Business Unusual Podcast

In our podcast this week, Karla Fletcher, Head of Marketing at Topco Media speaks to Theo Baloyi, Founder and CEO of Bathu Shoes – a truly South African business success story. While living with his uncle in Alexandra, Theo completed a BCom Accounting degree and went on to work in South Africa for two years and then the Middle East. It was during his time in the Middle East that the 30-year-old ac...

Originally shy and introverted, Leanne Manas found a voice and a dream. As one of South Africa’s most prominent journalists and news anchors, she certainly found her way. What sets Leanne apart from many others who do what she does is her steadfast belief in what she’s there to do. Leanne wholeheartedly maintains that she’s not there to teach anyone a lesson or change their mind − she’s there to l...

In this week’s Top Women podcast, Topco Media Director, Karla Fletcher, sits down with Becky Motumo − Sports Talent & Brand Manager for Caster Semenya and Carol Tshabalala. Becky is also a radio personality and fitness model who believes whole-heartedly in empowering young South African girls and pointing them in directions which they may not originally have considered. She believes in recognising...

What makes Lincoln Mali so refreshing and interesting to talk to is that he places such importance on interpersonal relationships within the workplace. He attributes much success in the workplace to simply listening, not judging and being present. On this week’s Business Unusual podcast, Topco CEO, Ralf Fletcher, sits down with Lincoln, the Chairman of Diner’s Club South Africa, who has been at St...

Tara Fela-Durotoye is an entrepreneurial powerhouse. But more than that, she is real. As a beauty entrepreneur, lawyer and founder of House of Tara, she has received multiple national and international awards for her contribution to the industry and active role in entrepreneurship and empowerment among women. Although Tara is undoubtedly an expert in the field of entrepreneurship, she remains open...

In this week’s Business Unusual podcast, Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media sits down with Robert Paddock Co-founder at GetSmarter, Executive Director at Hubble Studios, Board Member at Injini, and CEO at Valenture Institute. Whilst with GetSmarter, Robert travelled to the US to learn about scaling up first hand and he shares his experience with us – a key learning being how, by reading the book on...

In this week’s Topco Business Unusual podcast, Karla Fletcher sits down with Jayshree Naidoo − CEO of YiEDi. According to Jayshree the output of entrepreneurship is innovation. In terms of entrepreneurship, Jayshree knows what she’s talking about. As a technical expert in helping entrepreneurs, Jayshree and her company focus on innovation and strategy consulting, incubation design and management,...

When it comes to coaching − both personal and professional − there is often a massive misconception around how it’s done and what the goal is. What generally comes to mind is sitting down with someone and being given a set of instructions on how to do things. For this reason, coaching often gets a negative connotation, especially from those who struggle to take orders. = There’s a science behind c...

Leading commentator and influencer on African affairs, Colin Coleman recently presented a speech at the University of Cape Town’s Vice-Chancellor’s Open Lecture. The speech was titled “From a Two-Speed Society to one that Works for All” and centred on a ten-point action plan to grow an inclusive South African economy and escape a socio-economic crisis. Colin opened his speech by stating that South...

When we talk about a great leader, we talk about someone who not only teaches others, but learns from them too. Nedbank COO, Mfundo Nkuhlu likes to think of the idea of teaching and learning as a constantly revolving spiral − we grow toward those above us while we bring up those below us. In this week’s Business Unusual podcast, Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media, sits down with Nedbank COO, Mfundo...

Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media speaks to National Business Award finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year, Adi Kaimowitz - CEO and founder of Virtual Actuary. In this week’s Business Unusual podcast, Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media, speaks to Adi about digitising consulting processes, changing the way we have been doing things and implementing digital changes going forward. Adi Kaimowitz is the...

Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media speaks to Kate Moodley, author of I INC: Be the CEO of your Brand and Franchise Director for Discovery Consulting Services. Kate is a former Top Woman Business Woman of the Year and Top Women Executive winner at Topco Media’s 8th annual Top Women Awards. Being a new mother and an entrepreneur has required all of Kate’s multitasking skills and support structure – a...

“If you know the enemy is coming, you don’t wait until they come around the corner to see how big their guns are; you put your biggest guns forward in preparation.” This is EOH CEO, Stephen van Coller’s response to fighting a battle in which you don’t know what to expect, like COVID-19. With over two decade’s worth of financial services experience, Stephen brings with him a wealth of knowledge, no...

In this week’s Top Women podcast, Ralf Fletcher sits down with renowned businesswomen, billionaire and anti-corruption activist, Magda Wierzycka. Magda, who defines the notion of building yourself from the ground up, is a powerhouse and force to be reckoned with in the South African economy. She’s built seven companies, is currently preparing for her role as CEO of The Apprentice South Africa in 2...

“The job of leadership is to create more leaders” – Funeka Montjane This week we are joined by Standard Bank SA’s Chief Executive of Personal and Business Banking, Funeka Montjane, and Chief Information Officer, Khomotso Molabe. In conversation with Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media, Funeka and Khomotso share their insights on the significance of one’s heritage, their tips on how to keep up with c...

SURVIVING COVID BY GOING 100% DIGITAL – EXTREME ENTREPRENEURSHIP Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media speaks to Andrew Smith, CEO and co-founder of Yuppiechef - NBA Digital Company of the Year. Andrew Smith started Yuppiechef in his lounge, with co-founder Shane Dryden, in 2006. They had no money, 32 products and 1 brand. Today they have 7 shops, 400 suppliers and their e-commerce-first principle has...

In this week’s Business Unusual Podcast, Topco Media CEO, Ralf Fletcher, sits down to chat to Essa Suleman, Director of Woodford. Essa places “customer excellence” at the heart of what he does. This differs from customer service in that he shifts focus away from simply providing customers with service, rather focusing on providing them with the excellence he believes all customers deserve. Having...

DR GLENDA GRAY ON COVID-19, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION Born and raised in Boksburg, South Africa, Glenda Gray knew from the age of six that she would become a doctor. In this week’s Top Women podcast, Topco Media CEO, Ralf Fletcher, sits down with the leading physician, scientist and activist. As the first ever woman president and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council,...

UNILEVER SA VICE PRESIDENT, LUC-OLIVIER MARQUET, DISCUSSES SOCIAL CHANGE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS In this week’s Business Unusual podcast, Topco Media CEO, Ralf Fletcher is joined by Unilver SA Executive Vice President, Luc-Olivier Marquet. Born in France, Luco has worked in some of the most sought-after destinations in the world, from Mexico to Miami. He joined Unilever i...

In this week’s Top Women podcast, Topco Media CEO, Ralf Fletcher is in conversation with local powerhouse Aisha Pandor, co-founder of SweepSouth. Aisha is the daughter of Naledi Pandor (South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation) and brings with her a wealth of knowledge both inside and outside the workplace. With a PhD in Human Genetics from the University of Cape Town and...

In this week’s Top Women podcast, Topco CEO, Ralf Fletcher sits down to talk with Adriana Marais − theoretical physicist, technologist and aspiring extra-terrestrial. Adriana’s goals are big: to understand our world and beyond. Adriana is the founder of Proudly Human, which pioneers new frontiers in research and technology for a resilient future on Earth and Mars. Having recently visited the Antar...

THE LIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE: A CHAT WITH NIK RABINOWITZ In this week’s Business Unusual podcast, Topco CEO, Ralf Fletcher sits down with Nik Rabinowitz. As a giant in the South African comedy scene, Nik has seen it all. With an uncanny ability to leave his audience in stitches, he knows exactly what to say and when to say it. That being said, comedy aside, Nik also has a very well-rounded view societ...

TALKING WEALTH, HEALTHY ECONOMIES AND THE HUMAN ELEMENT OF ECONOMICS WITH DAWIE ROODT In this week’s Business Unusual podcast, Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media is in conversation with Dawie Roodt − one of South Africa’s most respected, expert economists. Dawie dives into the nature of economics and the way it is often only perceived as revolving around money. He discusses the human element of eco...

LISTEN TO LEILA FOURIE, CEO OF JSE, TALKING TO US ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICA, TECHNOLOGY AND LEARNING FROM THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US This week on the Top Women podcast, Topco CEO, Ralf Fletcher is in conversation with Leila Fourie, who has held the position of CEO at the JSE since October 2019. With a career that spans more than 25 years, Leila has worked in the capital markets, payment systems,...

This week on Topco Business Unusual podcast, we converse with trend strategist, Dion Chang - innovator, creative thinker and walking ideas bank. His company Flux Trends specialises in understanding the consumer mindset and identifying unexpected business opportunities. Dion works with companies and executives looking at how trends disrupt technology and how new systems are going to impact a sector...