Shevi Lurie Shevi Lurie began introducing her second child to solids in 2018, and found the process overwhelming. In the absence of kosher, freshly made, preservative free, healthy baby foods on the market, she began to make her own, a time-consuming and expensive process. Realising that many kosher mothers felt the same way, she identified a gap in the market and began to do research into starting children on solids. As a result, she developed a “six-week starting solids programme”, and began producing her own kosher, healthy, fresh baby food which became known as Little Pudding. From humble beginnings in Lurie’s own kitchen with pots, pans, and a blender, Little Pudding products are today made in a factory-style kitchen with industrial blenders, catering to thousands of customers. Lurie derives great satisfaction in knowing that she’s helping parents to guide their children on their journey to eating solids. “Being a mother myself, I’ve gained a deep passion for helping little ones have a positive experience with their introduction to food, which will hopefully carry them through to adulthood,” she says. “Little Pudding provides developing digestive systems with the highest quality baby food,” she says. “Our offerings cover most different food groups and allergens to ensure a wide range of exposure in an exciting and colourful way.” The fresh ingredients they use incorporate multiple textures and flavours that would otherwise not be introduced, lowering the risk of babies growing up to become fussy eaters. The fact that Little Pudding offers more than just baby food sets it apart. “We have created a space where we have a great professional yet personal relationship with each of our parents as we help them navigate the daunting milestone of introducing solids,” says Lurie. Having managed her company alone since its inception, Lurie is seeking resources to accommodate a growth spurt and hire a management team. Through this future growth, she plans to empower women. “We aim to continue to hire women and mothers and give them the opportunity and safe space to support themselves and their families. Upon hiring our employees, we would like to educate them on raising healthy families through nutritious food.” While Lurie considers herself fortunate to have a few mentors, her primary role model is her husband, Doron Lurie. Though he grew up feeling that he wouldn’t amount to anything due to his learning difficulties, he never accepted defeat, she says. “He took matters in his own hands, and has since created a strong personal and professional name for himself. His determination and grit have led him to become one of the most esteemed tailors in Johannesburg. He inspires me every day, and has taught me all I know so far.” Always learning, Lurie believes in continuous growth and in staying humble. “I don’t believe there are any guarantees to fool-proof a company against changes or challenges as there’s always room for improvement,” she says. “Challenges are healthy for any growing company or person as they strengthen character and enable success.” Josh Lasker At about the age of 16, Josh Lasker, now a successful entrepreneur, left high school for a short period. “I really didn’t like school – the class and schedule aspects of it,” he says. “I left with the intention of dropping out and starting a business. I imported leather bracelets from China, and sold them at markets and to friends and family. I was, however, nudged by family and friends to go back to school after a few months and I’m thankful I did.” Now 31 and armed with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in strategic management, Lasker is a “healthtech” innovator and a co-founder of Abby Health. Transforming health monitoring and leading the way to universally accessible healthcare, Abby Health provides self-service health stations designed to increase employee engagement in wellness programmes. “These health stations perform quick, comprehensive health checks, offering personalised health data and insights to users and organisations,” Lasker says. “We’ve made health screenings free, fast, accessible, and engaging to hundreds of thousands of people where they would usually need to pay more than R600 for a similar health screening elsewhere.” Having co-founded Abby Health with his father and mentor, Dave, Lasker says the company leverages their complementary strengths. Drawing on his father’s medical equipment expertise, Lasker’s technology and marketing know-how propels the company’s innovation. “My earliest mentor was my dad, who had his own entrepreneurial journey long before we started working together on Abby Health,” says Lasker. “I learned many core business lessons throughout my childhood and teenage years, and I’m still learning from him now.” Today, Lasker’s extended network of mentors includes authors and successful figures in the business world as well as business leaders in the local Jewish community. Lasker has a long-term view of having a work-life balance. “I look at balance over a period of months or years rather than a shortterm day-to-day period. It’s impossible to build something great if you try and optimise your day-to-day life for balance. There are periods where I’m working on something non-stop, day and night, with little time for anything else. Then there are periods where I spend a lot of time with a focus on family, friends, events, when there are less intense work demands.” There has been a key shift in Lasker’s view of business over the years. “My idea about business, particularly entrepreneurship, used to be a ‘build it and they’ll come’ approach. As long as the idea was great, I thought that’s all that was needed. Now, I see execution as 99% of the work, and the new ideas as 1%.” Abby Health contributes to national development by creating jobs, upskilling workers in technology and healthcare, and improving health literacy through educational partnerships. “By providing accessible health screenings, it enhances public health and eases the burden on the national healthcare system,” says Lasker. “Abby Health’s commitment to innovation and ethical growth supports a more prosperous and resilient society.” Racheli Marks, 23, is doing her bit to make people feel beautiful from the inside out with her hair salon, Tangled The Hair Salon, and her mental health activism podcast, Together We Connect, which she co-hosts with Tova Tocker. Marks believes women’s hair can make them feel beautiful. “I used to watch Disney movies, and was fascinated with the elegant hairstyles all the princesses had,” she said. “I started recreating them with my friends.” Marks works predominantly with sheitels, making each client’s vision come alive in less than 24 hours. She said she will never forget selling her first wig, giving her the confidence that she could make women feel more beautiful. She created an online hairstyling course which she hopes will enable people to learn the basics of hairstyling. She hopes those who complete the course will be able to start their own hair styling businesses to improve their life and that of their potential clients. Alongside working to make people feel better about themselves on the outside, Marks advocates for mental health as she believes looking good on the outside isn’t enough. Her belief in the need to end the stigma around mental health led her to launch the podcast Together We Connect with her co-host in July 2023. Marks’s advocacy comes from her personal struggle with clinical depression. “Living with mental illness has made me increasingly aware of how big this struggle is worldwide,” she said. “Although we’re on our paths and journeys, talking and learning can be liberating and helpful for those feeling alone.” She recognises that this is only one step to acknowledging this massive problem, but she wants to be a part of helping young people connect to improve their lives. “Bringing awareness and joy to others is no small feat, and it can create a new generation of wellthinking minds, and strong, independent leaders that can change the world together. That’s the essence of Together We Connect,” she said. In each podcast, Marks and her co-host look for individuals who will share their stories about how they overcame difficulties in their lives. The podcast covers topics like sheer will, body image, loss, resilience, marriage, surrogacy, being diagnosed with an illness, and everything in between. Marks is also involved in helping others through involvement in the ZAKA Fire Containment Unit, ZAKA Logistics, and CSO (Community Security Organisation) Johannesburg. • Racheli Marks is also nominated in the Europcar Women in Leadership and Ichikowitz Family Foundation Rising Star categories Racheli Marks 39 The Eric Ellerine Entrepreneur Award nominees
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