Three powerful panel discussions. Countless transformative ideas. In The Mother City, visionaries gathered for Citadel’s ‘The Collective’, held in partnership with FORBES AFRICA and CNBC Africa, for some thought-provoking debate on Africa’s present and future.
Visionary thinkers, thought leaders, and problem-solvers congregated in the heart of Cape Town’s bustling Central Business District for Citadel’s ‘The Collective’ on August 21, in partnership with FORBES AFRICA and CNBC Africa.
An exclusive gathering of South Africa’s sharpest minds and most influential voices, hosted by Citadel, ‘The Collective’ was where insights ignited action. Designed for those who seek to understand the forces shaping our world, this dynamic forum covered critical topics spanning politics, business, technology, sport, and investment–all through the lens of South Africa’s evolving landscape.
As former South African rugby captain and Citadel’s Head of Philanthropy Jean de Villiers regaled the audience as a Master of Ceremonies at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, attendees listened to industry leaders driving real impact in society and the global economy. It was an occasion that emphasized collaboration, highlighted urgency, and encouraged change to foster economic prosperity and resilience on the continent.
“The question is no longer how we respond, it’s now how do we lead; how do we turn this volatility into vision, and this disruption into direction. Together, we are trying to create a platform that fosters thought leadership, promotes cross-sector collaboration, and sparks dialogue that will drive real change… The future is something you need to co-create,” Citadel’s CEO Andrew Möller said in his opening address.
Möller’s speech set the stage for an exhilarating afternoon of innovative thinking, which stretched from empowering small businesses to unlocking the untapped potential of Africa’s green, blue and creative economies.
The first of three panels focused on South Africa’s next era of business, advocating the importance of supporting independent business to create cross-generational wealth.
Cited from Forbes Africa
On stage for the panel titled Disruptors. Doers. Dreamers: The Multigenerational Trailblazers in Entrepreneurship were Miss World 2014 and founder of RS Sunglasses, Rolene Strauss; chemical engineer-turned-entrepreneur with an inspiring story, Mpho Mohaswa; and Managing Director of Amazon Sub-Saharan Africa, Robert Koen.
Small and medium-sized businesses, which contribute to 34% of the country’s GDP, are central to South Africa’s economy, providing millions of jobs. Koen echoed this sentiment, saying, “Small businesses are going to grow our economies and that’s what we need to focus on.” The Amazon executive offered a glimpse of the company’s vote of confidence for Africa, revealing: “As Africans gain more access to the internet and more disposable income, I think the opportunity is exciting, that’s why we are investing.”
Strauss dwelled on accountability and action in a bid to harness South Africa’s potential, adding, “We need to become a part of the solution… I believe that success leaves clues. We as humans are trained to cut corners and come to conclusions quickly, and that leads to constrained thinking.”
The second panel, titled Green Growth: Unlocking The Sustainability Economy, revolved around unlocking Africa’s sustainability economy, explored by Citadel’s Chief Economist Maarten Ackerman; ocean activist and Agulhas founder Hanli Prinsloo; co-founder of Zero Carbon Charge Joubert Roux; GoSolr co-founder Andrew Middleton, and Newform Foods’ CEO Brett Thompson.
Green economics is expected to be a major topic of discussion at the G20 summit in November, led by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The renewable energy sector is one of the region’s biggest untapped markets, and has the potential to revolutionize Africa, from powering its rural communities to providing hundreds and thousands, if not millions, of jobs across the region.
“I think we are on the cusp of the biggest energy opportunity to have come around in the last 120 years,” Roux explained, before adding that “the world will be repositioned in terms of energy”, which he said will offer the same financial opportunity as the internet, cellphones, and AI.
Cited from Forbes Africa
Corporate sustainability was another topic that sparked insightful debate, with Citadel’s Ackerman cementing its importance, saying, “If you’re not green, you’re not going to stand in line for capital.”
Prinsloo added: “We should be looking at sustainability all down the value chain, from how we power facilities to how we move, produce, and design products. We can’t just put the [sustainability] responsibility on the consumer, and you can’t take responsibility if you don’t have a choice. I think there’s an opportunity for ways to engage a caring consumer, and what has to happen is the alignment in ideas and funding, which is not easy when you’re a small business.”
Some of Africa’s most influential creatives concluded proceedings in what was an invigorating discussion, titled The Creative Collective: Turning Culture into Capital, regarding changing global perceptions through art, fashion and music.
The final panel consisted of singer, actor, and storyteller Zolani Mahola; Aspire Art CEO Marelize Van Zyl, and South African fashion designers Gavin Rajah and David Tlale.
Changing the African narrative through art was a theme throughout the conversation. “Our responsibility as the creative sector is to understand the power we have and how we can change the status quo in the continent that we live in, which is fighting unemployment, and making sure that we start believing in our story,” said Tlale.
Rajah said: “We need to find solutions and create work that has a global impact.”
The creative economy is becoming a major driver of social and financial growth, and fully leveraging it, Tlale explains, means “fostering a culture that lets youngsters express themselves creatively”.
Africa sits at a crossroads, in what may be its most opportunistic moment in centuries. It is a continent no longer playing second fiddle to the West but leading by example. Collaboration is critical, which is the ethos spurring Citadel’s ‘The Collective’.