Business is complicated. Making progress doesn't have to be.
Practical strategy, coaching and training for business owners, leaders and organisations. Based in Cape Town, working across South Africa.
Let's talkGood thinking matters. Putting it into practice matters more.
I'm Anton Ressel. For 25 years I've worked with entrepreneurs, leadership teams and the organisations that support them, more than 1,000 entrepreneurs so far.
I help people make sense of the challenge in front of them, decide what matters and get moving. I'll ask the hard questions, challenge the easy answers and keep the focus on what will make a difference.
Strategy that gets used
A strategy is only as good as the decisions and action that follow. I help you get clear on where you're going and how you'll get there.
An outside view
When you're close to the business it's hard to see what's really going on. I bring an independent eye and the questions that need asking.
Experience, not theory
I've worked with businesses of every size and stage. There's no single formula, so the answer has to fit your business, your people and your market.
People who make it happen
Strategy alone doesn't grow a business. It takes capable people, clear priorities and systems that work.
Different challenges. One practical focus: making progress.
Sometimes you need help thinking through a big decision. Sometimes your strategy needs sorting, your team needs aligning or the business needs getting back on track. The starting point is always the same: what you want to achieve, what's in the way, and what happens next.
Business coaching and mentoring
Someone in your corner who knows business. An independent sounding board for owners and founders, in person in Cape Town or online anywhere in South Africa.
Workshops and masterclasses
Learning people can actually use. Six hands-on workshops that produce something useful, like a One-Page Strategic Action Plan or 90-day priorities.
Talks and keynotes
Short sessions that leave people thinking differently. Five talks from 30 minutes to two hours, for conferences, corporate events and entrepreneur programmes.
No magic formulas. No pre-packaged answers.
I start by understanding your business and what you're trying to achieve. Then we:
1. Find the real issue
The problem you describe first isn't always the one to solve.
2. Focus on what matters
Not everything needs to change. We pick the few things that will.
3. Make it happen
Who does what, by when, and how we'll know it's working.
My job is perspective, experience and direction. Yours is the decisions and the work. That's where progress happens.
Anton's work with organisations such as Fetola, SAB Foundation and Edge Growth has exposed him to the realities of supporting hundreds of entrepreneurs across different sectors and stages of growth. He has worked with early-stage startups right up to established SMEs, helping them strengthen strategy, improve operations, access markets, build leadership capacity, and prepare for sustainable scale. His experience engaging with corporates, funders, and development partners gives him a strong understanding of what drives both commercial success and meaningful impact. What sets Anton apart is his ability to translate high-level business strategy into practical, achievable action. He brings the discipline and insight gained from large-scale enterprise development programmes into one-on-one coaching relationships, helping business owners build stronger foundations, make better decisions, and grow with confidence and purpose.
Don't just take my word for it.
The best measure of this work is what people leave with: a clearer head, a useful tool, or the confidence to do the thing they'd been putting off.
"Anton makes learning extremely accessible, despite having what seems to be an endless well of knowledge."
"Very honest and practical. Knowledgeable and makes content that can be intimidating more digestible."
"Anton,the bucket with the holes is stuck in my brain."
"Thank you for your straight to the point way of engagement, I enjoyed every second."
"Straight to the point, experienced and passionate."
"Anton was knowledge intense. I made many personal take away notes from his insights."
"I loved his honesty. It made me feel more comfortable not having to pretend my business had everything in order."
"Anton does not come with hoekies en draaitjies. He gets straight to the point."
Something to build, improve or get unstuck? Let's talk.
Contact Us
You might have a challenge to work through, a growth opportunity to explore, a team to get on the same page or a programme to build. Tell me what you're working on and I'll get back to you.