WoW : Women of the World - Nurturing the Nurturers - Patrons of Education

It was a motivational speech with a difference. Not one of those glibly rehearsed Ra ra, you can do it kind of lec-
tures, but a very personal, even intimate, conversation. One man, admittedly a hugely successful one, telling his story,
warts and all. Alan Knott-Craig, the man who built Vodacom into one of the continents most powerful brands, shared
his journey of life with some 250 business people at Women of the Worlds Motivational Breakfast at Summer Place
on Friday 16 October. And he held them spellbound.

Who would have guessed that this tall, slim and athletic looking man was everybodys punching bag back at school?
But once he learned how to fight the bullies, he never looked back. After that, I would never allow myself to be intimi-
dated by anyone, said Alan.

What was fascinating to everyone was that he wasn't driven by profit as much as by his dream. He never held shares
in Vodacom. Accumulating wealth wasn't his primary objective but the dream of getting cellular up and running in
Africa was. An engineer by profession (My father said I would become an engineer, so I did), he spent many years
working for the Post Office and later Telkom until he got his big break at the ripe old age of 39.

Look at Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. Theyve made their money -- more than they know what to do with -- and now
theyre giving it away. A person needs a dream, a passion. Its got to be more than just money.

Knott-Craig has just launched his book, Second is Nothing, and he personally signed many copies after the break-
fast.

A few tables were sponsored and Women of the World invited Ort Jet and Helping Hands to bring their young
Entrepreneurs to our event in order for them to learn from Alan. They all appreciated and gained so much.

Menachem Kay of Octagon was MC and the draw for the Jeep Cherokee and other WoW prizes took place as well.
The winner of the Jeep 4 x 4, courtesy of Chrysler Jeep Dodge Sandton, was Andy Kopelowitz. Errol Zeifert won a
Laptop and Stanley Seeff a BlackBerry. Guests from Cape Town included Rabbi Asher Deren from Blouberg, who
thanked Alan for sharing his wisdom and experience.

According to WoW Chairperson Rochel Goldman, Knott-Craig was the perfect gentleman and surprisingly self-
effacing in accepting her invitation to address the event. I was very impressed by his humility not what one usually
expects from such a high-profile businessman.

For Women of the World, yet another WOW! morning.