Stephen Brookes says going broke was one of the best things to happen to him. Though he began his career in property management with a fall, this has only helped his rise, he says.And, recently, he has managed to list a company which some analysts believe is the best sectional title developer in SA.His company, Balwin Properties, which builds large-scale sectional title residential estates in high-growth and high-density nodes in major cities, listed on the JSE in October last year.Brookes comes from the south of Johannesburg, where his family built a successful car dealership. He pursued a higher diploma in civil engineering, before doing an apprenticeship at Group Five, which he says was his second key career-building opportunity."My time at Group Five was incredibly insightful and it taught me that I had the ability to go forth on my own," he says.After his stint at Group Five, Brookes spent four years as a civil engineer at Eskom before moving into contracting and project managi...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.