Former business consultant and commerce graduate Theo Baloyi’s love of luxury sneakers intersected with a desire to create jobs to launch Bathu from the boot of his car. Bathu, local slang for shoes, entered a competitive market in South Africa - home of unique trends, subcultures, and style tribes that make cult favorites of less obvious sneaker styles. Yet Theo insists that his consultant’s brain pushed his entrepreneurial one. With 35 stores nationwide and 400 employees, Theo is fulfilling his passions in the $219 million South African sneaker market. Bathu owns 95% of the value chain from design, production, and retail.