Our Vision
The gateway to sustainable growth
The lotus is a beautiful wetland flower that begins life as a seed in muddy, murky river beds and slowly rises towards the surface, finally bursting out of the water into the sunlight, where the petals open one by one as it unfolds into full bloom. During the night, the lotus closes and sinks under the water, yet resiliently emerges again into the sunlight of each new day.
The lotus is also regarded as a spiritual symbol of enlightenment, rebirth and resilience rising above adversity.
The aquamarine colour of the First Business Wellness lotus signifies courage. Present in art, literature, and mythology in a wide range of cultures, the lotus can be seen as a global symbol of what all humanity aspires to be. First Business Wellness and the Lotus Flower Companies endure growth pains, obstacles and difficult challenges in the ever-changing murky waters of tight economies, tough competition and severe financial limitations.
First Business Wellness ushers in the dawn of a new era, bringing vitality, courage, and resilient growth to the SMME sector as enterprises capitalise on the opportunity to be nourished through the ‘wellness platform’. The platform provides the depth, experience, and expertise of professionals across the full spectrum of business disciplines, enabling companies to blossom, petal by petal, to their full potential.
Vision
First Business Wellness is passionate about enabling small, medium and micro enterprises to achieve sustainable growth by offering an all-inclusive, holistic and affordable service through the expertise of seasoned professionals across all business disciplines.
Our Associates
Neil Smith
Associate - Brand Strategy
Chairperson and Founder
Neil Smith began designing brands to fund his Visual Communication studies at CPUT, where he was named Student of the Year and won three national design awards. In his final years, he founded and published Probe Magazine, a registered newspaper. After advancing his education in strategic brand management, Neil founded SmithGroup, a multidisciplinary studio delivering integrated brand solutions to parastatals, corporates, and NGOs.
He now leads NSBrandExperience and founded First Business Wellness, both dedicated to supporting SMMEs. A former Chair of Design South Africa and advisor to CPUT and Stellenbosch University, Neil has received international recognition, including first prizes for Best Marketing Campaign for NGOs and Excellence in Brand Strategy.
He remains committed to empowering entrepreneurs with the professional support he lacked when launching his own journey at 24.
Email: neil@businesswellness.co.za
Dr Karin Badenhorst
Associate - Sustainability
BSc (US) PhD (UJ) MBA (UCT GSB)
Karin held partnerships with Andersen and EY in her early career. She is also the founder of the Footsteps Foundation with the aim of transforming vulnerable societies through the enablement of inclusive and sustainable economic development.
Her life mission is to revolutionise industries towards greater social and environmental stewardship utilising scalable opportunities in the Green Economy, especially those in dire need of reducing their irreversible harmful impact on Mother Earth and all her inhabitants.
Email: karin@businesswellness.co.za
Lizel Jardim
Associate - Legal
B.Proc, LLB, PG Cert in Corporate Law (cum laude)
Lizel is the co-founder of Jardim Bekker Attorneys. Putting others' needs ahead of her own, she made the decision to complete her articles at the Legal Aid Clinic in Stellenbosch, and then followed this with a full-time position as an admitted attorney at the Legal Aid Board.
Lizel is an admitted conveyancer in the Cape of Good Hope Provincial Division and has gained the right to appear in the High Court.
Email: lizel@businesswellness.co.za
Dr Mariette Fourie- Jardim
Cognitive Strategy
Dr Mariette Fourie-Jardim, a strategic advisor and mind-brain consultant, is the Director at Cognitive Craft (Pty) Ltd.
With a deep understanding of how the brain adapts and evolves, underpinned by neuroscience, her work integrates neuroplasticity and a growth mindset culture, empowering individuals and organizations to unlock their full potential by rewiring cognitive pathways for innovation, resilience, and adaptability.
She holds a PhD in the cognate fields of Mind, Brain and Education Science. Cognitive Craft serves various clients ranging from individuals, higher education, to businesses and statutory bodies.
Jarrod Lyons
Business Development
Master of Science (MSc), Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology at UCT. National Diploma ND, Oceanography, Chemical and Physical at CPUT.
Jarrod Lyons is an experienced advisor in sustainable infrastructure and green economy investment, with over 15 years of public and private sector experience. As former Executive: Business Development at the Atlantis Special Economic Zone, he led investor attraction, project structuring, and development of South Africa's premier Greentech hub. His expertise spans renewable energy, circular economy, SEZ optimisation, and policy navigation.
With a background in biotechnology and environmental science, Jarrod bridges technical insight with commercial strategy—helping clients unlock investment, navigate regulation, and build resilient partnerships across Africa's evolving energy landscape.