S01E05 Theo Baloyi
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Theo Baloyi didn’t expect to follow his father’s entrepreneurial footsteps and literally in his own sneakers, no less. His accounting degree had secured an enviable job at an international firm that kept him busy with work and travel while funding his limited-edition sneaker collection. In 2015, however, he identified a niche need that evolved into a bold vision for African entrepreneurship. After a year and a half of multiple rejections and fine-tuning, that vision emerged as Bathu, his “by Africans for the world” sneaker brand.
Meaning “shoes” in South Africa’s Kasi slang, Bathu represents Theo’s dream to create an internationally competitive African brand that also makes local impact by empowering people and communities. “I am a product of opportunity,” Theo declares, and in this episode of The Africa
Whisperer with Lee Kasumba, he shares how that realisation inspires him to do impact-focused business. Currently operating 32 stores and employing over 300 people, Theo is committed to seeing South Africa’s youth thrive.
Like each of our Chess Masters, Theo’s experiences present many gems for navigating life and business with conviction, passion and perseverance. They reveal how quietly doing 18 months of research and development — “You need to affirm yourself and affirm your business before telling
people,” he explains — led to building an authentic, successful African sneaker company from the ground up. Bathu’s sole mission is to be a world-class, standout brand Africans are proud of. If its collaborations with giants like OPEL and Castle Lite are anything to go by, the journey has only
begun. Visionary leadership meets happy shoes in this instalment of The Africa Whisperer. Tune in and discover the unique story of Theo Baloyi, the man who built a business by “injecting colour on the sole (soul)”
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/theo.baloyi.5?_rdc=1&_rdr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theo_baloyi/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/theo_baloyi01
Meaning “shoes” in South Africa’s Kasi slang, Bathu represents Theo’s dream to create an internationally competitive African brand that also makes local impact by empowering people and communities. “I am a product of opportunity,” Theo declares, and in this episode of The Africa
Whisperer with Lee Kasumba, he shares how that realisation inspires him to do impact-focused business. Currently operating 32 stores and employing over 300 people, Theo is committed to seeing South Africa’s youth thrive.
Like each of our Chess Masters, Theo’s experiences present many gems for navigating life and business with conviction, passion and perseverance. They reveal how quietly doing 18 months of research and development — “You need to affirm yourself and affirm your business before telling
people,” he explains — led to building an authentic, successful African sneaker company from the ground up. Bathu’s sole mission is to be a world-class, standout brand Africans are proud of. If its collaborations with giants like OPEL and Castle Lite are anything to go by, the journey has only
begun. Visionary leadership meets happy shoes in this instalment of The Africa Whisperer. Tune in and discover the unique story of Theo Baloyi, the man who built a business by “injecting colour on the sole (soul)”
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/theo.baloyi.5?_rdc=1&_rdr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theo_baloyi/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/theo_baloyi01
