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JImmy Moyaha: The Founders at Work masterclass is scheduled to take place in Durban on March 24 this year. If you want to know more about this, Jason Goldberg, co-founder of Art of Scale, watched the event and joined the line to find out more about it.
Jason, it’s great to have you on the show. Thank you very much for your time. Tell us about Founders at Work and the masterclass series you host. what are you doing here?
Jason Goldberg: Jimmy, thanks for coming. I was really happy to be on the show.
Founders at Work is a national initiative in partnership with FNB [First National Bank] and Art of Scale, designed specifically for founders and CEOs looking to grow their businesses.
Typically, these are companies with 10 to 100 or 200 staff. [generating] With revenues ranging between R8 million and R150 million, the company is struggling with growing pains, the predictable pains that come with growth.
The Durban Masterclass is the next stop in the national series. We have run twice before, in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
This has a special focus on scaling the team. [the way] The focus is on building the leadership team and the broader team, as this ultimately determines the success or failure of scaling.
Currently, it occurs in a specific context: artificial intelligence. [AI] A revolution is happening all around us right now. This has a huge impact on how you think about the type of team you’re trying to scale.
That’s both good news and bad news. This is actually good news, but ignoring trends can be bad news.
So we’re here to help founders learn how to harness the power of AI and build the teams they need to scale.
Jimmy Moyaha: Jason, we’re going to jump right into the role of AI in this masterclass. Think about the importance of being able to properly scale your business. Many entrepreneurs build businesses with the goal of solving immediate problems and immediate needs, rather than with the goal of scaling.
Learn about the importance of understanding when and how to scale your business.
Jason Goldberg: Every successful business leader grows their workforce in response to their success, their business becomes more complex, and at some point the wheels fall off the bus.
This happens when there’s too much going on the way you’re used to doing business. Typically, this happens at around 20 employees, sometimes 15, sometimes 25, and founders start to realize that no matter how hard they try, they’re falling further and further behind every day.
It’s overwhelming. It leads to burnout. I feel terrible. Ironically, it’s because of their success.
What business owners need to learn is that systems break because they are systems, and they must be replaced with scalable systems to run their businesses.
That’s called scaling. Introducing a scalable approach [managing] This is to ensure that your responsibilities as a founder remain intact as you grow your business further.
Once you start implementing scalable management teams, systems, processes, and structures, your life, and often your health, as a business owner will be restored.
That’s what scaling is all about, Jimmy.
Jimmy Moyaha: Jason, please explain how you were able to incorporate AI as you considered its role. [it] Participation in master classes and why it is such an important factor. We touched on the fact that we live in a digital age and the use of AI can make a big difference.
and like you said [and] I thought the use of AI could be very beneficial for companies that don’t necessarily have the ability to employ 600, 700 people. Please explain how you integrated this into your masterclass.
Jason Goldberg: AI is perhaps the most empowering new technology ever for business owners. [helping] To solve the constraints faced in growing [their businesses].
Any business owner knows what it’s like to need a R1.5 million manager but only have the R800,000 manager to spare, and you feel that gap every day.
AI will enable a R800,000 manager to provide an even better service than a R1.5 million manager. But that’s only if they are [properly] You are authorized to use it.
So what are we [seeing] That means a manager with R800,000 and AI is worth much more than a manager with R1.5 million without AI. Understanding this and understanding how to turn an R800 000 leader into a R1.5 million+ leader is very important for business owners. [who want] To scale up in this AI era.
So what we’re talking about to business owners is how AI is changing the role of people and the role of leaders, and how to leverage this technology to reap its benefits as you build your team.
Jimmy Moyaha: Jason, I heard that qualified entrepreneurs can attend the masterclass itself for free.
Could you tell us a little more about what a “qualified entrepreneur” is and how you assess it in this particular masterclass? And please let me know if there are any similar masterclasses that you organize as Art of Scale.
Jason Goldberg: master class event [are] Generously and fully sponsored by FNB. Therefore, despite the high quality of the event, companies that meet the criteria can participate for free.
Eligibility criteria – You must have a team of at least 10 people, a turnover of at least R8 million, and the business must have been in operation for at least two years. They also need to be owner-managers or senior leaders within the business, i.e., C-suite leaders.
If you meet these criteria, register on the Founders at Work website (www.foundersatwork.co.za), attend events and look for the masterclass in Durban on 24th March to attend.
Yes, there are also upcoming events. These are scheduled to be held nationwide every month. The next event will not be in Durban. It will be Polokwane.
So if you can’t attend in town, you can still sign up and attend the livestream event.
Jimmy Moyaha: We understand the importance of scaling your business and ensure you scale correctly. This is what separates the really good businesses from the really great businesses.
That concludes today’s conversation. Thank you very much for joining us, Jason Goldberg, co-founder of Art of Scale. [discuss] The Founders at Work Masterclass will be held in Durban next week in partnership with FNB.
Founders at Work, in partnership with FNB and Art of Scale, invites founders, CEOs, and business leaders to an architecture masterclass in March. AI-powered teams that can scale without you. Join us in Durban or online on March 24th.
To book your place at this event, visit foundersatwork.co.za to access podcasts, tools and more.
Presented by Founders at Work in partnership with FNB and Art of Scale.
Moneyweb does not endorse any products or services promoted in sponsored articles on the Platform.
