Founder and managing director of Satori Events Management & Promotions Lerato Mpila chats to us about his business and how the J&B Hive helped him grow it. By Kwanele Mathebula
Image: Lerato Mpila IG
I started my company Satori Events Management & Promotions in 2009. Initially, it was a party-planning and house-music movement that hosted events in and around Johannesburg. The biggest challenge was finding a one-stop shop branding and mobile bar solutions for our events. So, the company’s direction changed to provide that service for others that were already in the same space.
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I joined the Hive in February 2018. This was during the ninth year of the company’s existence and four years since I quit my job in the corporate sector. A friend referred me to the programme after she saw it on social media, and I applied online. The process of joining the programme was longer than I thought. I attended the onboarding week, and made it through to the entrepreneur pitching session week. From that point, I was selected as a member, which helped me gain access to the facilities. The entire experience has been enlightening, challenging and educational but also informative.
Being a member has been beneficial for my business. Through The Hive, my team and I have been able to upskill and add more members. We have also gained valuable experience working behind the bar as The Hive has provided training for our staff, access to drafting contracts as well as a platform to try new cocktails and recipes.
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Being a part of The Hive has taught me to roll with the punches. We have recently moved into new premises. Adapting to the new environment has proved to be tricky in the beginning, but I took it as a learning opportunity. We formulated a way of working around and getting more drinks out in a shorter time span, which has been great for business.
