Just when you thought awards season was over for another year, QBS chief exec Dave Stevinson collects another prize.
This time, it’s an Impact Award from business conference Growth Africa, a follow-up to his talk at Growth Africa 2021 held online on 22 October — aimed at inspiring entrepreneurs and business success across the continent.
« I’m really proud and excited to receive this accolade from Growth Africa, voted on by business leaders across this critically important part of our world, » says Stevinson.
« This was a chance to show that at QBS, we really mean what we say with our ESG focus — including the social. We place great emphasis on helping others. Grateful and very pleased with the business in Africa. »
Growth Africa aims to improve lives across 54 countries totalling some 30 million square kilometres (12 million square miles) — larger than the USA, China, India and most of Europe combined).
Stevinson explains: « For the first 15 years of my career, my employers were typically large listed Asian companies, and I have set up or turned around the European operations for these firms. »
In Nigerian news outlet Vanguard, conference convenor Samuel Ajiboyede says the conference is about connecting young entrepreneurs to insights that help upscale their start-ups to become « global game changers ».
« We have selected the best minds from different fields to impart time-tested insights and knowledge that would help our entrepreneurs reach the zenith of their aspirations, » he says.
The conference is run by San Francisco-based Growth Africa Capital.
Other speakers included Lagos Business School professor Olayinka David-West, US semiconductor industry veteran Ndubuisi Ekweke, Australia’s Anthony James from Trinity Consulting and US-based Shedwool CEO Cory Warfield, according to Growth Africa Capital’s Henry Ojelu.