Watch GOOD BUSINESS on demand today and then join filmmaker Miranda Magagnini in a fireside chat featuring Suzanne Ackerman-Berman (Pick n Pay).
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John,
Join a special NEXT Economy LIVE TODAY, Tuesday, September 15 at 12pm ET ([link removed]) for a fireside chat between filmmaker, entrepreneur, investor, and long-time SVC member Miranda Magagnini and Suzanne Ackerman-Berman (Transformation Director, Pick n Pay Group ([link removed]) ) on the powerful story of a South African retail giant, Pick n Pay, that has demonstrated how business can be a force for good.
In advance of the discussion, you are invited to watch the 25-minute film on demand for free. A link and password to watch will be sent upon registering for the discussion.
GOOD BUSINESS: The Story of a South African Retail Giant
This story captures how love, compassion, and forgiveness can combine in a successful business model. Raymond Ackerman, with the support of his wife Wendy, ignored the laws of Apartheid to grow an ethical business. While many families fled South Africa under Apartheid, the Ackermans stayed to leverage their own powers for good. They pioneered breakthrough marketing—insuring that food prices would come down to affordable levels. Raymond and his wife built their company based on merit, not the color of one's skin. They grew the Pick N Pay from four to 1,200 stores, in six countries with 60,000 employees, 400 franchisees of color and $6 Billion in sales. Now, Suzanne Ackerman, who is the Director of Transformation, oversees a business incubator that supports entrepreneurs. The Pick N Pay has 100 empowerment projects put in place to stop the cycle of poverty. All the entrepreneurs are fully supported and encouraged to created products that can be sold through the chain of stores. The whole
philosophy is based on “doing good is good business.” For once, business is seen in a positive light as an agent of change and an inspiration for us all.
Register Now: Fireside Chat ft. Suzanne Ackerman-Berman with Miranda Magagnini ([link removed])
Watch the Trailer for GOOD BUSINESS Below
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Miranda Magagnini is a renegade brand builder and strategic business leader with a 25-year track record as a growth-maximizing entrepreneur across multiple industries including green manufacturing, food and beverage and restaurant development. Miranda was the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of award winning IceStone, the leading green durable surface company in the US with clients including The Gates Foundation and Bank of America, and heralded as a model of triple bottom line business practices that integrate “People, Planet and Profit.” Currently, Miranda is a First Mover Fellow at The Aspen Institute and was a member of The Fetzer Institute’s business advisory council. n active investor in and advisor to non-profits for over 20 years, Miranda was appointed as Verite’s original Board Chair and remained on its board for ten years. She has been an involved member of the Social Venture Circle for 20 years. Miranda is a graduate of Smith College and received her MBA from Harvard University.
Suzanne Ackerman-Berman
Director of Transformation, Pick n Pay
Suzanne graduated from UCT (University of Cape Town) with a BA degree in French and Politics. Whilst a student, she was the first woman to chair the University Students Fund raising RAG committee 1984 and was elected vice-chair of SHAWCO (Students Community Welfare Centres Organisation).
After graduation she furthered her studies in Europe and received extensive training in retail management before settling in France, where as an entrepreneur, she ran her own businesses for 7 years in the hospitality industry.
On her return to South Africa, she joined the family Supermarket business, Pick n Pay, as a trainee manager in fresh foods.
During her 24 years with the Company, she has worked in various positions commencing with Floor management, to procurement then Corporate Social Responsibility and Transformation.
In 2007 she founded the Small Business Incubator that seeks to address the social and economic inequalities of the past by providing access to the formal economy for small and previously disadvantaged entrepreneurs, farmers and manufacturers.
A passionate proponent for equality, job creation and skills development, Suzanne assists many new entrepreneurs in all aspects of business and life skills through a detailed mentorship programme that ensures their sustainability as suppliers into the retail supply chain and broader economy.
April 2020, in response to the COVID global pandemic, that set South Africa into Lockdown, Suzanne initiated the FEED THE NATION programme through the Pick n Pay Group distribution network. This extensive programme through 931 retail outlets across 9 provinces, has seen over 16,9 million meals created through provision of hampers, groceries and essential items that has directly assisted thousands of families in need. The campaign has engaged every level of the business, from staff on the shop floor packing and distributing hampers, to buyers sourcing product and supply chain directing logistics to far reaching areas of the country. The entire campaign has raised over R73m through engagement with customers at till points across the country, corporate partners, international funders and foundations, as well as receiving incredible support from private individuals. Launched initially by contributions from the Ackerman family, the company and PnP executives committing personal salaries, Feed
the Nation was set up to address immediate needs of hunger in certain areas of South Africa. As the crisis deepened and lockdown extended, the campaign evolved into a registered Foundation that seeks to address the national crisis of food insecurity and hunger. Every PnP and Boxer store is engaged in feeding and assisting the communities they serve and will continue to do so as long as the cries of hunger persist.
NEXT Economy LIVE is new weekly series in partnership with Intentional Media ([link removed]) , JumpScale ([link removed]) , Opportunity Collaboration ([link removed]) , and the American Sustainable Business Council ([link removed]) where experienced members and thought leaders host webinars, interactive meetings, and discussions where the real challenges, insights, and best practices of leading and funding mission-driven businesses can be explored with peers. Registration for each event is required. Recordings of all prior events can be found online here ([link removed]) .
* TODAY: The Story of a South African Retail Giant: A Fireside Chat with Suzanne Ackerman-Berman & Miranda Magagnini ([link removed])
* Wednesday, September 30 – A Conversation with Sir Ronald Cohen ([link removed])
Members are invited to submit their own proposals to host events. If you are an impact aligned partner or sister organization in the space that is interested in collaborating on future events, we invite you to reach out to discuss opportunities. Email
[email protected] (mailto:
[email protected]) for the private link and to discuss collaboration opportunities.
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