Lessons from African business visionaries
IN the early days of a new business, the most valuable skill a founder can have is entrepreneurship — the vision to identify opportunities and the willingness to take risks. But as the business grows, the demands change.
Disciplined management skills and corporate expertise are required to coordinate a growing enterprise. Some entrepreneurs are able to make the transition to leadership successfully, while others struggle.
As the business grows, its demands change.
Entrepreneurship is needed to spark the business into life, but leadership skills are required to maintain long-term growth.
Management discipline is required to support that growth.
A founder must adjust from being the sole decision maker to delegating, and make the transition from entrepreneur to leader.
This shift from founder to leader marks a significant milestone in the African business landscape, reflecting deeper trends in innovation, sustainability and leadership.
Leading change
African entrepreneurs, once celebrated for their audacity to found companies in challenging environments, are now being recognised for their evolution into transformative leaders.
In recent years, Africa has seen an unprecedented surge in entrepreneurship, driven by a young and dynamic population, and increasingly accessible technology.
Founders like Fred Swaniker of the African Leadership Academy and Juliet Ehimuan of Google West Africa have become household names, symbolising the continent’s entrepreneurial spirit.
However, as these businesses grow, the journey of these founders into effective, visionary leaders is a narrative that deserves some spotlight.
One such story is that of Njeri Rionge, who co-founded Wananchi Online, a company that revolutionised internet access in East Africa. Rionge’s transition from a founder to a leader exemplifies the evolution required to sustain and scale up a business in the African context.
“Leadership in Africa is about navigating complexities; it’s about building communities within your organisation and extending that ethos to the society,” Rionge shared in a recent interview.
This transition is not merely about scaling up businesses but also about adopting a leadership style that resonates with the African way of life. It is about being deeply rooted in one’s community, understanding the unique challenges and opportunities present, and leading with empathy and vision. African leaders are increasingly adopting a participatory style, fostering a culture of innovation and resilience.
Moreover, the narrative of leadership is also about sustainability and impact.
African businesses are not just aiming for profit but are also deeply invested in creating value for their communities.
Jessica O. Matthews, the founder of Uncharted Power, an energy company, is a prime example.
Her leadership extends beyond her firm’s success; it is about reimagining Africa’s energy landscape and empowering communities through sustainable solutions.
The evolution from founder to leader in the African business context is also significantly influenced by the digital transformation.
Leaders like Kamal Budhabhatti, founder of Craft Silicon, have leveraged on technology not just to scale up their businesses but also to drive digital literacy and innovation across the continent.
“Technology is a great equaliser, and as leaders, our role is to harness its power for the greater good,” Budhabhatti notes.
As the African business landscape continues to evolve, the journey from founder to leader will be critical in shaping the continent’s future. It is a narrative of resilience, innovation and a deep commitment to the community.
These leaders are not just running companies; they are also shaping the socio-economic fabric of Africa, one visionary step at a time.
To sum up, the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.
Start-ups in Africa require the spark of entrepreneurship, but growth requires a different set of skills. A founder must transition from being the sole decision maker to being a disciplined manager and a successful leader who creates more leaders.
◆ Stephene Chikozho is the chief executive of Big Business Africa, a dynamic and influential network dedicated to fostering collaboration, innovation and success for businesses in Africa. He writes in his personal capacity. You can follow him on social media (Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Threads) WhatsApp: +263772409651 or email: ceo@bigbusiness.africa