Business isn’t about pitching harder. It’s about people.

I’ve never been good at following orders. At 23, I got fired from my last job – no big scandal, I just wasn’t cut out for being told what to do. That was the push I needed. I threw myself into the world of entrepreneurship, not because I had it all figured out, but because I had no choice.

My dad was an entrepreneur, too. I watched him build something from nothing, and it left a mark. So I started my first business – Social Animal, a digital marketing agency. Problem was, nobody knew me. I knocked on doors, pitched to dozens of people… and got nothing but “no.”

That’s when I realised: business isn’t about pitching harder. It’s about people. It’s about who knows you, who trusts you, and who’s willing to take a chance on you.

The Power of People

One day, I had a coffee with someone who ran a web design agency. His clients needed social media help. We joined forces. He sent me a few leads, and just like that, I had my first six clients. That’s when it clicked: one relationship can change your whole life.

That mindset has shaped everything I’ve built since. Whether it’s marketing, LinkedIn, or any of the networks I’m part of – it’s always been about people. You show up, you give more than you take, and you build trust.

Why We Built The Lekker Network

A few years ago, Nick Latouf gave me a call. He said, “Let’s build something big. A global network for South Africans around the world.” I said yes immediately. Because I know what one connection can do.

That was the start of The Lekker Network. We’re now over 420 members strong in 26 countries. We’re aiming for 500 by the end of the year. People are working together, investing in each other, creating real opportunities – and it’s growing fast.

South Africans Show Up for Each Other

There’s something special about South Africans abroad. We just get each other. We’ve been through similar things. We have that same grit, that same sense of humour, that same willingness to help. We’re not in it to take – we’re in it to give.

And when we do that? The impact is massive. That’s what Lekker is all about.

So if you ask me how it all started, I’ll always say: it started with one coffee.