What's Next with Aki Anastasiou

In this episode, we sit down with Justin Hume, Vice President of Mobile Experience at Samsung South Africa, to explore the groundbreaking innovations behind the all-new Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7. Justin unpacks how these latest foldables mark a major leap forward—not just in sleek design, but in blending top-tier hardware with cutting-edge AI features. With ultra-thin form factors, upgraded hinge...

In this What’s Next episode, Li Yin, CTO of Huawei Cloud Pangu Model, discusses how localised AI is accelerating South Africa’s digital transformation. Li Yin highlights the practical impact of Huawei’s Pangu model across industries such as construction, agriculture, and manufacturing, and explores its potential in finance, telecoms, media, and government. The conversation covers the importance of...

In this What’s Next with Aki interview, Muhammed Izhaar Ebrahim, Channel Sales Manager for TCL Electronics South Africa, discusses the new products TCL has launched in South Africa and how the brand has become a major player in the country. He explains why TCL has risen in popularity over the past few years and unpacks what sets TCL apart as an innovative brand. Ebrahim then focuses on TCL’s new M...

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Clint Bryce discusses how the Achievement Awards Group is helping companies adopt rewards and loyalty programmes. Clint is the Product Director at Achievement Awards Group and a veteran of the design industry, having helped build, develop, and manage multi-disciplinary teams for many industry leaders. This has included working as the Head of Desig...

In this episode of What's Next, Angela Wamola, Head of Africa at GSMA, joins the conversation to unpack Africa's digital transformation journey. She shares vital insights into mobile connectivity, the current state of 4G and 5G adoption across the continent, and the pressing issue of smartphone affordability. Despite growing infrastructure, many remain unconnected to mobile internet—Angela explain...

In this interview, André de Wet, co-founder and CEO of Flood Finance, explains how the platform helps offline retailers—like spaza shops and small grocers—become discoverable through apps people already use. Instead of needing their own e-commerce site, merchants can appear on a geolocation-based marketplace that drives foot traffic, enables in-store promotions, and supports digital payments and l...

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Itumeleng Merafe discusses the new Investec multicurrency pockets feature on the institution’s Private Bank Accounts. Merafe is the Head of Private Bank SA at Investec — a position he has held since April 2024. He has worked at Investec for over 18 years in several other impactful roles, too, including Head of Sales: Investec for Business and Head...

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Aishwarya Singh discusses the value that AI brings to South African organisations. Singh is the Senior Vice President and Head of Microsoft Global Practice and Digital Collaboration Services at NTT Data. In this role, she is focused on transforming employee and client experiences through Agentic AI. She believes strongly in the role NTT Data is pl...

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Altify Founder and CEO Sean Sanders discusses why Altify’s alternative investment offerings are a game-changer for South Africans. Sanders is a serial technology entrepreneur with over 15 years of industry experience. He started as an intern at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in 2008, before completing internships at Actis and RMB Private Bank. Sand...

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Timothy Matlala discusses how Standard Bank is working with the public sector in South Africa. Matlala is the Head of Public Sector, Business, and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank and has worked in finance for over 15 years. He entered the industry as a Business Manager at Standard Bank South Africa and then briefly worked as a Relationship Man...

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Amanda Gibbs and Duke Mathebula discuss what the SAPHILA 2025 event will cover. Gibbs is the Chief Executive Officer at the African SAP User Group (AFSUG) and boasts 28 years of industry experience. In her current role, which she has held for three years, Gibbs oversees a network of SAP customers and partners and helps them realise the full benefi...

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Ashley Smith discusses the industry success of Amoeba TSC. Smith is the Chief Operations Officer at Amoeba TSC, where he leads digital transformation initiatives across fibre networks, ISPs, and field operations. With over 30 years of experience in telecommunications and technical leadership, he focuses on driving innovation, automation, and susta...

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Dr Ron Whelan highlights the benefits of Discovery Health’s Personal Health Pathways programme. Dr Whelan is the CEO of Discovery Health and a veteran of corporate healthcare and health systems, with almost two decades of experience across various senior executive roles. As CEO, Dr Whelan leads Discovery Health in its endeavour to help its clients...

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, North-West University (NWU) Professor Anné Verhoef discusses the NWU AI Hub, of which he is the director. The NWU AI Hub was launched at the beginning of 2025, with Verhoef at the helm, to provide groundbreaking solutions to South Africa’s biggest AI problems. Verhoef is a professor in philosophy and the former director of the NWU School of Philos...

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Nomvuyiso Batyi and Naveed Kashif discuss the evolution of the telecommunications market and how AI is reshaping RAN infrastructure in South Africa. Batyi is the Chief Executive Officer of the recently established Association of Comms and Technology – a non-profit company dedicated to addressing ecosystem issues within the broader ICT sector. Befo...

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Videsha Proothveerajh discusses how Vodacom Business is leveraging new technologies to offer superior services to its customers. Proothveerajh is the Director of Vodacom Business at Vodacom South Africa and boasts over 25 years of experience in the technology and telecommunications industries. She assumed her current role at Vodacom South Africa i...

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Jordaan Burger discusses the modern challenges facing CFOs. Burger is the Sage Vice President of Finance for the Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific region, and has worked in the finance industry for over 20 years. He joined Sage in 2019 as the Financial Director for the Africa and Middle East region, and was promoted to his current position...

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Discovery Bank CEO Hylton Kallner discusses how the digital bank improves customers’ lives through enhanced banking services. Kallner has been with Discovery since 1996 and began by working on various marketing, actuarial, and strategic projects. In 2006, he was appointed as the Chief Marketing Officer for Discovery Limited and later rose to the p...

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Bertus van der Vyver discusses MTN’s updated brand positioning and the importance of the phrase “Today We Make Moves.” Van der Vyver is the General Manager for Residential and Postpaid at MTN South Africa. Before taking on his current role in April 2023, he held many executive roles in the South African telecommunications industry across the indus...

In this What’s Next interview, Zhou unpacks the incredible growth HONOR has experienced in South Africa. He then reveals HONOR’s Project Alpha Plan, which is the company’s new corporate strategy that will transform HONOR from a smartphone manufacturer to a leading AI device ecosystem company. Zhou unpacks the three steps that this plan entails and discusses how they encourage collaboration between...

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Sannesh Beharie and Lukhanyo Zahela discusses the importance of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. Beharie is the Managing Executive for SME and Mobile Products at Vodacom Business. He has over 17 years of experience in fixed and mobile telecoms, having worked at South Africa’s most prominent industry players and held executive roles in Sales...

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Elani van der Laan discusses the emerging financial trends in the legal industry. Van der Laan is the Head of Legal and Accounting Sectors, Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank and boasts nearly 15 years of experience working in the legal sector. This began with her working as a Candidate Attorney, then as an Attorney, for Strydom and...

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Gerhard Hartman discusses how technological innovations like AI have the ability to transform finance departments for the better. Hartman is the Regional Vice President for Medium Business at Sage Africa and the Middle East. He has worked at Sage for nearly 20 years and has extensive experience helping SMBs achieve their full potential. In his cur...

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, John van Kan discusses the importance of incorporating new technologies into Standard Bank’s healthcare banking solutions. Van Kan is the Head of Healthcare Sector, Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank and has worked in the banking sector since 2000. In this What’s Next interview, van Kan explains how Standard Bank plays a key role in...

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Nielle Truter and Bob Aoun discuss how AI has been implemented in HP Poly devices to deliver an improved user experience. Truter is the Chief Operating Officer at Headset Solutions — a trusted distributor of HP | Poly products. In this role, he has forged long-term customer relationships and spearheaded new business development. His approach to bu...