Mooney Shares Tips With Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Pauline Dikuelo | Monday April 1, 2019 14:25

Speaking at the fifth edition of the Founders Dinner series last Thursday, Mooney said reputation has played a huge role in his career. The 80 year-old Mooney, who ventured into the business landscape at a tender age of 15, said building a reputation is important as one becomes reliable and easy for the clients to trust.

He implored entrepreneurs to always look big into their profession adding that partnerships are important provided they team with someone who has values and is competitive.

“There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs. When choosing a partner, I would advise you to consider someone not because of their money but because of their competence,” he said.  He shared with the participants the secret of negotiating deals, noting that they need to learn to listen and analyse in order for them to be able to level the ground when negotiating.

“You need to also understand that your employees are your partners and you should give them that respect. Pay them well, it motivates them to perform well thus bringing you good results,” he said.

Mooney, who has almost 65 years business experience, has built ODE group into a formidable company with diverse interests. He has wide range of experience in manufacturing, trading, finance and property development in Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, USA and India. Mooney moved to Botswana from Zimbabwe to start ODE’s first initiative in Gaborone. 

Founders Dinner Series which is the brain child of Matshego Lethola brings together leading captains of industries into one intimate dinner thus affording upcoming entrepreneurs an opportunity to network and learn from them.

Since inception early last year, the sessions have hosted business magnates like Base Sebonego, Tonderai Tsara, Samuel Mpuchane, Ebrahim Mohamed and Mompoloki Mogobe.

According to Lethola, the platform exposes aspiring entrepreneurs and SMEs to resourceful information, ideas, leads, business opportunities, financial capital, power and influence, emotional support, even goodwill trust and cooperation.

“We are passionate about helping founders, entrepreneurs and start-ups succeed. We intend to make their business journey less lonely, more connected and more memorable,” he said.