“Technology allows us to rethink how we are doing things, which in turn has a ripple effect on how we earn, learn, and live.”
As the digital revolution marches on, entrepreneurs around the globe are seeking ways to navigate the shifting business landscape while remaining relevant and competitive. Emerging as a leading force in the entrepreneurial space is Dr. Annelize Booysen, the founder-architect of Your Global Village. A renowned global citizen with roots in economics, Annelize is carving out new business territories, providing invaluable resources to entrepreneurs looking to transition into web3 and immersive web.
Annelize’s journey started with a focus on Development Economics and International Development (in which she obtained her Ph.D.), where she discovered the significant role economic independence played in advancing human development and well-being. The desire to enable financial independence became a driving force for her, blending seamlessly with her analytical skills and organizational tendencies.
“I’m an analyst by nature, always looking for patterns and opportunities for improvement,” Annelize shares. “I’m also a natural organizer, simply because chaos and disorder drain my energy. I need to create systems and processes to keep life organized and simplified.”
Throughout her career, Annelize attended numerous business networking events, which she found inefficient and lacking in depth. She envisioned a system where networking would go beyond surface-level conversations and transform into meaningful interactions.
“I wished that I could stand in front of a shopfront window as I met someone, giving them the ability to get a quick summary of what I do by looking over my shoulder and then having a real conversation,” she shares. “I also noticed that everyone has similar business challenges, yet we all work in silos, struggling to get ahead. That seemed like a waste and an inefficiency.”
Having lived in nine different countries on four continents, Annelize cultivated a global mindset that she incorporated into her business ethos. It also highlighted the value of a supportive community, which she believes could greatly benefit the business world.
“After multiple visits to one of the ‘most beautiful villages in France,’ Saint-Cirq Lapopie, an idea emerged that a village is a brilliant metaphor for what a community should be,” she explains. “Within the walls of this medieval city, one felt safe and embraced.”
Inspired by this village’s sense of community, Annelize developed Your Global Village, a virtual business community that promotes collaboration, provides support, fosters innovation among its members, reflects their unique 3D brand stories, and provides a springboard for growth and cooperation.
“Residents find the personal 1:1 connections, global collaborations, and warm introductions to be a real differentiator,” Annelize says. “Through our programs and facilitations, they actively reposition their enterprises for the web3 and immersive web era without having to figure it out for themselves.”
Annelize’s work relies heavily on utilizing emerging technologies to create a positive impact. The convergence of maturing technologies has changed the business environment, shifting customer expectations towards experiences rather than just products.
“Benefiting from these changes seems to be reserved for those enterprises with access to large teams and big budgets, leaving the small business owner behind,” Annelize points out. Your Global Village levels the playing field, providing a safe environment for SMEs to experiment with immersive tech and ensure their growth and viability in a rapidly changing market.
While Your Global Village primarily benefits SMEs, its impact reaches far beyond business owners. “If we can ensure the sustainability of these SMEs over the next decade, we secure the continued benefit that each one of them offers to their clients, their teams, and the communities in which they live and work,” Annelize explains.
The platform is also committed to improving the quality of life worldwide. Through its partnership with B1G1 Business for Good, Your Global Village allows residents’ actions to earn tokens, which are converted into real-world impacts that change lives, livelihoods, and the environment.
Annelize views tech as a tool, not a master. “Technology allows us to rethink how we are doing things, which in turn has a ripple effect on how we earn, learn, and live,” she says.
However, she also acknowledges the need for a balanced approach. While technology can undeniably create a better world, Annelize stresses that progress must not leave a large portion of the population behind. The real challenge is to ensure that innovation leads to the closure of societal gaps rather than exacerbating them.
Looking ahead, Annelize anticipates a deeper integration of the digital world into everyday business operations. “My role is to bring more SMEs into this way of doing business, to ensure that they have a smooth transition from having a digital presence to being an extended business that moves seamlessly from IRL to immersive interactive 3D spaces and back,” she explains.
In her industry, Annelize highlights a critical issue facing women: a general reticence in promoting their projects and seeking funding. Women often want their projects to reach a higher level of development before they talk about them, which can hinder their prospects for publicity and funding.
Annelize proposes a multi-faceted approach to address this issue. It includes providing hands-on training for women founders on effective pitching, media promotion, and creating a roadmap of milestones to achieve before seeking funding.
“Give women founders training and 1:1 guidance to develop powerful decks,” she suggests. “Also, create grants as an alternative for venture capital or loans, to get ideas off the ground. Women will use that funding with as much care as VC funding, giving them a leg up to prepare for the next round that could include VC funding.”
Through her journey and innovative approach to business networking, Annelize continues to inspire other entrepreneurs. As she advocates for women in her industry, she is creating her own legacy and exemplifying what it means to be a successful leader in the ever-evolving business landscape.
Florida, USA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annelizebooysen/
