From growth and transformation to economic inclusion, these leaders from within the Property Point team are doing their part to champion change.
Bringing out the best in entrepreneurs
Carmine Fritz, the Senior Program Manager at Property Point, the leading small business accelerator program in South Africa, says leadership is being true to who you are and mentoring others in a way that leaves a lasting impact.
“It’s about creating an environment that encourages and fosters great ideas, bringing out the best in people without them even realizing it,” she adds.
Fritz has earned the reputation of being a problem solver. Over her two-year tenure, she has tackled some of the most challenging programs, transforming them into success stories.
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One of her most notable achievements is transforming a challenging cohort of small and medium business enterprises known for their disruptive methods.
“I quickly realized that to help this group grow and transform, I had to unlearn my preconceptions and see them through a lens that believed in their entrepreneurial capabilities,” she recounts.
Fritz’s strategy involved extensive personal development for the business founders and rigorous business development milestones. The results were nothing short of transformative.
“The entrepreneurs started with no clear business strategy other than demanding 30% of community projects. Now, they are securing new clients and leading major construction projects as main contractors, with contracts ranging from ZAR4 million to ZAR6 million,” she says.
Championing research for developmental impact
“Leadership is such a crucial part of our everyday lives. It’s a combination of being born with the skill and nurturing the responsibility that comes with it,” says Maphefo Sipula, Head of Research and Impact at Property Point.
Sipula’s journey is deeply influenced by her socially-entrepreneurial parents – her father, a medical doctor and her social worker mother – who instilled in her the values of education, hard work, and dedication.
After joining Property Point in 2018 as a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (MER) Analyst, Sipula became Head of Research and Impact, overseeing research and MER functions and leading an all-women team of economists and MER analysts.
“Through our research, we can continuously shape our understanding of entrepreneurs’ challenges and identify the most effective solutions through a practitioner-driven approach,” she says.
This is evident in the group’s women-only intake program, She Builds, and the recently launched sustainability specialization program, Greenpreneur. Both programs aim to increase the number of underrepresented groups in their respective sectors.
Despite the challenges of women’s representation in the property industry, Sipula is optimistic about the future.
“It’s exciting to see female entrepreneurs breaking barriers, building sustainable businesses, and driving innovation,” she says. “Although we still have a long way to go, our progress is encouraging.”
Driving economic inclusion through local engagement
As an expert in fostering economic inclusion in previously-disadvantaged communities, Ntsako Ngomane’s strategic approach to addressing inequality has proven pivotal in breaking down barriers and creating sustainable growth.
Ngomane, the Head of Local Economic Development (LED) and Stakeholder Management at Property Point, takes a pragmatic and visionary approach.
“The construction sector is close-knit and fragmented, with contractors preferring to work with subcontractors they trust. This has, unfortunately, led to the exclusion of many SMMEs from previously disadvantaged backgrounds,” she explains.
“By positioning Property Point as a catalyst with the skillset to manage LED expectations, we have successfully integrated economic inclusion into development projects, transforming potential societal risks into strategic community relationships.”
Ngomane’s impact extends beyond the confines of individual projects. Her work reshapes how the construction sector views economic inclusion and stakeholder engagement. By highlighting the strategic benefits of proactive LED implementation, she challenges traditional perceptions and paves the way for a more inclusive industry.
“We aim to show that economic inclusion is not just about mitigating risk but about building strategic relationships in the communities where projects are located,” she emphasizes.
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