The Durban chapter of global network Entrepreneurs’ Organisation’s (EO’s) newly appointed president Denzil Steyn says there is much to celebrate as entrepreneurs in the KwaZulu-Natal province, despite Durban’s businesses facing a new set of hurdles in the face of local and global economic turbulence.

“Entrepreneurs need the support of an organisation such as EO more than ever before. What I learned from [outgoing chapter president Clinton Holcroft] is his willingness to empower others to be their best. He gives people the freedom to express themselves and even make mistakes in a supported environment,” says Steyn.

“I want to make sure that members feel like they have a strong foundation, that they have a voice. That way, we can feel confident to be able to invest and move forward with those plans that have been in the back of our minds for the past few years,” he adds.

Steyn has been a member of the Durban chapter of EO for more than six years, which aligns with his belief that business is an ecosystem of people and relationships. Creating an environment for good people to grow, perform and engage with other like-minded people is one of the key elements to success, he says.

“As an organisation and as forums within EO, we are all feeding off each other. We may go into meetings with our heads down, but we come up with world-class plans to bring about change, to improve efficiencies and to be smarter and leaner. We help create a positive outlook in what can possibly be seen as a fairly gloomy business environment,” he says.

EO encourages entrepreneurs to grow by expanding interests and learning leadership skills from fellow members who challenge their perspectives and question their presuppositions, as well as via interaction with experts, mentoring and networking.

EO, established in 1987, is a global, peer-to-peer network of more than 14 000 business owners with 199 chapters in 61 countries.