that there
leaders should not be opportunist but should “focus were only three ways to cut their costs – “control,
on what they are good at”. control, and control.”
On a practical level, Bengu reported that Ithala In order that this approach be effective, Capitol Caterers
has hosted workshops with smaller businesses to had to obtain the buy-in of all employees and stringent
stress the importance to entrepreneurs of looking food costing was implemented. Capitol Caterers
for opportunities during the pandemic to diversify also eliminated frivolous costs. Consequently, the
their businesses. company was able to pass on some of the benefits of
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