Inside Value | Value Strategy for SMEs

Hosted by Siya Mdingi | Value Creation Strategist

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Oct 2026

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Looking for practical value creation, value strategy and SME strategy? Inside Value, hosted by Siya Mdingi (CEO of Vivre Consulting), explores how businesses and non-profits can create and deliver enterprise value. Find accessible tools, strategic insights and innovative ideas for applying value innovation in your enterprise.

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19 recent

October 27, 20268 min

5 Things to Do Next for Added Value for Your SME within African Trade

So you've heard all about the AfCFTA and the exciting new horizon for African trade, but what does it actually take to get your SME in on it? In this episode, I break it down into five practical, actionable steps: mastering the "how-to" of cross-border trade, building B2B partnerships, sorting out your money (yes, we're talking PAPSS!), formalizing your business, and specializing within regional value chains. The big takeaway? Trade agreements are just frameworks on their own; they mean nothing unless you as an African SME actively engage them. That's where real value creation happens. There's an undiscovered world sitting just beyond your borders. Let's go find it! JOIN OUR COMMUNITY Subscribe to The Value Blueprint https://thevalueblueprint.substack.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------ keywords: African trade, added value, AfCFTA, value creation, value strategy, sme strategy, enterprise value, value innovation, Siya Mdingi

October 20, 202627 min

Value Creation or AfCFTA Hype? One SMME's Honest Answer

African trade agreements like the AfCFTA are called game-changers, but what does that mean for an SME trying to make a move? In this episode, we go beyond the policy hype and into the real work of cross-border trade. We sat down with Matome Manenzhe, CEO of Ndoukhulu Hydraulic & Mining Supplies, who said "yes" to Angola and learned what value creation really looks like when you're building trust, pitching deals, and navigating a brand-new market.We're unpacking the SME strategy and value strategy that actually opens doors in African continental trade.If you're a small business owner with zero connections but big continental ambitions, start here. JOIN OUR COMMUNITYSubscribe to <a href="https://thevalueblueprint.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Value Blueprint</a> ------------------------------------------------------------------keywords: AfCFTA, African trade, Matome Manenzhe, mining, value creation, value strategy, sme strategy, enterprise value, value innovation, Siya Mdingi

October 14, 202641 min

From Headlines to Value Creation: Demystifying the AfCFTA for Your African SMME

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is the world's largest free trade area: so why do so few African entrepreneurs feel it's for them? The AfCFTA is shifting from policy to practice, but most African SMMEs are still stuck at awareness. Join us as we unpack the mindset shifts, blind spots, and practical steps that turn continental trade from a headline into real business value. Featuring insights from Anele Simon, the acting Secretary General of the Independent Continental Youth Advisory Council (ICOYACA). RESOURCES & LINKS:AfCFTA Secretariat Website - <a href="https://au-afcfta.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://au-afcfta.org/</a>AfCFTA Resources Directory - <a href="https://au-afcfta.org/resources/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://au-afcfta.org/resources/</a>AfCFTA Digital Tools - <a href="https://au-afcfta.org/digital-tools/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://au-afcfta.org/digital-tools/</a>AfCFTA eTariff Book - <a href="https://etariff.au-afcfta.org/mapsearch" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://etariff.au-afcfta.org/mapsearch</a>Non-Tariff Barrier (NTB) Reporting tool - <a href="https://tradebarriers.africa/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://tradebarriers.africa/</a> JOIN OUR COMMUNITYSubscribe to <a href="https://thevalueblueprint.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Value Blueprint</a> ------------------------------------------------------------------keywords: AfCFTA, African trade, Anele Simon, entrepreneurship, value creation, value strategy, sme strategy, enterprise value, value innovation, Siya Mdingi

October 6, 20267 min

The Value in African Free Trade: Preparing Your Seat at the Table

Value creation doesn't stop at your border! We break down why African free trade, the AfCFTA, and Africa's $192.2 billion intra-trade market matter for small and medium businesses; and why you don't need to be a trade expert to unlock novel value there. New trade markets mean new customers, new value needs, and fresh value creation opportunities. Get an brand-new look at the opportunities (and the value!) now available to you, sitting right next door and beyond.

September 29, 202615 min

Outsmarting the Big Guys: 5 Value Plays for Township Entrepreneurs

Big retail is moving in, and with them the R900 billion township economy transforms from a hidden niche into an open battleground.But corporate giants can’t beat you at what you do best. In this episode, we break down 5 concrete actions every township entrepreneur can take to secure their place in their own economy and sustain real growth:• Pooling buying power through cooperatives• Formalizing strategically, not via peer pressure• Building a collective digital presence that serves the township• Weaponise YOUR unfair advantages• Building local value loops that keep money and value circulating in the township This isn’t about surviving the competition. It’s about owning YOUR economy and creating value that stays local.On this battleground, the entrepreneurs and enterprises who thrive won’t be the biggest: they’ll be the ones most community rooted.

September 22, 202621 min

Value, Social Capital, and the Future of Township Business - with Thabang Kumalo

When most corporates and foundations hear "township economy," they see a social problem to solve. They're missing the biggest asset hiding in plain sight. In this episode we're sitting down with Thabang Kumalo, an ecosystem builder who has spent years connecting township entrepreneurs, corporates, foundations, and business schools, and get into the reality of what it truly means to engage the township economy and its participants.

September 15, 202628 min

How Township Businesses Can Capture Real Value with Charmaine Nkosi

The township economy is worth an estimated R900 billion, so why is it still treated as an afterthought?In this episode Charmaine Nkosi and I explore how township SMMEs can move beyond the local neigbourhood, turn community trust into real value, and become a driving force in South Africa's economic resilience. From expanding business with trusted neighbours to developing robust supply and value chains and walking into corporate boardrooms as an equal partner, we unpack what it takes to scale township enterprises without losing authenticity, and what policymakers, corporates, and investors are still missing about this powerful sector.

September 8, 20266 min

Why the Township Economy Matters for Value Creation

Welcome back after TWO YEARS! The township economy in South Africa has been the subject of much excitement in recent years as its enormous potential has finally been revealed to the rest of the nation, and even the world. As you can imagine the possibilities for Value creation are just as massive, but not if you approach it poorly! In this episode, I'm giving you a brief introductory primer to this rapidly relevant sector in South Africa, and uncovering why that even matters for someone looking to create value, both as an SMME and as an ecosystem partner or investor

April 11, 202415 min

Season 1 Finale - Reflections and Prospects

We've hit the season 1 finale of Inside Value, but this is NOT the end! This episode's a little different from usual: I'll be reflecting on my journey, both in creating this podcast and my journey with you as the listener or viewer over these past 10 episodes (and 10 weeks!), and what I've got cooking for season 2, coming in June/July 2024 Watch to hear more about how we'll be taking Inside Value forward, together!

April 4, 202422 min

Value Strategy Development & Integration

We’ve now got a whole bunch of value opportunities mapped out; how do we synthesize these into strategies that we can apply? Once created, how do we then integrate these Value strategies into our day-to-day operations? We’ll be answering these two questions, and more in today’s episode! Grab this week's diagrams and case study <a href="https://tinyurl.com/IV-S1E9-case-study" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">here</a>!