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Busi Ngwenya, Business Support Coordinator for the Maxum Business Incubator, said it best, “the Mother is leaving the nest”.
After eight years at The Innovation Hub, Dr Jill Sawers, Manager of Entrepreneurship - and pioneer in the establishment of the Maxum Business Incubator as well as CoachLab™ Student Leadership Development Programme – is spreading her wings. Jill has taken the position of Consultant to the World Bank’s InfoDev Programme in its mandate to establish five incubators in “very poor” economies such as Mozambique, Tanzania, Senegal, Cambodia and Nicaragua – to show how incubation can make a difference.
“Consulting affords me the opportunity to use my experience to tackle new challenges and learn about new cultures and the issues that other countries face. Innovation is a melting pot of creativity and experimentation and always outward looking”, says Jill while adding, “I am leaving my pond to go play in the ocean, the Global Village, and I look forward to the opportunity of learning how to address global issues and challenges in the entrepreneurship space.”
The new position takes Jill to Washington D.C. for a period of three months where-after she will be based in City of Tshwane before heading into Africa to help with the establishment of various incubator projects. “I would love to continue working with the Maxum Incubator in testing new concepts and developing new programmes such as the Femtech Programme that is currently in progress. I can foresee numerous opportunities to establish synergies between local and African companies.”
As Manager of Entrepreneurship at The Innovation Hub, Jill has been responsible for stimulating entrepreneurial activities and exposing start-ups to the benefits of incubation. She has been instrumental in promoting programmes aimed at enabling woman to grow and own businesses in the high-tech sectors of industry.
“My friends have often said that The Innovation Hub is my big love affair. I can confirm that the last eight years presented me with the best vocational calling I could have asked for. I have been afforded immense freedom and creativity to do my work, have engaged with incredibly interesting people, including entrepreneurs, corporates and academics – and, of course, colleagues. One can say I am spinning out from Maxum with a suitcase filled with knowledge” says Jill. “I hope that I’ll be able to use this knowledge to ‘make a difference’, not only in an international community, but also in our local community.”
“As a colleague, mentor, and friend I have had the privilege of being on the receiving end of this knowledge, this ‘love affair’, and the personal growth of an irreplaceable asset to The Innovation Hub. Always with a smile, a wicked sense of humour and a supportive nature that can only be described as amazing, ‘Doc Sawers’ has been an inspiration both in and around the office while being a true champion as my partner on the Golf Course. Taken on with the same gusto and determination as when fighting for her Maxum Incubator, her Fem Entrepreneurs, and her colleagues, so ‘tiny tiger’ revels in her second ‘love affair’ - the game of Golf. Your integrity, determination and sense of delivery will be missed as will your loyalty, passion and friendship. ‘Keep it on the fairway’ and go well my friend” says Paul Bisogno: Business Development, Marketing and VAS Manager at TIH.
Here is what Patricia Dlamini, Manager of the Maxum Business Incubator, says about working with Jill, “Jill has been a superb colleague and mentor to me during my time here at The Innovation Hub. I realised from the start that I have big shoes to fill, so big in fact that I decided to build on what is already in place and find my own path forward. Jill leaves behind exciting models in the form of the Maxum Incubator and Coachlab™ Programme. There is great evidence that these models work and that they provide participants with a vision and determination to succeed.”
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I ask Jill if she has a specific message for the Hub community, “never stop learning” is the answer. “Modern Society is ever-changing and an entrepreneurial support space needs to remain abreast of the changing needs of entrepreneurs in these dynamic times. One must remain open, and always search for new ways to address emerging issues. Be a receptacle for information in order to package it, add value to it, and apply it.
To the Femtrepreneurs and Femtechers (women entrepreneurs) who have been part of our women programmes, my advice is to keep dreaming, to dream big, and to believe in your ability to achieve your dreams. I wish the Maxum team, The Innovation Hub, and all its resident tenants, members and partners great success. I believe The Innovation Hub can make a significant contribution as a catalyst for innovation.”
I am certain that just like the Hub, Dr Jill Sawers will make a significant contribution wherever she goes and although it is farewell, it is not goodbye.
Dr Jill Sawers |
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