Preventing Burnout
In my average week, I work with 8 clients for 90 minutes at a time. Then I have about 5 conversations with people who are interested in working with me, or someone connected to me wanting to think through a…
Category Strategy
Businesses Are Not Machines, Nor Are You.
As South Africa came out of our fifth week of lockdown sometime in May last year, I took the decision to stop reading COVID news. I was frazzled by the onslaught of different theories and opinions. South Africa’s hard lockdown…
Abdullah Verachia’s Disruption Amplified
This week, I wanted to introduce you to Nigerian artist Ndidi Emefiele I loved her piece, Here as in Heaven which is currently showing in London’s Gallery Rosenfeld. Then, Sepanta Bagherpour, Nando’s CMO for North America, dropped me a note telling me about their undemocratic meal…
Robert Iger’s 15 Years Leading Disney
At the end of last year my sunglasses were removed from my, often-forgotten-to-be-locked, car. The desire to avoid adding a summer squint to my Zoom stare led me to The Oculus. They have been pioneering a South African designed and manufactured…
The Best Entrepreneurs? They Let Fires Burn
Happy Sunday Everyone I am starting today on a personal note. Just over a year ago I just changed the headline on my LinkedIn Profile from Chief Operations Officer to Coach. It was the start of a new journey. Since then, I…
Behaviour Design, Being Perfect, And Pan-African Possibilities
Good morning friends Today’s letter is a mixed bag of musing. I couldn’t think of a clever way to hold it all together, so I hope you enjoy the meander as much as I enjoyed putting it together. If you’ve…
The Power Of Persistence
Good morning friends Generally, this letter’s open rates exceed the industry average by >40%. Last week’s letter on good leadership exceeded even that. On Tuesday morning I sent out a mail asking whether you’d like more social media engagement from me. Two…
Lululemon, Takashi Murakami And Ayobami Adebayo
Good morning everyone Today, we will dive straight into stories of yoga, art, and love. / Strategy Chip Wilson’s story is fascinating. The son of a Phys Ed teacher and a seamstress, today his 9% shareholding of athletic wear business, Lululemon means…
Strategy Lesson: Listen To Weak Signals
Dear All Thank you all for your reflections on last week’s letter. The Thabo Mbeki quotation that “no solution to current problems can be found unless we understand their historical origins” resonated with many of you. It took me back to…
Creating possibility
By now you know that South African Tatjana Schoenmaker has set a new world record for the 200-meter breaststroke. If you haven’t seen the moments after her win, scroll to the 2 min 20 sec mark and watch, it will make your…
Netflix and The Culture of Reinvention
Good morning. I hope you’re well and that someone is bringing you coffee in bed… Six weeks ago, I wrote to you from Inside Covid. A week later, as Covid spat me out, I wrote that I’m Still Standing. Since then, we…
The Spur Story: One of SA’s Most Successful Franchises
It is Cape Town Art Fair this weekend and so I thought I’d share some new art that I’ve been enjoying. Although, as you know, it is not like I need an excuse to share art. I loved this piece by young…