Jurgen Homola — Biography

As a visionary leader, creative thinker, seasoned entrepreneur, persuasive communicator, prolific & dynamic public speaker and specialist consultant, Jurgen Homola's experience spreads across the US, Canada, Europe, the UK and Southern Africa. For more than two decades Jurgen has served — and still does — as Chairman, CEO, both Executive and Non-Executive Board Member, Senior Adviser and Consultant to several companies and non-profit organizations internationally.

He describes his life's mission in a phrase which he coined in early 1987: "TURNING DREAMS INTO VISIONS, IDEAS INTO REALITY AND LIVING INTO VICTORIES — © 1987 to 2009 (Jurgen Homola)." He ascribes his success to a strong commitment to a vision larger than life, having bulldog tenacity and living life to the full — and sometimes even too close to the edge — but always with a positive outlook.

As a now twice cancer survivor — being diagnosed initially in 2004 with this terminal disease (where the prognosis was that he had a mere 6 months to live) and again on September 10, 2008 (where he was supposed to have “croaked” in December of that same year) — Jurgen is passionate about “paying forward” his experiences and life lessons — through Articles, dedicated web sites and other social media (Jurgen will keep all his subscribers and contacts updated. You could also forllo him on FaceBook and Twitter).

As a speaker, Jurgen has developed and presented several innovative talks, seminars and workshop programs. He is considered a wine expert (and loves the fruity fermented juice, as well as talking about wine), is co-author of the book "Road to Victory", and is in the process of authoring his remarkable life story. Major achievements include having developed a number of successful franchise systems, recently pioneering a fully integrated internet marketing back-office system, developed Corporate Governance software and — from 1999  through 2004 — being instrumental in preparing clients for Private and Public Offerings, resulting in raising investment capital in excess of $94 Million for and on behalf of clients.

His knowledge and expertise spread across several business disciplines including financial/financing, strategic planning, corporate structuring for asset protection and long term growth, change management/turn-around strategies and tailoring unique business systems.

Jurgen is renowned as one of those extraordinary individuals who demonstrates NOUS (pronounced similar to “mouse” with an “n” instead of the “m”) — a HUGE asset and a rare inborn natural gift that cannot be taught nor gained through experience — a simple, intuitive knowing, perceiving and anticipating what is likely to work from what won't. With this unique ability, he is able to concentrate efforts mainly on ideas, factors and issues that really have a good chance of success.

Other talents Jurgen excels in include predicting trends, building strong winning teams, as well as leading diverse teams for desired growth, and the Internet — SEO, Social Networking, List Building, Internet Marketing Strategies, to mention a few. His approach is mostly unconventional, yet innovative, pro-active and creative. His Business Motto: TOGETHER ACHIEVING THE EXTRAORDINARY BY DOING THE UNCONVENTIONAL — © 2000 to 2009 (Jurgen Homola).

In August 2006 he was interviewed as Expert of Choice by the Entrepreneur Doctors on the subject of raising corporate investment capital and on obtaining funding from both conventional and unconventional sources. This interview was broadcast internationally. It was also produced as an audio CD which is sold to entrepreneurs globally.

After graduating from high school, Jurgen started his career in 1981 as Trainee Industrial Engineer, self funding most of his part time studies. He graduated in December of 1984. As a young aspiring corporate employee, his innate visionary and entrepreneurial skills lead him to advance up the proverbial corporate ladder rapidly, where he held several senior and managerial positions with Fortune 500 companies.

He ultimately resigned as a corporate employee in August 1989, exchanging so-called “comforts and security” and well-paid positions to follow his passion as an entrepreneur. Jurgen's talents, expertise and passion to excel in business was evident right at the outset of his new “career” as entrepreneur where he — in a short period of time — managed to build an enviable consulting client base consisting of International Fortune 500 companies, including 2 major International Airlines, Barclay Bank, Standard Charted Bank, ABSA Bank, Kloekner Muller, Bardusch, Schindler, BMW, McCarthy Motor Holdings, JHI Properties, Spier Winery, World Vision International, International Red Cross, Institute for the Blind, the Government of Botswana, the Government of South Africa, the Government of Zimbabwe, the Government of Zambia, along with numerous small and medium businesses in the UK, Europe, Southern Africa, USA and Canada.

He continued his formal studies on a part time basis, where he obtained his BA in Business, Management Accounting and Strategic Business Management in 1990, followed by an MBA (Magna Cum Laude) in 1996, amid expanding his skills with several postgraduate studies in Corporate Financing, International Business Management, Corporate & Mercantile Law, Sales, Marketing and Public Relations.

In 1992, 1993 and 1994 Jurgen was appointed as Independent Adviser and Keynote Speaker to the Southern African Development Community (comprising of signatories and senior Government Officials representing South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Angola with associate representatives from Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Morocco, Zaire, and Ethiopia). Here he addressed over 100 delegates yearly and presented keynote talks.

In March 1994 Jurgen was elected as one of the senior members of the IEC (Independent Electoral Committee), an international committee instrumental in overseeing the first successful democratic election process in South Africa, resulting in the election of President Nelson Mandela.

In 1996 he was elected Senior Facilitator to the South African Independent Development Program in Stellenbosch (the wine region of South Africa), where he facilitated the first phase of development implementation in this region.

During 2002 through 2004 Jurgen was appointed Adviser and Consultant to the W & R SETA, a government organization enhancing education and training standards throughout the Wholesale and Retail Industry in South Africa.

Jurgen has loved flying since he can remember! He boasts several flight hours in a variety of aircraft including Pitt Special, Cessna 402, Let 410, Canadair Challenger 604, Aerospatiale Dauphine and Bell Jet Ranger Helicopters.

Back in 1985, Jurgen took a sabbatical, to volunteer in promoting the International Youth Year on behalf of World Vision South Africa. He did this by traveling on horseback for 6000 miles throughout South Africa, with an additional team of two people. This took the trio the most part of nine months where he gained invaluable experience in public speaking, where he hosted public promotional talks in every town the team stopped.

As you might imagine, with his character-driven desire to influence positive change in the world, Jurgen never stops. This can be exhausting for most people around him. He sets himself steep challenges, in his personal life, and in his business life.