{"id":68841,"date":"2020-11-19T12:40:54","date_gmt":"2020-11-19T10:40:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/?p=68841"},"modified":"2026-01-29T17:58:55","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T15:58:55","slug":"gew2020-why-every-business-should-be-an-impact-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/gew2020-why-every-business-should-be-an-impact-business\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Impact Innovation and why is it so powerful?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cWe live in the most unequal country in the world. This inequality bleeds through the ecosystem and prevents entrepreneurs from accessing opportunities and funding. Creating a start-up culture in South Africa means creating an enabling community. This is so important.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vuyolwethu Dubese is on a mission to drive inclusion and reduce inequality through what she describes as \u201cImpact Innovation\u201d.<\/p>\n

In fact, she\u2019s so passionate about the topic that not even a pandemic and global recession could stop her from launching InnovTel, a design impact and consulting studio that aims to create a new renaissance of impact-driven businesses.<\/p>\n

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InnovTel\u2019s learning platform offers free or affordable courses, e-books, and knowledge-sharing experiences to help entrepreneurs and students build sustainable, innovative, and impactful businesses.<\/p>\n

As an inclusive development consultant, Vuyo believes that businesses should be designed for impact and through InnovTel, she works with businesses to design strategies that turn data into collective intelligence that drives inclusive business development.<\/p>\n

Vuyo\u2019s passion aligns perfectly with the \u2018Inclusion\u2019 pillar of Global Entrepreneurship Week<\/a> (GEW2020). Taking place from 16 to 22 November, GEW2020 celebrates the work of start-up champions like Vuyo who are minimising barriers and removing obstacles for entrepreneurs, by maximising inclusion and discovering solutions through access to success stories, training, capital, and mentorship.<\/p>\n

Say yes to opportunity<\/h2>\n

Vuyo is a firm believer in the power of networking and conversation to drive impact and she recalls at least two women who have had a profound impact in her life, simply by sharing an opportunity, or giving advice.<\/p>\n

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\u201cMy high school teacher, Miss Cloete, was one of the most influential people in my life. She chose me as a recipient of a high school scholarship at the Cape Academy of Mathematics, Science and Technology.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This, she says, was the starting point. The moment of impact.<\/p>\n

It was through this opportunity that others opened up, including completing a leadership programme in the US and meeting Michelle Obama on her first visit to South Africa to engage young leaders.<\/p>\n

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\u201cMy world was opened through those years,\u201d she says. And the best piece of advice she\u2019s received was from Saidah Nash Carter, her former manager at Thomson Reuters, who said, \u201cYou did it, didn\u2019t you? I knew you would; now it\u2019s on to the next.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Since then, Vuyo has produced and hosted an SABC TV show, and has engaged in start-up advisory, business innovation and strategy, and gender parity initiatives at organisations such as Thomson Reuters, the World Bank Group, Standard Bank, the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (GBS), and Foundervine. She became a One Young World ambassador in 2017, has lectured on Impact Innovation at the University of South Africa (Unisa), and has served on the advisory board of Solution Space, GBS\u2019s entrepreneurial hub.<\/p>\n

But her first engagement with the entrepreneurial world happened while she was interning at Live Magazine (now Digify Africa<\/a>), and was introduced to The Hubspace Khayelitsha \u2013 and she\u2019s been hooked ever since.<\/p>\n

On to the next<\/h2>\n

Now Vuyo hopes to create similar opportunities for African entrepreneurs through InnovTel\u2019s tools and expertise. \u201cBecoming an entrepreneur is a challenge. Nothing can prepare you for the transition from employee to entrepreneur. Not even consulting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, she\u2019s generous with her advice, and offers these top tips for entrepreneurs and start-ups:<\/p>\n