Alan Browde’s company, SA Harvest, is on a mission to end the injustice of hunger in South Africa and in just 58 months, has delivered more than 70 million nutritious meals to the hungry. According to Browde, this makes the company one of the top two food-rescue companies in South Africa. “Being able to improve the lives of our more unfortunate brothers and sisters, especially children, has been a lifechanging privilege for me,” he said. SA Harvest has also rescued 17.5 million kilograms of edible food during this time that would have otherwise gone to landfill. The company sources it from farmers, manufacturers, and retailers, and delivers it free and in bulk to communitybased organisations to disseminate. It has also prevented 1.5 million kilograms of methane emissions, and helps lessen the 10 million tons of food that goes to waste every year. SA Harvest aims to eradicate hunger in South Africa by integrating charity with systemic solutions which focus on employment, skills training, and community upliftment. The company has also developed bespoke technology which tracks and traces every morsel of food, registers expiry, collection, and delivery dates, and measures the average nutritional values delivered to all its beneficiaries, according to Browde. Browde, a former Habonim Dror camp organiser and an ex-dairy farmer on Kibbutz Nir Eliyahu, says, “SA Harvest has enabled me to give back to the people of this country. Helping to improve lives has been a life-changing privilege for me.” He says the most challenging experience of his career was moving from a kibbutz into the very formal business environment of Stellenbosch Farmers Wineries without any appropriate training or experience. “I had to handle a huge budget as the brand manager of Mainstay. I managed the storm by not being afraid of making mistakes and with the support of my special boss,” he said. SA Harvest began operations in October 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. “It was ironically a boon for us,” he said. “Everyone suddenly woke up to the catastrophe of hunger and malnutrition in the country, and we managed to raise a lot of money at that time. We delivered, safely, millions of meals during lockdown. “I was determined not to be concerned with issues – loadshedding, corruption etc – that we couldn’t control. We pushed on, and delivered, proving that we are more than the challenges thrown at us.” Browde believes the most important task of a leader is to keep his team connected to its purpose. “Goals in themselves aren’t motivational unless the ‘why’ is deeply meaningful. Our feeding every day of thousands of hungry people and our work in helping to uplift severely disadvantaged communities are powerful emotive reasons.” Browde’s love of learning has helped SA Harvest become one of the thought leaders in issues affecting the rescue and delivery of free food. “I’m fortunate to have had great teachers in my parents – Selma and Jules Browde – who taught me an ethical way of life and the importance of courageous action ,” says Browde, who was King David Linksfield head prefect in 1968. Nadav Ossendryver Norman Kretzmer and Raphael Segal Alan Browde Nadav Ossendryver’s wildlife media company, Latest Sightings, has more than 17 million followers and brings the wonders of nature to people globally through real-time, crowd-sourced wildlife sightings. “Visitors to game reserves share live updates of sightings with photos, which are broadcast across platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and our app,” says Ossendryver, a 28-year-old alumnus of King David Linksfield and the University of the Witwatersrand. Ossendryver started Latest Sightings when he was a 15-year-old Grade 9 student, and he was still in high school when his business’s impact resulted in him winning the Jewish Achiever Creative Counsel Young Jewish Entrepreneurs Award. “It was a proud moment that marked the beginning of a journey that has since grown beyond what I could have imagined back then. From a school project to a globally recognised platform, Latest Sightings has come a long way.” Ossendryver says his app is unique as he has built a team driven by passion for wildlife. “This isn’t just a job for us, it’s us working with what we love,” he says. “There’s also no other app that provides real-time sighting services for people on safari. Latest Sightings’ unique selling point is that we generate the content. The app allows people to send us their sightings, so we get the great photos or videos first before anyone else. We’re able to generate hundreds of sightings every day.” Ossendryver says his success is largely driven by his obsessive personality and fast-mover mentality. “When I see an opportunity or have an idea, I don’t spend too much time overthinking. I dive in, and take action, which allows me to capitalise on opportunities quickly.” He is most proud of turning his passion for wildlife into a business. “In 2023 alone, we received more than five billion views online. That was more than National Geographic online.” His greatest business achievements include building a global community with more than 17 million followers, continuing to generate billions of views every year, and Latest Sightings’ conservation impact. “We provide critical data to researchers via the sightings that we receive. This directly saves the lives of multiple species in the parks.” Latest Sightings is also committed to helping the wildlife community and its business partners to develop valuable skills. “We focus on improving their online social media presence and videography skills,” Ossendryver says. He believes leadership is about creating a culture of transparency, trust, and positivity. This past year, he has focused on giving his team the freedom to make decisions and empowering them to take ownership of their work. “This approach fosters a sense of accountability, and encourages creative problem-solving,” he says. “I also believe in celebrating small wins, whether it’s reaching a million views in 24 hours or making another sale. By celebrating these victories, we create a continuous atmosphere of positivity. This way, even when we encounter setbacks, the team’s morale stays high.” 18 Norman Kretzmer built up Avantedge Group, which offers innovative software solutions across various industries including legal, financial, and medical; and Raphael Segal did the same with the group’s software solution, Legal Interact. Kretzmer, the chief executive of Avantedge, is most proud of building this diversified business conglomerate from the ground up and positioning it as a leader in innovation across multiple sectors. The Johannesburgbased business employs more than 100 people, and its services and products extend internationally. “Avantedge stands out because of its innovative use of technology, particularly in the legal and healthcare sectors,” says Kretzmer. Segal, who describes Kretzmer as a source of support and collaboration, transformed Legal Interact from a law firm-facing business to an enterprise-facing business. “It required maintaining the operational efficiency of our existing team while simultaneously building a new team. It involved extensive hard work, continuous repositioning of people, and adapting to evolving requirements,” says Segal, describing the challenges. Legal Interact, which employs 70 people and operates throughout sub-Saharan Africa, is unique as it began with the development of “practice management and accounting solutions for law firms, which provided us with expertise in the legal industry”, says Segal. “Leveraging this experience, we transitioned to focus on comprehensive contract life-cycle management.” A pioneering legal technology company dedicated to transforming legal and contract management, Legal Interact’s standout innovation is its My AI Lawyer platform, which combines a digital lawyer with human legal expertise. Named Microsoft’s Global Partner of the Year for 2024, Legal Interact champions access to justice and artificial intelligence for good. It has faced numerous external challenges, both from a technological perspective and the evolving landscape of South Africa over the past 40 years. “We have embraced adaptability as a core value, continuously evolving our strategies and operations to navigate external disruptions,” Segal says. “Through continuous learning and professional growth opportunities, we have empowered our employees to thrive.” One of the most challenging periods of Kretzmer’s career was managing Avantedge during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The sudden shift to a remote workforce was a significant disruption, particularly as we had to maintain productivity, communication, and morale,” he says. “Ensuring that our teams remained connected and engaged despite the physical distance was crucial. By staying focused, supporting our teams, and continuing to innovate, we not only weathered the storm, but emerged stronger.” Both Legal Interact and Avantedge contribute to skills development. The former upskills individuals from diverse backgrounds, equipping them to thrive in an AI-driven future. As for Avantedge, “When we train users of our products, we ensure they acquire not only the necessary skills to operate the software, but a comprehensive understanding of the associated processes,” Kretzmer says. “This holistic approach enhances their overall expertise.” Kretzmer’s leadership traits include a positive mindset and commitment to continuous learning. One of his greatest achievements was leading the expansion of the Builders Warehouse division of Massmart, resulting in its recognition as a leader in South African home improvement retailing. One of Segal’s greatest achievements was founding eBAM Systems in 2001, and successfully selling its solution to prestigious clients such as BMW South Africa and other regions. His leadership strategy includes building shared purpose, dedication, and continuous growth. Kretzmer and Segal both enjoy spending time with family, while the latter is also passionate about sport and came second in a Maccabi bodybuilding competition in 1991. Absa business leadership Award Nominees
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