Business to Brand Summit calls SA entrepreneurs to build iconic brands
Hosted by Pat on Brands, the summit brought together SA’s boldest business minds to challenge the status quo and to champion branding as a strategic force for economic growth.
In a bold move to reshape the future of South African business, the Business to Brand Summit, hosted by Pat on Brands, convened a number of marketers, entrepreneurs, communicators, and business leaders at The Capital on the Park in Sandton on August 1.
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Far more than a networking event, the summit was a call to action, urging businesses to move from transactional operations to building purpose-led, high-impact brands that can thrive in a connected and competitive world.
Pat on Brands founder Pat Mahlangu said: “This summit is about stepping into the arena, not sitting on the sidelines. Too many businesses in South Africa are stuck in survival mode. We’re here to help them see branding, not as a cost or an afterthought, but as an asset. A powerful economic and cultural driver.”
Mahlangu said, according to the latest Brand Africa study, only 11% of the most admired brands in Africa are actually made on the continent, an all-time low in the 15 years of the study’s history. This is despite increasing optimism about Africa’s potential. “This statistic should wake us up. Yes, we can see it as doom and gloom, but I choose to see it as an 89% opportunity. The space for us to build brands that Africans admire and support.”
The summit tackled this challenge head-on, with keynote speakers, panel discussions, and workshops focused on demystifying branding, marketing strategy, and customer-centric business building. Topics ranged from digital storytelling to brand valuation; all geared towards helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) punch above their weight.
Delegates walked away with actionable strategies, valuable insights, and powerful connections.
Speakers, many of whom volunteered their time, included branding experts, marketing executives from top local and global brands, and successful entrepreneurs who have built iconic African companies.
“Thank you to every single one of you who showed up,” Mahlangu said with gratitude. “Who said yes when I called and said: ‘This is what I’m thinking’.”
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