MY LIFE AS THE WANDERING NOMAD

My earliest memory, now a long standing family-joke, typifies my upbringing in the true belief that "I could achieve anything I set my mind to". The story transpired during my primary school holidays when I was eleven years of age. My father, an entrepreneur himself and co-founder of Rand Merchant Bank, South Africa, asked me if I wanted to go to work with him one day (with the intention of me doing menial office chores). I promptly replied, "Fine dad but please, no big deals on my first day, okay?"

Growing up, my mother encouraged me to develop in every facet of life and the crucial knowledge that I could achieve all my heart desired, helped me pave my way to success. Born and bred in Johannesburg, South Africa, I soon realized it was imperative to acquire an internationally recognized degree in order to build my future overseas. In 1990 I was accepted at the University of Cape Town (U.C.T.) to do my Bachelors of Commerce (accounts & economics), followed by an Honors Degree in Financial Economics.

Thereafter, I was accepted by the University of Warwick (one of the top 3 business schools in the UK) to do my Master's of Law (LLM). Between my graduation from U.C.T and move to the UK, I traveled around the Americas. I fell in love with the U.S.A and consequently applied for the Greencard lottery. After graduating Cum Laude from Warwick, I was notified by the INS that I had won the GREEN CARD lottery! (a chance of 1 in 55,000,000).

I had already been employed by GE Capital on their Financial Management Program (FMP) and received an extension to enter the US on termination of the FMP course. This course was life altering. Not only did I gain my MBA but moved countries and companies every 6 months with top-level GE management exposure only experienced by 115 other GE employees. After this program, at the age of 27, I was made the International Financial Manger for NBC Enterprises (A GE subsidiary) in Burbank, California. Finally, I could return to the land of milk and honey!

After the trials and tribulations of working in a stagnant environment and an insatiable need to improve the world by helping others, I saw the gap in the market. There were no companies in the U.S. with the expertise to help small to medium sized foreign companies and business professionals operate in America! After conducting a feasibility study, numerous business plans and spending many sleepless nights developing a unique business model, Inkorpa LLC was born in Burbank, California, USA.

Inkorpa's services range from visa applications, to setting up a company's legal entity in America, to doing federal, state, county and city tax filings, marketing strategies, GAAP pre-requisites, payroll calculations, insurance packages, relocation, financial planning and budgeting.

Inkorpa's competitive advantage lies in its unique business model, which allows us to offer our clients a risk free service. Being a South African, I was aware of the expense involved in commencing operations in a dollar-based climate and as a result have eliminated the expense for fellow foreigners.

Unlike our competitors that require an upfront investment plus consulting fees, Inkorpa only receives payment once the company has become profitable.

All we require from our clients is the investment of their time, since Inkorpa's success is dependant on their triumph, creating a win-win situation for all. Inkorpa helps immigrants through every decision that has to be made in an unfamiliar business climate, to ensure that corporate, financial and personal targets are attained. (For more information about Inkorpa, please reference our website at www.inkorpa.com.)

I often get asked the daunting question of "Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?" and I can honestly answer it by saying that it is not the geographics of "WHERE" I see myself but rather HOW I would envisage myself 5 years from now. Southern Africans have been exposed to the joys of our vibrant African sun, I, in turn, hope to meet all the encounters of my life, with that SAME vibrance and joy.