Swings and Roundabouts – What I Have Learned About Succeeding As An Entrepeneur
Great for the following audiences:
- Networking Groups
- Conferences
- Women
- High School/University Students
There are hundreds of books on how to success as a small business in almost every field, but nothing comes close to hearing it from the horse’s mouth (so to speak). Mel has experience from two widely divergent industries – hospitality and digital marketing. The failures and successes in those two fields make her uniquely qualified to speak to emerging and established entrepreneurs about the lessons she has learned. This is an exciting and engaging topic, filled with Mel’s personal examples of what it takes to make an entrepreneur successful.
Digital Citizenship
Great for the following audiences:
- Students (Ages 10-15)
The partner course to Digital Parenting, Digital Citizenship is aimed at children aged 10 to 15. We know that the Internet and the larger digital world are going to be vital to our children’s’ success, but it is a very scary and potentially dangerous place. Digital Citizenship is a one-hour address aimed to give children the knowledge they need to protect themselves. Mel speaks to them as young adults rather than children, with an aim to empowering them to look after their own safety. Ideally this address should be given to the children in the afternoon, and then Digital Parenting covered with the parents in the evening. Topics covered include:
Stranger Danger
- Being aware of people not being who they say they are
- The risks of sharing sensitive information online
Cyberbullying
- What it is?
- Consequences
- How to cope
Content Is Forever
- Nothing is ever really deleted
- One mistake has huge ramifications
Time and Place
- Setting boundaries for device use
Digital Parenting
Great for the following audiences:
- Parents
- Employees
This course is the partner course to Digital Citizenship and should ideally be given to the parents in the evening after the children have listened to Digital Citizenship. Let’s face it – none of us with young kids today grew up with the Internet. We aren’t sure how to keep them safe, or make them aware of the danger out there. But we also know that the Internet is vital for their future success, so we can’t ban them outright. The solution is to learn a new approach to parenting – Digital Parenting. The Digital Parenting talk mirrors the Digital Citizenship talk in topics, with the content adjusted for the parental audience.
Stranger Danger
- Being aware of people not being who they say they are
- The risks of sharing sensitive information online
Cyberbullying
- What it is?
- Consequences
- How to cope
Content Is Forever
- Nothing is ever really deleted
- One mistake has huge ramifications
Time and Place
- Setting boundaries for device use
Sisters are Doing It For Themselves – How To Kill It As A Woman In Business
Great for the following audiences:
- Women's Groups
- Networking Groups
- High School/University Students
It is now a well established and recognized fact increasing woman-owned enterprises can do wonders for a country’s economy. Being a woman in business has unique challenges, especially in South Africa with its complex socioeconomic and cultural mix.
Mel shares experiences from her own history, and stories from women that she has come into contact with, to empower, encourage and motivate other women who are facing the challenge of running their own business (or would like to). With many years on the Committee at KZN Women in Business, she has had a wide exposure to many women who have both succeeded and failed in their economic endevours. This is all distilled into practical, no-nonsense advise for her sisters in business.
Oh Dear – Online Reputation Management
Great for the following audiences:
- Networking Groups
- Women's Groups
- Students
- Conferences
The recent cases of Matthew Theunissen and Penny Sparrow have shown us that the social media fallout from a single incident can be wide-reaching and life-changing. We are all at some point going to post something or share something on a social platform that we will regret later. Or a disgruntled employee or customer is going to fire a shot across our bow – or even directly into our souls!
Knowing how to respond to negative comments or posts on social media does not come naturally to most people – we react as emotional beings rather than objective businesses. Understanding the consequences in their entirety and learning skills to be able to respond effectively are key to maintaining both your personal and professional reputation.
Top 5 Ways To Promote Your Business Online For Free
Great for the following audiences:
- Women's Groups
- Networking Groups
- Conferences
In this uber-practical address, Mel guides business owners and marketers through the most effective ways to market your business online without spending a cent. From Google products to social media, Mel shows you how it works and why it is effective.
This is the ideal topic for a networking group or organization.
Finding Peter Pan – Using Social Media For Recruiting
Great for the following audiences:
- Business Owners
- Recruiters
It cannot be denied that social media has completely revolutionized the job market, from how people find jobs to how organisations vet their candidates. Large companies such as Deloitte and PwC have made social media a core part of their recruiting and HR infrastructure.
This topic shows how social media has made the task of recruiting new talent in a small business easier in some ways, but more challenging in others. Ideas such as matching candidates for cultural fit using their social media profiles, and advertising your company to the correct type of candidate are extensively covered.
Spotlight – Speaking To Your Niche Market
Great for the following audiences:
- Business Owners
- Women's Groups
- Networking Groups
The worst marketing strategy in the world is trying to market your products and services to everyone – it is expensive and has a terrible conversion rate.
In this topic, Mel breaks down concepts such as target market, niches, content marketing and conversion rates to help businesses identify their perfect niches to speak to. This is an excellent topic for business owners, entrepreneurs and marketers.
How Does Google Work?
Great for the following audiences:
- Networking Groups
- Women's Groups
- Conferences
Almost every business owner, CEO or Director says to us, “We want to be top of Google”. But do you know how Google actually works?
In this informative address, Mel breaks down the ins and outs of a Google Search Engine Results Page, as well as how Remarketing has us all thinking that we are being stalked by particular brands.
How To Use LinkedIn For Recruiting
Great for the following audiences:
- Business Owners
- Recruiters
A study in 2015 found that of the companies surveyed, 93% used LinkedIn for recruitment. LinkedIn’s very reason for existing is to facilitate to sourcing of talent. So knowing how to get the most out of LinkedIn when recruiting talent is vital. One thing that many recruiters miss though is that its not just about finding the talent. In this session Mel will cover:
- Why recruiters need to look after their own LinkedIn profiles
- Why you need to check out the LinkedIn Page of the company you are recruiting FOR
- Evaluating cultural fit in the interview versus what you see online
- LinkedIn Free versus LinkedIn Premium – is it worth it?
- Advertising on LinkedIn
Social Media Killed My Career – The Do’s & Don’ts in the Digital World
Great for the following audiences:
We have all seen the newspaper headlines in the last year – people have lost their jobs, been legally fined and had to go into hiding, all because of what they have said on social media.
This is a new minefield that people have never had to consider before, and the rules of what to do and what not to do are about as clear as mud. This, together with the fact that social platforms change every day, make this an important area of adult education. Topics covered include: