Youth entrepreneurship is incredibly important to the development and growth of the South African economy. Nearly 63,3% of the population is categorised as youth (15-34 age). Among the employable youth, the current unemployment rate sits at 60,9%. Entrepreneurship is no longer a passion to pursue but a dire necessity.
As more and more young entrepreneurs join the ranks of business owners and founders, they find themselves as business leaders and managers who need to quickly upskill.
“Beyond entrepreneurship, South Africa possesses one of the most vibrant, diverse and complex corporate landscapes in the world. At the heart of this landscape is a fast-growing cohort of young managers who are already divisional leaders despite being 35 and under,” says Jackie Kennedy, founder and CEO of LeadMe Academy.
The resulting business landscape is one where a young leader is working with multi-generational teams. “To thrive, emerging managers must move beyond traditional top-down authority in order to master the art of 360-degree leadership. This means learning how to manage up, manage down, and bridge deep generational divides,” Kennedy explains.
Leadership Challenges Faced by Young Entrepreneurs
According to Kennedy, some team members may openly question a younger manager’s authority. “To overcome this, emerging leaders should strive to lead with humility, rather than via their newly acquired job title. They need to acknowledge the experience around them, listen actively, and focus on supporting their team’s journey to success.
She continues to explain what this means for individuals who aren’t business owners but find themselves in the same leadership struggle as young business owners. “Emerging managers in corporate positions must master managing up. This involves building strong, strategic relationships with executives and senior stakeholders. Managing up is not about flattery, but instead about understanding a leader’s priorities, anticipating their needs, and communicating with clarity and impact. Young managers need to speak the language of business results while demonstrating that they have the emotional intelligence required to handle high-pressure corporate environments.”
The Multi-generational Dynamic
The added dimension that makes both young managers and business owners land in the same boat is that South African workplaces currently house up to four different generations under one roof. “We see Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials and Generation Z all working side by side. Each group carries distinct communication preferences, values and work ethics.
Kennedy notes that this mix can easily lead to internal friction if not managed intelligently. Emerging managers must note the following:
- Baby Boomers and Gen X often value structured hierarchies, formal communication and loyalty; while
- Millennials and Gen Z prioritise flexibility, purpose-driven work and continuous feedback.
“The secret to getting the best out of a multi-generational workforce is individualised leadership. Thriving new-generation managers do not force a single management style onto everyone. Rather, they are able to act as cultural translators by adapting their approach to suit each individual. They learn to pair the steady experience of senior staff members with the digital agility of younger workers. In doing so, they can transform potential friction into collaborative, high-performing teams able to combine the best qualities from each of the generations.
Beyond On-the-job Learning, Upskilling Goes a Long Way
For Kennedy, it’s simple: No one is born with perfect leadership skills. “While academic degrees and technical skills get young professionals promoted, it is the soft skills that determine whether they will succeed as leaders. This is where mentoring and coaching become essential.
“Mentorship provides young managers with a valuable sounding board by connecting them with seasoned leaders. Furthermore, such relationships can be critical for pacing new leaders on company-critical IP, proprietary processes, and foundational corporate culture.”
She differentiates between mentorship and coaching. “Coaching goes a step deeper. It focuses on driving long-term, positive behavioural change. Professional coaching helps young managers to build self-awareness, improve stress tolerance, and develop the mental resilience needed to face daily workplace challenges in a safe and focused space. It teaches them how to master their minds, spot their own blind spots and make sound decisions under pressure, as well as how to deal with tough conversations or tricky situations.”
For youth entrepreneurs, this points to the urgency of finding a mentor whom they can turn to, bounce ideas off, or gain emotional support from. This can look like finding a business coach or joining a community that allows for deep networking and connection. Knowledge sharing can be a good way to increase skills and competency without spending too much money.
Alternatively, if your finances allow for it, consider formal leadership training and education through tertiary institutions and training centres. Depending on the institution, entrepreneurs can follow self-paced distance learning or in-person training. With flexible options, business leaders can choose the option that works best for them.
Don’t Forget About Resources
Many free resources are available for entrepreneurs to help them navigate their business challenges. This can include podcasts about leadership, articles diving into the particular challenges of managing teams, or e-books that act as in-depth reports and investigations into a particular topic.
Although free resources don’t replace traditional learning, the impact they can have on your knowledge base shouldn’t be underestimated. However, the benefit of this is that you can ensure you improve your individual knowledge areas based on the struggles you encounter at work.
Opportunities for Young Entrepreneurs
Currently, there are many opportunities for young entrepreneurs to venture into and upskill themselves in. These consist of:
- The circular economy
- The green economies
- Export and trade
- Businesses that reduce climate risk
