EO JHB_Newsletter July 2026

President’s Let Presidents’ Letter

Ronald Abvajee

Dear EO Johannesburg Members,

The future of our chapter is not something that happens to us. It is something we choose to create together. Over the past few weeks, one of our biggest priorities has been our LongTerm Planning process. We brought together a diverse mix of members from across EO Johannesburg to help shape what comes next for our chapter.

The purpose was to ask one big question: What do we want EO Johannesburg to be known for over the next three years? More importantly, we wanted the answer to reflect the collective thinking, ambition, and experiences of our members - not just the Board The conversations were honest, challenging, and energising. They reminded us that while every member's journey is different, we share a common belief in the power of this community.

What emerged is a vision that I believe captures exactly who we aspire to be: a community of bold entrepreneurs driving real growth in business and in life, with measurable impact. A chapter known for unreasonable belongingwhere meaningful relationships open doors,

where we show up for one another because that is simply who we are, and where entrepreneurs thrive in business, grow as people, and build lives they genuinely love living

With that direction in place, the Board came together for our Strategy Day to define the priorities, ownership, and actions that will bring our shared vision to life Thank you to everyone who shared their ideas, challenged our thinking, and contributed throughout this process. This is not the Board's vision for EO Johannesburg. It is our chapter's vision.

Now, it is up to all of us to bring it to life Join the conversation in your Forum, attend chapter events, share your feedback, volunteer where you can, and help shape our chapter's future. The more we participate, the stronger EO Johannesburg becomes I cannot wait to see what we achieve together

Ronald Abvajee President, EO

Johannesburg

Get Involved New Members

Shape the Future of EO Johannesburg

One of the greatest privileges in EO is helping shape the community we're building together

We're inviting our tenured (platinum) members to get involved in New Member Interviews. If you'd like to help welcome and select the next generation of EO Johannesburg entrepreneurs, we'd love to have you join us

Interviewing prospective members is a fantastic opportunity to:

Meet exceptional entrepreneurs before they join the chapter

Help ensure we're bringing in members who will contribute to and strengthen our culture. Have a meaningful voice in shaping the future of our community

Build new relationships and gain fresh perspectives from founders across different industries.

If you're interested in participating, please reach out to the Membership Chair, Jesse Lodge We'd love to have you on the interview panel

Together, let's continue building a community of ambitious, generous, and world-class entrepreneurs who make EO Johannesburg an exceptional place to belong

Upcoming Events

EOA Accountability Coach Training | 3 August

Join EO Accelerator for Accountability Coach Training, facilitated by PG Geldenhuys, on 3 August from 2:00–4:00 p m at The Edge at Wanderers This interactive session will equip Accountability Coaches with practical tools and insights to effectively support Accelerator participants, foster accountability, and help them stay focused on achieving their goals

Contact Dani Levitan for more information

From Ground Up To Scale with Avi Mishan | 19 August

From the boot of a car to building one of South Africa's leading FMCG businesses, join us for an inspiring Learning Event with Avi Mishan, CEO of SMD Technologies (Volkano, Rocka & Ellies), as he shares the real story behind building, scaling, pivoting, and leading through uncertainty If you are looking for practical insights from someone who has built an extraordinary business from the ground up, you will not want to miss this opportunity Register now - spaces are limited!

Marketing & Communicatons Learning

This month, our focus has been on finding smarter ways to strengthen both our internal and external communications, ensuring our members stay informed, engaged, and connected to everything happening across EO Johannesburg.

We are also working closely with the new Board to support each portfolio in communicating their initiatives, while preparing for Ignite and ensuring our Strategic Alliance Partners continue to receive meaningful value from their partnerships and, in turn, share valuable opportunities with our members

Another priority is showcasing the incredible entrepreneurs who make up our chapter. There are so many inspiring stories, achievements, and milestones worth celebrating, and we want to share more of them with our community

If you have a recent win, business milestone, personal achievement, or exciting news to share, we would love to hear from you. Please take a few moments to complete our Member Wins form so we can celebrate your success and inspire others across the chapter

We have been Learning calen goal is to host sessions feat leading CEOs, leaders. These exclusive conversations are designed to provide EO members with unique access to insights and experiences they would not ordinarily have. Alongside these sessions, we will introduce topical learning tracks every second month, covering relevant themes such as artificial intelligence, remuneration and employee incentives, and mastering anxiety, with more to come throughout the year.

One exciting milestone has been receiving a positive indication for a potential In the Boardroom session with Adrian Gore of Discovery, subject to diary availability. We are hopeful this opportunity comes together

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to Marc Gregory for the outstanding learning experiences curated over the past two years and for such a thorough handover. You have set a very high standard, and I truly appreciate the foundation you have built They are certainly big shoes to fill!

Pre id t’ L tt r Gove Membership

This mon the syste administr to confirm efficient future gro

We are al transpare CRM and platform. p , y will have live access to key information and performance metrics, enabling us to stay informed, make better decisions, and work together more effectively on behalf of our members

proud to share that our Membership mittee has kicked off the year with 3 new bers joining in July 2027, putting us firmly ack to achieve our membership growth . But we're only getting started. Over the ng weeks, we'll be launching an exciting m Membership Challenge designed to d forums that help grow our chapter. The ? Funding to unlock some truly gettable forum experiences. Think bigger ntures, stronger connections, and a few well-earned "why haven't we done this before?" moments.

My personal highlight this month has been seeing how aligned our Board is. There is a genuine sense of shared purpose, collaboration, and commitment across the team It is exciting to work alongside a group of leaders who are focused on making the EO Johannesburg member experience stronger than ever and creating an environment where every member can connect, learn, and grow

This year, we've set ourselves an ambitious target: 120 EO Johannesburg members by yearend. It's a bold goal, but we know our chapter is built by entrepreneurs who thrive on bold goals. Every great member you introduce strengthens our community, expands our network, and raises the value for everyone So start thinking about the exceptional entrepreneurs in your network who would thrive in EO. Keep an eye out for the official launch of our Forum Membership Challenge and the exciting rewards up for grabs.

President’s Letter Finance Strate Partn

This month has been focused on strengthening the financial foundations of our chapter. We successfully transitioned our bookkeeping services to OCFO, consolidated our bank accounts, and improved our financial controls and payment processes. We have also completed important housekeeping around our secretarial services and directorship changes to ensure we are well positioned for the year ahead.

At the same time, we are finalising the 2026/27 budget to ensure every Board portfolio has the financial support and procurement controls needed to deliver an outstanding experience for our members while maintaining sound financial governance.

My biggest highlight has been working alongside our Chapter Manager, Dani Levitan Finance is not her usual space, but she has embraced the challenge with incredible dedication and professionalism. Dani has stepped well outside her comfort zone, and I have felt genuinely supported throughout the process Thank you, Dani, for making this transition such a smooth one

This month, our focus has been on strengthening relationships with our current Strategic Alliance Partners while shaping our partnership roadmap for the new EO year.

We are also developing a new Strategic Alliance Partnership prospectus that will better communicate the strength, impact, and value of partnering with EO Johannesburg This will help us engage prospective partners with a clear and compelling picture of our chapter and the opportunities available to collaborate with our community.

My biggest takeaway is that we are in a very healthy position as a chapter There is strong momentum, a clear vision, and exciting opportunities ahead as we begin the new EO year. I am looking forward to building on that momentum and welcoming new partners who share our commitment to supporting entrepreneurial growth

President’s Letter Accelerator Happy Birthday

bert rton

ngths of EO Accelerator ning opportunities that ccelerator participants, Whether you are looking to sharpen your leadership skills, give back as a coach, or simply continue your own growth journey, there are some fantastic opportunities coming up over the next few weeks.

The first is the upcoming EO Accelerator learning event on 3 August at The Edge. Presented by PG, the session will focus on coaching, accountability, and building stronger teams, while incorporating practical AI tools to enhance learning and real-world application It is also an excellent opportunity for members interested in becoming EO Accelerator coaches, developing their leadership capabilities, and giving back by supporting entrepreneurs through experience sharing and accountability

In addition, EO MEPA has launched a Connect & Learn series featuring 12 outstanding speakers, creating even more opportunities to learn from exceptional entrepreneurs and thought leaders from across the region Please keep an eye on our WhatsApp group for upcoming session announcements and registration details

A big birthday shoutout to all our incredible entrepreneurs celebrating their special day in July! May this year bring bold growth, fresh breakthroughs, and the kind of wins that remind you why you started in the first place.

Get In Touch With Our

Strategic Alliance Partners

FNB Business helps businesses balance daily operations with long-term growth through a multidimensional offering and a dedicated team of experienced bankers and advisors. Their solutions include lending options such as working capital, trade finance, debtor and asset-based finance, as well as notice deposit products tailored to different investment goals. For personalised support, contact Morakana Nelwamondo on morakana.nelwamondo@fnb.co.za or call 0765586855.

Westbrooke helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into growth, offering expert guidance on capital solutions for expansion, acquisitions, and business transitions. Through Masterclasses and one-on-one sessions, they share insights, spark conversations, and build lasting relationships. EO Johannesburg members can connect with Jonti Osher jonti@westbrooke.com or Lawrence Barnett lawrence@westbrooke.com to explore opportunities and take their business to the next level.

Kloppers is an independent South African retailer with 8 stores and a nationwide online presence, offering appliances, tech, furniture, sporting goods, and more. EO members get priority access to a personal shopper for seamless, time-saving assistance. WhatsApp 071 957 5842 for personalised support or visit their newest store at Castle Gate Lifestyle Precinct, Pretoria.

The Edge is Johannesburg’s high-performance venue for off-sites, board meetings, and wellnessfocused work sessions, located at the DP World Wanderers Stadium. EO Johannesburg members receive 30% off boardroom rentals, training room bookings, and venue hire. The first cold plunge and sauna session is free, and members can purchase a 10-session wellness voucher for R1,350. For more information or to book, contact sifiso@theedge.co.za

Workshop17 provides flexible workspaces and meeting rooms across 9 locations in South Africa and is a proud Events Space Partner of EO Johannesburg. EO Johannesburg members can enjoy discounted bookings or tailored office solutions at their Johannesburg spaces in Rosebank (The Bank & Fire Station) or Hyde Park Corner - contact the location manager, Demi Moodley on +27 10 500 1453 or +27 79 766 1487 to get started.

With over 40 years of combined automotive experience, CCVR provides reliable, personalised replacement and rental vehicle solutions. EO members enjoy exclusive benefits including preferred pricing, an additional driver free, unlimited mileage, free delivery and collection within 25km, super waivers, and all levies and VAT included. To book or enquire, contact eo@ccvr.co.za or reservations@ccvr.co.za

Private Clients by Old Mutual Wealth provide integrated plans for your holistic financial affairs, including investments, wealth structuring and transfer strategies, proactive tax planning and portfolio lifestyle and administration. Contact Alison Pegg at Alison.Pegg@omwealth.co.za or Megan Cupido at Megan.Cupido@omwealth.co.za

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