Student Testimonials » School of Entrepreneurship

From Our Students

Success Stories

Thabo

Kasi 2 Kasi Plumbers Association

Before starting the programme Thabo made on average R 2000 profit per month. Currently his profits are between R 35 000 – R 80 000 per month.

Thabo is 54 years old and started his business in 2017. He joined the programme in 2023 and during the process, changed the whole focus and strategy of his business.

He operates in Diepsloot Soweto and extended his business to a plumbing association with 3 categories:

Helping aspiring plumbers in townships to get certified
Assist existing plumbers (3+years) to become certified and register with ARPL
Assist qualified plumbers with access to the market and expand their profits.

He partnered with SETA Jhb and also works with Harmony Gold Mine.

His goal for 2024 is to upskill 3000 plumbers to get them certified and registered with the relevant
bodies.

With the knowledge he gained from the entrepreneurship programme he:

Revisited and changed his strategies
Changed his business management and focussed on what he does best
Upskilled his marketing – especially improving his social media marketing

Nikho

Imbokodo Courier Services

During and after the programme she increased her profits with 75 % per month.

Nikho completed the programme in September 2023. She started her business in 2021, and is based between East London and Johannesburg.

Her business operates nationwide.

Specific skills she learnt from the programme that enabled her and her businesses to grow:

she changed my whole business concept to specialize in a specific area

(which is focussed on courier services and logistics for SME’s)

she learnt and understand the importance of consistency now
and to never give up, but rather to find solutions to every challenge she encountered

She also make use of outsourcing services in order to meet her

client’s needs.

Velaphi

Gemini Engineering Solutions

His annual turnover before the programme: +/- R 250 000 His annual turnover after the programme: +/- R1.1 million

Velaphi is 40 years and started his business in 2015. He is an Engineering Consultant, based in Durban. He self-funded using his payout after resigning from his job in 2015. Since the programme, he received a R100 000 grant from a Sasol Development Fund and as part of the Sasol Programme can get up to R10 Million interest-free loan for capital expenditure required for any specific customer project. He has grown from being a subcontractor to being the main contractor on projects. He sustains himself and 5 employees, with about a dozen contract workers. Skills learnt particularly from the programme:

Marketing strategies and following up with prospects
Accountability (focus, motivation, goal setting)
Branding (clarity and tools to use to save costs)

Jack

Chillas Zone

In the beginning, his business was small with low profits. Doing this programme contributed hugely to increasing his turnover and profits in his business.

Jack is 32 years old and based in Nkambako Village, Tzaneen, Limpopo. His business was running for 18 months when he joined the programme in March 2023. Valuable knowledge he gained from the programme:

how to handle his finances better,
improved his marketing strategy,
the importance of time management (which he was lacking)
understanding goal setting and the importance of it better
problem analysis

He sees this programme as a “power tool” of knowledge and guidance that he will continue to use to grow his business.

Preciah

Maxin Clothing

Doing the programme contributed hugely to increasing her turnover and profits.

Preciah is the Principal of Westvalia Day Care Centre. She lives in Khujwana Village and her business is based in Tzaneen, Limpopo. She started her business as a hobby in October 2022, and was running for 4 months when she joined the programme in March 2023. She employed a manager when she opened her 1st shop, in December 2023 she employed an assistant for her second shop. She got a partner in 2023 and opened a second outlet in December 2023. She gained valuable knowledge regarding:

pricing structures,
understand the finances better and how to manage it,
a better understanding of her business concept,
gained much through proper marketing research as learnt from the programme,
goal setting,
corrected many mistakes she made in the beginning because she had little knowledge of how to run a business and
motivation to never give up at times when she felt she wanted to give up.

Silas

Ultra Intellects Gardening and Cleaning

He was making less than R2000 per month and now he is making an average of R6000 per month.

Silas was one of the Bursary Students in 2023 when he was 36 years old. He has developed self mastery, sales skills, business compliance and his big ‘why’ as to why he is in business.”

Tasneem

E-commerce

She had no income prior and currently makes R3000 per month.

Tasneem was 20 years old when she attended the programme in 2022. She is based in Durban and started her online business after commencing the programme.

“The area of the course that had the greatest impact on me and my business was the mindset and personal development area. It taught me to be patient and consistent even if I wasn’t seeing results immediately”

Luyanda

Agricultural Business

At the start of the programme she was making R1000 per week and currently she is making R3500 per week.

Luyanda was 18 years old when she attended the programme in 2022, and also started her business during the same time (in 2022).

She is based in Pietermaritzburg, KZN, and one of the most important aspects she learnt from the programme is: “Know your customer”.

From Our Students

Testimonials

Valentine Lunga

★★★★★

“Coach Leon, you are the best!! thank you for a platform that educates and equips me to start and scale my business. The school of entrepreneurship has become part of my life. I have mixed emotions as i finish with my course, I am happy that i have learnt so much, have built amazing friendships with the other students and have been taught by the best but i will miss you and all the other coaches. Thank you so much !! I will go out there and implement all that i have been taught, cant’t wait.”

Abel Kortje

★★★★★

“I would like to express my gratitude towards Leon the Visionary of Entrepreneur school, I am empowered and have completely different mind set business concern. Now I believe you need education or understanding in order to start and want to sustain in business. Thanks guys was great to be with you.”

Sue Lorraine

★★★★★

“Words are not enough to thank you Coach Leon for giving me this life-changing opportunity. When l was chosen for this program and started the journey l knew that my life would not be the same again .l learned so much from you and all the coaches you brought for us on this program. l have improved as a person and an entrepreneur. The program was more than l expected..l can say it was rich in every way. I thank you for the opportunity to meet great and inspiring colleagues in this program. God bless you richly for giving me this opportunity to be part of this awesome community and for all you have taught me. “

Nobuhle Zondi

★★★★★

“I truly appreciated this journey. The school has provided me with invaluable resources and guidance to help me on my entrepreneurial journey. The courses I have taken have given me the knowledge and tools to build a solid foundation for my business. I now have a better understanding of the business landscape and how to position my company for success. I have also learned about the importance of creating a strong brand and marketing strategy, which has helped me to attract and retain customers. Thank you so much.”

Thomas Antoine-Williams

★★★★★

“There is a unique way of learning with Leon, he uses a clear delivery of his teaching with great examples and proven techniques that set you for success, the only thing you need is just to follow the process and show up. The school of entrepreneurship has been my greatest investment as it brings you a higher level of understanding, deeper and broader than all the other courses I have done, presenting you each day and week a different topic with his passion and extensive experience that you can benefit as a privilege student. I think it’s fair to show gratitude and to show anyone that would be looking to work with you how much value they will receive. Forever grateful.”

Caroline Karanja

★★★★★

“Leon you definitely are community changer through the training impacting South Africans and beyond. I did iEMP3 and this time I was committed to stay the course. Your great love is evident in the planning and giving us the best coaches and guidance and time put in organizing content of the course. I salute you. Blessing.”

Puleng Matatiele

★★★★★

“Sincere gratitude to you Leon and all the coaches, the entire SoE. The course was intense and greatly useful.This was an opportunity I had been yearning for but never imagined would come true. Thank you so much.”