The Cape Town chapter of Entrepreneurs’ Organisation (EO) celebrated the international organisation’s 25th year last night.
The year 2012 marks the 25th anniversary of Entrepreneurs’ Organisation (EO), a vast global network of entrepreneurs that strives to promote entrepreneurial education. Founded in 1987 by a group of young entrepreneurs, EO has extended its invite-only membership to over 8 000 business owners worldwide, with an overall global reach spanning 40 countries.
To celebrate this momentous occasion, EO will be hosting festivities worldwide to promote the strengthening role that entrepreneurs play in local economies and the wider global economy. To date, EO has pioneered the education, transformation and inspiration of thousands of entrepreneurs – providing much cause for celebration. It’s no wonder that the theme for this year’s anniversary celebrations is “THRIVE”, inspired by the flourishing prospects and transformational potential that EO represents.
The Cape Town chapter of EO celebrated a 25th anniversary event at the Tintswalo Atlantic, a striking lodge in Cape Town’s coastal village of Hout Bay. Positioned at the foot of Chapman’s Peak with a mesmerizing view of the bay, the venue was chosen to compliment this signature event, which hosted South Africa’s top entrepreneurs from a broad scope of industries – from advertising, entertainment and consulting to health services, education, and retail, among many others. An evening of entertainment, exquisite cuisine and great networking opportunities awaited all those in attendance.
EO South Africa context
As of May 2012, the Cape Town chapter of EO South Africa consists of 46 members and the Johannesburg chapter consists of 88 members. The collective number of employees that fall under these industry leaders amounts to 8,139, a figure which illustrates the impact that entrepreneurs can have within the South African context. With the average EO member age sitting at around 40-years-old, it’s encouraging to see that South African entrepreneurs are young, dynamic and forward thinking.
At the heart of EO’s ethos is the need for entrepreneurs to engage – not only to foster learning, but also to encourage connections to experts for increased growth and opportunity, both personally and professionally. Nothing but hard work and passion have made the EO what it is today.
In addition to being a network for entrepreneurs, EO also operates the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) and Accelerator, which are both in line with the organisation’s strong educational drive. GSEA is a program for undergraduate students who own or run small businesses while furthering their education at a university or college, while Accelerator is a series of quarterly, high-impact events aimed at equipping business owners with the necessary tools to grow their businesses. Both initiatives are highly regarded within the field of business and education.
To the next 25 years and beyond
EO has made outstanding strides towards leveraging worldwide entrepreneurial talent. Offering transformative experiences and an invaluable peer network, the future is certainly bright for the organisation and its membership. EO celebrations will mark 25 years of success, but they’ll certainly usher in the next season of accomplishment and growth too. To the next 25 years ¬– and beyond!