Yael Geffen, the dynamic CEO and shareholder of Sotheby’s International Realty, South Africa, stands at the forefront of the country’s real estate landscape. Born into a legacy of property excellence established by her grandmother, Aida, Yael has redefined leadership in the industry with her innovative strategies and global expertise.
Combining the wisdom of a storied family business with cutting-edge marketing and brand-building techniques, Yael is celebrated for her ability to transform challenges into opportunities, making her a sought-after keynote speaker and thought leader.
Before joining the family business in 2009, Yael honed her craft in the United States, gaining invaluable experience in real estate marketing, brand development, and business innovation. Her international perspective and deep understanding of market dynamics make her insights compelling and actionable for audiences seeking inspiration and guidance in navigating today’s complex business environment.
Yael Geffen’s professional journey is a testament to resilience, vision, and adaptability. Raised in a family renowned for its contributions to South Africa’s property market, she inherited a passion for real estate and a commitment to excellence. Her grandmother, Aida, laid the foundation of the Geffen dynasty, instilling values that continue to guide Yael’s approach to business and leadership.
Her career began with a global outlook. In the United States, Yael immersed herself in the nuances of real estate marketing, mastering techniques that would later shape her transformative leadership style. From brand building to business development, she acquired a wealth of knowledge that she seamlessly integrated into the South African market upon her return. Joining Sotheby’s International Realty in 2009, Yael quickly distinguished herself as a forward-thinking leader, driving innovation and setting new benchmarks for excellence.
Under her stewardship, Sotheby’s International Realty, South Africa, has flourished, earning accolades for its unparalleled service and market expertise. Yael’s commitment to fostering a culture of trust and collaboration has not only enhanced the company’s reputation but also solidified its position as a market leader. Beyond her corporate achievements, she is a vocal advocate for women in leadership, frequently addressing topics such as resilience, innovation, and the importance of fostering diverse, inclusive workplaces.
A captivating storyteller, Yael shares lessons from her journey—from the challenges of sustaining a family legacy to the opportunities of embracing change in a rapidly evolving industry. Her insights resonate across sectors, inspiring entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and professionals to rethink their strategies and unlock their potential.
Why Event Planners Should Book Yael Geffen
Yael Geffen is not just a speaker; she is a catalyst for transformation. Her unique blend of personal history, professional expertise, and global perspective equips her to deliver presentations that are as inspiring as they are practical. Event planners seeking a speaker who can connect with diverse audiences will find Yael’s authenticity and relatability invaluable.
Yael’s ability to distill complex concepts into actionable insights ensures that her presentations leave a lasting impact. Whether addressing the intricacies of leadership, the dynamics of real estate markets, or the power of innovation, she engages audiences with clarity and conviction. Her emphasis on storytelling, drawn from her rich personal and professional experiences, makes her talks memorable and impactful.
Additionally, Yael’s commitment to empowering women in business adds a compelling dimension to her presentations. She speaks candidly about the challenges and triumphs of her journey, offering practical advice and inspiration to aspiring leaders. Her passion for cultivating inclusive, progressive workplaces resonates with audiences, making her a standout choice for events focused on leadership, diversity, and professional growth.
Summary
Yael Geffen embodies the qualities of a transformative leader—visionary, resilient, and deeply connected to her roots. As the CEO and shareholder of Sotheby’s International Realty, South Africa, she has redefined excellence in the real estate industry while championing the values of innovation and inclusion. Her global experience and familial legacy offer a unique perspective that enriches her insights and inspires audiences worldwide.
With a reputation for delivering engaging, actionable presentations, Yael is an ideal choice for conferences, corporate events, and industry summits. Her passion for leadership, dedication to empowering others, and ability to connect with audiences ensure that every event she graces is elevated to new heights.
Hashtags
#YaelGeffen #Leadership #WomenInBusiness #RealEstateExpert #Innovation #KeynoteSpeaker #DiversityAndInclusion
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Samuel Baloyi is an author of Leadership and Motivational books. He is a sought after conference speaker and an entrepreneur. He is a dedicated community worker and a leadership and management consultant.
He provides mentorship in business and leadership and is the Founder and Director of Training the Trainer Leadership Academy. He is a banker by profession and holds a qualification in Banking and in Theology. His banking career took off at FNB followed by Wesbank until he resigned to pursue Leadership and Personal Development Consulting.
He is the founder and Director of ParExcellence (Pty) Ltd, a company that trains on Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Personal Development and Public Speaking.
Samuel Baloyi has since travelled extensively both nationally and internationally on speaking engagements for various companies such as Coca-cola, Nedbank, Standard Bank and Cashbuild, organisations (inclusive of churches, Non- Profit Organisations, community events etc) and Government entities such as the Department of Social Development, the SAPS and Department of Education coaching over 7000 educators.
He has spoken in conferences, conventions, seminars, workshops and public events. His travelling extends to Lesotho, Zambia, Kenya, the USA and throughout South Africa.
Samuel Baloyi speaks on topics such as Leadership Development, Performance (Career and Business), Conflict Management, Personal Management, Cultivating a Winning Attitude, The Power of Perception and various Inspirational and Motivational Topics.
Under the ParExcellence Publishing House, a wing in his company, he has published 8 books including “Dreamers Never Die”, “Winning Tendencies of High Performers” and “Failure is Necessary”.
His latest book, “Transformational Leadership” extends his training programme providing informative guidelines on excelling in one’s Leadership role especially within Corporate situations within your business.
Samuel Baloyi is married to Amanda Baloyi and together have been blessed with two daughters, Pearl and Samantha.
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Andisa Liba is a powerhouse in human capital strategy, leadership development, and organisational transformation. With over 15 years of experience across Africa, she is currently the Chief People Officer at Floatpays, where she aligns people strategies with business objectives to cultivate high-performance cultures. Passionate about diversity and inclusion, she co-founded Women’s Tech Connection, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering women in the technology sector.
A highly sought-after Pan-African moderator, Andisa has facilitated leadership dialogues in countries including Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Eswatini, Namibia, and South Africa. She has a unique ability to bring together policymakers, executives, and thought leaders to tackle pressing socio-economic and governance challenges.
Her influence in the leadership and tech spaces has earned her numerous accolades, including the 2024 Women in Tech Africa Summit Best Ally Award, Forty Under 40 South Africa Human Capital & Social Impact Award, and special recognition from the African Union for her contributions to human capital development.
Previously serving as CEO of the Pan African Chamber of Commerce, Andisa has been a vocal advocate for enterprise development and job creation, shaping policies that support sustainable economic growth. Recognised as one of Africa’s Most Influential Women in Digital Transformation, she continues to champion leadership excellence through mentorship, coaching, and public speaking.
From driving organisational success to fostering inclusivity in tech, Andisa Liba is a catalyst for transformation—making an undeniable impact on businesses, communities, and the next generation of leaders across the continent.
Andisa serves on the LeanIn Sustainability and Equity South Africa Chapter where she moderates dialogues around the impact of ESG and facilitating conversations with executives for best practice and strategy for the country.
In 2024 Andisa was conferred a special recognition award of excellence by The African Union in partnership with The Hesed Foundation for her exemplary dedication and contribution to the human capital field.
Andisa Liba was a top finalist in the inaugural Wired4Women Awards a platform aims to recognise the achievements of women working in the South African tech sector and pay it forward, opening doors for future generations. She was a finalist in the Leader of the Year Award as well as Tech for Good categories respectively. She has recently been nominated as a finalist in the Gender Mainstream Awards under the category Inclusive Leader & Positive Role Model.
Andisa Liba is not only a leader in her field but also a true pioneer driving social change through innovation and empowerment.
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Dr Nondumiso Makhunga-Stevenson is a physician leadership development and executive coach, international speaker, and podcast host who brings a fresh, deeply compassionate lens to the future of healthcare leadership. With more than two decades in medicine, she has held leadership roles in international non-profits, private practice, and the pharmaceutical industry , positioning her as a powerful voice in the global movement to rehumanise healthcare.
Holding an MBChB and MSc, Dr. Makhunga-Stevenson is the world’s first medical doctor certified in Ubuntu Coach. This groundbreaking distinction shapes her coaching and speaking with the African philosophy of shared humanity, dignity, and connectedness. Her work integrates systems thinking, executive coaching, and storytelling to address the moral injury, identity fragmentation, and disconnection experienced by many healthcare workers today.
She is known for creating transformational experiences for healthcare professionals, corporate leaders, and mission-driven organizations. Her keynotes offer not just inspiration but actionable insight. With warmth and authority, she helps audiences’ question long-held beliefs about success, hierarchy, and healing, while guiding them toward clarity, courage, and purpose-driven leadership.
Dr Nondumiso Makhunga-Stevenson’s signature speaking style is both grounded and catalytic. She speaks to the soul of her audience while offering practical strategies that meet the demands of complex systems. Her ability to weave data, story, and Ubuntu wisdom makes her a sought-after speaker for events focused on leadership, wellbeing for healthcare providers and the future of healthcare.
Beyond the stage, she is a regular guest on podcasts and hosts her own series where she facilitates honest, often difficult conversations about purpose, power, and professional identity in medicine with healthcare provider guests.
At the intersection of medicine, coaching, and Ubuntu, Dr Nondumiso Makhunga-Stevenson is more than a speaker , she is a force for healing. Through her work, she challenges audiences and institutions alike to move beyond performance and perfectionism, and toward compassion and community.
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A passionate female empowerment activist, Dr. Makaziwe Mandela is widely known as the daughter of the famous Nelson Mandela.
Currently the co-founding Chairman of the House of Mandela, Makaziwe has played a prominent role in carrying forth the values and name of the Mandela family and supports the empowerment of women across South Africa.
Now booked as a speaker for corporate events, Makaziwe covers topics such as female empowerment, service leadership, social justice, conflict resolution and more.
A highly educated individual, Dr. Makaziwe Mandela has previously been the recipient of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship and the Fulbright Distinguished Fellowship Award. Such awards allowed her to achieve a Masters in Sociology and a Doctorate in Anthropology, studying at the University of Massachusetts.
Since then she has enjoyed a successful career as Executive Manager of Corporate Services for the Development Bank of South Africa and the General Manager of Human Resources for Spoornet. She also co-founded House of Mandela, a business started with her daughter and carried on her family legacy as the Director of the House of Mandela Family Foundation.
Dr. Makaziwe Mandela has also been involved in work with Nozala, an organisation helping with women’s investments and empowering the economic upliftment of women in the region of South Africa.
Throughout her career, Dr. Makaziwe Mandela has made it her mission to empower women to accomplish all that men do and to raise awareness of how women are going to continue to shape the future of South Africa. In her work with the Mandela family foundation, Makaziwe passionately advocates African social issues such as HIV and AIDS, women’s rights, education and energy.
Carrying on the Mandela family name, Dr. Makaziwe Mandela is an inspirational figure of female empowerment and a fantastic choice as a female motivational speaker.
Spreading awareness of various topical social issues, Makaziwe empowers other women to follow in her footsteps and create awareness for all that they are passionate about.
On a mission to see an active change in the world around her, Dr. Makaziwe Mandela promotes the history of the 200-year-old Mandela name and covers topics such as female empowerment, leadership, conflict resolution, competition and collaboration.
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Zipho Sikhakhane is a globally recognized business strategist, keynote speaker, and thought leader whose transformative insights have inspired audiences across six continents. As the first black South African woman to earn an MBA from Stanford University, she brings a unique blend of academic excellence, corporate experience, and entrepreneurial spirit to her engagements. Raised in a township in KwaZulu-Natal, Zipho’s journey from humble beginnings to international acclaim exemplifies resilience, authenticity, and visionary leadership.
Her keynotes delve into themes of authentic leadership, organizational transformation, and Africa’s economic potential. Drawing from her roles at global firms like McKinsey & Company and Inditex (ZARA), as well as her leadership at EMZ Advisory, Zipho offers actionable strategies that resonate with diverse audiences. Her storytelling captivates, her insights challenge the status quo, and her presence energizes any event.
Zipho Sikhakhane’s professional trajectory is marked by a series of pioneering achievements and impactful roles. After completing her MBA at Stanford University on a full scholarship, she embarked on a career that spanned continents and industries. At McKinsey & Company, she contributed to strategic initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa, including establishing the firm’s presence in Nigeria. Her tenure at Inditex (ZARA) as International Project Director saw her managing projects across five continents, enhancing operational efficiencies and customer experiences.
In 2015, Zipho founded EMZ Advisory, a management consulting firm dedicated to enhancing organizational effectiveness and productivity. Under her leadership, EMZ Advisory has delivered customized solutions in leadership development, change management, and strategic execution to clients across Africa. Her commitment to fostering inclusive growth is evident in her investments in early-stage ventures throughout East, West, and Southern Africa.
Beyond her corporate endeavors, Zipho is a published author and former weekly business columnist for South Africa’s Sunday Times. Her thought leadership extends to board roles, including positions at Allan Gray Group and E Squared Investments, where she influences decisions on asset management and impact investing. Her TEDx talk, “The Poetry of My Africa,” delivered in the USA, reflects her passion for redefining Africa’s narrative and potential.
Zipho’s academic credentials are equally impressive. She holds a Bachelor of Business Science with first-class honors from the University of Cape Town and has completed leadership programs in Austria, China, the Czech Republic, Russia, and South Africa. Her educational background equips her with a global perspective and a deep understanding of diverse business environments.
Her accolades include the Outstanding Young Achiever Award from the UNESCO Center for Global Education and recognition by the Independent Pan-African Youth Parliament. These honors underscore her influence as a leader committed to driving positive change and empowering the next generation.
Zipho Sikhakhane embodies the qualities of a transformative leader: resilience, authenticity, and a commitment to empowering others. Her journey from a township in South Africa to global stages exemplifies the power of vision and determination. As a speaker, she offers more than insights; she provides a roadmap for individuals and organizations to unlock their potential and drive meaningful change. Booking Zipho ensures an event marked by inspiration, engagement, and lasting impact.
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Lindelwa Skenjana is a thinker, a feeler, a connector. A mother who is passionate about driving missions that entail digital solutions and an inclusion agenda. Taking products, platforms and solutions to those who previously would not have access. Lindelwa is passionate about the advancement of women in the workplace, nurturing psychologically safe spaces for women to participate and matters relating to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
Lindelwa Skenjana is a distinguished South African author, speaker, and corporate professional, renowned for her insightful perspectives on navigating the corporate landscape as a black woman. Her seminal work, “The Black Girl’s Guide to Corporate South Africa,” has resonated with many, shedding light on the unique challenges and triumphs faced by black women in professional settings.
In her multifaceted career, Lindelwa has taken on roles that blend her expertise heading up digital marketing and CX with one of the biggest listed insurance companies, mass market division. Beyond her corporate responsibilities, Lindelwa is the founder of IndimaYam, a platform dedicated to empowering individuals through shared experiences and knowledge.
Lindelwa’s thought leadership has been recognized by prominent organizations. Notably, she was invited as a guest speaker for Old Mutual’s Fireside Chat series, where she discussed themes from her book and shared her professional journey.
Her engaging speaking style and profound insights make her a sought-after speaker for events focusing on diversity, inclusion, and corporate culture.
Event planners seeking a speaker who combines professional acumen with authentic storytelling will find Lindelwa Skenjana to be an excellent choice. Her ability to connect with diverse audiences and address pertinent issues in the corporate world ensures that her sessions are both enlightening and inspiring.
In summary, Lindelwa Skenjana stands out as a compelling speaker whose experiences and expertise offer valuable lessons for navigating and thriving in corporate environments.
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Nicola Tyler is a renowned expert in the field of Lateral Thinking and she has been a strategist and leadership development trainer for over twenty years.
During this time, she worked with, and was trained by, Dr Edward de Bono, in his creative and lateral thinking methods. As CEO of Business Results Group, she heads up the official distributorship of Dr Edward de Bono’s Thinking Methods, Official Tom Peters Training, iOpener Institute’s Science of Happiness at Work and Liz Wiseman’s Multipliers Leadership Development in Southern Africa.
BRG also owns the prestigious brand, ‘The Progress Conference’; host to the annual Happiness @ Work conference and numerous thought leadership programs in South Africa.
Nicola Tyler has shared the stage with a number of world renowned speakers such as Martin Seligman, Dave Ulrich, Tom Peters, Martin Lindstrom, Robert Kaplan, Ricardo Semler and more. She has personally addressed audiences in Argentina, Bahrain, Bangkok, Brussels, Cambodia, Paris, Prague, Mauritius, Switzerland and London, as well as having done extensive work in Africa and in the Middle East.
She is a Professional Associate at GIBS (Gordon Institute of Business Science), which has been ranked as the number one Business School in Africa (Financial Times, UK), where, for several years
Nicola presented an MBA elective on Creative and Innovative Thinking. Today, she presents on a number of company specific programs for the business school on both Innovative and Strategic Thinking.
Nicola Tyler is a professional, insightful and engaging speaker who is passionate about making a difference and delivering results.
She brings a deep respect and appreciation for business needs into their sessions by engaging people at all levels and encouraging the process of thinking in such a way, that it stimulates commitment and buy-in to decisions.
She is widely considered a master at applying de Bono’s techniques in live business situations. Nicola Tyler is an erudite presenter and master facilitator with business experience way beyond the field of Creative Thinking.
Nicola Tyler unique and pragmatic style of working has earned her a reputation for being able to ‘turn strategy into action’ and personal passion for thinking, innovation and results, is realized through a process that she has coined as ‘Operative Strategy’.
Drawing on Nicola Tyler twenty years of experience in the fields of strategy and innovation, Nicola facilitates strategic planning, strategic thinking and innovation processes and workshops across a variety of industries.
She regularly consults to organisations on strategic innovation, she coaches executives on the implementation of strategy and she facilitates partnering innovation workshops for clients.
Nicola has been interviewed on radio, television, and Nicola Tyler – Strategic Lateral Leadership has frequently contributed to articles on management journals, both locally and internationally.
Thinking Differently ™ About ….
It’s not often that you can book a speaker to present on any topic but quite literally, that’s what you can do with Nicola.
Nicola Tyler will bring to your subject the topic of thinking and in an engaging and high impact presentation, she will get your team thinking differently about … just about … ANYTHING!
The trick is the thinking part. She’s done in mining, sales, financial services, health care, human resources, manufacturing, marketing, branding, finance, risk management and more! And, even if she hasn’t done one in your field, she will be up for the challenge for sure!
Think – discover how your brain processes information and what goes right and wrong when you begin to think.
Differently – discover the power of perception and how learning to change perceptions can change, just about, anything. It’s the key to innovation success and it will unlock new thinking in the room, in an instant!
About – pick your topic and that will become the theme of Nicola Tyler presentation. She will research your industry and get to know your needs to ensure that she hits the relevant nail on the head! Your wish, is Nicola’s command!
Our company has quite a few different products in our stable. Nicola Tyler is a master certified trainer in de Bono courses (Six Thinking Hats, Lateral Thinking, Power of Perception, Six Value Medals and Simplicity). The most favoured course is Lateral Thinking.
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