Meet the new GM: Partnerships and Revenue Generation, Nosipho Khonkwane
Who is Nosipho?
NK: Nosipho is a mother, and wife, who loves to travel and experience new places, transformational, and is results-oriented.
Where are you from?
NK: I was born in Willowvale, a small town, under Mbhashe local Municipality, in the Province of the Eastern Cape. I have lived in Engcobo which is where I did My Junior Secondary and My high school, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and currently I reside in Pretoria.
A very short synopsis of your professional background
NK: My career in SMME development started in 1998 when I joined the National Manufacturing advisor programme in Port Elizabeth as a Cadet/Trainee. I later joined the Small Enterprise Development Agency in 2005, this is where I grew into various leadership positions.
What do you see as the importance of GEP in the Gauteng economy?
NK: GEP creates an enabling environment for entrepreneurship to thrive in Gauteng. GEP is therefore critical in ensuring a well-coordinated entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Gauteng Province.
What do you hope to achieve with GEP?
NK: In my role as GM: Stakeholder relation and Revenue generation, I would like to ensure that we sweat our partnership funds by leveraging funds from our strategic partners. The SMME environment is very fragmented and even the budget is decentralized to various spheres of government, and this is an opportunity for collaborations and the creation of value-added partnerships.
What will success look like for you?
NK: GEP can support more SMMEs than it would have been possible through funding raised from strategic partners. Improved stakeholder satisfaction with the work of GEP.
What drives you?
NK: Finding purpose in what I do, setting clear goals and just the taste of success makes me do more.
What’s your favourite book and why?
NK: My recent read is Closing the gap: the 4TH Industrial Revolution in Africa, It simplifies various 4IR technologies and challenges Africa to embrace 4IR and position to be at the forefront of generating Industry 4.0 innovations as we cannot afford to be mere passive consumers.
Quickfire fun questions
- Hip hop or Gospel? Gospel, it feeds me.
- Coke or Oros? Maybe, Oros, I don’t like too much sugar
- Will Smith or Denzel Washington? Denzel Washington
- Sneakers or Heels? Heels
- Chicken Curry or Braai meat? Braai meat