Dr. Anna Mokgokong, self-confessed Serial Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurship is a challenging journey that demands unwavering effort, grit, and determination. While anyone can start a business, not everyone will succeed as an entrepreneur. The reason for this is simple: to prosper in the highly competitive and ever-changing business world, entrepreneurship must be imbedded in one's DNA. One must possess a strong desire to create and build something that will have a positive impact on people's lives. If an individual is not passionate about their entrepreneurial intentions, simply giving up when faced with obstacles and challenges will be an easy decision to make.

Dr. Anna Mokgokong is a seasoned entrepreneur and one of South Africa's most successful businesspeople. Her extensive experience in healthcare, academia, commerce, and governance, makes Dr. Anna a well-known business figure both locally and internationally. We called upon Dr. Anna to share the story of her entrepreneurial journey as well as a a solution to Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) failures. As a black woman in business, Dr. Anna has faced many trials and tribulations, yet against all odds, she rose to success. Dr. Anna speaks of how her entrepreneurial journey is essentially the story of her life, and because of the dedication, focus, and sheer willpower she had, she was able to fulfil her vision. From an early age, Dr. Anna imagined herself sitting in higher positions and becoming a big player in business. At age eight, she "prophetically spoke her entrepreneurial journey into manifestation" and has never looked back.

Dr. Anna's first entrepreneurial stunt saw the young girl exchanging her mother's delicious lunchtime sandwiches for pocket money. She completed her education at St. Theresa's High School in Manzini, Swaziland, then followed the instructions of her parents. Although the chosen path was not her dream, old customs demanded that children follow in the footsteps of their parents. After receiving a BSc from the University of Botswana, Dr. Anna attended the Medical University of South Africa (MEDUNSA), where she not only received her MBChB but where her entrepreneurial journey took off. Dr. Anna's achievements are numerous, with her most recent award being the Women Who Make a Difference Award 2022 which was presented to her at the prestigious event held in Las Vegas. "Out of 33 nations and 6 continents, I was humbled," she explains, "to stand before all those courageous women that work diligently to make the world a different place. To receive such an award not only motivates me to do more but it also means that my entrepreneurial journey has a purpose and makes a positive impact in the society in which I operate."

Entrepreneurs have a distinct set of personality traits that help them prosper in the business world. Known as risk-takers, entrepreneurs are generally at ease with uncertainty and ambiguity, portraying a remarkably high tolerance for failure. This is because they are resilient to the core and able to pivot quickly in response to changing market conditions. These traits are not something that can be learned or developed; they are innate and part of a person's DNA. However, entrepreneurship has its own secret door and only when the key is given to you can you unlock your success. It will be a tiresome journey searching for the key yourself. Simply, as Dr. Anna said it, "You really need someone to give you a break. Someone has to give you a break, like the gentleman did on my first day. He gave me ten handbags to sell and out of hard work, honesty and diligence, I was able to convert it and build that into a business".

This journey is not for everyone. For those who do have these qualities however, entrepreneurship can be an incredibly fulfilling and rewarding career path. By incorporating entrepreneurial studies into the school curriculum, South Africa would be able to produce a new generation of entrepreneurs who can contribute to the country's economic development and help to create a more prosperous future for all. These studies would assist scholars in identifying the character traits within them. They would then be able to determine whether they have what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur, ultimately, allowing them to make career choices that best match their DNA. Equipping students with the necessary skills and knowledge to create their own businesses and create job opportunities is especially important in a country with elevated levels of unemployment. By learning about entrepreneurship, students will be able to develop their creative and critical thinking abilities, traits that are essential for running a successful business.

However, there is a challenge surrounding the statement above. It's all well and good that our future entrepreneurs are educated, but there's a major obstacle causing SMEs in South Africa to buckle and eventually fail. Excessive regulations pose a significant challenge for both SMEs and the Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD) programmes to which they belong. The complex and burdensome regulatory environment often leads to excessive costs, delays, and uncertainty for SMEs. This creates a significant barrier to entry for new businesses and limits the expansion and competitiveness of existing ones. Moreover, SMEs that lack the resources and expertise to navigate the regulatory maze may resort to informal or illegal activities, perpetuating the cycle of exclusion and informality.

To address these red tape issues, policymakers need to recognise the unique challenges and capacities of small businesses and make diligent efforts to simplify and streamline the regulatory framework for SMEs. To this end, reducing laws and regulations, implementing enhanced digital technologies, and increasing the transparency and accountability of regulatory agencies are all critical if transformation is to ensue. Such reforms would enable SMEs to focus on innovation, productivity, and job creation while also improving the overall business environment and attracting foreign investment.

Unlocking the full potential of ESD programmes can only be achieved by reducing the regulatory burden on SMEs and promoting greater collaboration between public and private stakeholders. By doing so, ESD programmes can become powerful tools for inclusive and sustainable economic growth, benefiting both small businesses and the broader society.

If you believe that entrepreneurship is in your DNA, do not allow anyone to discourage you from pursuing your dreams. With hard work, determination, and a little bit of luck you can achieve remarkable things and make a real difference in the world. However, there are numerous other career paths that may be better suited to your personality and interests. Ultimately, the most important thing is to find a career that you are passionate about and that brings you fulfilment and happiness.

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