Start-up business insights were shared with students from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) at a recent Renault/UJ Alumni In-Conversation session held at the Kerzner Building on the Auckland Park Bunting Road Campus.

The aim of the Renault/UJ Alumni partnership is to stimulate progress by supporting the country’s top young talent across various disciplines, therefore harnessing their entrepreneurial spirit by inspiring bold ideas, innovation and opportunities.

Professor Edwin Bbenkele, professor in the Department of Business Management at UJ and member of the newly-created Affinity Group for Entrepreneurship, took on the role of MC for the evening. Nedbank’s Regional Manager for Retail Relationship Banking Regina Gouden, who was the main speaker, shared with the students her insights and some tips on start-up capital, making dreams realities, and advice on starting a small business.

The main goal, and key message, for the evening was to dispel the myth of the lack of capital for students who want to start their own businesses.

​​​”Capital is not only money. As you sit here tonight, you are your own capital asset; you are sustainable and powerful. And when you take a risk at a young age, it will pay off. It must,” Gouden said.​​​