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2015 Top 40 Under 40

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Top 40 Under 40 opens for nominations: A ready-made network awaits 2015 achievers The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber’s Top 40 Under 40 proves beyond a doubt that Nelson Mandela Bay has a pool of business talent to rival any other city in the country.

Each year, the Business Chamber calls for nominations for young business achievers to be named to the Top 40 Under 40. The final list – decided upon by a high calibre panel of judges – is published in a magazine each February, and distributed to Business Chamber members, its partners and stakeholders and the general public, and made available online for download throughout the year. Now in its fourth year, the Top 40 Under 40 inspires pride in Nelson Mandela Bay and its young business achievers, building hope for the future of business in the region.

Nominations to the 2015 Top 40 Under 40 are open between 25 August and 25 September 2014.

“Being named to the Top 40 Under 40 has been the highlight of my career,” says Tasmia Ismail, General Manager at Die Burger, who appeared on the 2014 list of achievers. “The opportunity helped me expand my business thinking far beyond my industry. If only all future business leaders could have this opportunity at least once.”

Phumeza Pepeta, Senior HRBP for Absa Retail Markets in the Eastern and Southern Cape, agrees. “I am immensely proud of our Metro and its great people, thanks to the Top 40 Under 40.” The Top 40 Under 40 offers excellent and exclusive networking opportunities for Top 40 Under 40 achievers through the Top 40 Network. The network plays host to speed networking events, business breakfasts, discussion forums, leadership and self-development workshops and social activities.

Top 40 Under 40 achievers experience the true value of being named to the annual list through the Top 40 Network, according to Top 40 Under 40 convener Nicole Klokow, who also runs the network. “We have built a solid programme of events that cater specifically to the needs of young business achievers,” she says. “Top 40 Under 40 achievers are welcomed into a ready-made network of their peers. The Business Chamber facilitates events on the Top 40 Network that are geared towards meaningful engagement, which many of the Top 40 achievers have already capitalised on.”

Devereaux Joubert of The Code Group was successfully nominated to the 2014 list along with his business partner, Mohamed Cassim. “The Top 40 Network gives your business amazing exposure and credibility,” says Joubert. “I don’t know of a better, more supportive initiative for young business.” Fellow achiever Ellen Fischat of SEDA NMB ICT Incubator, where she is Enterprise Development Manager, ICT Incubation, believes that the contacts she has made have had a direct impact on her business: “Events on the Top 40 Network are so relevant and engaging, they make networking effortless.”

Hearing how my peers on the Top 40 have grown their businesses has helped me better understand the dynamics of doing business in Nelson Mandela Bay,” says Brian Hayward, who owns Brian Anthony Communications. “Being given the opportunity to network with like-minded business people has helped me to establish connections and friendships on a personal and professional level that I would otherwise have missed out on.”

Nominees to the 2015 Top 40 Under 40 should be under the age of forty (40) as of 31 December 2014. As business owners and entrepreneurs or CEOs, directors and managers, potential Top 40 Under 40 achievers must demonstrate what sets them apart from their peers in a similar position and at a similar point in their careers. Once nominated, nominees will be requested to provide a portfolio and good quality professional references in support of their nomination. These portfolios will be judged, along with the nomination and letters of motivation, by a high calibre panel of judges, who will decide on the final 40 for 2015.

“We are once again expecting a high standard of nominees,” says Top 40 convener Nicole Klokow. “It is an enormous privilege to interact so closely with dynamic young business people who are passionate about building a future for Nelson Mandela Bay. I leave each and every Top 40 Network event buoyed by the sheer energy and dynamism of these achievers.”

Nominees to this year’s list do not need to be members of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber to be eligible for the Top 40 Under 40. Those employed by non-member companies will enjoy an individual Top 40 Membership for the duration of 2015. This provides the achiever with access to all events held on the Top 40 Network. “We want all of our achievers to enjoy the benefits offered by the Bay’s strongest young business network,” says Klokow. “We’ve drawn the Top 40 achievers closer to the work of the Business Chamber, to enable them to channel their talents and expertise to the benefit of Nelson Mandela Bay.”

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.