Jason English: A Visionary Entrepreneur Leading With Innovation, Strategy, and Values

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, being an entrepreneur requires not only vision and ambition but also strong leadership. Successful entrepreneurs like Jason English exemplify this through their ability to inspire, innovate, and manage large teams and enterprises across various sectors. Jason is a seasoned entrepreneur, public speaker, and author, known for his significant impact on both business and society. As the co-founder and Chief Ecosystem Officer of CG Tech, his leadership has been instrumental in driving innovation, strategic oversight, and management across a wide array of industries. His ventures span several continents, with a workforce of over 5,000 people across ten operating companies within the EMEA region.

From Humble Beginnings to Business Leadership

Jason’s entrepreneurial journey began at a young age. His work ethic was evident from his teenage years when he held various jobs, including selling avocados on the roadside, waiting tables, and selling second-hand clothes at local markets. This hands-on experience taught him invaluable lessons about the importance of hard work, perseverance, and understanding the needs of customers.

In 1996, Jason took a pivotal turn in his career by joining the South African Police Services and working as a paramedic. These early roles helped shape his outlook on leadership and teamwork, emphasizing the critical impact of making informed decisions and operating effectively under pressure. As Jason progressed in his career, he furthered his education by earning a mechanical engineering qualification in 1999, which paved the way for his next significant step in the corporate world.

Jason joined a multinational oil and gas services company, where he quickly rose from a junior engineer to a global development director. His natural leadership abilities, combined with his technical knowledge, allowed him to navigate the complexities of the corporate world effectively. However, in 2012, Jason decided to leave the corporate sector and pursue his entrepreneurial passion, co-founding CG Tech.

Founding CG Tech: A Strategic Vision for Growth

CG Tech, an investment holding company, was established to provide strategic oversight and management while deploying value-adding innovations to its portfolio of businesses. CG Tech’s primary focus is on privately owned, traditional businesses that are often seen as dull or lacking in creativity. Jason and his team work to breathe new life into these companies by providing leadership and cutting-edge innovations.

As Jason explained, “Our purpose is to make an extraordinary impact on the lives of people, communities, and clients within our ecosystem, and our vision is to be the investment partner that helps privately-owned traditional businesses grow exponentially.”

CG Tech doesn’t just invest in businesses—they transform them. The group is composed of numerous companies across different industries, from construction and engineering to software development and virtual reality services. Their approach is to invest in established businesses and then optimize their operations by introducing structure, systems, and innovations that enhance creativity and productivity. The company has its own in-house software development division, consisting of highly qualified engineers who create custom software solutions designed to increase efficiency across the portfolio.

Leadership Across Diverse Ventures

Jason’s leadership goes beyond CG Tech. He serves as CEO of Al Laith, CG Tech’s Middle Eastern business that provides engineering, construction of demountable structures, and equipment rental services to foreign companies and government ministries in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Al Laith’s five subsidiary companies serve as a key part of CG Tech’s broader mission to support the development of large-scale infrastructure projects across the region.

In addition to his role at Al Laith, Jason is the chairman of The Virtulab, a London-based tech company that develops in-house virtual software solutions and offers services in virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and 3D animation. The Virtulab also provides managed drone services, IoT solutions, and Metaverse development. Under Jason’s leadership, The Virtulab has positioned itself as an innovator in the tech space, catering to clients’ needs in both the private and public sectors.

Jason’s leadership extends into the industrial services sector as well. He serves as a director for three South African companies—Prommac, New Age, and Kumunyack—that specialize in providing mechanical, welding, electrical, and project management solutions to clients in the mining, energy, petrochemical, and paper industries. These companies also manage UAV (drone) operations, bringing new technology to traditional industries in need of modernization.

Beyond the industrial and tech sectors, Jason is also a director of Serious International, a UK-based company that designs and builds sound stages for the film industry. This diverse portfolio of businesses is a testament to Jason’s ability to lead across industries, using a combination of innovative thinking and strategic management to achieve success.

Leading With Purpose and Values

Central to Jason’s leadership philosophy is a commitment to values and vision. At CG Tech, he is responsible for ensuring alignment across the company’s ecosystem, including employees, clients, suppliers, and communities. Jason believes that an organization’s alignment—across vision, strategies, objectives, procedures, and systems—is key to driving success. He emphasizes that a well-aligned company can operate more effectively and efficiently, enabling greater collaboration between teams and stakeholders.

The leadership values at CG Tech are fundamental to the company’s operations. These include:

• Safety: Prioritizing the safety of employees, clients, and all those who interact with the company’s services.
• People First: A focus on improving the lives of employees, clients, and community members.
• Agility: Responding quickly and effectively to changing client needs and market disruptions.
• Responsibility: Taking ownership of actions and committing to conducting business with integrity and accountability.

These values permeate everything CG Tech does, from boardroom decisions to on-the-ground project management.

A Lifelong Learner and Global Thought Leader

Jason’s commitment to learning is another factor that has contributed to his success. In addition to his MBA and mechanical engineering qualification, he has studied various short courses at prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, and Singularity University. He holds licenses as both a commercial drone pilot and helicopter pilot, which reflects his passion for technology and his willingness to learn new skills.

Jason is a prominent member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), where he holds several executive positions. In 2017, he was selected as one of 250 world leaders to join Peter Diamandis’ mastermind of exponential entrepreneurs, a group focused on leveraging technology for rapid business growth. Jason has presented at seminars and conferences around the globe, sharing his insights on business, leadership, technology, and innovation.

Life Beyond Business

While Jason is highly driven in his professional life, he also values his personal life and the relationships he has with family and friends. His adventurous spirit extends beyond business—Jason is an enthusiast of fast cars, flying helicopters, and taking calculated risks. His philosophy is simple: “If it won’t kill us, then it’s worth experimenting to see if there is a significant positive outcome.” He believes that mistakes are inevitable, but learning from them is essential to success.

Jason is also a proud father of three children, and one of his greatest personal accomplishments is his experience flying a military fighter jet and becoming a helicopter pilot. These achievements, coupled with his professional success, demonstrate Jason’s ability to balance both his personal and professional lives.

A Word of Advice for Future Leaders

When it comes to leadership, Jason believes in authenticity. “Authentic leadership wins every time, as people follow leaders they align with,” he says. He advises aspiring leaders to be true to themselves and avoid trying to change their leadership style to fit others’ expectations. He emphasizes that different situations call for different leadership styles, and there’s no right or wrong way to lead.

As for the future of CG Tech, Jason and his team remain focused on supporting their blue-chip clients, while also staying ahead of industry trends and exploring new technologies. Whether it’s robotics, virtual reality, or sustainable development, Jason and his team are always looking for opportunities to add value.

Through his entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, and commitment to innovation, Jason English continues to set an example for future business leaders who aim to make a lasting impact on their industries and communities.