Wait & Speak Podcast

Emerging technologies, population growth, urbanisation and environmental concerns are driving the creation of a new generation of transport solutions, with the potential to transform how people and goods are moved. KPMG Ireland’s recent publication, Mobility 2030, considers Ireland’s readiness to benefit from the opportunities presented by mobility disruptors such as Electric Vehicles (EVs), Mobil...

“Progress is the realisation of utopias” - Oscar Wilde I had an engaging conversation with Doris Viljoen and Schalk Engelbrecht. We discussed the relevance of utopian thinking with perspectives from Philosophy and Futures Studies. Doris is a senior futurist at Stellenbosch University’s Institute for Futures Research (IFR) where she endeavours to interpret global as well as local trends and assess...

I spoke with Sarah Babb about organisational change. We covered the key types of change organisations face, success factors for change initiatives, change frameworks including Theory U and the Cynefin framework for managing complexity, linking strategy with change management and futures thinking and leadership development for effective change. Sarah designs and leads innovative and impactful learn...

I spoke with Jakkie Cilliers from the African Futures and Innovation (AFI) team at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria. We discussed Jakkie’s new book, Africa First! Igniting a Growth Revolution. The discussion covered the key developmental challenges facing Africa and the International Futures (IFs) forecasting platform that was used to model scenarios on how the continent can ig...

I spoke with Laura Balmond about the circular economy and circular fashion. We covered the benefits of a circular economy transformation, the challenges, the “linear operation” of the textiles industry and opportunities to make fashion circular. Laura joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in 2015 following two years as a Management consultant, and completing her Masters in Environmental Engineerin...

I spoke with Susan Hall about the ethics of human enhancement. Activities such as physical fitness routines and taking music lessons do not seem to raise any philosophical problems. However, a current example that elicits debate is Elon Musk’s Neuralink, his neural technology company that is developing an implant designed to interface directly with the human brain. Our discussion covered the types...

I spoke with Jakkie Cilliers and Stellah Kwasi from the African Futures and Innovation (AFI) team at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria. We discussed their recent report on the impact of COVID-19 in Africa. Dr Jakkie Cilliers is the Chairman of the ISS Board of Trustees and Head of the African Futures and Innovation team in Pretoria. Jakkie co-founded the ISS in 1990 and was the...

I spoke with Senseis Lars Niehaus and Stephan Steyn about karate as a martial art. The discussion covered the purpose and development of karate, the focus of traditional karate, the guiding principles of karate (dojo kun), advice for parents and adult beginners, what it takes to be a good karateka and much more! Sensei Lars Bio: I started karate in or about September 1981 while studying at Univers...

I spoke with Stephan Steyn about antibiotic resistance. Stephan is a qualified pharmacist with a PhD in pharmacological neuroscience. Stephan is a senior lecturer in Pharmacology at North-West University, Potchefstroom. His research interests include the lasting effects of early-life, central-acting treatment strategies and the role that mitochondrial function plays in these effects. Being a karat...

I spoke with Dr Lize Barclay about applied systems thinking. We touched on: systems thinking as a lens to look at the world and specifically for decision making, mental models, complicated vs. complex systems, key systems thinking tools, how to practice your systems thinking skills, the links with design thinking and futures studies, as well as gaming simulation. Lize studies emerging issues, tren...

I spoke to Maura Feddersen about behavioural economics. We discussed the field’s growing relevance and practical applications, behavioural economics frameworks, opportunities to use big data , the use of “nudging” and the broader ethical considerations, especially for policy interventions. Maura is an economist at Swiss Re , focused on behavioural economics. She develops solutions that enhance pre...

I had an engaging conversation with Schalk Engelbrecht. We discussed ethics in the time of COVID-19.  Schalk is an ethicist, the Chief Ethics Officer at KPMG in South Africa, and a student of philosophy. He is responsible for KPMG’s internal ethics programme, and assists client companies to identify ethics risk, develop Codes of Ethics, design ethics management programmes and facilitate ethics tra...

I spoke to Prof Waldo Krugell about the South African economy: the status quo and new realities. Waldo is Professor of Economics at the North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences (SAJEMS) and the President of the Economic Society of South Africa (ESSA). Useful Links: @WaldoKrugell , SAJEMS , ESSA ; Covid-1...

I spoke with Jahni de Villiers ( https://twitter.com/JahniDeVilliers ) about work & the “new normal” under COVID-19. Jahni is the Head of Labour and Development at Agri SA. Before joining Agri SA, she was a union organiser at Solidarity for 12 years and served as sector-head of the union’s branches at all the major commercial banks, Armscor, the Agricultural Research Council and universities. She...

A business model helps to describe how your business creates, delivers and captures value. Whether you are a start-up or an incumbent, your business model needs to be fluid – your strategy needs to consider how your business model might look over multiple time horizons and how it will need to adapt to external shocks.  In the context of COVID-19, it is crucial to assess the impact on your business...

I spoke to Dr Tracy Davids about the impact of COVID-19 on South Africa’s food system. Tracy heads the commodity markets and foresight division at the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) . Tracy is an established specialist in agricultural market analysis, her focus includes commodity market modelling, price formation and spatial price relationships, competitiveness and international tr...

I spoke to Prof. Carel van Aardt, Research director at the Bureau of Market Research (BMR) at the University of South Africa (UNISA) ( www.unisa.ac.za/bmr ). Our discussion touched on various aspects and insights of big data, for example: consumer behaviour, happiness, financial inclusion and economic development. Show notes: Defining Big Data: Gartner: “Big data is high-volume, high-velocity and/...

I spoke to Doris Viljoen : Senior Futurist at the Institute for Futures Research (IFR) and lecturer in Futures Studies (FS) at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB). Show notes and resources: On defining the field:   Richard Slaughter : “the ultimate purpose of FS was to open out productive mind spaces, precursors of social innovations, from which more advanced stages of civilized l...

Welcome to the Wait & Speak Podcast, my name is Requier Wait. I hold a PhD in Economics and I am currently enrolled for a Postgraduate programme in Futures Studies (strategic foresight). My experience covers academia, consulting and industry advocacy. Industry experience ranges from upstream oil and gas to renewable energy and agriculture. I am based in South Africa. Join my learning journey and g...