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Durban University of Technology 12%u201cOur first stop was a visit to the South African embassy in Dublin where I had the privilege of meeting Mrs Nicolette Schreiber, the South African ambassador to Ireland. She told of how Ireland loves South Africa and how they have successfully enjoyed good relationships with each other, thus are willing to continue investing in student entrepreneurs to scale their businesses,%u201d Ms Msomi said.Ms Msomi shared that one of the biggest takeaways was the way in which Irish businesses operated with trust and honesty at their core.%u201cMany businesses rely on self-service payment systems without cashiers, which truly puts customer integrity to the test. Yet people uphold this trust by living with honesty and a strong work ethic,%u201d said Ms Msomi.What also stood out was their fearless approach to failure, which is seen as part of growth rather than a setback. %u201cThe idea of learning from failure and trying again is deeply ingrained in their business culture. They also prioritise training and networking, ensuring that entrepreneurs are connected with the right people in their industry,%u201d Ms Msomi said.Furthermore, Ms Msomi said that the Irish philosophy: %u201cIf you%u2019re going to study entrepreneurship, then become one%u201d was something they have mastered, proving it through the way they run their businesses.%u201cLooking ahead, the expansion of satellite companies into South Africa is expected to boost employment opportunities, contributing to economic growth. My experience has been truly incredible. More than anything, I am excited to scale my business and apply all the valuable advice we received. I also had the amazing opportunity to visit Google%u2019s headquarters in Dublin, where I learned firsthand the importance of prioritising employee well-being because when employees are taken care of, they, in turn, provide excellent service to clients. This trip has been both inspiring and insightful,%u201d Ms Msomi added.Mr Mkhize has been a part of the THENSA programme since 2022, following his selection by the innobiz DUT Centre.Under THENSA, Mr Mkhize underwent an intense incubation training programme, focusing on a variety of business management and start-up aspects, while he benefitted from their tutelage on delivering a comprehensive business pitch.His time under the THENSA programme has also afforded him the opportunity to pitch his toilet paper business to different stakeholders and potential investors.Mr Mkhize described the opportunity to pitch his business as an opportunity to network and increase his business%u2019 chances of gaining more recognition and subsequently investors and clients.Mr Mkhize%u2019s trip to Ireland was of significant benefit for his enterprise as it exposed him to a different entrepreneurial environment, mindsets and perspectives, not just from the Irish, but from contemporaries around the world.Some of the key lessons Mr Mkhize picked up was the understanding of business start-up fundamentals, transparency, responsibility and accountability in the running of a successful business. Being in a new environment had a huge impact on his business perspective.Nkululeko Jili/Samkelo Mtshali