Dawn Nathan -Jones

ENTREPRENEUR

Adynamic entrepreneur and accomplished businesswoman, Dawn Nathan-Jones is passionate about contributing to the economic growth of South Africa. Following an illustrious 35-year career in business, Dawn has embarked on a new journey to assist young entrepreneurs in building their fledgling businesses into successful enterprises.

As a vocal advocate for the empowerment of women and young entrepreneurs, her dream is to leave a legacy of social entrepreneurship with heart.

Dawn is investing her time in imparting her knowledge and experience of building efficient, scalable and profitable businesses. A huge part of the growth in the country’s economy, says Dawn, will depend on cultivating a culture of entrepreneurship among the youth.

Dawn is most popularly recognised for her role as the only female ‘Shark’ on Mnet’s Shark Tank SA, a show where entrepreneurs convince five self-made millionaires – the Sharks – to invest in their businesses.

Dawn’s career started at the age of 21 when she joined Imperial Car Rental’s co-founders, Carol Scott and Maureen Jackson. Together, the three ambitious and determined women took on other car rental giants with only five cars – and plenty of passion, grit and hard work. Her ability to continuously innovate, reinvent and drive change later landed her the coveted position of CEO of the Imperial Group’s Car Rental Division, which included a number of other car rental and associate businesses.

Dawn stepped down from her role as CEO at the end of 2015, after 18 years at the helm. She was instrumental in many acquisitions and mergers, as well as the strategic repositioning of the Imperial Holdings brand in 2009. Imperial Car Rental and Europcar merged in 2007, and she was tasked with spearheading the consolidation and successful rebranding of Imperial Car Rental to Europcar in 2009. That particular brand migration story and successful transformation has subsequently been used by many business schools, both locally and internationally, as a case study for rebranding and internal cultural change.

Dawn is passionate about sharing her knowledge with fledging businesses, partly through her role in

Shark Tank SA, but also through her network in the community and the corporate world as well as various organisations seeking mentors to help turn small businesses into successful enterprises.

Dawn believes soul time is necessary for inner balance, and that nourishing body and mind is an important ingredient for success as an entrepreneurial leader – it puts life into perspective, she says. She lives in Cape Town with her 12-year-old son, Daniel.

I never dreamed of success; I worked for it. ❜❜