Marketing Masterclasses

Bianca Liapis packed her bags, moved to London without a plan, and built a global marketing career she truly loves. In this episode, she shares the leaps of faith, moments of self-doubt, and bold mindset shifts that shaped her journey, from startups at Uber Eats to leading digital marketing at Sainsbury’s. We talk about imposter syndrome, building trust, navigating massive change, and why her pers...

From bioengineering labs to leading global brand strategy at Danone, Nagehan Zülal Beypazar Şad has built a career shaped by purpose, creativity, and courage. In this episode, she shares her journey from agency life to global leadership, the lessons she’s learned launching innovative campaigns at Nestlé and Danone, and her take on the future of marketing, touching on everything from AI, to cultura...

Sherilyn Shackell’s journey is anything but ordinary. From running her family’s fashion store at 16, to a 20-year career in executive search, to surviving a life-threatening illness that sparked the creation of The Marketing Academy ,  she’s learned what it truly takes to lead a life full of joy and impact. In this episode, Sherilyn shares: The “112-hour rule” that reveals how you really spend you...

Bronwyn Pretorius, CMO at Ackermans, believes that “social media is the bloodline of any brand”, and in this candid conversation, she unpacks what it really takes to build a brand that connects deeply with consumers in 2025. From her early career pivot from law into marketing, to leading campaigns at Shoprite, Capitec, Mukuru, and now Ackermans, Bronwyn’s journey is a masterclass in versatility, r...

Marketing isn’t about making ads anymore, it’s about being part of the culture. In this episode, we chat with Natasha Maharaj, Global Brands Director at The HEINEKEN Company, about her 20+ year journey in the industry and how she’s stayed ahead of the curve. Natasha shares why she believes we need AI along with human touch to create truly powerful marketing and how letting go of control can spark...

“It’s not how fast you drive, it’s how late you brake.” That’s just one of the perspective-shifting insights Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman of Ogilvy UK, drops in this Marketing Masterclass with Jon Ratcliffe. From the overlooked power of long-form copy to why YouTube has become the world’s customer support hotline, Rory unpacks the quirks of human behaviour, the role of creativity in an AI-driven...

Lay’s Brand Manager Aboobaker Hassim joins Loren and Kele to unpack what marketing means in 2025, from sports partnerships to social media, and from career pivots to the future of AI. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why storytelling is the true power of marketing How sport and food create shared cultural moments The career advice that shaped Aboo’s path What’s working (and not working) in today’s di...

Part 3 of 3 from our Speaker Series, recorded live in partnership with Red & Yellow Creative School of Business. From Unilever to PepsiCo and now Growth Director at RCL, Le-Anne Bartman Engelbrecht has built brands, led categories, and broken the internet with some of South Africa’s most viral campaigns. In this episode, she shares lessons from running billion-rand businesses, why culture must...

Marketing in 2025 demands agility, authenticity, and impact. Revlon SA’s Heather Goate shares her insights on short-form video, the creator economy, AI in marketing, and the career mindset that will set you apart. Packed with global brand experience and practical takeaways, this is a must-listen for marketers who want to stay ahead.

Your brand isn’t the hero, your audience is. In this episode of Marketing Masterclass, we sit down with Tom Fenwick-Smith, Senior Conceptual Creative & Strategy Social Lead at VodafoneThree, to explore what it really means to be social-first in today’s world. From feature films to TikTok, Tom’s journey shows how bold ideas, creator partnerships, and a willingness to take risks can transform br...

In this episode of Marketing Masterclasses, Declan and Rebecca sit down with Liezel Swiegers , Marketing Manager at Naked, the AI-driven insurance disruptor. Liezel shares her journey from Takealot to Naked, the lessons she’s learned building a brand that stands out in a saturated industry, and why the Naked Difference is reshaping customer relationships in insurance. Expect insights on: How to cr...

Part 2 of 3 from our Speaker Series, recorded live in partnership with Red & Yellow Creative School of Business. William Battersby knows what it takes to turn a homegrown idea into a global success. As CEO of BOS Brands, he’s led the transformation of a proudly South African iced tea into an internationally recognised brand. In this conversation with Verusha Maharaj, MD at Red & Yellow, Wi...

Part 1 of 3 from our Speaker Series, recorded live in partnership with Red & Yellow Creative School of Business. From Unilever to her current role as CMO of Spur Corporation, Vuyokazi Henda’s story is one of courage, care, and conscious leadership. In this episode, she shares her journey across global and local brands, the lessons she’s learned about resilience and purpose, and why she believe...

"When one of our campaigns performs well, it’s not just numbers on a graph,  it’s jobs being created and food on the table.” In this Marketing Masterclass, Caterina Toffoli-Metcalfe (Head of Design at Sweepsouth) shares how purpose-driven creativity and people-first leadership shaped her journey from Yuppiechef to Pernod Ricard, and why authentic impact matters more than ever. 🎧 Listen for insigh...

From Estee Lauder to PepsiCo to Nestlé, Zakithi Mncwango has built some of South Africa’s most loved brands. In this episode of Marketing Masterclasses, Lara chats to Zakithi all about her journey as an “accidental marketer” and the lessons she’s learned along the way. We dive into: Why creators are the gateway to authenticity and relevance How consumers can spot an ad a mile away The role of AI i...

South African-born product marketing expert Katy Carter shares her unconventional journey from yachting to leading growth at one of the UK’s fastest-growing digital banks, Tide . In this episode, Katy opens up about: Navigating competitive global markets Turning complex financial solutions into simple, compelling stories The role great leadership has played in her career Expect insights on product...

From anthropology to AI at DeepMind, Rupert Kemp’s journey is anything but typical. In this episode, Jon unpacks how curiosity, kindness, and nonlinear thinking led Rupert to one of the most advanced AI teams in the world. We dive into the future of AI, why prompt engineering matters more than you think, and how tools like Gemini are reshaping everything from productivity to creativity.

People can spot inauthenticity instantly and brands are no exception. In this episode, Sibongile Mndebele shares how to build brands that truly resonate, drawing on her experience shaping iconic flavours at Simba and leading with values in a fast-paced digital world. We explore: Why authenticity is your brand’s most valuable currency How AI can enhance, not replace, creative thinking The one quali...

From academia to entrepreneurship to leading marketing for South Africa’s largest health, wellness and beauty retailer, Melanie Van Rooy’s career is a masterclass in reinvention. In this episode, the Clicks Group CMO shares her journey and the lessons she’s learned about leadership, brand building, and staying relevant in 2025. We cover: Moving from selling to solving and delivering joy Building t...

Marketing isn’t about playing it safe. It’s about experimenting boldly and learning faster than your competitors. Giulio Beltramo, Head of Marketing at One Retail Group (one of the UK’s fastest-growing consumer goods and lifestyle brands), shares how creativity, curiosity, and South African grit shaped his career. From rethinking segmentation to building brands that people feel (not just buy), thi...

What’s the story? And how do we bring it to life in a way that truly connects with people? It’s the question that’s guided Laurian Clemence through 17+ years at Google, drawing on her journalism roots and passion for leadership to shape the narratives behind some of its most iconic products, from Pixel to Gemini, Search to Android. In this episode, we dive into: How Google’s culture has evolved an...

“Just be lekker, and the world will be lekker.” Urban Gym Group's Head of Brand, Ryk Benade, shares his career journey, lessons in creativity, and how brands can stay relevant in a digital-first world. Tune in for insights on building culture, leading with impact, and thriving in the modern marketing era.

Jon sits down with Sofia Hernandez , TikTok’s Global Head of Business Marketing, at Cannes to talk about creativity, leadership, and how brands can thrive in the creator economy. Sofia thinks brands need to think like marketers and act like creators . Do you agree?

How do you build an international marketing career and stay true to yourself along the way? Juliette Rowlett , a proud South African and global marketing leader at brands like Unilever and the LEGO Group, generously shares: Her journey from Durban to leading global shopper strategies Why “the bravest thing you can do is be yourself” How to embrace discomfort, build relationships, and grow your car...

At Cannes Lions, Jon sat down with Beatrice Cornacchia , Executive VP of Marketing & Communications APEMEA at Mastercard, to talk about her extraordinary 35-year journey building one of the world’s most iconic brands. This episode is full of nuggets of wisdom from Beatrice. Here are just three to whet your appetite: Never take a shortcut. Dream big and go after it. Marketing is a science but t...