I’m sitting on the couch half-listening to our first annual ops team conference on the go. First time we’ve had a big enough ops team to warrant their own conference! And, led by Steve, they’re gearing up for a rollicking year where we do the normal Avo thing - being brave enough to work at a scale that really makes a difference in our country (and beyond)!

We’ve got some exciting stuff that has been cooking over the past few months, and we’re so excited about the growth and impact we’re facing this year.

In Avo space we’re going global! Annie and Daryl worked with DiData to build an awesome Sales support programme, and piloted it in Australia. This year, we’re helping DiData to set it up worldwide, and will be part of delivering it in some regions across the world.

We’re lifting our game at SAB in the way we help them prepare their sales force to sell, negotiate and build relationships with their customers. Its been a rich and long-term relationship that has added immense value to both companies involved.

Footprint is growing all the time - we have some exciting projects in the pipeline this year, and hope to train at least 45 000 people this year in basic financial literacy skills. We’re also testing the waters expanding into Africa by working with a local team in Gabarone to look at opportunities there, and learning how to partner in new African countries close to home so we can get up there and fix stuff easily as we learn with them.

Tred, started a year ago to address corporate training needs for large scale, lower level staff, has had a bumper starter year, already contributing more than 15% of Avo income in its first year. We piloted some exciting stuff with Standard Bank Inclusive Banking, and have also got some great financial literacy projects on the go, with some even more exciting prospects in the pipe that we’ll be able to talk about soon!

Two new ventures are getting traction this year too: Our new Enterprise Development division, Greenhouse, headed by Avo Alumnus, Hanli Buber, is focusing on partnering with Standard Bank’s Tutuwa Team to bring Enterprise Development and Microloans to South Africa’s Micro Enterprises. We are in talks with a couple of South Africa’s giant retailers to partner with us all to increase the impact of our work by working with their tiny clients and tiny suppliers.

I’m incredibly excited about the impact we’ve already had with the first 300 business owners we’re piloting with - watching our impact assessments with great interest. High fives to our own project team, the Tutuwa team and the trainers out there, who are slowly building a story of empowerment in our country!

Our other venture, working title ‘Fishbowl’, is being set up to address the need for helping South Africa plan for old age: Pension Fund Member Communication is so mediocre at the moment, and there is huge opportunity for gamelifting for both employers and pension fund schemes. We hope to be able to support both to educate and communicate more effectively, and enable people to make better decisions about their money and their future!

There is another giant project that we’ve pitched for (still a secret) that we’re holding thumbs for. If we get it, we will have the opportunity to impact another million South Africans in the Health and Social welfare sectors…hold thumbs for us please…it’s SO exciting!!!!

There are so many other things that we’re chasing and doing - but just tooo much to quantify! Thanks to all our clients, partners and suppliers for getting us to this point, and for walking through this next year with us on.

Steve was reminding our Ops team as to the purpose statement we have at Avo, and, as I close this off, I am so proud to say we are staying the course strongly: We are still “Building and delivering training solutions that empower people with skills and insight to make better choices and live bigger lives. Being brave enough to take on the challenges at a scale that makes a significant impact in SA and beyond”

Welcome to 2012 - hold onto your hats - its going to be cool!!!!