Celebrating World Entrepreneurship Day in a Big Way!
What a privilege it was to have Devin Heffer, Brand and Communications Manager at Hollywoodbets and a proud St Henry’s alumnus from the Class of 2004, join us this morning to inspire our pupils and staff with his incredible journey. Devin shared the Hollywoodbets brand story in his talk titled “From R4 in the pocket to paint the world Purple: An entrepreneurial journey born out of survival.”
A few years ago, we introduced Entrepreneurship into our curriculum at St Henry’s, recognising the importance of equipping our students with life skills that they can use to start their own businesses. Today, on World Entrepreneurship Day, we couldn’t have asked for a better way to showcase that entrepreneurial spirit than with one of our very own alumni. This event is part of our Marist Alumni Journeys series – Inspiring the Future of Tomorrow.
Devin’s journey is closely tied to the remarkable story of Hollywoodbets, a company that started from humble beginnings just over 40 years ago by Devin’s father, Owen Heffer. Owen grew the business, starting with just four rand in his pocket, selling tipping sheets outside Greyville Racecourse. His perseverance and tenacity have shaped Hollywoodbets into the success it is today, with a team of over 6,000 members who understand the importance of hard work.
Our pupils were captivated by Devin’s story, and a few lucky ones even walked away with some fantastic prizes, including a signed Hollywoodbets Dolphins cricket bat and shirt, a signed Hollywoodbets Sharks jersey, and tickets to an upcoming game at Hollywoodbets Stadium this weekend!
Some key takeaways from Devin’s talk included the importance of creating an exceptional customer experience, the value of family in the business, and the power of innovation. Hollywoodbets’ ability to listen to their customers and continuously embrace new ways of doing things has driven their success.
Giving back is a core value at Hollywoodbets, and their community support initiatives, along with their Hollywoodbets Foundation continue to have a significant impact on countless lives.
Thank you, Devin, for sharing your journey and for inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs at St Henry’s!
