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Sasha Knott & Kelly Louw, pioneers showcasing Africa’s people talent using AI

June 23, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Sasha Knott and Kelly Louw

 

LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY


 

Job Crystal, growing small to medium business by giving them the ability to hire in seconds, by using AI, while helping the cash flow!

Sasha Knott, the CEO of Job Crystal, started her career in IT and moved quickly in her career finding her passion for entrepreneurship and combining this with technology that works for the customer and often disrupts industries. Kelly Louw, the COO of Job Crystal, started her career in Recruitment and has become a well-known professional in the Recruitment space. Their current plan is to grow small to medium business by giving them the ability to hire in seconds, by using AI, while helping the cash flow! The vision is to make a dent in unemployment in Africa, while working on the SDG goal 8 of Decent work and Economic Growth worldwide. The business started in 2009, but Sasha and Kelly bought it in 2015, and today it has created jobs for 18 people.


Lioness Weekender spoke to Sasha Knott and Kelly Louw about their impact driven business and their ambitions for the future.

What does your company do?

You know companies that hire slow, from the same pool of talent using expensive models and frustration? While Job Crystal solves this using AI and saving hours of time and money in hiring better and faster! We help the small company, and the large company and the recruiter - while making a dent in unemployment! By showcasing the talent in Africa to the world!

What inspired you to start your company?

We knew we could change the Recruitment Industry for the better, by helping both candidates and clients hire faster, while being proudly African we knew we could solve the skills crisis in Europe with great African talent - and fast with AI!

Why should anyone use your service or product?

Sasha comes from a Technology background and Kelly from a Recruitment background, add the two and you get the best Recruitment Technology products out there - that think for the client and candidate ensuring the best fit is made fast.

Tell us a little about your team:

Wow the Job Crystal team is the best in the world! (This is what our team says, and we love it). We are 95% female, ranging from 26 years old to 67 years old, with experience in Recruitment, Technology, Customer Service and Operations excellence.

Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?

Both of us had our businesses before Job Crystal, Sasha a bit of a serial entrepreneur who has started a few and sold a few, and Kelly having successfully ran her own agency before. We both found that running our previous businesses alone, was quite lonely and love having each other to brainstorm together, discuss strategies to make our product even better and to cheer each other on. It’s much more fun when we can share the problem and solve it together.

What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?

We have a list of what, where and how! But first we want to take hiring from minutes to seconds (almost instantly) and to ensure you can find the ideal candidate from matching skills, experience and culture fit! We currently have the largest database of South Africans and would like to add many more African countries to this growing database, while we launch into more European countries and even the US.

What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?

Being able to change lives for the better and being able to do that fast! We love to hear customers and candidates feedback and then make those changes and see how much faster they can recruit and grow their careers and businesses.

What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?

Start! We bought Job Crystal and both worked in other businesses at the time (it was our side hustle). As it grew, we started to come on board, first half-time, then full time for one of us and then finally in 2019 we both joined full time! And now look at us!!! Just start - it will be the best way to find out if this is for you - else you will never know and you will always wonder!

To find out more about Job Crystal, contact send an email to: sasha@jobcrystal.com or visit the company’s website and social media platforms:

Website: http://www.jobcrystal.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JobCrystalRecruitment

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jobcrystal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jobcrystal/

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In Cover Story Tags South Africa, United Kingdom, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Recruitment Services
← Puleng Kgosiesele, a mindset coach helping people to maximise their full potential in Botswana  The 2nd Start-Up Night Africa event in The Hague connects Africa’s high-growth women entrepreneurs to European investment, and women entrepreneurs in the Netherlands looking to access African markets →

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IMAGE OF THE DAY. CELEBRATING WOMAN MADE IN AFRICA.

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Eye-catching accessories…We are big fans of luxury jewellery and accessories made with love and passion on the African continent, and Adèle Dejak in Kenya is the epitome of handmade luxury. The br
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Sustainable Summer Tote…We have always been big fans of The Joinery, the sustainable and ethical product design brand based in South Africa founded by Natalie and Kim Ellis, and their exciting Future Tex™
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Ethical luxury accessories…We think this Mara bag from the creative Charlotte Lefebvre, founder of Bush Princess in Kenya, is perfect for any occasion. Bush Princess is an ethical fashion brand, committed to s
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Summer Tote Bag…We love this super stylish woven summer tote bag, perfect for the weekend from Khokho Collection, founded by social entrepreneurs Philippa Thorne, Sapna Shah and master weaver Zinhle Vilaka
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An elegant floral gifting idea… Mariana Agness Francisco Eria is a creative force in contemporary floral design. Her business, The House of Agness, is a luxury florist and gifting boutique nestled in Map
Image of the Day / Eki

Silk Sensation…Nothing is quite as luxurious as silk, that’s why we love the ‘Africa on Silk’ collections from Eki, founded by Hazel Eki Osunde. Eki is known for its signature soft silks and ethereal c
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Statement lighting… from Dounia Home, the home of innovative, handcrafted and ethically made Moroccan lighting and home decor founded by Dounia Tamri-Loeper. Her company designs, produces and brings to market hi
Image of the Day / Food Lounge Mz

Glamorous fruit gifting…For all those lovers of great hand-made chocolates, look no further than Food Lounge Mz in Mozambique, founded by Kátia Agy. Previously known as a singer and TV presenter, K&aac Image of the Day / Adèle Dejak 

Eye-catching accessories…We are big fans of luxury jewellery and accessories made with love and passion on the African continent, and Adèle Dejak in Kenya is the epitome of handmade luxury. The br Image of the Day / The Joinery

Sustainable Summer Tote…We have always been big fans of The Joinery, the sustainable and ethical product design brand based in South Africa founded by Natalie and Kim Ellis, and their exciting Future Tex™ Image of the Day / The House of Agness

An elegant floral gifting idea… Mariana Agness Francisco Eria is a creative force in contemporary floral design. Her business, The House of Agness, is a luxury florist and gifting boutique nestled in Map Image of the Day / Bush Princess

Ethical luxury accessories…We think this Mara bag from the creative Charlotte Lefebvre, founder of Bush Princess in Kenya, is perfect for any occasion. Bush Princess is an ethical fashion brand, committed to s Image of the Day / Khokho Collection

Summer Tote Bag…We love this super stylish woven summer tote bag, perfect for the weekend from Khokho Collection, founded by social entrepreneurs Philippa Thorne, Sapna Shah and master weaver Zinhle Vilaka Image of the Day / The House of Agness

An elegant floral gifting idea… Mariana Agness Francisco Eria is a creative force in contemporary floral design. Her business, The House of Agness, is a luxury florist and gifting boutique nestled in Map Image of the Day / Eki

Silk Sensation…Nothing is quite as luxurious as silk, that’s why we love the ‘Africa on Silk’ collections from Eki, founded by Hazel Eki Osunde. Eki is known for its signature soft silks and ethereal c Image of the Day / Nokware Skincare

Sustainable skincare…We love to see natural cosmetics companies with a sustainable approach to business succeeding in Africa, and Nokware Skincare, founded by Tutuwa Ahwoi in Ghana is a great example. She f Image of the Day / Dounia Home

Statement lighting… from Dounia Home, the home of innovative, handcrafted and ethically made Moroccan lighting and home decor founded by Dounia Tamri-Loeper. Her company designs, produces and brings to market hi

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