Business Development Project Management

Brennan Williams

Cell: +27-079-***-****

Location: Mtunzini, KZN, Remote or Project based.

Email: **********@*****.***

Introduction

Brennan is highly passionate about the development of entrepreneurial and business skills and how this can help South Africa grow as a nation. For more than a decade he has worked with enterprise development incubators delivering coaching, strategic development initiatives, training, mentoring and managing teams of enterprise development professionals. His programme and project management experience were gained through both academic management and real-time business project management and business ownership across a variety of sectors. He is an Entrepreneur.

His mentee's progress toward growth includes international recognition by the DSBDI for several individuals within his mentee groups and a presidential award to one of his mentees in 2023.

His approach shows a high growth impact with many achieving upward of 950% growth over the course of programmes.

Brennan excels in achieving results through others through his exceptional motivational talents.

Business Mentor and Consultant April 2014 – Present.

SMME business development specialist. Manage, plan, implement and develop programmes, incubators and systems that achieve growth acceleration with micro, small and emerging entrepreneurial businesses.

Roles/Functions include -

Mentor/Facilitator – UNISA Inhlanyelo Hub – April 2023 to present, Strategic design advisor to the incubator leadership team, Coach, Mentor and facilitator of the Ideation and BMC virtual programmes for startup and concept enterprises.

oStrategic workshops – Ideation

oGroup Coaching – Ideation and BMC cohorts x5.

Senior Business Advisor / Senior Project Specialist 2018 – 2022 at Tushiyah Advisory Services, Based in Noupoort and Kuruman.

Senior Business Mentor – Fetola – June 2019 to present – Business Mentor and Coach.

South African Founder Member CEO – The Global Enterprise Academy South Africa. Aug 2017 onward. Entrepreneurial Behavioural Coach. Invited by Professor David Gibson OBE to become one of 100 worldwide GEA Country Founder Members. Promotes a behavioural approach to entrepreneurial development over curricular content.

Senior Associate at The Awethu Project, 2015-2017 where he coached, mentored and led SMME companies through foundation to strategic job creation and profit generation.

Mentor and Sales Coach – University of Johannesburg Centre for Entrepreneurship - (2016 & 2017) Provider of South Africa's first truly virtual coaching programme in conjunction with The University of Johannesburg's Centre for Entrepreneurship, Chemin and CHIETA. Coaching programme based entirely on WhatsApp.

Business Mentor/Coach for Shanduka Black Umbrellas. 2013 – 2016. Facilitation and training of entrepreneurs to build strategic business plans into profitable action implementation and presentation to a selection panel for inclusion on the SBU Business Incubator Programmes. Five cohort intakes run in KZN and Pretoria.

KZN Chambers of Business and the Zululand Chamber of Commerce as Steering Committee member and Judge for the 2015 & 2016 “The Entrepreneur” competition. Critical analysis and comment to potential entrepreneurs on their business ideas and progress.

Change & Business Management Consulting Projects – Dec 2013 – April 2014. (Management Consulting).

Steering Committee Member and Judge for “The Entrepreneur 2015” a youth-oriented business competition under the wing of KZN Chambers of Business.

Management consulting – Sales Development training for several small SMME enterprises.

Project proposal formulation for the University of Zululand. Project management, planning and implementation recommendations. Analysis of the regional implementation of the Jurisdiction of Regional Courts Amendment Act 31 of 2008 for the Department of Justice.

Senior Researcher – University of Zululand – July 2012 – Dec 2013 (Academic Sector)

An analytical role requiring the provision of business solution recommendations to achieve strategic growth goals in a below-par business unit. Facilitation of the Law department academic team in the establishment of a business plan that would take them from department to faculty status.

The new Law Department business and academic plan was approved by the UniZulu Senate in September 2015.

Small Business Strategy Guide – Raizcorp Oct 2011 – July 2012 (SMME Environment)

Led a team of SMME business mentors to achieve the growth and viability of the goals of multiple small business entrepreneurs. Defined and facilitated each business viability analysis and strategy establishment study. Training delivery in a wide variety of subjects including, marketing, finance, strategy, operations and sales.

Training Consultant – Partner - Discovery Training April 2011 – Oct 2011 (Heavy Industrial)

A training delivery role. Training covered project management, innovation, value management and value engineering to engineering teams at SASOL.

MBA Student – Cardiff Business School, (UK) 2009 – 2010.

Studies – Multiple Masters level distinctions. Two performance awards achieved. Overall best performance Strategic Human Resource Management 2nd. Recipient of Tim Evans Memorial award.

Part Time Relief Worker – Reach Supported Living, 2009 – 2010. (Medical Support Services)

Student employment working and supporting learning disadvantaged violent adult males toward social integration.

General Manager, Maintenance & Installations – Architen Landrell Associates (UK) 2007 – 2009 (Construction)

Lead the division to record performance. Primary skills used – Systems analysis and employee engagement. +300% growth achieved.

Contracts Manager – M J Lomax (UK), 2006 – 2007. (Insurance Services)

Turnaround of a failed business unit to become the highest UK regional performer within four months. +400% growth.

Managing Director/Founder Entrepreneur – Woodwise (SA) 1990 – 2005 (Insurance Provider Services) –Reactive property maintenance. Entrepreneurial ownership. Start-up to the sale of an insurance services provider. 98.25% client satisfaction rating achieved.

Journalist/Producer/Presenter – South African Broadcasting Company (SA) 1985 – 1990 (Media) Producer and Presenter for SAFM Radio Today. News bulletin writing and editing for several radio stations.

Freelance Reporter/Stringer – 702 Talk News, Capital Radio, The Star, International News & Features, SAPA, AFP, and various other local national and international media. 1987 - 1990

Journalist/Reporter – O H Frewin (Perscor) (SA) 1981 – 1985 (Media)

Education / Qualifications

MBA – Masters Degree Business Administration, Cardiff Business School 2009 – 2010. Distinctions in Consulting and Strategy and other modules. (Award - Overall best performance Strategic Human Resource Management. Recipient of Tim Evans Memorial award)

Leading Successful Business – Postgraduate certificate in Leadership & Change, L.E.E.D, CARBS – 2009

Journalism Diploma – In-House Training at O H Frewin’s (Now Perscor SA) 1984

Matric – Saint Martin’s JHB 1981

Additional Qualifications, Training & Worshops

SEDA Coach Training - 5 Day Workshop. SEDA Hatfield Head Office. 2024

SANS 20700:2020 - SEDA Richards Bay – Understanding and Interpretation of the Guide to Management Consultancy Services. 2022

Train the Trainer – IFC – World Bank Group - 2019

African Circular Economy Network Training – 2022

Africa Supply Chain in Action, Action Workshop – 2021

Memberships

Country Founder Member of the Global Enterprise Academy for behavioural coaching – A worldwide initiative to promote and use the award wining eFactor behavioural competencies framework of Prof David Gibson OBE in the development and growth of entrepreneurs.

COMENSA – I am in the process of application for COMENSA membership.

Forbes Coaches Council (Forbes Magazine) – Invited to join but can’t afford the fees. (R35,000 per year!)

Publications

Am I, I Am an entrepreneur – Find out make it happen, Amazon 2022. Co-written with Prof David Gibson OBE.

The Gig Startup – Employ Yourself in the Gig Economy – Happy Edition. Amazon 2023.

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