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Sara-Jayne King is a mixed-race South African/British journalist and radio presenter whose career has taken her across the globe in search of remarkable stories and fascinating characters.
Her career began as a junior journalist in local radio in London and since then has included roles in the Middle East and Africa, most recently as a senior editor for news channel eNCA and presenter for Primedia’s talk radio station Cape Talk.
Born Karoline King in 1980 in Johannesburg South Africa, Sara-Jayne King (as she will later be called by her adoptive parents) is the result of an affair, illegal under apartheid’s Immorality Act, between a white British woman and a black South African man.
Her story reveals the shocking lie created to cover up the forbidden relationship and the hurried overseas adoption of the illegitimate baby, born during one of history’s most inhumane and destructive regimes.
Killing Karoline follows the journey of the baby girl who is raised in a leafy, middle-class corner of the South of England by a white couple. Plagued by questions surrounding her own identity and unable to ‘fit in’ Sara-Jayne begins to turn on herself.
She eventually returns to South Africa, after 26 years, to face her demons. There she is forced to face issues of identity, race, rejection and belonging beyond that which she could ever have imagined.
She must also face her birth family, who in turn must confront what happens when the baby you kill off at a mere six weeks old returns from the dead.
Sara-Jayne King is passionate about issues relating to identity, race, adoption, mental health and addiction and addresses all of those factors in her talks.
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Kate Emmerson has shared her enLIGHTening ideas with over 45,000 people and her obsession with productivity, leveraging and de-cluttering translates.
South Africa’s foremost clutter expert, sought after international speaker, professional lifestyle coach, mastermind facilitator for other writers, runs retreats in idyllic locations and is the author of 2 books.
Kate is hell-bent on inspiring an energetic transition to LIVE LIGHT, LIVE LARGE by transforming South Africa and the world one shelf, one life, one home, one heart and one business at a time.
Kate is considered a down-to-earth coach, advisor and mentor who is always seeking a better version of life. With a huge appetite for change, love, travel, food, authenticity, wine, coffee and a raucous laugh – she is always up for an adventure somewhere new.
She is at home dressed to the nines at the opera or ballet playing city gal …as she is in walking shoes traversing the boggy moors soul-searching.
Kate Emmerson is a pretty good salsa dancer and can whip up a meal. She somehow pulled off being an executive chef in a villa (one summer in Provence as a self-proclaimed non-chef).
She owned a Harley-Davidson once upon another life, is always searching for heart-shaped rocks on remote beaches, and still misses her beloved cat, Stripey, who has a new forever home.
Kate Emmerson helps you question your life, your choices and how you spend your time, but is equally someone you can sip a flute of champagne with somewhere idyllic while flirting with life. Mostly she thinks out of the box and just isn’t afraid to take up space in the world.
She will not let you shrink back from challenges, but she may help you question if it is even the right challenge to be tackling? A bit of real authentic common sense.
South Africa’s foremost clutter expert, sought after international speaker, professional lifestyle coach, mastermind facilitator for other writers, runs retreats in idyllic locations and is the author of 2 books.
Kate Emmerson is hell-bent on inspiring an energetic transition to LIVE LIGHT, LIVE LARGE by transforming South Africa and the world one shelf, one life, one home, one heart and one business at a time.
Her books are now internationally published through appearing in the award winning movie “The Secrets of the Keys”, alongside the world’s self development leaders.
She has taken her message to the next level with THE MINIMALIST MANIFESTO and living location free for 2016.
Clients include the YPO/WPO, Nike, Massmart, Sage VIP Payroll, Investec, Air Mauritius, Dove, HP, Tsogo Sun, EY and Dermalogica.
Kate Emmerson inspires audiences by drawing on her vast experience and colourful life – combining a degree in Industrial Psychology, post graduate Industrial Relations, Master life coaching, practitioner of NLP and EFT along with owning her first family business in the wellness industry at age 25, a professional aromatherapist and reflexologist, as an executive chef in Provence, managing the sexy Fashion TV at Silverstar and owning a Harley Davidson at 40.
She was recently handpicked to appear as an expert in the transformational film “The Secrets of the Keys” (USA) and is the brand ambassador for DERMALOGICA, Essential Earth and Velamiyora Photography.
She truly lives her life according to the principles of being courageous, authentic and honest and is one of the main reasons clients are drawn to working with her.
Kate Emmerson – Quick Shift Deva believes in the possibility that anyone can shift his or her life when pairing deep intention with a logical step-by-step guide.
She wrote her first book, CLEAR YOUR CLUTTER to leverage her time and influence after realizing there are only so many homes she can personally go into to physically declutter.
Kate Emmerson has since helped thousands of clients all over the world let go of emotional, body and physical clutter and disorder.
It is her mission to inspire people to LIVE LIGHT, LIVE LARGE.
Kate Emmerson second book, DITCH YOUR GLITCH was written to support people on the next leg of the journey by following her process of STEP IN, STEP UP and STEP OUT.
She also shares her own journey of how she let life get the better of her several times, battling bulimia, financial loss and depression and shares this in a story titled “WHEN THE RABBITS STOMP”.
With courage and determination Kate reminds you to take charge of your life, and that anyone can get their life back on track, no matter how many “rabbits are stomping”.
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Dave Levinsohn is not your average comedian. With a unique talent for improvisation, he brings a fresh and spontaneous energy to every performance. His quick wit and ability to think on his feet make it seem like he’s making it up as he goes along – because he is! With over two decades of experience, Dave has established himself as a prominent figure in the comedy scene, captivating audiences with his hilarious antics and sharp humor.
Dave’s Journey: Since 1997, Dave Levinsohn has been a fixture at the Coffee Lounge comedy club, where he has honed his craft as a host and performer. It is here that he first began to showcase his talent for improvisation, charming audiences with his ability to turn any situation into comedy gold. Over the years, Dave has become a regular face at prestigious events such as the Vodacom International Festival and the Smirnoff Comedy Festival, earning acclaim for his dynamic stage presence and infectious humor.
On-The-Spot Comedy: What sets Dave Levinsohn apart is his unparalleled skill in on-the-spot comedy. While many comedians rely on scripted material, Dave thrives in the spontaneous moment, engaging with the audience and riffing off their responses. Whether it’s a clever remark or a hilarious observation, Dave’s quick thinking and razor-sharp wit ensure that no two performances are ever the same. His ability to improvise effortlessly has earned him a reputation as a master of his craft, delighting audiences with his uncanny ability to turn the unexpected into comedy magic.
Conclusion: In a world where comedy is often scripted and rehearsed, Dave Levinsohn stands out as a true original. His talent for on-the-spot comedy is unmatched, making him a sought-after performer at events around the world. Whether he’s hosting a comedy club or headlining a corporate conference, Dave’s quick thinking and infectious humor never fail to entertain. For an unforgettable comedy experience that is guaranteed to leave audiences in stitches, book Dave Levinsohn through Speakers Inc today.
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Mathew Makoni is a vibrant, experienced and eloquent keynote speaker who has over 10 years’ experience in leading high-performing and impactful teams in various sectors.
A masters graduate in operations management, published author and a SADC speaking champion, he not only brings a fresh perspective on relevant topics (that teams and managers face today in the workplace) but also adds a real pizzazz to his deliveries.
His speeches are engaging, thought prompting and ultimately result in tangible action points. After all, his main goal is not only to entertain but to ensure valuable take-aways for his audience. A well-travelled and open-minded speaker, he is also able to cut across cultural lines and navigate through the landscape of our diversity.
He has been hosting private and public events for corporates and individuals all over South Africa for the last decade.
His main Keynote “Impact-oriented individuals, Impact-focus Organizations and Impacted Societies” is a revolutionary look at how we can re-engineer our contribution to today’s society by re-assessing our focus and goals.
Whilst using great storytelling techniques Mathew Makoni drives the point that – meeting goals is not enough: we are all called to be impact-oriented. He shares 3 amazing stories of individuals, teams and societies that not only impacted their immediate spheres of influence but produced results that have cascaded hope over decades.
Mathew Makoni premise is that our employees should transcend beyond merely meeting individual goals assigned to them by managers, teams should transcend beyond organizational goals, businesses should exist beyond the frameworks set by their boards.
Our future can only be preserved by a deliberate trumping of the traditional goal -oriented success model. Impact orientation is a longer-term measure of real success!
The tools suggested in the speech are practical and can be applied at a family, team, corporate and community level.
Mathew Makoni focuses on how Kaizens – a Japanese model of process improvement – can be successfully integrated into the fabric of how we run our lives, teams and organizations.
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Manteca is Durban’s hot Afro-Caribbean Salsa band. The Band has been moving hips and lighting up dance floors around the various salsa and live music venues in KZN and JHB since 2009.
The band is currently an 8 piece line up consisting: Raul Vasquez (a bona fide Salsa Dance Champion and instructor) on male vocals, Nosihe Zulu on female vocals, Avikaar Maney on Alto sax, Johan van der Molen on Tenor sax, Daniel Sheldon on Trumpet, Alberto Chemane on percussion/kit, Monks Legget on Bass and Avinash Maney on keys and Guitar.
Our repertoire includes some traditional and folkloric Afro Caribbean songs (Anabacoa, RanKanKan, La Esencia del Guaguanco) as well as some more contemporary tunes (Havana, Despacito, All of Me) and some Latin favorites (Oye Como Va, Labamba, Guantanamera) and some Latin versions of our own South African favorites (Pata Pata, Ntjilo Ntjilo, Meadowlands).
We have a crew of Salsa dancers that can be brought in to share and activate your Dance floor as well as some professional Dancers who can lead your guests in a fun and interactive Salsa line dance (a fantastic ice breaker) and do some dance Demo features and even lead a class on the beginner steps of Salsa.
The band has evolved over the years varying between a 13 piece and an 8 piece line up featuring a culturally diverse array of individuals with a passion for the intense rhythmically charged art form of Afro Caribbean music (a fusion itself of European classical and African musical traditions).
Durban’s hot-blooded, authentic, cooking Afro Cuban Salsa Band. Continuing the evolution and journey of Salsa and making it a part of Durbans Rich Cultural identity.
The band has over its existence featured at many corporate, cultural and sport events with even a favorably reviewed show at the local Rhumbelow Theatre.
Manteca (meaning Fat or Grease) loves fusing ideas of Music, Dance, Art, Architecture, Culture and Fashion (even inspiring a range of “Manteca Shirts” by Designer KMK).
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BadWolf – Corporate Band is a fresh 5piece band from Johannesburg created purely to rearrange top 40 and other highly recognizable songs with a hip, groove based approach.
BadWolf takes everything from Etta James’ classic “At Last” to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” and everything in between.
They hosts some of South Africa’s young stars. Hannah Foster has created a name for herself as one of the most talented vocalists, Cameron Bruce, Idols finalist in 2009 as well as guitarist for 80’s superstar, Jennifer Rush.
Together with Justin Badenhorst (Drummer for Elvis Blue) and Benjamin Jephta (renowned SA Bassist) holding down the rhythm, each song is sure to be tight and groovy.
The cherry on top is their fantastic Trumpet player, Neil Engel, who adds a touch of elegance and class of BadWolf’s sound.
All round that are a great band for any event, function or wedding with their constantly updated repertoire and having the versatility of 2 vocalists they are sure to make your event!
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Herman Mashaba grew up in a small village on the outskirts of Pretoria during the dark days of apartheid South Africa. Mashaba embraced independence early in life, having lost his father at the age of two. When his studies were interrupted by state security forces during the struggle against apartheid, Mashaba decided to pursue a career as an entrepreneur instead.
Over the ensuing decades he built a business empire that included companies in the cosmetics, construction, real estate, retail, energy and financial services fields. His success earned him an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from the Central University of Technology in 2013.
During this time, Mashaba also chaired the Free Market Foundation – a public benefit organisation founded on classical liberal principles with the aim to promote and foster an open, democratic society based on the rule of law, personal liberty, and economic freedom.
In 2015, Mashaba decided that he was no longer satisfied with being an armchair critic and entered politics as Mayoral Candidate for the City of Johannesburg for the DA, South Africa’s largest opposition party.
In the historic election of 2016, Mashaba was elected as the Executive Mayor of a 7-party multi-party coalition government with a mandate for change.
Herman Mashaba stepped-back from corporate life in order to focus fulltime on leading the City government. He has received acclaim for his hands-on approach to service delivery, innovative partnerships with the private sector, and zero-tolerance for corruption and maladministration.
Herman Mashaba corporate approach to municipal governance introduced a new era in the City as Mashaba worked to turn the corner on the decay and deterioration that had become associated with Johannesburg. In doing so he won the hearts and minds of the City’s residents, who recognised his desire to serve the residents of the City and to get Joburg working.
On the 21st of October 2019, Mashaba announced his resignation from the Democratic Alliance, and consequently as the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, effective 27 November 2019.
Shortly after his resignation Herman Mashaba launched The People’s Dialogue on the 6th of December 2019, a platform to engage ordinary South Africans about the solutions required to fix South Africa and build a shared future for all its people.
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Dr Wendy Luhabe is a pioneer in the Economic Empowerment of Women with her revolutionary ideas which enabled South African Women to become Investors for the first time in the mid ‘90s, after South Africa became a democracy.
She has Chaired and served on a number of diverse Boards in South Africa and overseas over the past 20 years, including becoming the founding Chair of South Africa’s International Marketing Council founded by President Mbeki more than 10 years ago.
She is an Economic Activist, a champion for Social Entrepreneurship, a Mentor for younger generations and a recipient of numerous Awards and honors.
Dr Wendy Luhabe is a recipient of three Honorary Doctorates for her work with Women, is a former Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg and was awarded the Lieutenant of the Victorian Order (LVO) by the British Royal Family in 2014.
She is a Thought Leader, an Author, an accomplished business woman. Dr Wendy Luhabe is passionate about leadership development in Africa and inter-generational dialogue to find new solutions to Africa’s chronic problems.
Books:
Black professionals in business have become an important grouping in South African society. But this is a relatively recent development.
Defining Moments presents the stories of three decades of black executives, drawing on significant aspects of management theory and practice in the context of the changing socio-economic conditions that prevailed in each decade.
The first generation of black professionals who braved the corporate world in the 1970s was handicapped by Bantu Education and apartheid legislation, but they were imbued with a vigorous culture of debate born of the struggle.
During the 1980s they increased in numbers and included black females with qualifications in commerce and finance.
The 1990’s generation was supported by changes in the political landscape in South Africa which gave birth to the country’s new democracy and universally admired Constitution.
This book offers the experiences and attitudes of black executives of the past three decades to future generations and invites professionals to use this book as a tool to create a better understanding and bridge the gap between cultures.
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Deon Basson – Sales Communication: Success is all about how we persuade and influence people, not just processed communication.
The way we Pitch is what makes the difference in the boardroom, in sales, in teams, between people.
Deon’s talks on sales or communication are highly applicable to any sales team and any team or company that needs more effective communication.
Deon Basson is the CEO of 2interact and has been doing his doctoral studies on what really differentiates the top performing salespeople. And the common denominator is …. The psychology of sales.
Applying the right psychology is far more important than the process of selling.
Running the first training to address this issue some people could make the shift to greater conversations while others could not. It became apparent that there was another skill salespeople need. Having spoken to numerous people, companies and academic institutions it became obvious that the key was to understand and apply how people differ. The focus at that time was to make sure that salespeople understand how people differ.
So the Psychology of Sales was born.
This initial program focused very much on showing salespeople how people differ in the way that they think as well as how personalities differ. This program from Deon Basson was run for about 18 months, but from the experience it was realized that commonly found personality profiles did not serve the communication purpose effectively as they were not built for that (square peg in a round hole).
2interact and the people associated with the company realized that the true issue that they were trying to address was improving communication skills of salespeople and not personalities. In 2006 this was put into practice when the first form of the 2interact communication framework was defined and used in training programs.
In 2011 Deon Basson and 2interact was conducting training with an international bank. After the training the sales director approached 2interact to run a workshop for management and executives. That was the first step outside of the sales field and the real birth of what we stand for today.
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