August 2018 – Why globally experienced talent is your secret weapon

The Global Headhunting Firm for Africa

We’re going to be in London and Dubai later this month to host our next bespoke employer events and meet with globally experienced diaspora talent across a host of industries including fintech, FMCG, banking, retail and finance.

Read our article below on why globally experienced talent is your secret weapon.

If you’re an African employer seeking scarce skill talent, get in touch and we’ll make sure we keep an eye out for your requirements.  At the same time, if you’re a candidate either at home or abroad, make sure we have your CV.

Don’t miss out on our latest Executives on the Move feature as well as our special Women’s Month feature celebrating the strong and powerful women shaping our continent.

Have a great month ahead.

Onwards & Upwards

The Homecoming Revolution Team

Reggie Nxumalo has been appointed Consumer Electronics Director for Samsung South Africa.

He was headhunted and placed by Homecoming Revolution. He is responsible for guiding and driving Samsung’s consumer electronics arm to the future as well as motivating digital adoption among consumers.

Reggie says the opportunity to work with one of the world’s leading consumer electronic brands is what appealed most about the role.

“I am excited to be a part of such a dynamic and forward-thinking organization. I look forward to playing an instrumental role in further growing Samsung’s consumer electronics arm in South Africa.”

Reggie has over 15 years’ experience in FMCG and ICT working with leading multinationals including Philips, Dell, Hewlett Packard and Coca-Cola.

He joins Samsung from Nhloko Services where he was CEO. Prior to this, he served as General Manager for Philips Lighting Southern Africa…Read more.

Vital skills like leadership, collaboration, creativity, problem-solving and social and cultural awareness are becoming increasingly important. Global experience equips diaspora candidates with these skills and so much more.

“Diaspora talent bring added value and fresh ideas to a local setting.  Living and working overseas increases your resourcefulness and resilience because you need to set up your home and life again from scratch. Global experience also allows candidates to be more agile and creative in their thinking,” comments Homecoming Revolution CEO Angel Jones.

“The skills that employees require now to do their jobs will be dramatically different over the next few years and as the competition for top talent intensifies further across the continent, it is imperative that employers adopt a ‘glocal’ mindset and start looking globally for scarce skill diaspora talent,” she continues.

Jones says when pursuing globally experienced diaspora candidates, it is crucial for employers to set themselves apart.

“Homecoming Revolution hosts global bespoke client events tailored to the employer’s specific talent requirements. Pre-screened candidates are handpicked and given the opportunity for frank discussions around opportunities on the continent.”

We will be in London and Dubai later this month. Get in touch if you’d like us to keep an eye out for specific talent or if you’d like to inquire about our global events.

South African EE Male – Franchise Lead – Banking
Nigerian Female – VP Strategic Partnerships – Information Technology
South African EE Female – Country Head – Consumer Goods
Senegalese Female – Country Sales Manager – Logistics
Kenyan Male – Senior Finance Executive – Banking
South African EE Female – Group Communications Manager – FMCG
Ghanaian Male – Chief Financial Officer – Financial Services
South African EE Male – Global Metals & Mining Analyst – Banking
Zimbabwean Female – Group People Director – Human Resources
Kenyan Male – Head Revenue Assurance – Financial Services
South African EE Male – Strategy Manager – Banking
Ugandan Female – Manager Finance & Business Operations – Telecommunications
South African EE Female – Group HR Director – Financial Services
Nigerian Male – Executive Director – Broadcast Media
South African EE Female – Dr with an MBA, recently returned home – Healthcare
Sierra Leonean Female – Social Development Specialist – International Development
South African EE Male – Globally Experienced IT Architect – Information Systems
Ethiopian Female – Programme Manager – Education & Culture
South African EE Female – Chief Executive – Media
Nigerian Male – General Manager – Banking
South African Female – Senior Manager Energy & Resources – Management Consulting
Senegalese Male – Head of Francophone Africa Sales – Fintech
South African EE Female – Marketing Manager – Software
Angolan Male – Business Development Manager – Education Management
South African EE Female – Senior HR Business Partner – Banking
Cameroonian Female – Key Account Manager – Logistics
South African EE Male – Senior Project Manager – Advertising
Nigerian Male – Supply Chain Manager – Food & Beverage
South African Male – Senior Business Analyst – Investment Banking
Kenyan Male – External Auditor – Retail
South African EE Female – HR Business Partner – Consumer Goods
Nigerian Male – Business Development Specialist – Logistics

As part of the celebration of Women’s Month, Thriving Magazine celebrated exceptional women entrepreneurs in a special women Issue of their monthly digital magazine. Homecoming Revolution CEO Angel Jones was one of the entrepreneurs featured…See more.

Does your heart beat to an African drum?

The below post was written by South African returnee Roxanne Grey who returned home after 10 years in the United Kingdom.

If you have ever been on vacation to Africa or if this is where you once lived you will know what I mean… Africa creeps into our hearts and once in, will never leave.

10 years ago I went on a gap year, ended up in the beautiful Cotswolds (south west of England) for 8 years and then Bristol for 2 years.  I had the time of my life, made memories, made friends and spent my early 20’s covering a few of the most beautiful parts of UK. All in all this experience has moulded me into whom I am today, and I shall forever be grateful for this awesome experience!

That gap year came to an end when I visited my home town, Cape Town, on vacation in December 2017. I saved up all of my holiday for a year to be able to have a whole month of summer, sunshine, family and friends. If you are a Foreigner, living abroad, and go back home, you will understand how precious and special these times are being so far away most of the time on the other side of the world. I fell truly, madly, deeply in love with this beautiful city again! The people, the beaches, the bluer than blue skies and of course the braais and crayfish (growing up in Paternoster this is a standard “Sunday Roast”)…Read more.

“All I kept thinking was how much can I change?”

Toluyemi Nathaniel remembers when she had the awakening moment of making the decision to return home to Nigeria. It was close to the end of her two-year stay in China studying for a Master’s Degree in International Economics and Business.

“For me, I just had to come back. I love Nigeria and I can’t imagine being somewhere else for so long without itching to return,” she says.

“All I kept thinking of was how much can I change over there? I just feel sometimes, it’s more difficult to change things you haven’t experienced. Everyone that has made a change in this country are people that lived through the Nigerian story and made up their mind to change things when given the opportunity. I decided to join that group,” she continues…Read more.

Why this Ivy League Graduate returned to Ghana

A former London investment banker on a Ghanaian pineapple farm seems like a fish out of water. But for Jerry Parkes, leaving his finance career was part of a plan to return home and expand agriculture in Africa. Parkes co-founded Injaro, a private equity fund that invests in agricultural businesses in West Africa such as Gold Coast Fruits, this pineapple farm about 30 miles north of Accra.

Injaro’s goal is to boost agriculture in Africa, an overlooked and underfunded industry that is critical for the continent’s future.

Parkes, together with Ivorian Chief Operating Officer Dadié Tayoraud, started Injaro in 2009, a few years after they graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton business school…Read more.