Pan Africa Life Insurance/Assets now Sanlam Kenya set to offer products through Mobile Phones

Sanlam Kenya, formerly Pan Africa Life Insurance, has disclosed plans to offer insurance products through mobile phones in an effort to boost uptake. 

By GEORGE NGIGI

Posted  Wednesday, August 17   2016 at  18:19  http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Sanlam-Kenya-plans-insurance-products-through-mobile-phones/539552-3348240-item-0-nh24stz/index.html 

IN SUMMARY

• The system upgrade by the insurer was, however, problematic resulting in the loss of clients and intermediaries following delays and inaccuracies in premium calculation.
• Linda Jamii is a micro-health cover that was launched in January 2014 together with Safaricom and Changamka Microinsurance targeting the underserved low end of the market.

Sanlam Kenya, formerly Pan Africa Life Insurance, has disclosed plans to offer insurance products through mobile phones in an effort to boost uptake.in

The insurer last year upgraded its systems to support introduction of new technology-driven services.

Insurance penetration in the country has remained low especially in life business, which is viewed as a preserve of the wealthy.

“The only way to increase penetration of insurance is to use different means away from the traditional agency operation to include digital operations and partnerships,” said Mr Ian Kirk, the chief executive of Sanlam Group.

He, however, declined to disclose the time-lines in which the company is expected to launch the mass market products.
Insurance agents and brokers are the source of 83 per cent of business booked by insurers in the Kenyan market.

The system upgrade by the insurer was, however, problematic resulting in the loss of clients and intermediaries following delays and inaccuracies in premium calculation.

READ: Pan Africa targets Gateway Insurance takeover

Sanlam’s new life business sales for last year declined by 19 per cent leading to shrinkage of its market share to eight per cent at the end of 2015 from 9.8 per cent a year earlier, according to data from the Insurance Regulatory Authority.

Rebranded

“What hit us were the initial implementation challenges where there were mismatches but now we are optimising the system,” said Sanlam Kenya Group chief executive Mr Mugo Kibati.

The insurer has rebranded to Sanlam Kenya to identify with its South Africa-based parent Sanlam Group.

Sanlam Group owns 56.3 per cent stake of the listed company, which recently added general insurance to its mainstay life insurance products.
The multinational has made known ambitions to raise its stake in the subsidiary to 60 per cent.

Pan Africa Life Additional Investments into Gateway General Insurance and Its Performance after Acquisition

Pan Africa buys additional stake in Gateway Insurance

By VICTOR JUMA, vjuma@ke.nationmedia.com  http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News

Pan Africa Insurance Holdings chief executive Mugo Kibati. PHOTO | FILE 

By VICTOR JUMA, vjuma@ke.nationmedia.com

Posted  Monday, March 28   2016 at  23:00

IN SUMMARY

• Pan Africa first bought into the general insurer in March last year, acquiring a 51 per cent stake for Sh561 million.
• The company later raised its interest in Gateway to 56 per cent at a cost of about Sh55 million.
• The move by Pan Africa to raise its stake in Gateway signals its confidence in the company’s future prospects though the subsidiary’s earnings have deteriorated following its acquisition.

Pan Africa Insurance Holdings has acquired an additional five per cent stake in Gateway Insurance, raising its equity in the subsidiary to 56 per cent.

The company had announced that it would buy additional shares in Gateway to make the subsidiary’s founders comply with insurance regulations that cap ownership by individuals at 25 per cent.Pan Africa chief executive Mugo Kibati told the Business Daily that the company subsequently raised its interest in Gateway to 56 per cent at a cost of about Sh55 million.

Pan Africa did not say to what level it was prepared to raise its stake in Gateway but noted that the extra shares would be bought from the family of the company’s founder, the late Godfrey Karuri.

The additional shares were to be bought at the same price of Sh17.56 per share that Pan Africa paid to buy the initial 51 per cent stake.

The move by Pan Africa to raise its stake in Gateway signals its confidence in the company’s future prospects though the subsidiary’s earnings have deteriorated following its acquisition.

Acquisition of Gateway marked a change in strategy at Pan Africa which in 2011 exited the general insurance business to focus on life policies by selling its 39.9 stake in APA Insurance for Sh855 million.

The company later said it needed to re-enter the general insurance business if it was to get a share of economic growth driven by sectors such as construction.

This prompted the Gateway acquisition whose completion coincided with increased competition in Pan Africa’s mainstay life insurance business where it previously was among the largest players.

Gateway’s performance has, however, disappointed, with Pan Africa taking a Sh564 million hit from the subsidiary last year and contributing to a 97 per cent fall in the parent firm’s profit in the year ended December.

READ: Pan Africa Insurance profit falls 97pc on Gateway acquisition

Pan Africa reported that the excess value it anticipated from the takeover of Gateway has surpassed the net worth of the subsidiary by the Sh564 million.

This means Pan Africa paid a hefty premium in the acquisition whose payback is likely to take longer than initially expected.

The accounting loss contributed to the 97 per cent drop in the listed firm’s net profit to Sh27.3 million in the review period, down from Sh871.1 million the year before.

Jubilee Insurance Kenya Chief Executive Patrick Tumbo is Africa CEO of the Year in the recently concluded 42nd Conference and General Assembly of Africa Insurance Organisation (AIO)

Jubilee Kenya boss named Africa CEO of the year

By MUGAMBI MUTEGI  Posted  Tuesday, June 2  2015 at  21:18 @Businessdailyafrica

 

 

Jubilee Insurance Kenya CEO Patrick Tumbo. PHOTO | FILE 

The Jubilee Insurance Kenya CEO Patrick Tumbo has been named chief executive officer of the year at an award ceremony in which 362 member companies from across the continent participated.

inShare

Mr Tumbo got the recognition at the recently concluded 42nd Conference and General Assembly of Africa Insurance Organisation (AIO) in Tunisia.

Organisers of the awards said the winner was selected based on successful product development, excellent service delivery and introducing innovative distribution channels targeting grassroots customers.

“We need to listen to our customers and develop products that serve specific customer needs. That way, the insurance sector will experience a revolutionary change for the better,” said Mr Tumbo.

Nigeria’s Mutual Benefits Insurance won the Innovation of the Year award while the Insurance Company of the Year award went to Misr Insurance Company of Egypt.

Increased premiums

Jubilee Holdings reported a 24 per cent jump in net profit for the year ended December to Sh3.1 billion, helped mainly by increased premiums, with Kenya being its biggest contributing business unit.

Gross premiums increased 30 per cent to Sh30.3 billion, making the company Kenya’s largest in both general and life insurance business.
The insurer recorded double-digit growth in all its insurance operations, including pensions and medical.

The AIO is made up of member insurers across 55 countries in Africa.

The awards are meant to promote growth of the insurance sector through good corporate governance, insurance practice, leadership and risk management.

“Sharing and dissemination of new successful and practical ideas in the industry can be a great tool to fast-track the development of insurance in the continent,” said AIO secretary-general Prisca Soraes.

The conference, which took place between May 24 and May 27, focused on the rise of political risk in the continent and the need for new risk pools to respond to natural catastrophic risk.

Pan Africa Insurance Holdings Limited acquires a 51% majority shareholding in Gateway Insurance Company Limited.

Pan Africa Insurance buys stake in Gateway Insurance

Daily Nation,  Wednesday, March 18, 2015

 

In Summary

• “This means that while a savings culture is budding among our people - which is how it should be - there is a gap in the area of risk management which cannot be ignored,” Mr Simba said.
• He said the company had returned to general insurance at a time when figures indicated that insurance penetration was low, therefore, providing huge opportunity for growth.

By NATION CORRESPONDENT
More by this Author

Pan Africa Insurance Holdings Limited has acquired a 51 per cent majority shareholding in Gateway Insurance Company Limited.

Shareholders of the latter will get Sh561,023,562 in exchange for 31,948,950 ordinary shares priced at Sh17.56 apiece.

“We are delighted to have concluded this transaction, giving us a majority stake in Gateway. Pan Africa’s Group strategy includes diversifying investments in a way that will maximise and meet client expectations while growing shareholder value. We are on a path to make Pan Africa a one-stop-shop for our client financial solutions,” board chairman John Simba said.

He said the company had returned to general insurance at a time when figures indicated that insurance penetration was low, therefore, providing huge opportunity for growth.

A CRITICAL COMPONENT

“Financial services are a critical component of any economy which intends to record sustainable growth. Insurance companies only account for 32 per cent of financial service providers in Kenya excluding co-operative societies and a measly 0.3 per cent when cooperative societies are included.

“This means that while a savings culture is budding among our people - which is how it should be - there is a gap in the area of risk management which cannot be ignored,” Mr Simba said.

“Gateway’s established brand in short-term insurance service and a countrywide presence fits well into Pan Africa strategy.”

The group structure will change to incorporate the new general insurance subsidiary so that management of the firm will be at holdings level by the group chief executive, while business lines (Life, General and Asset Management) will be headed by the respective chief executives.

Group chief executive Mugo Kibati said the new business venture would “see Pan Africa compete effectively” with their peers in the industry.

Karibu new Pan Africa Holdings CEO - Mugo Kibati. Currently the Chairman of Lake Turkana Wind Power Ltd

Mugo Kibati joins Pan Africa Holdings as Chief Executive 

By GEORGE NGIGI, gngigi@ke.nationmedia.com http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News

• The company has been searching for a chief executive after Tom Gitogo resigned to join CIC Insurance in September last year.

Former Vision 2030 director Mugo Kibati has been appointed Group Chief Executive Officer of Pan Africa Insurance Holdings Ltd. He his currently the chairman of Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) project, which has won the African Renewables Deal of the Year 2014 after it successfully structured Sh70 billion financing. http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Lake-Turkana-wind-project-wins-deal/-/539552/2635528/-/hdd6yl/-/index.html

The position is new to the company which has a life assurance business, general insurance arm - Pan Africa Securities and an asset management subsidiary.

Pan Africa also confirmed Stephen Kamanda as the chief executive of its assurance business.

The company has been searching for a chief executive after Tom Gitogo resigned to join CIC Insurance in September last year.

Mr Kibati previously served as managing director of East African Cables before he was appointed by the government to head the Vision 2030 secretariat. He holds a degree in electrical engineering, a masters degree in international business and a masters degree in technology and policy.

Last week Pan Africa announced issued a profit warning which has seen its share price at the Nairobi Securities Exchange drop by 9.3 per cent in the last five trading sessions.

• The insurer said that gains from the NSE last year were lower compared to 2013, which was further compounded by reduced deals in the property market.
• Analysts said the performance is representative of the insurance industry whose results are influenced by NSE’s.
• Pan Africa’s net profit grew 31 per cent to Sh295.5 million in 2013 and the profit alert means it will post earnings below Sh221 million.

The insurer attributed the drop in profits to lower gains in the equities market compared to 2013 and reduced deals in the property market.

World Biggest Transportation Conglomerate -MAERSK GROUP

 Maersk Business (Sea and Land) - Brave, Courageous, Bold, Fearless, Intrepid, Heroic, Lionhearted

Conglomerate: Maersk Group

Maersk Group has four core businesses which include Maersk Line, APM Terminals, Maersk Oil and Maersk Drilling. Through these companies and several others, the group employs roughly 89,000 people, and generated 47 billion US dollars in revenue in 2013.

As a group, MAERSK business success is built on a number of strengths: our size and global reach, our financial strength, our talented employees, our time-honoured values, our approach to sustainability and our drive to innovate. Combined, these strengths form a unique platform for our continued success and future growth. http://www.maersk.com/

Ownership: 1904 Founded 

A.P. Moller–Maersk Group, Danish: A.P. Møller–Mærsk A/S, Danish pronunciation: also known as Maersk, is a Danish business conglomerate. A.P. Moller – Maersk Group has activities in a variety of business sectors, primarily within the transportation and energy sectors. It has been the largest container ship operator and supply vessel operator in the world since 1996


Operations: Both Sea and Land
  A.P. Moller – Maersk Group is based in Copenhagen, Denmark, with subsidiaries and offices in more than 135 countries worldwide and around 108,000 employees. It Oprates in Both Sea and Land Transportation and Energy operations.

It ranked 147 on the Fortune Global 500 list for 2010, down from 106 in 2009.

 
Investments:   Oil and gas activities Maersk Oil
Maersk Oil (Danish: Mærsk Olie og Gas A/S) was established in 1962 when Maersk was awarded a concession for oil and gas exploration and production in the Danish sector of the North Sea.

Today, Maersk Oil is engaged in exploration for and production of oil and gas in many parts of the world. Total oil production is more than 600,000 barrels per day (95,000 m³/d) and gas production is up to some 1 billion cubic feet (28,000,000 m³) per day. Most of this production is from the North Sea, from both the Danish and British sectors, but there is also production in offshore Qatar, in Algeria and in Kazakhstan.

In addition to the above-mentioned producing sites, Maersk Oil is involved in exploration activities in Danish, British, Dutch and Norwegian sectors of the North Sea, Qatar, Algeria, Kazakhstan, Angola, Gulf of Mexico (US sector), Turkmenistan, Oman, Morocco, Brazil, Colombia and Suriname. Most of these activities are not 100% owned, but are via membership in a consortium.

The company prides itself for having developed production techniques especially suited to difficult environments (North Sea, etc.) and for drilling techniques that succeed in extracting oil from problematic underground conditions. 

Investments Shares and Stock Exchange:
 "Oil and gas activities" provided A.P. Moller – Maersk with 22% of its revenue and 68% of its profit in 2008.A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S is listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange. Shares in the company are divided into A and B shares, with only A shares conferring voting rights. The group currently has some 66,000 shareholders.

County Civils: Excavation, Grinding and Backhoe Loading

Meru Country Roads Construction and Upgrading through Malaysia

On Wednesday the Meru County Assembly approved the construction of a 10Km pilot Probase Road section from Kianjai to Miathene with further 4Km bitumen road section, on the same road, to be constructed by the National Government for comparison purposes. This will pave way for construction of a further 300Kms of Probase roads across Meru County, where each of the nine Sub Counties will get 30 KMs. The roads to be constructed will be identified by the sub county residents.

 The entire project will cost Ksh. 6 Billion and it will be funded by the EXIM Bank of Malaysia. The 10Km pilot Probase Road section will cost KSh. 310 Million.
MERU TOWN, Hon Peter Munya, Meru, Kenya, The National Construction Authority, EXIM Bank Bangladesh Limited, Caterpillar Inc., @CMC Motorrs, Excavators, Backhoe, JCB 3CX- Backhoe Loader

 The infrastructure of Malaysia is one of the most developed in Asia.[159] Its telecommunications network is second only to Singapore's in Southeast Asia, with 4.7 million fixed-line subscribers and more than 30 million cellular subscribers.[160][161] The country has seven international ports, the major one being the Port Klang. There are 200 industrial parks along with specialised parks such as Technology Park Malaysia and Kulim Hi-Tech Park.[162] Fresh water is available to over 95 per cent of the population

Africa Biggest Economy is Nigeria

Nigeria overtakes South Africa as continent’s largest economy

BY Jaco Maritz | 6 April 2014 at 16:33 How @How We Made It In Africa @All Rights Preserved

  

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Nigeria today officially overtook South Africa as the largest economy on the continent, after the West African country changed the base year for calculating its gross domestic product (GDP).
Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Sunday presented the country’s rebased GDP figure, revealing the economy is significantly bigger than originally reported. Nigeria’s GDP in 2013 was US$509.9bn, much higher than that of South Africa.
The base year is the benchmark for all calculations used in working out the GDP of a country, as it determines the year in which prices are held constant and enables one to distinguish between economic growth and inflation.
The majority of higher income countries revise their base year every five years to reflect changes in the nature of output and consumption. Up until today, Nigeria’s GDP was calculated using 1990 as the base year, which does not account for the rapid development of some of the country’s booming industries, such as telecommunications and entertainment (notably the Nollywood film industry).
Nigerians however shouldn’t expect to see any material benefits from the GDP rebasing. According Renaissance Captial chief economist Charles Robertson, the rebasing is simply “the NBS… doing a better job in measuring the output that is already happening”.
“Improving the measurement of GDP does not raise monthly wages. It does not lift consumption of imports. It does not make Nigeria better off in any obvious material way… The important fact to bear in mind is that GDP is only being recorded better. Rebasing does not mean Nigerians are better off – it just means they are better off than official statistics previously indicated,” said Robertson in an earlier note.
Being Africa’s largest economy could however hold some psychological advantages. “It would be interesting to see how international relations will be affected when South Africa is no longer the largest African economy – South Africa is, for example, the only African country represented in the G20,” wrote Roelof Horne, portfolio manager at Investec Asset Management in an opinion piece published by How we made it in Africa on Friday.
“South Africa was historically the ‘go-to’ country for investment into Africa. However, the reality is that other regions are increasingly asserting their economic voice and this has resulted in several multinational corporations opting to have their Africa base in countries such as Kenya or Nigeria, instead of South Africa,” Horne added.
The rebasing will also improve Nigeria’s balance sheet. “This should lead to lower borrowing costs for the government, which is ultimately beneficial for the country’s citizens,” said Horne.
According to Robertson, Nigeria’s growth rate is likely to be revised down following the rebasing. “Instead of around 7% annual growth over the previous decade, the higher GDP base means growth may turn out to have been closer to 5-6%.

Kenya Insurance Company Buys South Africa Based Asset Management Firm

Pan Africa Insurance closes Sanlam Kenya acquisition

By GEORGE NGIGI, Business Daily http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/ @All Rights Reserved

Members of the public pass by a Sanlam billboard in Nairobi. Pan Africa Insurance has bought the Kenyan operations of the SA firm. 

In Summary

• Pan Africa Insurance said it had acquired 72.5 per cent shares of Sanlam and a further 10 per cent stake owned by a former chief executive of the investment firm.
• The acquisition gives the insurance firm a free hand in the management of funds mobilised through its life business.
• Unit trusts have are becoming more popular in the country following their opening up to the lower end market by inviting small savers to their fold.

Pan Africa Insurance has bought out the Kenyan operations of South Africa-based assets manager Sanlam Investment, concluding a phased acquisition that started in 2008. 

The Nairobi Securities Exchange listed insurer said that it had acquired 72.5 per cent shares of Sanlam and a further 10 per cent stake owned by a former chief executive of the investment firm.

The acquisition gives the insurance firm a free hand in the management of funds mobilised through its life business.

“The transaction will result in Sanlam Investment Management Kenya being a wholly owned subsidiary of the company. This will enable easier distribution of investment products by the group’s financial advisors,” said Pan Africa’s chief executive Tom Gitogo.

Both firms have common shareholding in South Africa’s Sanlam, a financial services group that is listed at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and Namibian Stock Exchange.

The insurer follows the footstep of other insurance companies such as CIC, Britam and UAP that have lately opened their own fund management firms to invest their collections from life policies.

Pan Africa declined to disclose the value of the transaction, stating that it was based on the net book value as at end of last year. Pan Africa bought a 17.5 per cent stake in Sanlam for Sh3.8 million in 2008 in a deal that at the time valued the fund management company at Sh21.7 million.

Sanlam, the parent company, owned 55.7 per cent of Pan Africa Insurance as at the end of 2012 through an entity named Hubris Holdings Ltd.

It has however stated that it wants to increase its shareholding in the insurance company to 60 per cent by buying shares in the open market so as to have more control of its management.

Mr Gitogo said the acquired firm would retain its name while disclosing intent to invite individuals and institutions to invest through them using unit trusts. “We are looking forward to entering the unit trusts market,” he said.

Unit Trusts provide investors an opportunity to invest in a portfolio of stocks or fixed-income securities or both, without directly going to the market themselves. The investors deposit funds with fund managers, who charge them a management fee for their services.

Unit trusts have are becoming more popular in the country following their opening up to the lower end market by inviting small savers to their fold.

On Tuesday the insurer’s share price went up by two shillings to Sh61.50, on a trading volume of 25,000 shares.Awesome Insurance

How to screw business as usual for start-ups - Virgin.com

How to screw business as usual for start-ups - Virgin.com

Top tips for start-ups on how you can screw business as usual from the beginning.

1) Community Bulding
2) Going Green From the Start
3) Happy people
4) Test Yourself

Screw Business as Usual is Richard Branson's book about changing the world. Just by buying this book you'll make a difference as 100% of Richard's royalties go to Virgin Unite, to support our entrepreneurial initiatives on the front lines.

Paying Yourself - Owning a Construction Company

Nairobi’s Prime Real Estate Growing by 25% faster than Miami (19.1%), London (12.1%).

Kenya’s luxury property market records highest growth globally in 2011

BY Claude Harding | March 29, 2012 at 21:39 http://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com

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Kenya’s luxury real estate saw the greatest price increase globally in 2011, according to Knight Frank’s Prime International Residential Index (PIRI), which monitors price changes across the world’s top-end property markets.
Price growth in both Kenya’s capital Nairobi and the country’s Indian Ocean coastal hot spots was more than any of the other global locations included in the Index, with the value of Nairobi’s prime real estate growing by 25% in 2011 and the Kenyan coast by 20%.
Knight Frank defines “prime property” as a location’s most desirable and usually most expensive real estate.
Kenyan luxury real estate prices grew faster than major cities such as Miami (19.1%), London (12.1%), Moscow (9.8%), New York (3.1%), Shanghai (-3.4%) and Singapore (-4.7%).
It should, however, be noted that Kenya’s growth comes from a base of relatively low luxury property prices. The average price per square metre of prime real estate in Nairobi is only US$1,700, which doesn’t even compare with cities such as Monaco ($58,300/sq m), London ($48,900/sq m), Beijing ($17,400/sq m) or Mumbai ($11,400/sq m).
Increasingly affluent buyers from emerging markets are boosting residential property prices in developed world locations such as Miami, London and Vancouver. “When asked which nationalities will become most important as prime property buyers over the next five years, Chinese, Russian, Middle Eastern, Latin American and those from other growth economies consistently top advisors’ lists,” notes Liam Bailey, head of residential research at Knight Frank.
The reason for this is that many of the newly rich in the developing world fear that issues such as corruption and politics can pose a risk to property investments in their home countries. They therefore prefer safe haven locations such as London, which has a cosmopolitan environment, good education and both personal and property security.
Bailey says that New Zealand’s isolation from the world’s conflict zones makes it possibly the ultimate safe haven destination for the world’s super-rich.
Although ‘safe haven’ isn’t necessarily a phrase many people would use to describe Kenya in a global context, compared to its neighbouring countries it is just that, commented Ben Woodhams, managing director of Knight Frank Kenya.
Woodhams added that Kenya’s fast economic development is attracting domestic and international private equity. However, recent events such as the kidnapping of tourists staying on Kenya’s north coast and a steep rise in interest rates to almost 25% also highlight the potential vulnerability of some emerging prime markets.
Saskia Sassen, co-chair of the Committee of Global Thought at Columbia University and the person who coined the term ‘global city’, said that Nairobi is becoming “increasingly important in a rapidly urbanising world”.

Strategies: Great Business Meetings Surprises!!

Top 6 tips to screw business meetings as usual

Richard Branson  © All Rights Reserved.

February 15, 2013

Meetings are an important part of any business, but they are not always the best use of everybody’s time and effort. I have never worked out of a traditional office, and always try to find ways to freshen meetings up. Recently we held Necker Meets Oxford, a Virgin Unite leadership gathering that took a different approach to talking about business. Here are five tips for screwing business meetings as usual:

1. Step away from the usual weekly agenda and set an inspiring theme.
At Necker Meets Oxford, the theme was Solutions for the Future of People and Planet – a bit different from a usual Monday morning! Our aim was to generate discussion to find innovative, entrepreneurial solutions to the world's toughest challenges.

2. Bring together a diverse mix people to broaden discussion.
Convening what might seem an unlikely bunch can really get the ideas flowing. For instance, at our recent gathering we had an investment banker, yoga practitioner, Silicon Valley consultant and the co-founder Wahoo's Fish Taco to name a few. I always find that these eclectic groups lead to great discussions.


3. Engage thought-provoking speakers to spark ideas and generate debate.
We were lucky enough to partner with a great organisation, the Oxford Martin School, for Necker Meets Oxford, bringing together an amazing line up of speakers: Ian Goldin, who heads the Oxford Martin School, Oxford scholar Charles Godfray, Astronomer Chris Lintott (the new face of the BBC series The Sky at Night), Sonia Trigueros of the Oxford Nanotechnology Programme and Kathy Wills, who chairs the Biodiversity Institute at Oxford. From the challenge of feeding a planet of 10 billion people to the wonders of nanotechnology and the advances in medicine, the variety of speakers really got the group and me thinking in new, exploratory ways.

4. A great destination – lose the laptops and say bye to the tie.
A change of scenery and a bit of fun does wonders for getting people thinking differently and loosening up! I’m very fortunate to have the opportunity to invite people to Necker Island – we sometimes take things to the pool… But wherever you are, be innovative with your space. Try a stand-up meeting, or leave the desks and head to the park. Get out of your everyday environment.


5. Surprise the group with something special.
At Necker Meets Oxford we surprised guests with acclaimed singer songwriter Morley, who wowed guests with her unique blend of jazz, folk and soul. A real treat and something out of the ordinary to reflect what was a great meeting of minds. A little thinking outside the box goes a long way in my view.
6. Ban slide presentations!
In my opinion Powerpoint slides with long lists of what you’re talking about should be banned. They are used as a prop by the speaker - if they need reminding of what they’re speaking about they can have it on a laptop in front of them. There a few thing worse than watching someone talk through a long list of Powerpoint’s. On the other hand short videos and photos bring a talk to life.

Find out more about the next Virgin Unite gathering.
Image(s) by Jack Brockway