May 2017 – The grass is greener where there is more manure

We’re the recruitment firm for global Africans

“Greener grass” was a key conversation topic at the Oxford University Africa Conference. Read more about it below and have a look at some of the other exciting events we attended this month.

If you’re a candidate wanting that next career move, make sure you have a look at our selection of job opportunities across the continent in a variety of industries.

If you’re an employer wanting immediate talent or candidate catalogues please get in touch.

Have an amazing month ahead.

Onwards & Upwards
The Homecoming Revolution Team

The room was packed with top African professionals who had many questions including where the grass was greener, when the best time to return was, and how to integrate back into the community.

Eddie Ndopu, an internationally recognized South African human rights advocate, said he has a complicated affection for the concept of home. “My concept of home is messy. It’s not clearly defined.” Eddie said that home is something we carve out. “For me, it’s never a destination, it’s a process. I don’t embrace the idea of ‘going back’’. For me, home should feel like I’m going forward.”

Yasmin Kumi, a Ghanaian homecomer, said once you have made the decision to return you cannot compare the two destinations. “If you make the comparison between here and there – then you end up denouncing the one place. It’s not helpful.”

A key insight was that the grass was greener because of the ‘’manure’’ i.e. Africa’s challenges. These challenges are a key driver for people coming home as they are motivated to be part of finding solutions. The idea of having a career with impact was highly desirable. Read more.

And in other good news, The Independent’s recent report puts two South African cities in the top 26 cities with the highest quality of life in the world. Read more.

Motla Galetuki (Homecoming Revolution Office Coordinator), Yabome Gilpin-Jackson (One of the authors at the We Lead Africa Book Launch)

Thato Makgolane (Homecomer) and Makhosazane Mtetwa (Homecoming Revolution Recruitment Consultant)

Lauren Woolf (Consultant in Creative Spaces), Lee Naik (CEO TransUnion Africa), Angel Jones (CEO Homecoming Revolution) and Michael Jordan (Founder and Chief Executive Montegray)

South African EE Female – Seasoned Human Resources Professional

Nigerian Male – Senior Strategy Consultant Oil & Gas wanting to return to Nigeria from the UK

Senegalese Female – Marketing & Sales specialist with Banking & Logistics Exposure

South African EE Male – Post Investment Associate Financial Services

Nigerian Male – Account Director Marketing & Communications

South African EE Female – Investment Professional with 15 years’ experience wants to return home from New York

Kenyan Male – Marketing & Consumer Product Specialist working in Financial Services

South African EE Male – Homecomer & Senior Strategy Consultant focusing on the Life Sciences sector

Kenyan Female – Business Development & Marketing Manager Financial Services

South African EE Male – Senior Manager CIB Financial Services

Nigerian Male – Senior Financial Analyst/Consultant

South African EE Male – Learning & Development Professional with over 17 years’ experience

• COO – Multinational Beverage Firm – East Africa
• Managing Director – Arts & Culture – Cape Town
• Associate Principal – Private Equity – Johannesburg
• Head of Operations – Banking – Tanzania
• Curator – Fine & Contemporary Art – Johannesburg
• Marketing Director – FMCG – West Africa
• Head of Trade Support – Banking – Johannesburg
• Commercial Director – Multinational FMCG – Lagos
• Project Manager – Management Consultancy – Johannesburg
• Senior Actuarial Consultant – Life Insurance – Johannesburg
• Head of Marketing – Multinational Beverage Company – Nairobi
• Associate – Investment Banking – Johannesburg
• Female Corporate & Investment Banking Professionals – Banking – Pan-Africa
• Senior Strategic Consultant – Management Consulting Firm – Johannesburg

You drew me close then catapulted me away with a broken heart and a free spirit all the way across the ocean to NZ.
I wanted to go to school and see the world!!
And I did.
I travelled the world and graduated university.
So complete yet incomplete at the same time.
And yet, I missed everything I left behind…deeply.

Even though I learned to make NZ feel like home with love from amazing people, amazing experiences and seeing beautiful places.
I learned the meaning of real authentic empowering love and selflessness.
I discovered confidence, courage and tolerance.
Still, I missed you.
You have always had both my heart and soul.
So, you called me back!
With fear, nervousness and gut wrenching sacrifice, I took a deep breath and answered.

Read more.

“You know, people keep telling me how brave my husband and I are to return to SA, to uproot ourselves from our very comfortable life in Jersey and to start afresh in a country we left 16 years earlier and which has changed so much. Some of them are genuine and do admire our guts and determination, others not so much! Either way, my first (almost) 3 months back in SA has actually made me admire two people much more than anyone could and they deserve admiration MUCH more than I do. They are my children. Not once have they moaned or complained about our decision to move home. They have embraced their new school and made friends almost immediately, despite their differences. Despite having to fit into a very Afrikaans environment they have “kapped aan” regardless. And when I see how they are thriving, despite being behind academically, despite not knowing a word of Xhosa or Afrikaans and despite living in a tiny flat whilst our house is being built, I know that we have made the right decision for our family and am thankful that we have been able to move back home.” – Lize M

“There is nothing quite like the sound of life in South Africa. Every day I count my blessings. It was a tough decision to make, but one that we will never regret. My children are thriving, my soul is at peace. Every important decision is wrapped up in fear, face it head on and languish the beauty after the fear has passed.” – Lee-Ann Picoto

“I wanted to contribute to the community that raised me”

After my time at Harvard Business School I decided it was time to return to Africa for two main reasons. First of all, I felt a strong urge to contribute something back to the community that raised me. I wanted to contribute to making it possible for people to find hope for good economic prospects and a stable social existence closer to home, if they chose to…Read more.

“There’s a lot to digest when returning”

Sometimes things and places feel familiar, like I never left. I love that feeling. Then at times everything feels foreign, as if you’re a stranger meeting everyone and everything for the first time. It’s frustrating because it is not what you expected. I, like many other returnees have moved back with grand dreams…Read more.