Wisdom Personified - Conversations with Dudu Msomi

“A true passion that burns within your soul is one that can never be put out”, says Zach Toelke Cathy Mohlahlana is an award- winning broadcast #journalist who calls herself a news junkie. It comes through in every broadcast of hers that you watch and listen to. You can catch Cathy on SAFM on every weekday The Talking Point from 9:00 – 12:00 South African time. She has won the National Press Club...

Paying tribute to women who not only pursue excellence in everything they do. But who also exude compassion, kindness and courage. Most of all, who share their wisdom with their fellow human beings and thrive to leave this world better off. Epitomised by Tryphosa Ramano, the guest in this August Month on Wisdom Personified Conversations with Dudu Msomi. When you meet Tryphosa and see the things sh...

There is a quote from John Burroughs that says, “You must first clearly see a thing in your mind before you can do it”. This captures Lebo’s vision as a co-founder of #Womanomics Africa which exists to connect women to opportunities and ecosystems, creating a Pan -African economic highway, driven by women, significantly increasing their participation in intra-Africa #trade. Lebo Biko is an #Africa...

This is one of my most heart-warming and yet candid conversations yet. Natasia becomes teary when her daughter Syke shares what she admires about her as a mother. Inspired by a quote by Jane Flax, a psychoanalyst, Skye says, “Mothers and daughters existing as wretched mirrors of each other. I am all you could have been, and you are all I might be”. In this inter-generational conversation, I am spe...

#Networking is an #investment in your #business. It takes time and when done correctly can yield great results for years to come, says Diane Helbig This sentiment embodies the journey that Helen Nicholson has travelled and the lesson that has made her part of the zeitgeist of Corporate South #Africa. Helen is called the Networking Queen. She began her career as an accountant. She has evolved into...

I love genuine, vulnerable, passionate, compassionate, insightful, intelligent and wise Humans. Those are truly powerful individuals. Pepe is all of these. And more. Pepe Marais is the Founding Partner and Group Chief Creative Officer of the #brand and #communications group Joe Public United, ranked as one of the top independent and fastest growing South African #advertising groups. He has been th...

Annina Van Neel is the founder and CEO of The Tiekie Box Project which is a black cultural #heritage organisation working to decolonise Black history and #archaeology and to make this heritage accessible to the African #Diaspora and descendant communities. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental, and Geographical Science and Archaeology from the University of Cape Town. When Annina emigrate...

Anne Pratt says one of the gifts of living through Stage 3 Gastric cancer is that you truly live each day as though it is the last. Not just words. One of the unforgettable wisdoms that she still lives by today that she learnt from her mother. Is that when we have passed on. We will not be remembered for our balance sheet or what we have in the bank. But the lives we touch. And the difference we m...

My guest for this episode of Wisdom Personified Conversations with Dudu Msomi is Professor Christa Bonnet. Christa is the CEO at The Difference Makers NGO. Her experience cuts across various disciplines. She holds multiple qualifications and professional memberships, a master’s degree (M. Com) in Financial Management, an MBA and a PhD in Organizational leadership…Professor Christa is currently doi...

At the core, the idea of #purpose is the idea that what we do matters to people other than ourselves says Angela Duckworth. In the work that Sibusisiwe Myeni does as the co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Imbeleko #Foundation, she does exactly that which is a far cry from what she qualified to with a B. Com in statistical Science and Financial Accounting. Sibu is a #banker turned Social #En...

“Life presents many choices, the choices we make determine our future.” – Catherine Pulsifer One can also say that a person’s present life circumstances is a result of their past choices. Professor Mthunzi Mdwaba believes that people can either choose to live in the dark or in the light. He believes it is your choice. Everything in life is a choice, Prof Mdwaba is the founder, President, and CEO o...

I would like to borrow a quote from Matt Haig, who said: "Mental health problems don’t define who you are. They are something you experience. You walk in the rain and you feel the rain, but, importantly, YOU ARE NOT THE RAIN.” Dr Nozuko Mkabayi is Chief Executive Officer in the Department of Health in South Africa. She has over 28 years of experience as a medical #doctor. She specialises in #pedia...

My guest for this new episode of Wisdom Personified, Conversations with Dudu Msomi is Tembisa Marele. We usually joke in life about siblings from another mother. Tee is definitely my sister from another mother. Who I am convinced was brought into my life through the Spirit of my departed sister, S’celo Msomi based on how we first connected. But that is another story on its own. Tembisa Marele is a...

Jerry Smith said, “I may be a twin, but I am one of a kind.” This sentiment captures the two individuals I am speaking to on this episode of Wisdom Personified Conversations with Dudu Msomi. Tumi Mphahlele is the Chief Executive Officer of I-G3N Energy, one of the few women #entrepreneurs involved in the energy industry. She is a Recreational Ultra Endurance Athlete, Mountaineer, and a Board Membe...

Walt #Disney said: “You must not let anyone define your limits because of where you come from. Your only limit is your #soul”. For this episode of Wisdom Personified Conversations with #DuduMsomi, I am having a conversation with Mike Teke whose life journey is captured in this quote. Mike Teke is the Chief Executive Officer of #SeritiResources, a diversified energy company in SouthAfrica. He is a...

There is a quote that says, “Show me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are.” Sangeeta Leach is someone I proudly claim as a friend. From the instance you meet Sangs, her intelligence is palpable. Even at a young age, she was also undoubtedly wise as evident in her good judgement, behaviour, problem solving abilities and understanding of the human condition. Sangeeta Leach is the co...

Nthati Moshesh is one of the most accomplished actresses on the African Continent, professionally trained, having studied Performing Arts in Natal Technikon (now called Durban University of Technology). There is something so comforting about growing in this world alongside people you knew when you were younger. Seeing them charter a successful journey in their chosen careers. I first came to know...

Jim Rohn says, “The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.” There are very few individuals that I have observed that carry these contradictions with Grace and Wisdom. Lerato Molebatsi is a person that epitomises that power...

“So often people assume that everyone has good parents”, was the answer to the response of my very first question. I knew that this conversation will be the epitome of what I hoped for when I conceived “Wisdom Personified Conversations with Dudu Msomi”. I foresaw individuals opening up. Being vulnerable and courageous. Revealing to us their journey to #Wisdom. Which is not always a straight-line....

In this episode of #WisdomPersonified, Conversations with #DuduMsomi, I am speaking to Santie Botha, one of South Africa’s most respected and accomplished businesspersons. She believes that to do big things, you need to do the hard thinking first. With the presence of formidable universities, with bright sparks in our country, in a world that is digital, Santie questions where our investments in r...

“Have to choose your hard.” A statement made by Farayi Mangwende during our conversation when I asked her why she has not emigrated from Zimbabwe like millions of professionals have done to make a better life for themselves in other countries because of the prolonged political and economic crisis in their country. Farayi’s detested cross country running when she was at school. Her father shared wi...

I so love no nonsense, simple advice. In this conversation with Sis Nonhlanhla Mjoli-Mncube, she shares salt of the earth wisdom. May I dare say, in this conversation, it is as though Sis Nonhlanhla is paying tribute to her parents and gives us a glimpse of the legacy that they have enriched the family with. Sis Nonhlanhla is motivated by what her father used to say. That for any constraint, there...

My guest for this new episode of Wisdom Personified Conversations with Dudu Msomi is Molefe Mputamputa, the Chief Operating Officer of Royale Energy. Dr Seuss says, “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose". I think this quote captures the spirit that seems to have driven the life of Molefe Mputamputa. Molefe has a B. Sc. Engineeri...

I hope this conversation with The Blantons, Mark and Dr LaTasha, has a butterfly effect: a light fluttering of butterfly wings that may cause unpredictable, but positive inspirations and actions in those that watch and hear which can lead to a large-scale movement of Africans and people of African descent in the Diaspora appreciating their common ancestry and actively seeking to bridge the bonds o...

“Don’t underestimate me because I’m quiet. I know more than I say, think more than I speak and observe more than you know.” – Michaela Chung I think this quote captures what I see as the essence of Sis Zodwa. Her ‘not too loud’ nature may have you overlook her for the charismatic and vocal in our society. But not me. She has qualities that embody wisdom, one of which is intellectual humility which...