Avo has come of age.  This month we celebrate our 10^th birthday.  I thought the event may go past without too much ado, but I have to confess that it has actually taken me into a place of reminiscence and reflection that is probably already boring my colleagues!  So indulge me – there are not many small businesses that can celebrate this milestone, and if you are reading this, then you are probably one of the special people that have supported us over the years to get where we are today.

One of my reflections is that I am who I am because of everybody else.  I know that where I stand, I stand on the shoulders of giants who have so generously and wisely mentored and supported me on my journey to this point.  Gavin Sharples, you challenged me to start this thing, even though I was terrified out of my wits; Dave Harvey, you signed off a homeloan for me, (a soon-to-be-unemployed single mom), because you believed in me and knew I would make it work; Mike Romburgh, who gave me my first piece of work at SAB, which 10 years later, is one of the solid business relationships we still have the privilege to work within; Vanessa Bluen, who helped me find my own voice on the speaking platform, and continues to be a great friend and mentor; Maurice Kerrigan, from whom I learned so much about running a small business, and achieving excellence in my work; Sharon Kersten, you stretch me and my team always with the challenges you set us and the conversations we share; Pat Lamont and Nedbank for supporting us when our finances nearly sank us, Nic Slingsby, my coach, who challenges me and encourages me always…Andre Grobler… I wish I could acknowledge all the giants that have made such a significant difference to my journey over these years.  I have learned at the knee of you all, and I honour you for your companionship on our road.

And then there is the Avo team: my heart people, all so special to me.  Every day, I can’t wait to get in to work with you all.  I learn new things with you every day, and I can never repay my debt of gratitude to you all for pulling together when the going got really tough!  Together, we are creating a space where we can all find our voices in the world.

To my two partners: Grant, my life partner, and Elaine, my business partner: Walking with you both along this path is a privilege.  We’ve only just begun…

As a company, we are standing on the brink of big and exciting new things.  If our funding comes through from the IDC, we will soon be making a significant difference in this country, by providing over 1000 new jobs for black women across South Africa.  I feel like everything we have done in the past has been preparing us for this new opportunity we have to make a contribution. Thank you to all the giants: you helped plant the Avo seed: please take pleasure in watching the tree fruit, and know you had a significant part to play in it.

May we all continue to plant the seeds for trees in whose shade we may never sit, and whose fruit we may never eat.  This is the world of abundance: our world of Avocado Vision.