What’s your name and designation?

My name is Brendon, and I’m the founder & lead auditor at Skyeblanc Certification.

Tell us about your journey. How did you get started with your business, and what inspired you to do so?

Before Skyeblanc, I spent years as an executive assistant and chief of staff to international companies, where I oversaw ISO implementation across healthcare and IT groups. Being on the implementation side showed me how much a well-run management system strengthens a business, and how much the credibility of the certification body behind it matters.

Over time, I found myself drawn less to building the systems and more to the independent assessment of them. That led me to found Skyeblanc in 2023 as a certification body rather than a consultancy: an independent, accredited third party whose only job is to audit rigorously and certify credibly.

My goal was to build a premium certification body that South African and international organisations could trust with their reputation.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when starting your business, and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge was credibility. A new certification body has to earn the trust of clients, and certification only means something if it is properly accredited. We invested our early effort in building an accredited scope rather than chasing quick revenue, and today Skyeblanc is internationally accredited across 13 ISO standards.

The second challenge was earning a place with large, demanding organisations that expect the very best from their suppliers. We met that by holding ourselves to the same standards we audit against: senior in-house auditors, rigorous processes, and data protection and privacy controls built into everything we do.

What unique aspects of doing business in South Africa would you highlight (good or bad)?

South Africa has a genuinely resilient, entrepreneurial business community, and a strong network of business chambers that actively connect companies with one another.

ISO certification increasingly matters here: it is a common requirement in tenders, supply chains and export markets, and it is often what allows a South African business to compete on a global stage.

On the harder side, compliance can feel like one more burden alongside B-BBEE, POPIA and sector regulation. Our view is that certification should be a door-opener, not a hurdle, so we work hard to make the process clear, well-managed and genuinely valuable to the business.

How do you differentiate your business from competitors?

First, we are a certification body, not a consultancy. We do not sell implementation and then audit our own work, so our certificates are genuinely independent.

Second, every audit is led by our own senior auditors, never subcontracted, so clients deal with experienced professionals from start to finish.

Third, we treat our clients’ information with the highest level of care: we have built our systems around data protection and privacy, with strict processes to ensure client data is never exposed.

Fourth, we have sat on the other side of the table, implementing ISO systems inside businesses, so we understand the realities our clients face. And with 13 accredited standards, including ISO/IEC 42001 for AI management, we can serve a client’s full certification needs from our Cape Town offices, for clients across South Africa and internationally.

What strategies have you found to be most effective in growing your customer base?

Relationships and trusted referrals have been far more effective than cold outreach. We work closely with business chambers across South Africa, including the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, and we build referral relationships with technology and advisory firms whose clients need certification.

Above all, our reputation is our strongest growth strategy: when organisations experience a rigorous, professional audit and a certificate that carries real weight, they return, and they refer.

Education matters too. When businesses understand what certification involves and what it unlocks, the decision becomes much easier.

What’s one mistake you made early on that you wish you could go back and fix?

Early on, I spent too much energy trying to reach businesses one by one before building the partnerships that make growth sustainable. Chambers, industry bodies and referral partners already have the trust of the businesses we want to serve, and working alongside them is far more effective than going it alone. If I could go back, I would have invested in those relationships from the very first month.

What’s the most rewarding part of being a business owner?

Seeing a client receive their certificate and knowing what it will open up for them. For many organisations, certification is what gets them onto a tender list, into a new supply chain, or into an international market.

Being the independent party that helps them prove their standards to the world, rigorously and credibly, is incredibly satisfying.

I also value the freedom to build a company around the values I believe in: independence, integrity and excellence.

How do you approach innovation and staying relevant in your industry?

The standards themselves keep evolving, so staying relevant starts with continuous learning and keeping our accreditation current.

We actively expand our scope where the market is heading; adding ISO/IEC 42001, the AI management system standard, is a good example, as organisations increasingly need to demonstrate responsible use of AI.

We invest in technology that makes our audits more efficient and our data handling more secure, so our auditors can focus on what matters most: the quality of the audit.

We also listen closely to clients and partners, because they tell us where the next need is emerging.

How has your business adapted to the digital age, and what advice would you give to others looking to do the same?

We have embraced digital tools wherever they add value. Where a standard allows it, we deliver audits remotely using secure platforms, which makes us more efficient and reduces costs for our clients, and it lets us serve clients anywhere in the world. Where a standard requires us on site, such as food safety, our auditors are there in person.

Security sits at the centre of our digital approach: we have built our systems around data protection and privacy to the highest standards, and our clients’ information is protected at every step.

My advice to others: digitise with purpose, start with the processes that matter most, and never let convenience come at the expense of security. Under POPIA, protecting your clients’ data is not optional; it is part of your reputation.

What advice do you have for someone just starting a business in South Africa?

Focus relentlessly on the quality of what you put out. Everything that leaves your business should be a direct reflection of your company and your own standards, because in the long run your reputation is your most valuable asset.

Clients may always ask for a better price, but what they truly want is excellence they can rely on, so compete on quality rather than on being the cheapest.

Get your compliance foundations right from day one: registration, tax, B-BBEE documentation and data protection.

Join your local business chamber; the relationships and referrals are invaluable.

And consider a recognised standard such as ISO certification early. It is often what gets a young business taken seriously by large clients.

For more information, visit Skyeblanc Certification’s listing.

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