Young Jewish entrepreneur gives back in Rwanda

GILLIAN KLAWANSKY

Stillerman proves that ambition, an unwavering desire to add value, focus and hard work, can lead to untold success. His desire to pay it forward through initiatives like his recent Rwanda trip, makes him that much more impressive.

Recently nominated for a Jewish Achiever Award for the fourth consecutive year, Stillerman, a qualified actuary, is fast building an international training company. While completing his actuarial science studies, he was invited to join a start-up life insurance company in 2009, but was surprised when his boss asked about his Excel skills.

“On day one my confidence came crashing down because I realised that he had built his business on Excel and I was nowhere near proficient. I felt clueless,” he says. “I made a decision to find my feet and ramp up my Excel skills, and over the course of my four years there, I took my skills from zero to hero.”

Officially qualifying as an actuary, Stillerman left his job to become an entrepreneur. “While I wasn’t sure what area to focus on, I wanted to find a vehicle to create an impact on people and companies and to achieve financial independence and freedom. I wanted to add value.”

After much evaluation, Stillerman realised that his experience with and passion for Excel and for guiding people to success in inspiring ways, could give rise to a viable business and Excel Academy was born in January 2014.

While he started out alone, Stillerman currently runs the company with co-MD Darren Lang, a chartered accountant, and together they oversee four employees who run their workshops both locally and with a growing US-based client base.

They’re also investigating opportunities to expand in places like Israel and Sydney. Those who cannot attend workshops can also sign up online and complete the course through online video tutorials. “It’s about tapping into the right opportunities and crossing borders with technology,” he says.

In spreading Excel Academy’s reach further and inspiring others, Stillerman and his friend Ginger With a Gopro recently returned from an amazing four-day trip to Rwanda, where Stillerman conducted free Excel workshops.

“We went, because we believe in telling a story and inspiring people,” he says. “Ginger With a Gopro is a brilliant storyteller, an amazing videographer and a real people’s person. To bounce around ideas, we met for a coffee and he said: “I have a crazy idea for you. Let’s take Excel into Africa. Let’s go showcase what we’re doing and run workshops in an African country and I’ll come along and document the whole thing, which tells the story of what Excel Academy does and of this adventure.” Stillerman, who’s a great fan of crazy ideas, was immediately sold.

“We decided to set up three free workshops,” he says. “We brainstormed about destinations and realised that Rwanda had a great story and amazing people. We know a few people who have been to Rwanda and although it’s a complicated place, the economy’s growing at nine per cent a year and it’s known as one of the safest and cleanest countries in Africa.

“I got in touch with Tali Nates at the Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre who put me in touch with key people in Kigali, Rwanda and we flew to Rwanda at the end of August.

“We explored, took a road trip to Lake Kibu, interacted with locals and trained around 75 people over the course of three two-hour workshops,” explains Stillerman. Two workshops were geared towards entrepreneurs at open working spaces, K-Lab and Impact Hub and they also presented at the University of Rwanda to lecturers and students.

“The response was amazing – they loved it. At first, they were a bit shy and hesitant but once we built a rapport, they were eager for more – they still WhatsApp me asking when we’ll be returning!”

While only a portion of Excel 101, the first level course, was taught, participants were encouraged to sign up online to continue their studies. Yet, this comes with the challenges of limited e-commerce exposure, says Stillerman.

“The trip was never to make money – it was to add value, to interact, and to showcase what we’re doing through telling a story. It’s about the vibe and the experience we create and we thought the best way to do that was to document that in a cool video, showcasing what we’re doing – viewable on our website.”

Stillerman travels fairly regularly, so leaving his business periodically wasn’t a problem. “We have an amazing team. I’ve made it a point to surround myself with superstars who are empowered, understand the business and can take responsibility, run workshops, liaise with clients and keep the business going and growing.

“We also embrace technology; I was sitting having lunch in Kigali and I was on a video call to one colleague in Johannesburg and another in New York and there I was in Kigali. We could see one another on the screen and it was although we were sitting around a table! I can be in another country and still have my finger on the pulse of what’s going on through technology.”

Stillerman is also looking at other African opportunities. “Africa is a hugely exciting space but until you go there, you don’t understand the potential,” he says. “There’s so much value to be added and it’s on our doorstep. It’s just a matter of investigating and using our networks.

“I’m now looking at opportunities to go to major cities in Zambia, Nigeria, Kenya and Botswana. We’re also exploring Mauritius and Madagascar. We have clients with a presence in Africa where there is a need, so we need to go there and leverage our online video platform. It’s about making a positive impact while also growing our business – creating shared value.”