The Managing Director of Seven-Up Bottling Company and convener of SME Scaleup, Ziad Maalouf, at the highly anticipated TEDx PAU (Pan-Atlantic University) event, where he delivered a powerful talk on the challenges Nigerian entrepreneurs face as they scale their businesses.
Maalouf who has successfully led the growth of the Seven-Up Bottling Company for over a decade, learning from his early days as an entrepreneur in e-commerce, shared his personal journey and insights to help Nigerian entrepreneurs avoid the mistakes he made in scaling up his business. In his talk, he focused on a critical challenge facing many small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria: the Scaleup Deficit Disorder (SDD).
"I want to help other SMEs avoid the mistakes I made," Maalouf stated, acknowledging that while 98 per cent of Nigeria's entrepreneurs have this disorder, they are extraordinary in their potential, as many struggle to transition from the "sphere of anxiety" to the "sphere of impact."
Drawing from his own experience and using a compelling case study of a Nigerian SME, Maalouf illustrated how adopting a structured approach to cost reduction, strategic hiring, and operational efficiency helped the company move from modest beginnings to significant success. In just four months, the company's revenue soared to N310 million, and within a year, it crossed the billion Naira mark. "The problem is You. The cure for Scaleup Deficit Disorder starts with a clear focus on growth strategies."
You have to take responsibility for your business's growth and not wait for external factors to change," the SBC Managing Director emphasised.
He said, urging entrepreneurs to take ownership of their growth and create an environment conducive to scaling successfully.
As the convener of SME Scaleup, an initiative designed to help small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) scale their operations and drive long-term growth, Maalouf's TEDx talk resonated with many. SME Scaleup provides Nigerian entrepreneurs with the tools, mentorship, and guidance needed to successfully transition from survival mode to thriving, impactful businesses.
The TEDx event sparked lively discussions on the future of Nigerian entrepreneurship, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, leadership, and systemic change.
Maalouf's talk, in particular, highlighted the critical need for business owners to invest in scalable systems, disciplined decision-making, and a growth-oriented mindset.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Maalouf's leading at Seven-up Bottling Company, coupled with his work through SME Scaleup, continues to serve as a catalyst for empowering Nigerian entrepreneurs to scale smarter, innovate effectively, and make a lasting impact in the economy.
The TEDx talk was part of a wider conversation at TEDx PAU, where other thought leaders shared valuable insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, and the future of Nigeria's business landscape.
Other speakers included Dr. Cosmas Maduka, President and Chairman of Coscharis Group, on entrepreneurial success and mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs, Mr. Michael Olugbemi, Programme Director, Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGi), on how gas can power Nigeria into the future, Mrs Adesuwa Ifedi, Africa Senior Vice President for Heifer International, on leadership, scaling for development, and fostering strategic partnerships Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Professor at Lagos Business School, on education that amplifies entrepreneurial skills, Dr. Peter Bamkole, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Pan-Atlantic University, on the importance of collaboration and innovation in entrepreneurship and Ms Temitope Runsewe, of Dutum Construction, on navigating the complexities of family business.
