The economic downturn transformed the environment in which companies worldwide do business. Gone are the days of quick wins, easy credit and high consumer spending levels. Today, companies have to work much harder if they are to seize opportunities and outperform the competition.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Entrepreneurial companies find innovative ways to outgrow traditional boundaries. Regardless of the economic conditions, these companies improve performance in relation to four growth drivers — customer reach, operational agility, cost competitiveness and stakeholder confidence — and striking the right balance in their approach to each.

Mastering growth strategies was at the top of the agenda at the 2011 Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum in Palm Springs, where more than 2,300 American business leaders met. You can join us at the Forum’s next meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, to hear how some of Africa’s most successful business people are unlocking value in this inspiring continent.

In this issue of Exceptional, we find out why the ability to target and satisfy customer needs has been crucial to the growth of Pharmacy. Its founder and CEO, Dr. Amjad Aryan, tells us how he spotted a gap in the Middle Eastern market for a pharmacy chain. Excellent working conditions and career prospects for staff are now attracting the best possible talent to his business.

Another CEO who has helped his company to realize its potential is Michael Dell. He is the first ever winner of Ernst & Young’s US Entrepreneur Of The Year® award program. An opportunist at heart, Dell believes that growth depends on experimenting with new products and market-transforming processes.

We also spoke to Stephen Murphy, outgoing CEO of Virgin Group. During his six-year tenure, he lived through some of the highest and lowest points in the company’s history, without ever losing sight of his long-term goals.

Finally, the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance recently commissioned Ernst & Young to create a “barometer” that highlights how G20 governments are supporting entrepreneurship. Read our summary of the research, " Above and beyond: Growing beyond", which launched just before the G20 Business Summit.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue of Exceptional.

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