What's Next with Aki Anastasiou: Recent Episodes
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MyBroadband was founded in 2003 to serve the South African broadband and IT community. It provides visitors with up-to-date coverage of IT and Internet related news, and gives them a place to give their views and share information.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 devices bring slimmer designs, larger displays, and deeper AI integration to Samsung’s newest foldable smartphone range.Zahir Cajee, MX Lead of Product and Commercial at Samsung South Africa, explains how the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, and Flip 8 serve different users. He compares the compact Fold 8’s content-focused design with the Fold 8 Ultra’s productivity, multitasking, camera, and performance capabilities, while the Flip 8 prioritises portability, self-expression, and content creation.The discussion covers Samsung’s redesigned hinges, lighter builds, brighter displays, improved batteries, and Flex Titanium technology. Cajee also demonstrates how One UI 9 and agentic AI can simplify everyday tasks, including checking calendars, responding to messages, editing photos, and working across multiple apps.He explains how Samsung Knox protects personal information, how users can control which data AI features access, and why foldable smartphones are moving into the mainstream. The episode concludes with guidance on choosing the right foldable, alongside South African pricing, pre-orders, trade-ins, Samsung Care+, and launch offers.0:00 Intro1:04 Why foldable smartphones matter2:40 Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, and Flip 88:02 Thinner designs and display improvements14:25 One UI 9 and AI features20:40 Samsung Knox and data privacy25:59 Choosing the right foldableFollow MyBroadband:X - https://twitter.com/mybroadbandFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadbandInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/#GalaxyZFold8 #SamsungGalaxy #FoldablePhones
AI governance is becoming essential as businesses automate more decisions and connect artificial intelligence to sensitive corporate data.Nicky Downing, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Guideline BizTech, explains why organisations must build trust, ethics, and accountability into AI systems from the beginning. She introduces RUBIQ Hub, an AI-first digital trust platform designed to help enterprises adopt AI responsibly, securely, and at scale.The discussion examines why many AI projects fail when they begin as isolated technology initiatives without sufficient business context. Downing explains the importance of governance, risk management, compliance, clear objectives, and ethical frameworks before automation is introduced.She also argues that people must remain accountable for AI-supported decisions. The human-in-the-loop model can allow businesses to automate repetitive work while reskilling employees for oversight, communication, and higher-value roles. For South African companies, the episode offers practical guidance on protecting confidential information, avoiding uncontrolled public AI tools, and ensuring that AI agents operate within defined responsibilities.0:00 Intro1:02 Nicky Downing’s governance journey4:19 Building trustworthy enterprise AI11:49 Why trust matters in AI17:33 The biggest AI adoption risks25:21 Keeping humans in the loop28:32 How the Ethos governance layer worksFollow MyBroadband:X - https://twitter.com/mybroadbandFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadbandInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/#AIGovernance #ResponsibleAI #ArtificialIntelligence
Enterprise data protection is becoming critical as South African organisations adopt AI, expand storage, and defend against ransomware.Mirian Lin, Account Manager at Synology, explains how the company is growing beyond its traditional NAS and SMB base to serve enterprise customers in South Africa. She discusses rising demand across mining, government, manufacturing, media, and education, where secure storage, backup, and data protection are central to digital transformation.The conversation examines data sovereignty, the balance between on-premises infrastructure and cloud services, and Synology’s goal of helping organisations maintain control over their information. Lin also outlines how secure, accessible, and well-managed data provides the foundation businesses need to adopt AI confidently.She highlights common backup mistakes and failing to test recovery plans. The discussion also covers immutable backups, ransomware resilience, enterprise storage, and Synology’s partner expansion across Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and other South African markets.0:00 Intro0:24 Synology’s growth in South Africa2:41 Moving from SMB to enterprise3:27 Expanding the local partner channel6:12 Data sovereignty and on-premises storage8:48 Building AI-ready data infrastructure10:45 Backup mistakes and strategies13:33 Enterprise storage and cyber resilienceFollow MyBroadband:X - https://twitter.com/mybroadbandFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadbandInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/#DataProtection #CyberSecurity #Synology
South Africa’s two-pot retirement system is transforming how employees engage with retirement savings, digital tools, and financial education.Michelle Acton, Chief Customer Officer at Old Mutual Corporate, explains how the two-pot system has driven a major increase in direct member engagement across South Africa. She discusses how retirement fund members are using digital channels to check balances, update personal details, submit claims, and better understand their long-term savings.The conversation explores Old Mutual Corporate’s use of WhatsApp as an accessible financial services channel, with member engagement rising significantly as customers gain faster access to information. Acton also explains the technology, fraud prevention, verification, and customer experience changes required to serve hundreds of thousands of retirement fund members digitally.She highlights how improved financial literacy, easier access to advice, and reduced friction can encourage South Africans to preserve more of their retirement savings, contribute more consistently, and make better-informed financial decisions.0:00 Intro0:31 Two-pot system and digital engagement2:51 Making retirement savings more personal4:38 Direct member engagement6:14 WhatsApp and accessible financial services9:23 Modernising Old Mutual’s systems12:18 Financial education and better retirement outcomesFollow MyBroadband:X - https://twitter.com/mybroadbandFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadbandInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/#TwoPotSystem #RetirementSavings #FinancialServices
AI-powered financial inclusion is helping millions of underserved consumers access credit through alternative data and advanced risk modelling.Salvador Anglada, Chief Executive Officer at Optasia, explains how the company uses artificial intelligence to provide small, unsecured loans at scale across 38 countries. He discusses how alternative data can create credit profiles for people excluded from traditional banking systems, supporting more than 32 million credit decisions each day.The conversation covers Optasia’s Johannesburg Stock Exchange listing, why South Africa is central to its African strategy, and the role of major partners including mobile networks and banks. Anglada also explains how technology, distribution partnerships, and local regulatory expertise have supported the company’s rapid growth.He discusses Optasia’s acquisition of a prepaid electricity credit business, the potential to expand electricity financing across emerging markets, and why AI should be viewed as an opportunity to improve productivity. He also shares leadership lessons on building strong teams, lifelong learning, taking bold opportunities, and remaining patient throughout a career.0:00 Intro1:41 How Optasia supports financial inclusion4:40 Leading a purpose-driven business6:15 Leadership and building strong teams8:10 Optasia’s JSE listing10:40 Partnerships across South Africa and Africa13:26 Technology, growth, and future opportunitiesFollow MyBroadband:X - https://twitter.com/mybroadbandFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadbandInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/#FinancialInclusion #ArtificialIntelligence #Fintech
, why only a small percentage of organisations are successfully embedding AI into everyday work, and how leaders can balance automation with human judgement. Andre also examines the risks of over-relying on AI, including declining critical thinking, data quality concerns and trust, while highlighting practical examples of AI-assisted decision-making from Deloitte's work in Formula 1. The conversation concludes with insights into organisational agility, adaptive learning, and why human capability—not technology alone—will determine which businesses succeed in the AI era.For South African business and technology leaders, this episode offers practical guidance on preparing organisations for rapid technological change while ensuring people remain at the centre of innovation.0:00 Intro1:25 Deloitte's Global Human Capital Trends report explained3:31 Why organisations must become faster and more adaptable5:05 Human × Machine: the future of AI at work10:03 The risks of over-relying on AI15:04 Formula 1, AI and human decision-making20:07 Why human advantage is the real competitive advantageFollow MyBroadband:X - https://twitter.com/mybroadbandFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadbandInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/Sponsor:Deloitte - https://www.deloitte.com/za/en/Industries/technology/research/tech-trends-2026.html#ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWork #DigitalTransformation
AI is transforming insurance faster than ever. Soul Abraham explains how Old Mutual Insure is using artificial intelligence to improve customer experience, reduce costs and make insurance more accessible for South Africans.Soul Abraham, CEO of Old Mutual Insure, joins What's Next to discuss how one of South Africa's oldest insurers is preparing for an AI-powered future. Drawing on nearly two centuries of insurance expertise, he explains why building a modern data platform was the foundation for adopting AI, and how the company is using artificial intelligence to empower employees, strengthen underwriting, and deliver faster, more personalised customer service.The conversation explores the three pillars of Old Mutual Insure's AI strategy, the role of cloud infrastructure and data in enabling innovation, and how AI could help improve insurance affordability and penetration across South Africa. Soul also shares his vision for AI-assisted brokers, personalised insurance products, faster claims processing, and why upskilling employees will be critical to ensuring AI enhances—not replaces—the workforce. Looking ahead, he outlines how Old Mutual Insure aims to redefine customer expectations while making insurance simpler, more responsive and better suited to individual needs.For South African business and technology leaders, this episode offers valuable insight into how AI is reshaping financial services and what the future of insurance could look like over the next five years.0:00 Intro2:15 Soul Abraham's journey to CEO of Old Mutual Insure7:58 How Old Mutual Insure is adopting AI11:06 The company's three-pillar AI strategy17:14 Improving customer experience with AI29:15 Upskilling employees for an AI-powered future32:11 The future of insurance in South AfricaFollow MyBroadband:X - https://twitter.com/mybroadbandFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadbandInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/#ArtificialIntelligence #Insurance #SouthAfrica
AI and legacy systems don't have to be at odds. Graham Parker explains how businesses can modernise existing technology, unlock value from their data and adopt AI without expensive rip-and-replace projects.Graham Parker, Executive Chairman at Britehouse, joins What's Next to discuss how organisations can cut through the AI hype and focus on practical business outcomes. Drawing on decades of experience building and scaling enterprise software businesses, he explains why successful AI adoption starts with understanding business problems, making better use of existing systems, and creating measurable value rather than chasing the latest technology trends.The discussion explores how AI is transforming enterprise software, why legacy systems often remain valuable foundations for innovation, and the importance of data governance when deploying AI solutions. Graham also shares how Britehouse helps organisations modernise critical business applications through incremental improvements instead of disruptive replacements, while highlighting real-world AI projects spanning industrial operations, enterprise software engineering and even professional cycling through its work with Pinarello Q36.5. For South African organisations navigating digital transformation, the conversation offers practical guidance on implementing AI responsibly while keeping people firmly at the centre of technology.0:00 Intro2:16 Cutting through the AI hype3:23 What Britehouse does6:01 Two practical ways businesses can use AI9:39 Modernising legacy systems with AI19:54 AI in professional cycling and Team Q36.523:29 The future of enterprise software and AIFollow MyBroadband:X - https://twitter.com/mybroadbandFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadbandInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/#ArtificialIntelligence #DigitalTransformation #EnterpriseSoftware
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou speaks to Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen – Lexus Brand Ambassador about craftsmanship, humility and the discipline behind excellence. From growing up on a farm to earning global culinary recognition, he reflects on how consistency, patience and refinement shaped his journey long before the accolades followed.The conversation explores his philosophy of modern luxury as emotional connection rather than status. He shares why simplicity, authenticity and meaningful human experiences define true success, and how building something lasting matters more than noise or fleeting recognition.
secret sauceFollow MyBroadband:X - https://twitter.com/mybroadbandFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadbandInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/#FibreInternet #BroadbandSA #WhatsNext
In this episode of What’s Next, host Aki Anastasiou speaks with Riaan Esterhuysen, Senior Manager of PR and Corporate Communications at Lexus South Africa, about the brand’s long-standing electrification journey and the future of luxury EVs in South Africa. Riaan reflects on his career with Toyota and explains how Lexus has evolved from pioneering hybrid SUVs with the RX in 2006 to launching fully electric battery-electric vehicles like the Lexus RZ. The discussion explores Lexus’s “multi-pathway” strategy, which combines internal combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric, and even hydrogen technologies to suit different markets and customer needs.The conversation also dives into the design philosophy and customer-centric approach that define the Lexus experience. Riaan explains how Japanese craftsmanship, driver-focused interiors, and refined electric performance shape vehicles like the RZ, which aims to deliver luxury, serenity, and usability rather than just headline speed figures. The episode highlights how Lexus is adapting EV technology for South African realities, including charging infrastructure and driving distances, while positioning electrification as a core part of the brand’s future in the country.
Youth unemployment in South Africa remains one of the country's biggest challenges, but AI, digital platforms, and new growth sectors could help change the trajectory.Kuben Nair, Chief Technology Officer at Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, joins What's Next to discuss practical solutions for connecting young South Africans with work opportunities. Nair explains how SA Youth – the country’s largest online youth recruitment platform, managed and operated by Harambee, helps work seekers and self-employed youth overcome barriers such as data costs, transport expenses, and limited access to employers. He also shares insights from Harambee's AI research, including how artificial intelligence is reshaping industries like business process outsourcing, customer service, and tourism.The discussion explores the role of public-private partnerships in addressing the country’s youth unemployment crisis, the importance of recognising informal skills and entrepreneurial experience, the role of self-employment in economic growth, and Harambee's role in advancing the national strategy of reduce youth unemployment by 20% by 2030.0:00 Intro0:58 What Harambee does and why it matters4:19 The causes of South Africa's youth unemployment crisis11:21 How the SA Youth platform works15:21 AI's impact on jobs and skills development20:15 National strategy to reduce youth unemployment by 20%24:14 Advice for employers and job seekersFollow Harambee Youth Employment AcceleratorWebsite: https://www.harambee.co.za/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/harambee-youth-employment-accelerator/posts/?feedView=allFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/harambee.youthemploymentInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/harambeeyouthemployment/Follow SA YouthFor Employers: https://sayouth.co.za/For work-seekers: https://sayouth.mobi/
Artificial intelligence is reshaping business strategy, but why are so few AI projects delivering measurable ROI? Omeshnee Naidoo, CIO Programme Leader for Africa at Deloitte, joins What's Next powered by Deloitte to unpack the findings from Deloitte's Tech Trends 2026 report and what they mean for African technology leaders.Naidoo explains how African CIOs can use AI, cloud computing, and improved connectivity to leapfrog traditional infrastructure challenges and accelerate digital transformation. She also discusses why many AI initiatives fail, the critical role of data quality, and how organisations can move beyond experimentation to deliver real business value.The conversation explores the emergence of a new generation of CIOs, the balance between innovation and operational excellence, cybersecurity in an AI-driven world, and why African organisations are uniquely positioned to compete globally despite resource constraints.Follow MyBroadband:X - https://twitter.com/mybroadbandFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/mybroadbandInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/mybroadband/Website - https://mybroadband.co.za/news/Sponsor:Deloitte - https://www.deloitte.com/za/en/Industries/technology/research/tech-trends-2026.html
What if IoT connectivity didn’t require expensive long-term contracts or constant monitoring? In this episode, Sigfox South Africa CEO Gregory Rood explains how a new “single-use communication” model is transforming the way businesses think about connected devices.The discussion explores how ultra-low-cost IoT tags can send alerts only when critical events happen — such as a package being opened, medicine going out of temperature range, or a shipment being tampered with. Instead of continuous tracking and monthly subscriptions, businesses can deploy short-term, prepaid connectivity built around real-world operational needs.From healthcare and cold-chain logistics to freight monitoring, panic buttons, and asset protection, the episode highlights how Sigfox’s AI-enhanced network and South African-built innovation are lowering the barrier to IoT adoption and enabling smarter, more affordable connected solutions.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou speaks to Robert Gwerengwe – CEO of WesBank about the forces reshaping South Africa’s vehicle finance and mobility landscape. Gwerengwe reflects on the leadership experiences that shaped him, from building new operations abroad to gaining broad banking exposure, and outlines his vision for a more inclusive, future-focused WesBank.The conversation explores electrification, the rise of Chinese vehicle brands, flexible mobility models and the growing role of data in structuring smarter finance solutions. Gwerengwe also shares how shifting consumer behavior, rising fuel costs and changing ownership preferences are redefining what mobility looks like in South Africa — and how financial institutions must evolve alongside it.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou speaks to Leon Theron – Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing at Lexus South Africa about how the brand balances luxury, performance and long-term strategic focus in a highly competitive premium market. Leon unpacks Lexus’s pursuit of perfection, the craftsmanship that defines the brand, and why customer experience sits at the heart of its commercial success.The conversation explores Lexus’s multi-path approach to electrification, its selective dealership strategy built around guest experience, and how disciplined brand alignment from Japan to South Africa protects its premium positioning. From hybrid leadership to bespoke showroom environments, Leon shares how Lexus continues to evolve while staying true to what makes it distinct in the luxury automotive space.
Performance Leader at Deloitte Consulting about the realities facing African CFOs in one of the world’s most complex operating environments. From currency volatility and regulatory shifts to supply chain pressure and fragmented markets, Mafika explains why resilience, rapid scenario planning and decision velocity have become essential capabilities for modern finance leaders.The conversation explores how finance functions must move beyond traditional monthly reporting cycles toward real-time insight, connected data infrastructure and AI-enabled decision-making. Mafika also unpacks the shift in talent required for the future — where finance, data science and engineering converge — and why the next generation of CFOs must translate technology into tangible business action to stay competitive.
Infrastructure at Pinnacle about how AI is transforming the security landscape in South Africa. From advanced facial and license plate recognition to intelligent analytics that distinguish between real threats and false alarms, Liebenberg explains how modern surveillance has evolved from reactive monitoring to proactive, automated protection.The discussion also explores how these technologies are reshaping business operations beyond traditional security — enabling heat mapping in retail, queue management, gun detection, thermal monitoring in mining, and smarter access control. As AI, cloud connectivity and automation continue to advance, Liebenberg outlines a future where surveillance systems are more accurate, more integrated and increasingly central to both safety and operational efficiency.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou speaks to Celiwe Ross – Group Chief Human Capital and Corporate Affairs Officer at Old Mutual about the upcoming Singularity South Africa Summit and why exponential technologies demand a new kind of leadership. Ross unpacks how the summit brings together global futurists, technologists and local business leaders to explore AI, biotechnology and human potential — not as abstract concepts, but as practical tools for transformation.The conversation also explores how Old Mutual is embedding AI across customer journeys, underwriting and internal operations, while preparing its workforce for a radically different future of work. Ross shares her perspective on leadership in volatile times, the reshaping of organisational structures, and why curiosity, experimentation and democratized access to technology are essential if South Africa is to leapfrog into a more inclusive digital economy.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou speaks to Dietlof Maré – CEO of Maziv about his entrepreneurial roots, leadership journey and the bold expansion shaping South Africa’s fibre future. From early days selling at flea markets to leading major telecom operations across Africa, Maré reflects on the importance of passion, sincerity and decisive leadership in building high-performing teams and scaling complex businesses.The conversation unpacks Maziv’s recent milestones, including the integration of Vodacom’s fibre assets, the acquisition of Herotel, and the acceleration of fibre rollout into secondary towns and underserved communities. Maré also shares his perspective on AI, the critical role of quality connectivity, and why sustainable, high-performance networks are essential to unlocking economic opportunity across South Africa.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki sits down with Morné, Chief Technology Officer at Logicalis, to unpack how artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping modern business. The discussion explores why many organizations are struggling to keep pace with AI adoption, despite the enormous pressure to innovate and remain competitive. Drawing from recent CIO research, Morné explains that while businesses are eager to embrace AI, many are failing to implement it strategically, leading to stalled pilot projects, wasted investment, and a lack of measurable business value.The conversation also dives into the growing risks and leadership challenges tied to AI transformation, including cybersecurity threats, governance, data management, and the ongoing shortage of digital skills. Morné emphasizes that AI success is no longer just a technology issue — it is a leadership responsibility that requires collaboration, clear governance, responsible scaling, and continuous learning. The episode concludes with practical advice for CIOs and executives on how to embed AI securely and effectively into everyday business operations while preparing organizations for the rapidly evolving digital future.Logicalis CIO Report - https://www.za.logicalis.com/cio-report-za
In this episode of What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou, Aki sits down with Blu Label Unlimited co-founders and joint CEOs Brett and Mark Levy for an in-depth conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience, innovation, and one of South Africa’s most remarkable corporate turnaround stories.The Levy brothers reflect on their journey from selling car stereos while still in school to building Blu Label into a multi-billion-rand fintech and technology powerhouse. They unpack the difficult seven-year journey of rescuing Cell C from collapse, explain Blu Label’s evolution beyond telecoms into fintech and energy, and reveal exciting new innovations including their upcoming integrated voucher platform and Blu Energy strategy. It’s a candid and inspiring discussion about leadership, culture, risk-taking, and building businesses that solve real-world problems.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou is joined by Prof. Sabelile Tenza of North-West University and Dr. Richard Greenhill, Founder of SmartSigma AI, for a powerful discussion on how artificial intelligence is reshaping global healthcare systems. From overwhelmed hospitals and clinician burnout to diagnostic delays and fragmented care, the conversation highlights the immense pressures facing healthcare worldwide — and how AI is emerging as a critical tool to support, not replace, medical professionals. The guests unpack how AI can improve early diagnosis, reduce administrative burdens, and act as a “second set of eyes” for clinicians, ultimately enabling better patient outcomes.The discussion also explores the unique challenges and opportunities within South Africa and the broader African context, where resource constraints are driving innovative, mobile-first solutions. Prof. Tenza emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations, patient trust, and local data relevance, while Dr. Greenhill highlights the need for adaptable skills, informed skepticism, and equitable AI deployment. Together, they paint a compelling picture of a future where technology and human expertise work hand-in-hand — ensuring healthcare systems are not only more efficient, but also more inclusive, ethical, and responsive to real-world needs.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou speaks to Professor Nico van der Merwe – Deputy Director in the School of Accounting Sciences at North-West University – about the role of ethical, future-ready accountants in strengthening South Africa’s financial systems. Nico reflects on his academic journey and the university’s success in producing top-performing graduates, while highlighting how a lack of ethical financial oversight can lead to corporate failures, weakened public trust, and broader economic consequences. He emphasizes that accounting is not just technical, but deeply tied to responsibility, transparency, and accountability across both the private and public sectors.He also shares insights on how the profession is evolving in the age of AI, where automation is reshaping traditional roles and placing greater importance on critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and ethical leadership. Nico explains how NWU prepares students through challenging, real-world learning experiences that build resilience and integrated thinking. From developing corporate citizens to encouraging continuous professional development, he outlines how collaboration between education, industry, and government is essential to cultivating accountants who can drive sustainable growth and improve governance in South Africa.
In this episode of What’s Next, Dell Technologies South Africa Vice President and Managing Director Habib Mahakian reflects on his 25-year journey in the technology industry, from studying computer engineering in Jordan to leading businesses across the Middle East and Africa. He shares how curiosity, problem-solving, and a passion for leadership shaped his career, while also discussing the early days of personal computing and the rapid evolution of technology over the past two decades.The conversation also explores leadership, artificial intelligence, and South Africa’s growing importance in the global tech landscape. Habib highlights the country’s strong infrastructure, talent, and innovation potential, while emphasizing the importance of teamwork, adaptability, and continuous learning. Beyond business, he offers personal insights into balancing a demanding global career with family life.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou speaks to Dillan Fernando – Chief Executive Officer at Tracker about how the company is redefining itself as a technology business built around customer care. Dillan explains why being in front of customers, understanding their real challenges, and delivering tailored data-driven solutions sits at the heart of Tracker’s strategy. From B2C vehicle tracking to complex B2B fleet solutions, he shares how the company’s expanded product portfolio is shaped directly by customer needs.The conversation explores innovations such as AI-powered analytics, advanced camera systems, in-cab alcohol detection, engine and fuel monitoring, and fully integrated end-to-end solutions. Dillan outlines his vision for Tracker as a technology-led organization that combines predictive intelligence, IoT capabilities, and meaningful data insights — while staying firmly committed to face-to-face engagement and a customer-first culture.
D, you’ll hear how technology, sustainability, and leadership intersect in practice. Colquhoun also breaks down how Epson is rethinking customer relationships, competing beyond price, and embedding a startup mindset inside a legacy global business.If you want a clearer view of how serious companies approach growth, innovation, and long-term value in complex markets, this is a conversation worth your time.Follow the show to stay ahead.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou sits down with Bradley Sacks, CEO of Araxi, to unpack his remarkable journey from South Africa to the global financial stage. With decades of experience spanning law, investment banking, and technology, Sacks shares the formative lessons that shaped his career, the value of hard work and mentorship, and how his early exposure to business influenced his path. He also reflects on the creation of Capital Appreciation — South Africa’s first SPAC — and its evolution into Araxi, a technology-driven business focused on enabling financial services at scale.The conversation dives into Araxi’s strategy of building a resilient, enterprise-focused fintech ecosystem, including major acquisitions like African Resonance, Synthesis, and Pay@. Sacks explains how Araxi operates behind the scenes to power everyday transactions, from retail payments to banking apps, and highlights exciting innovations like tap-to-pay solutions for small businesses. He also shares insights on global expansion, the impact of rapid technological change, and why adaptability is key in today’s uncertain world. This is a compelling look at how infrastructure, not just apps, is shaping the future of financial services.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou speaks to Nazia Pillay – Managing Director for SAP Southern Africa about her journey within SAP and her leadership during a pivotal era of cloud, AI and digital transformation. From starting as a graduate consultant during a major platform transition to now steering SAP’s regional strategy, Nazia reflects on how hands-on customer experience shaped her business mindset and why service-driven leadership remains central to her approach.The conversation explores SAP’s evolution into Business AI, the power of enterprise data, and how long-standing customer partnerships position the company at the forefront of innovation. Nazia also shares candid insights on resilience, embracing failure, leading through change, and the importance of staying grounded — both in business and in life.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou speaks to Alan Turnley-Jones – CEO at NTT DATA MEA about his 25-year journey from early IT enthusiast to leading one of the region’s most influential technology businesses. Alan reflects on the evolution from Dimension Data to NTT DATA, how the organization has broadened its capabilities across cloud, consulting, applications, and AI, and why continuous reinvention is essential in a fast-changing industry.He also shares his vision for growth across the Middle East and Africa, emphasizing innovation, skills development, and long-term investment in emerging markets. From harmonizing global operations to disconnecting completely on a trek to Everest Base Camp, Alan offers thoughtful insights on leadership, curiosity, and the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone to grow.
In this inspiring episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou sits down with Smangele Nkosi, General Manager and Country Leader for South Africa at Cisco, to explore her remarkable journey through the ICT industry and the leadership lessons that shaped her career. From her early ambitions in healthcare to becoming a key figure in digital transformation, Nkosi shares how purpose, people, and trust have guided her path—and how technology continues to “heal” societies by creating access, opportunity, and connection.The conversation also dives into the transformative power of AI in South Africa and across the continent. Nkosi highlights how emerging technologies can help Africa leapfrog traditional development barriers, unlock economic growth, and expand access to education, healthcare, and markets. She outlines Cisco’s vision for the future—spanning AI infrastructure, cybersecurity, and inclusive connectivity—while offering practical advice to young professionals on growth, resilience, and staying grounded in a fast-moving digital world.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou sits down with Jorge Mendes – Chief Executive Officer at Cell C to discuss his journey from call centre agent in 1994 to leading one of South Africa’s major telecommunications operators. Jorge shares how his early customer-facing experience shaped his leadership philosophy, his passion for rebuilding businesses, and why he believes in being an ally to customers rather than simply selling connectivity.He also opens up about the significant financial and operational challenges he inherited in 2023, and how Cell C has worked to restructure debt, strengthen network partnerships, rebuild trust, and reposition the brand for growth. It’s a candid conversation about resilience, accountability, and the ambition to turn a once-struggling operator into a competitive and proudly customer-centric telecoms player.
AI-powered tracking without GPS sounds impossible—until you see how it’s already transforming real-world operations. In this episode, Sigfox South Africa CEO Gregory Rood explains how next-generation IoT networks are redefining asset tracking in environments where traditional systems fail.From vehicle recovery in high-risk areas to monitoring critical infrastructure and logistics, the conversation unpacks how low-power, wide-area networks combined with AI and machine learning can locate assets even when GPS and GSM signals are jammed. You’ll get a clear look at the technology behind Sigfox’s “Bloodhound” system, how it uses signal triangulation and data analytics, and why this matters for businesses operating in complex, high-risk environments like South Africa.If you’re interested in innovation, security, logistics, or the future of connected systems, this episode offers practical insight into how businesses can track smarter, reduce risk, and operate more efficiently.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou speaks to Robert Koen, Managing Director of Amazon Sub-Saharan Africa, about building Amazon’s online store in South Africa and the vision behind becoming the country’s most loved retailer. Robert shares insights into Amazon’s rapid growth, its focus on delivery precision, expanding product selection, and the importance of trust in winning over South African shoppers. He also highlights how partnerships and local innovation have helped the company reach customers across urban and rural areas alike.Beyond the business, Robert reflects on his journey from delivering newspapers as a child to leading one of the world’s largest e-commerce brands in the region. He unpacks lessons from working abroad, the value of a learning mindset, and his passion for empowering South African entrepreneurs through platforms like Shop Mzansi. It’s a conversation about resilience, leadership, and unlocking opportunity at scale.
In this episode of What’s Next, host Aki Anastasiou speaks to Mmathebe Zvobwo, Director of Market Development for South Africa at Truecaller, about the alarming rise in spam and scam calls—and how technology is being used to fight back.With South Africans receiving billions of spam calls annually and losing over R40 billion to scams, Zvobwo explains how fraud has become an industrialised global problem driven by automation, VoIP, and AI. The discussion explores how Truecaller uses AI and its global community of over 500 million users to detect threats in real time, restore trust in communication, and protect users from increasingly sophisticated scams.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou sits down with Yugen Naidoo, General Manager at Lenovo South Africa, for an inspiring conversation about leadership, resilience, and purpose. From humble beginnings in a small town on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast to leading Lenovo’s operations across Southern Africa, Yugen reflects on the formative moments that shaped his journey — including early activism, a passion for sport, financial setbacks, and the discipline that helped him rise through the ranks.He shares candid insights into evolving from a transactional to a transformational leader, navigating the uncertainty of COVID-19, and building a high-performance, people-first culture. Yugen also unpacks Lenovo’s vision of democratizing technology through its pocket-to-cloud strategy. It’s a powerful reminder that success is built on small wins, resilience, continuous learning, and leading with integrity.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou speaks to Hector Beyers, CEO and founder of Codehesion, following the company’s win at the prestigious MyBroadband Awards for Best Software Development Company. Hector shares what the recognition means for his team and unpacks the core philosophy behind Codehesion’s success — combining strong technical execution with collaborative, client-focused partnerships to help South African businesses scale through high-quality, custom-built software.The conversation also explores the shifting software landscape, from subscription models versus custom ownership to the accelerating impact of AI on development speed and innovation. Hector explains why businesses spending heavily on licensing fees should reassess their strategy, how AI is unlocking faster and more powerful solutions, and why the right development partner can act as rocket fuel for growth in an increasingly competitive digital economy.
In this episode of What’s Next, host Aki Anastasiou is joined by Mark Wayne, Head of Solutions at iOCO, and Greg McDonald, Sales Director at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, to unpack the “great VM reset” and what it means for organisations rethinking their virtualisation and cloud strategies. They discuss the rising cost pressures around traditional virtualisation, why hybrid-by-design is becoming essential for modern enterprises, and how businesses can unlock major savings through more flexible infrastructure, modern compute, and improved storage. The conversation also explores how HPE Morpheus, VM Essentials, and GreenLake can help organisations simplify operations, support AI and legacy workloads, and build a more agile, cost-effective cloud foundation for the future.
Healthbridge founder, chairman, and Chief Innovation Officer Gerrie van Zyl joins Business Talk to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare and why South Africa is well positioned to innovate in the sector. Speaking from Atlanta’s Tech Square, one of the world’s leading AI hubs, he explains how his team uses global innovation insights to build solutions for South Africa’s healthcare system, while highlighting the country’s growing AI creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.The conversation explores how AI can reduce administrative burdens for doctors, unlock valuable healthcare data responsibly, and expand access to quality care across South Africa. Gerrie also shares why healthcare is one of the most powerful levers for economic development, how AI could dramatically improve efficiency and patient outcomes, and why entrepreneurs and developers should see healthcare as one of the most exciting innovation opportunities of the next decade.
Hylton Kallner, CEO of Discovery Bank, joins the show to discuss the bank’s strong interim results and the strategy driving its rapid growth. With client numbers, deposits, and revenue all rising sharply, Kallner explains how Discovery Bank’s shared value model, full-service digital banking platform, and broader Discovery ecosystem are helping attract new customers and deepen engagement with existing ones.The conversation also explores Discovery Bank’s vision of becoming a “super bank” by combining advanced digital banking, lifestyle integration, and data-driven personalization. Kallner shares how artificial intelligence, powerful security systems, and a scalable technology platform are enabling the bank to improve customer experience, strengthen fraud protection, and continue its ambitious growth trajectory.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou speaks to Jason Oehley, Regional Sales Manager at Arctic Wolf, about why cyber security remains the number one risk facing businesses today. With South Africa ranked among the most targeted countries globally, Jason unpacks the latest threat trends, including the rise of data extortion, the continued impact of ransomware, and how attackers are increasingly “logging in” rather than breaking in. He also explains how AI is accelerating both cyber crime and cyber defense, forcing organizations to rethink how they approach resilience.The conversation explores why cyber security is shifting from a purely technical issue to a board-level financial discussion. Jason breaks down the importance of understanding cyber risk, building continuous security improvements, and balancing prevention with recovery through cyber insurance and warranties. For businesses of any size, the key takeaway is clear: cyber security is no longer just about protection — it’s about resilience, measurable risk reduction, and being financially prepared for when an incident occurs.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou speaks to Gregory Rood, CEO of Sigfox South Africa, about the powerful but often invisible role Sigfox plays in the Internet of Things ecosystem. As a zero-G network built for ultra-low power, long-range connectivity, Sigfox enables devices to operate for years on battery while collecting and transmitting critical data. From monitoring water levels and tracking assets to managing cold-chain medicine and supporting agriculture, the technology quietly powers thousands of real-world applications across South Africa.Gregory explains how Sigfox’s nationwide network, recent infrastructure upgrades, and strong channel partner ecosystem are unlocking affordable IoT solutions for businesses of all sizes. The conversation also highlights impactful use cases in rural areas, including medical supply monitoring, wildlife safety, and water management, as well as opportunities for entrepreneurs to build locally relevant solutions. It’s a compelling look at how connected data is driving efficiency, resilience, and innovation across industries.
In this episode, Aki Anastasiou sits down with Andre Nepgen, CEO of Discovery Green, to unpack the rapidly evolving renewable energy landscape in South Africa. Andre explains how Discovery Green procures large-scale wind and solar projects and wheels that clean energy to businesses, helping them reduce costs, lock in long-term price certainty, and lower carbon footprints. With electricity prices historically rising well above inflation, renewable energy is becoming a strategic advantage for companies looking to manage risk and stay competitive.The discussion covers why early adoption of long-term renewable PPAs is becoming urgent, how trader-led aggregation models are reducing risk compared to traditional one-to-one agreements, and why grid capacity constraints could soon limit access to new projects. They also explore the impact of AI-driven energy demand, shifting market regulations, rising input costs for solar panels, and South Africa’s goal of reaching 40% renewable energy by 2030. If your business spends significantly on electricity, this conversation highlights why now is the time to rethink your energy strategy.
In this episode of What’s Next, host Aki Anastasiou is joined by Justin Hume, Samsung South Africa’s Vice President of Mobile Experience, to unpack the launch of the new Galaxy S26 range and what Samsung’s latest AI upgrades mean for everyday users. They explore Samsung’s on-device AI approach, the shift toward agentic AI assistants that work across apps, and the industry-first privacy display on the S26 Ultra designed to protect sensitive information in real time. Justin also highlights key camera improvements, Knox-powered security, South African availability and pre-order deals, and how the new Galaxy Buds 4 fit into a more intelligent, connected AI lifestyle.
In this episode, we sit down with Aliyah Allie, Executive Head at X, bigly labs by Dis-Chem, to explore how Dis-Chem is transforming from a traditional pharmacy retailer into a fully integrated health authority. Aliyah unpacks the role of Executive Head at X, bigly labs as Dis-Chem’s innovation hub, driving progress across data, digital platforms, automation, and customer-centric design to improve healthcare access and affordability in South Africa.The discussion dives into the real structural barriers limiting healthcare access, the importance of partnerships between the private sector, government, and fintech, and how technology, data, and AI can be used responsibly without widening inequality. From simplifying customer journeys and modernising loyalty and insurance models to building trust through secure digital experiences, this conversation offers a forward-looking view of preventative, accessible, and human-centred healthcare.
Marketing Director) from Syntech Distribution to unpack what’s really behind the supply crunch — and why it’s not a “COVID-style” blip. They explain how hyperscalers racing to build AI infrastructure are soaking up global capacity, pushing manufacturers toward higher-margin enterprise memory, and triggering sharp price increases that filter straight into South Africa’s consumer and corporate IT budgets.The conversation also gets practical: what procurement teams should prioritise in 2026, why Windows 11 hardware readiness has become a security issue, and how businesses can adapt by moving faster, planning smarter, and considering alternative hardware choices. If you’re responsible for IT upgrades — or you’re wondering whether to buy now or wait — this episode lays out the market reality and the smartest moves to avoid getting caught out.
South Africa’s energy crisis isn’t just about keeping the lights on — it’s about cost, strategy, and long-term competitiveness. This podcast cuts through the noise to explain how power, policy, and private innovation are reshaping business in real time.Hosted by Aki Anastasiou, the show is built for business leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers who need clarity on complex issues like renewable energy, electricity pricing, energy trading, sustainability, and infrastructure. It’s not for casual commentary or recycled headlines — it’s for people responsible for real decisions and real balance sheets.Through direct conversations with industry leaders such as David McDonald, CEO at SolarAfrica, the podcast unpacks how solar, wheeling, energy trading, and evolving market structures actually work, what they cost, and where the risks and opportunities lie. Expect grounded insight, commercial realism, and clear explanations rooted in South African and global business realities.If you want perspective instead of panic, and insight you can apply, this is where you start. Follow the show and listen regularly to stay ahead of the energy and business curve.
In this episode of What’s Next, Precious Nduli, Chief Commercial Officer at Discovery Insure, joins Aki Anastasiou to unpack how technology, telematics, and data-driven insights are transforming the insurance landscape. She explains how Discovery Insure incentivizes safer driving through real-time behaviour tracking, fuel rewards, and innovative features like impact alerts and sleep-related risk analysis. Precious also highlights how AI-powered tools, including the Advanced Driving Instructor, provide personalised coaching to help drivers improve behind the wheel.The discussion explores Discovery Insure’s seamless integration with Discovery Bank, enabling clients to obtain and activate car insurance instantly in-app. Precious shares compelling statistics on how Vitality Drive reduces accident risk and explains how the company is extending its impact beyond its customer base through initiatives such as the Pothole Patrol and Safe Journeys to School. She offers a clear view of how technology and AI are shaping the future of insurance and helping build a nation of safer, more responsible drivers.
In this episode of What’s Next, Nicolaas Hanekom, Sales Lead for Digital Air Solutions at Samsung South Africa, joins Aki Anastasiou to unpack how consumer expectations around home air conditioning have transformed in recent years. Nicolaas explains why air conditioners have become essential, all-year appliances focused on comfort, efficiency, and seamless integration within the modern smart home. He highlights Samsung’s leading technologies, including AI-driven temperature optimization, and full SmartThings connectivity, which allow users to control, monitor, and automate their climate with ease.Nicolaas also discusses the growing importance of indoor air quality, outlining how Samsung’s multilayer filtration helps remove bacteria, pollen, and impurities from the environment. He breaks down the efficiency benefits of Samsung’s advanced inverter technology and how AI and SmartThings insights help households reduce energy consumption while enhancing comfort. With a focus on correct installation, long-term reliability, and sleek design, Samsung’s latest air conditioners deliver powerful performance and meaningful savings for South African homes.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou sits down with Hector Beyers, CEO and founder of Codehesion, to unpack the remarkable growth of his software development company. Beyers shares how his passion for computer engineering and early leadership experience shaped his entrepreneurial journey, leading him to build a business focused on high-quality custom software, strong development processes, and a culture of delivery. From starting alone in 2018, Codehesion has grown into a 50-strong team serving clients across the globe.Beyers also explores the evolving role of AI in software development, the importance of scalable and maintainable code, and the challenges of recruiting top talent. He highlights how Codehesion helps businesses modernize, streamline operations, and rescue struggling software projects through expert guidance and disciplined processes. This insightful conversation reveals what it takes to build world-class technology and stay competitive in a rapidly shifting digital landscape.
In this episode of What’s Next, Amantha Naidoo, Managing Executive at NTT DATA South Africa, joins Aki Anastasiou to discuss her career journey and the forces shaping modern transformation. She shares how her background in engineering, consulting and culture change led her to NTT DATA, and why timing, purpose and the desire to lead meaningful change made this the right step in her career. Amantha highlights the critical ingredients of successful transformation, including strong leadership, clear direction and building a culture that can adapt to rapid shifts in technology and business.Amantha also explores the real impact of AI across industries, the challenges of moving from experimentation to large-scale value, and why foundational technology, data readiness and trust are essential. She explains what differentiates NTT DATA in a competitive market, from its full-stack capabilities to its AI smart agent ecosystem, and outlines the company’s strategic priorities in South Africa. From cybersecurity to customer experience to societal upliftment through education, she offers insight into how NTT DATA is preparing organisations for the next wave of technological evolution.
In this conversation, Discovery Bank CEO Hylton Kallner unpacks the remarkable growth of South Africa’s fastest-growing bank and the shared-value model powering its success. He explains how Discovery Bank’s full-service digital approach, industry-leading security, seamless ecosystem integration and customer-first design have reshaped the banking experience for nearly one and a half million clients. From crypto investing with Luno to AI-driven fraud protection and effortless insurance activation, Hylton highlights the innovations redefining modern finance.He also shares insight into Discovery Bank’s expanding rewards ecosystem, new partnerships, and the momentum behind its award-winning service. With breakthroughs in digital behaviour analysis, lifestyle-linked benefits and a rapidly growing client base, Hylton outlines how the bank is positioning itself at the center of people’s financial lives—today and over the next five years.
This episode of What’s Next brings together financial literacy advocate and author Nicolette Mashile and Yande Nomvete, Africa Operations Manager at Binance, for an in-depth discussion on crypto adoption in South Africa. They unpack the success of The Getting Crypto Show, the growing appetite for digital assets on the continent, and why education remains the most important tool for avoiding scams and navigating this emerging space with confidence.The conversation also explores how Binance is strengthening user protection from day one, the role of crypto in everyday life, and how South Africans can safely begin their investment journey. From platform security to cross-border payments and practical use cases like buying groceries, this episode highlights how cryptocurrency is becoming more accessible, more useful, and more aligned with real financial needs.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou is joined by a panel of experts to unpack the Africa Digital Assets Report 2025. The discussion features Rob Downes, Head of Digital Assets at Absa Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB); Juanetta Furusa-Matelakengisa, Head of Digital Product, Carbon Banking at Absa CIB; and Zanele Thembisile Baloyi, Senior Researcher at Krutham. Together, they explore why the report was commissioned, how the research was conducted across several African markets, and what it reveals about digital asset adoption among consumers and businesses.The conversation highlights key themes such as the public’s trust in traditional banks, the need for clearer regulatory frameworks, and the growing demand for education around digital assets. The guests also examine South Africa’s unique position compared to neighboring markets, insights from Kenya’s advanced mobile-money environment, and how Absa plans to apply these findings through new digital asset solutions and educational initiatives. This episode offers a comprehensive look at the emerging digital finance landscape across Africa.
In this episode of What’s Next, we speak with Nick Yarham, Head of Operations at TP-Link South Africa, following the company’s remarkable achievement of winning the MyBroadband Award for Best Networking Brand for the second year in a row. Nick shares what this recognition means for the team, why South Africans continue to trust TP-Link, and how the brand focuses on solving real-world connectivity challenges—from eliminating dead zones to delivering reliable, secure, and easy-to-use networking solutions for homes and businesses.Nick also discusses how TP-Link is navigating South Africa’s tough economic climate through strong partnerships, fair pricing, and a commitment to supporting local businesses and consumers. He explores the rapid rise of smart homes, TP-Link’s expanding ecosystem of connected devices, and the company’s vision for innovation, including advancements in Wi-Fi technology and integrated B2B solutions. He ends with a message of gratitude and optimism, spotlighting TP-Link’s investment in South Africa’s future and its growing opportunities for local talent.
In this episode of What's Next, we sit down with Cliff de Wit, Group Chief Innovation Officer at Accelera Digital Group, to unpack the rapid acceleration of AI and the growing readiness gap facing modern organisations. Cliff reflects on his journey from Microsoft to leading large-scale technology initiatives and now helping businesses across Africa and beyond adapt to a world where AI is reshaping every role, workflow and industry. He explains why many companies struggle to adopt AI effectively, how fear and poor change management hold teams back, and why both users and creators of AI must develop new capabilities quickly.Cliff also breaks down how Accelera Digital Group helps organisations bridge this gap—starting with identifying high-impact problems, modernising data foundations, and then building practical AI solutions that drive measurable value. This conversation is a must-watch for leaders preparing their businesses for the next era of intelligent technology.
In this episode of What’s Next, we speak with Sharon Leong, Chief Executive Officer at Thompsons Travel, about how corporate travel has transformed and what modern businesses need to prioritise heading into 2026. Sharon reflects on the company’s 40-year legacy and explains how technology, mobile tools and smart booking systems are reshaping business travel—making it faster, more seamless and more personalised than ever before. She also highlights the growing importance of traveller wellness, from smarter hotel choices to thoughtful travel policies that help employees stay rested, productive and safe on the road.Sharon dives into how Thompsons Travel is using real-time communication, global tracking tools and 24/7 personalised support to strengthen duty of care and ensure travellers are never alone when disruptions arise. She also shares insights into rising African business destinations, the surge in sustainability-focused travel decisions and the crucial role AI will play in enhancing—not replacing—the human expertise of travel consultants. A must-watch for organisations looking to refine their corporate travel strategy for the future.
Medshield’s Chief Operating Officer, Angela Blackburn, joins us to give more detail on Medshield’s 2026 product and benefit enhancements and what members can expect in the year ahead. From a lower-than-average contribution increase to a strengthened GCR rating and unlimited hospital access across all plans, Medshield is focused on value, stability, and affordability during a time when healthcare costs continue to rise.Angela also highlights major benefit enhancements, including revamped optical cover, expanded preventative care, improved diabetic support, annual mammograms, PSA screenings, and innovative virtual GP services. With a strong emphasis on member education, accessibility and human-centered service, Medshield aims to help members stay healthier while managing long-term costs more effectively.
In this episode of What’s Next, host Aki Anastasiou speaks with James Lanigan, CEO of Luno, following the company’s recognition as 'Best Crypto Exchange' at the MyBroadband Awards. James reflects on Luno’s journey from its South African origins to becoming a trusted global platform with over 16 million users. He explains how simplicity, trust, and innovation have been key to Luno’s success, emphasizing the company’s commitment to compliance, education, and making crypto accessible for everyone.The discussion explores Luno’s recent product innovations, including tokenized US stocks and ETFs, the rapid growth of LunoPay for everyday crypto payments, and the landmark partnership with Discovery Bank—the first of its kind in Africa. James also unpacks the future of crypto regulation in South Africa, Luno’s upcoming launches for 2026, and why digital assets are becoming an essential part of modern finance. His advice to newcomers: start small, stay informed, and see crypto as a meaningful part of a diversified investment strategy.
Dell Technologies Forum 2025 brought together leaders, innovators, and experts from across the continent to unpack the future of technology, digital transformation, and AI. In this special edition of What's Next, Aki Anastasiou speaks with Dell executives and partners about sustainability, e-waste initiatives, AI-driven modernization, multicloud strategies, and the growing role of data in shaping business outcomes. From recycling programs and solar learning hubs to the latest AI-optimized PCs, the event showcased Dell’s commitment to progress and real-world impact.Across conversations with regional leaders including Daniel Collett, Grant McPherson, Adrian McDonald, Mohammed Amin, Ben McDonald, Bennie du Plessis, Abdelmouhssin Sarsri, Haidi Nossair, and Habib Mahakian, the episode highlights how Dell is empowering organizations to innovate, adopt AI responsibly, and bridge the digital divide. Whether through partner ecosystems, scalable infrastructure, skills development, or community upliftment, Dell’s vision for the future is clear: accelerate human progress through technology.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou speaks with Luis da Silva, CEO of Healthbridge, about how the company is redefining healthcare through purposeful AI innovation. With a 26-year legacy in health IT, Healthbridge is empowering doctors and medical practices by simplifying workflows, enhancing patient care, and reclaiming valuable time through intelligent automation.Luis explains how Healthbridge’s early partnership with Google and its dedicated Innovation Lab have helped it stay ahead of the curve, integrating AI into everyday clinical interactions. From ambient listening that transcribes patient consultations in real time to AI-driven insights that reduce administrative burdens, Healthbridge is showing how technology can amplify rather than replace healthcare professionals.They also explore the future of value-based care, how AI can help align incentives across the healthcare ecosystem, and why empathy, adaptability, and collaboration remain vital as the industry transforms.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou speaks with Rashid Tar-Mahomed, Managing Executive for Products and Services within the Consumer Business Unit at Vodacom South Africa. Rashid explains how Vodacom has transformed its postpaid portfolio by simplifying its plans from ten to four, making it easier for customers to choose the right option while providing greater value in a challenging economy. The new RED Core plans now include lifestyle benefits such as funeral cover, device insurance, and entertainment subscriptions.By integrating connectivity, financial services, and entertainment, Vodacom aims to deliver a seamless digital experience that meets the customer's changing lifestyle needs. He shares how ongoing customer feedback and international trends guide Vodacom’s innovations as the company continues to simplify, innovate, and lead South Africa’s digital transformation.
In this episode, we sit down with Richard Simpson, Managing Director at Celerity, to uncover the fascinating journey from civil engineering to pioneering global business messaging. Richard shares how a simple need to send weather updates in 1999 sparked the creation of BulkSMS, a platform that has since transformed how businesses communicate. From humble beginnings to becoming a trusted global solution, Richard explains how SMS remains one of the most reliable and effective communication tools today. We also explore the evolution of Celerity, the parent brand behind BulkSMS, and its latest innovation: Kero, a rich business messaging platform that takes customer engagement beyond text. Richard explains how new technologies like RCS are shaping the future of communication, why SMS is still far from “dead,” and how Celerity continues to stay ahead with secure, scalable, and innovative messaging solutions.
In this insightful conversation, Hennie Human, Managing Partner of EY's Africa Consulting Business, shares valuable lessons from his 25-year career working across diverse industries. He emphasizes the importance of purpose-driven projects, understanding industry context, and fostering true collaboration with clients to create impactful solutions.Hennie also explores the challenges and opportunities businesses face in 2025, from cybersecurity and the talent gap to the rise of AI, automation, and cloud-native platforms. He explains how EY helps organizations embrace digital transformation, avoid common pitfalls, and unlock real value by keeping people, processes, and technology aligned for the future.
In this episode of What's Next with Aki Anastasiou, we speak with Romulen Pillay, Managing Director of Philips Southern Africa, about the latest findings from Philips’ global Future Health Index report. Now in its 10th year, the study surveyed 16,000 patients and 2,000 healthcare professionals across 16 countries, including South Africa, to explore how AI is transforming healthcare delivery. Romulen shares how artificial intelligence is already helping to address South Africa’s healthcare challenges—from staff shortages to improving diagnostic accuracy and patient care.He also discusses the growing optimism among South African healthcare professionals about AI adoption and the need to bridge the “trust gap” between patients and technology. Romulen highlights how AI can reduce administrative burdens, improve waiting times, and ultimately allow doctors to spend more meaningful time with patients. The conversation also explores the importance of collaboration, preventative care, and responsible data use to ensure that AI adoption remains human-centric and beneficial for both healthcare providers and patients.
In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou speaks with Muzzafar Nagvadari, Executive Head: Merchant Solutions Sales and Service SA at Standard Bank Group, about how digital payments are transforming South Africa’s business landscape. Muzzafar explains how the rapid rise of contactless, mobile, and e-commerce transactions is changing the way merchants operate and how businesses can adapt to meet evolving customer expectations. He also discusses the growing demand for unified commerce systems that bring together in-store, online, and mobile payments for greater efficiency and insight.Muzzafar introduces SimplyBLU, Standard Bank’s smart payment and business management platform designed to simplify and streamline operations for SMEs. By integrating payment acceptance, inventory tracking, invoicing, and real-time analytics, SimplyBLU enables businesses to make data-driven decisions, improve customer experience, and scale effectively. He also shares advice for SMEs on managing costs, enhancing security, and embracing innovation to stay competitive in the digital economy.
In this episode of What's Next, Aki Anastasiou sits down with Michael Otten, CEO of Oneplan, to explore how the company has transformed the South African insurance landscape over the past 15 years. Michael shares insights into Oneplan’s journey from its early days as a traditional short-term insurer to becoming an innovator in health, pet, gap, and motor insurance. He discusses the unique challenges of serving South African consumers and how technology, from digitization to AI, is reshaping the way insurance products are delivered and experienced.The conversation also dives into Oneplan’s differentiators, such as real-time access to insurance funds via prepaid cards and their customer-first approach that simplifies complex processes. Michael highlights the growing demand in health and pet insurance, the importance of gap cover, and how bundling products creates greater value for clients. Looking ahead, he shares his perspective on future trends, including the evolving role of AI in training, customer engagement, and product innovation, while keeping the human element at the heart of service delivery.Oneplan is sold by Oneplan Brokers (Pty) Ltd and administered by Oneplan Underwriting Managers (Pty) Ltd, authorised financial services providers FSP43627 and FSP43628. Oneplan is not a benefit option regulated by the Medical Schemes Act, but a short-term insurance product underwritten by Bryte Insurance Company Limited a licensed insurer and an authorised FSP(17703).
In this episode of What's Next, we welcome back Frikkie van Loggerenberg, Head of Investment Strategy and CEO of IFSA. He shares valuable insights into the most common questions clients ask financial advisors, with a strong focus on wills, estate planning, and understanding the true costs involved in winding up an estate. Frikkie highlights why these fundamentals are at the core of sound financial planning and how they connect directly to securing your legacy.The discussion also explores common mistakes people make when relying on DIY solutions or AI for estate planning, and why professional guidance is crucial for peace of mind. Frikkie explains IFSA’s client-first approach, emphasizing planning before products, face-to-face relationships, and ongoing support — including managing estates after clients pass on. Whether your estate is large or small, this conversation underlines why it’s never too early to plan properly.
In this episode of What's Next, we welcome Dion Govender, Managing Director of IS³, to discuss the upcoming IS³ X-Change 2025 conference. Taking place on 28–29 October in Cape Town, this premier event showcases future-ready industrial automation insights and solutions tailored for Africa. Powered by global expertise and enriched with local knowledge, X-Change 2025 promises to deliver measurable value for every stakeholder.We explore IS³’s role as the exclusive AVEVA Select Partner in sub-Saharan Africa, the challenges facing industrial businesses in 2025, and how digital transformation, AI, and cloud-driven solutions are reshaping industries. Dion also highlights what makes this year’s X-Change different, from customer success stories to fresh formats and international participation, making it the must-attend event for organizations looking to stay competitive and unlock real value.Registration discount codes:- 1 Exhibitor: Exh1MBL50- 2 Exhibitors: Exh2MBL50- Delegate: DelMBL50\Sign up here: https://evolve.eventoptions.co.za/register/is%C2%B3x-change2025/details?utm_source=MyBroadband&utm_medium=Interview&utm_term=September+2025
In this episode, we dive into the role of PayInc. (formerly BankservAfrica) at the heart of South Africa’s payments ecosystem. With 53 years of experience, PayInc. has been instrumental in building and maintaining the country’s payment infrastructure. Today, it processes nearly 400 million transactions a month, ensuring that payments are secure, reliable, and always on. From card swipes to instant transfers, their systems quietly power the economy while supporting financial inclusion for millions.We also explore the evolution of payments over the past five decades, the technology behind high-availability systems, and how PayInc. is modernizing through cloud, microservices, and AI-driven innovation. With a focus on resilience and scalability, their work keeps South Africa’s financial systems running 24/7, even during peak times like paydays and Black Friday.
In this episode, we sit down with Ashif Black, Country Representative of InDrive South Africa, to explore how the company is reshaping the ride-hailing industry with fairness, transparency, and freedom of choice. Ashif shares the story of InDrive’s origins, how its unique negotiation model empowers both drivers and passengers, and why low commissions and fair pricing are central to its mission. He also highlights the platform’s expansion across South African cities and the value it brings to communities through affordable, accessible, and transparent mobility.The conversation also touches on safety, global presence, and innovation, with Ashif explaining how InDrive ensures driver and passenger protection, leverages insights from its operations in over 800 cities worldwide, and adapts technology to local needs. Beyond rides, InDrive is expanding into courier, delivery, and intercity services, while creating new opportunities for youth and drivers in South Africa.
In this episode, we welcome Dietlof Mare, CEO of MAZIV, the company behind South Africa’s largest open-access fiber networks, including Vumatel and Dark Fibre Africa. With the Competition Appeal Court’s approval of MAZIV’s landmark merger with Vodacom, the company is entering a defining chapter in its mission to connect more South Africans. Dietlof shares insights on the challenges of fiber rollout, the scale of investment required, and the impact that expanded connectivity can have on communities and the broader economy.The discussion also explores how the transaction unlocks capital and infrastructure needed to accelerate fiber expansion, particularly into underserved areas. Dietlof highlights the importance of balancing competition with public interest, while ensuring open access remains at the core of MAZIV’s model. With plans to reach millions more homes and businesses, he unpacks how enterprise fiber, 5G backhaul, and community connectivity will play a critical role in South Africa’s digital future.
In this conversation, Andrew Bourne, Regional Head for Zoho in Southern Africa, unpacks what makes Zoho unique in the global tech space. He explains how Zoho serves over 113 million users worldwide, with a strong local presence in South Africa, offering region-specific integrations and billing in rand. Andrew highlights Zoho’s user-friendly, scalable environments—from no-code to pro-code—and its cost-efficient approach by owning every layer of its tech stack and building solutions entirely in-house.The discussion also dives into Zoho’s long-standing use of AI, emphasizing how its advanced assistant, Zia, transforms business operations. From churn prediction and sentiment analysis to powerful analytics insights and custom AI agents, Zia empowers businesses to boost productivity and make data-driven decisions. Andrew also stresses Zoho’s privacy-first approach, cost optimization, and flexibility, positioning its AI ecosystem as an enabler of innovation and growth for organizations of all sizes.
In this discussion, Deon Stroebel, Chief Innovation Officer at LSD Open, explains how the company helps organizations modernize through cloud-native solutions, Kubernetes, containers, and automation. With over 25 years of experience, LSD Open has guided leading businesses in banking, telecoms, and media through successful digital transformation journeys, ensuring modernization drives measurable ROI while avoiding common pitfalls of cloud adoption.Deon also shares insights on the importance of modernization, the human role in technology, and why businesses should embrace AI responsibly. He emphasizes how AI, automation, and cloud technologies can augment people rather than replace them, enabling greater efficiency, scalability, and innovation. By pairing human expertise with advanced tools, organizations can unlock faster growth, reduce risk, and remain competitive in an evolving digital landscape.
In this episode, Aki Anastasiou speaks with Martha Lamola, Operations Director for Vodacom Business Ventures and Partnerships, about how Vodacom is driving innovation while ensuring operational excellence across its enterprise ventures. Martha explains how Vodacom combines “basic brilliance” with forward-looking technologies to deliver trusted solutions that businesses can rely on. She highlights how trust, infrastructure, and innovation work together to build long-term partnerships with clients.The conversation explores real-world examples of Vodacom’s impact, such as IoT-driven solutions in energy management and agriculture that are transforming industries in South Africa and beyond. Martha also shares insights on the future of enterprise telecommunications, including the role of cloud migration, AI, cybersecurity, and 5G in shaping growth opportunities across the continent.
In this episode of What's Next, we sit down with David Cosgrave, Country Manager for SAS South Africa, to reflect on the company’s 30-year legacy in the country and its role in shaping the local technology and data landscape. David shares his journey stepping into the role, the privilege of leading during such a milestone year, and how SAS has built strong ties with South African businesses, universities, and graduates. From training more than 40,000 professionals to partnering with top institutions, SAS has become deeply embedded in the nation’s business and skills ecosystem.The conversation also explores SAS’s global legacy of nearly 50 years and its evolution from a statistical programming language to a global leader in analytics and AI. David discusses how the company is embracing the future with cloud technology, predictive and generative AI, and its focus on trustworthy AI for business-critical decision-making. With decades of experience in enabling organizations to unlock real value from their data, SAS continues to shape the future of analytics in South Africa and beyond.
In this episode of What's Next, we welcome Frikkie van Loggerenberg, Head of Investment Strategy and CEO of IFSA. Frikkie shares the fascinating story behind the origins of IFSA and how the company has evolved from its beginnings as an advisory business into a specialized investment management firm with a strong focus on estate planning. He explains why many individuals fall into the trap of “quick and dirty” financial planning, and highlights the importance of building a proper foundation through holistic advice, lifestyle analysis, and long-term strategies instead of simply focusing on products.The conversation dives deep into the role of estate planning as the cornerstone of financial success. Frikkie outlines common mistakes people make—such as not having a will, underestimating liquidity needs, or assuming their estate is too simple to require planning—and explains how IFSA takes a different, independent approach. With a national network of advisers and a client-first philosophy, IFSA helps individuals structure their investments, retirement planning, and estates in a way that aligns with their wishes and safeguards their legacy.
In this episode of What's Next, Aki Anastasiou sits down with Cornelia van Heerden, Executive for Customer Experience and Services at MTN South Africa, to discuss how the company is strengthening its commitment to customers. Cornelia shares insights into how MTN is listening closely to customer feedback, tackling frustrations one step at a time, and ensuring that the human element remains central even as technology and automation play a bigger role.She also highlights MTN’s rollout of facial biometric solutions, a major step in fraud prevention that balances stronger security with reduced friction for customers. From AI-driven customer support to enhanced SIM swap and OTP protection, Cornelia explains how MTN is using innovation to build trust, improve service, and create a safer, more seamless experience for millions of customers every day.
In this episode, we welcome back Jonathan Hurvitz, CEO of Teljoy, to catch up on the company’s remarkable journey. Jonathan reflects on his 11 years with the business, its growth, and the key factors that have helped Teljoy thrive despite economic challenges. From building a strong internal culture to leveraging 56 years of customer data, Teljoy has evolved to stay relevant while keeping its core mission intact—creating accessibility for South Africans through its rent-to-own model. We also explore how the business has adapted to changing consumer needs, embraced new technologies, and expanded its offerings beyond TVs to include everything from kitchen appliances to premium furniture.Jonathan also dives into the growing appeal of rent-to-own in today’s economic climate, highlighting its flexibility, peace of mind, and cost-saving benefits compared to traditional credit. We discuss the company’s expansion into baby goods, the long-term relationships built with customers, and how their referral and loyalty programs turn satisfied clients into brand ambassadors. With exciting initiatives like a competition to win a Suzuki Swift, Teljoy continues to innovate while staying true to its original values from 1969. This conversation is a fascinating look at how a heritage brand remains modern, customer-focused, and resilient in a rapidly changing world.
Marc du Plessis is the Executive Head of LookSee Platform at Standard Bank Group.Du Plessis is a business operations and revenue management veteran with over a decade of industry experience.He previously served as Spark Media CEO from 2016 until 2018 and achieved 25% annual growth for the company. This resulted in him winning the 2018 Top Media Sales Business Award. Du Plessis was then appointed Group Executive: Digital Businesses at CTP-Caxton Limited in 2019.Most recently, he joined LookSee and Standard Bank in 2021 to begin his current role.Du Plessis prides himself on being a hands-on operating executive and boasts core expertise in digital enablement and as an entrepreneurial growth enabler. In this episode of What's Next, Du Plessis discusses the main reason why South African’s are investing in solar energy in 2025.
In this episode, we sit down with Nobesuthu Ndlovu, Director SME at Old Mutual, to explore the inspiration behind the SMEgo platform and how it’s addressing critical gaps in South Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Drawing from her own experience as an entrepreneur, Nobesuthu shares the challenges SMEs face — from accessing funding to managing time and operations — and explains how SMEgo’s all-in-one digital solution is designed to help business owners thrive.We also discuss the unique features of SMEgo, including its marketplace for business-to-business trade, innovative funding options, and commitment to supporting entrepreneurs’ mental wellness. Plus, Nobesuthu highlights the SMEgo Pitchathon, offering R4.2 million in prize money, and shares her empowering message for Women’s Month. This is an inspiring conversation for anyone passionate about entrepreneurship and building resilient businesses in South Africa.
In this episode of What's Next, we’re live from Samsung’s Johannesburg HQ with Justin Hume, Vice President of Mobile Experience at Samsung South Africa. He introduces SOS Plus, a life-saving emergency service integrated into the Galaxy A Series, developed in partnership with Aura.Justin also dives into how Samsung is making premium AI features and design accessible to more South Africans. With devices like the A36, A56, and A26, the Galaxy A Series offers powerful performance, safety, and intelligence—redefining value in the smartphone space.
In this What's Next episode, Aki Anastasiou speaks with Fred Zhou, CEO of HONOR South Africa, about the brand’s impressive rise—now the country’s second-largest smartphone brand—and its goal to be number one by 2028. Fred highlights HONOR’s winning strategy of innovation, trust-building, and expanding into new markets.He also introduces the ultra-thin Magic V5 foldable phone, launching in South Africa. With a large battery, premium AI features, and true water resistance, it’s designed for both productivity and durability. Plus, Fred shares how HONOR’s full ecosystem—from the X Series to wearables—is reshaping the mobile experience locally.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Peter Kerr discusses how retail logistics is being changed by cloud and AI technology.Kerr is the Founder and Director of Argon Supply Chain Solutions and is a 20+ year veteran in logistics and transport planning.Before founding Argon Supply Chain Solutions, Kerr worked at many other prominent companies in South Africa.This includes working as a SAP EWM Solution Architect and Consultant for Pick n Pay, a SAP EWM Consultant for Barloworld, a Mobile Specialist for OneArch Consulting, and a SAP WM Consultant for Pioneer Foods.Kerr is an SAP Certified Associate and Application Professional specialising in SAP solutions such as EWM, TM, SRM, WM, Mobility, and ATTP.He also boasts a strong understanding of data collection technologies and supply chain solution architecture.In this What’s Next interview, Kerr explains what Argon Supply Chain Solutions does and how retailers can maximise the potential of SAP S/4HANA Cloud to streamline their operations and improve efficiencies.He unpacks why having SAP Supply Chain as part of the S/4HANA Cloud implementation is essential.Kerr also discusses how SAP improves vendor compliance and creates better retail practices.He concludes the interview by sharing how he sees automation and AI features impacting supply chain solutions.
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 hinges, and 200MP cameras, these devices now deliver the full power of a flagship in a foldable format.We also dive into Samsung's thoughtful approach to user feedback, which led to a lighter, more pocket-friendly design and the launch of the more accessible Flip 7 FE. Plus, Justin reveals exciting launch offers, availability dates, and shares how Samsung is fusing hardware and AI to turn smartphones into intelligent personal assistants. Stay tuned to hear more about the Galaxy Watch 8 series, now slimmer, smarter, and equipped with advanced health tracking and AI integration.
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 local AI infrastructure, the role of Huawei’s Ascend platform in enabling data sovereignty, and the need for strong ecosystem collaboration to support AI localisation in South Africa.
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 Mini LED TVs – explaining to viewers what makes these TVs so impressive. He also unpacks TCL’s brand partnership agreements with major sports clubs like Arsenal and the Vodacom Bulls. Ebrahim concludes the discussion by TCL South Africa’s plans in the local market for the months and years ahead.
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 Design at Luno, Head of Design at Yoco, and Chief Creative Officer at 22seven Digital.Thanks to his extensive work, he has been acknowledged with numerous different awards, including:Marketing Achievement Award (2019) — Marketing Achievement AwardsBest in Show (2011) — Bookmark AwardsConstruction New Media Award (2007) — Construction New Media AwardGrand Prix, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards — The Loerie AwardsIn addition to these awards, Clint has frequently appeared as a guest speaker at notable events, such as the DisruptHR Conference (2018), the Interactive Marketing Summit (2010), and the International Design Indaba (1999).In this What’s Next interview, Clint discusses what motivated him to take on his current role and the lessons he has learned from previous roles that are helping him in this position.He then provides a basic overview of what Achievement Awards Group offers and why companies should implement these solutions.Clint also explains how he is focused on fostering a product-driven mindset at the company, and the importance of platform thinking.He concludes the interview by unpacking how Achievement Awards Group makes it easy for companies to adopt rewards and loyalty programmes and how interested parties can begin this journey.
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 explains why bridging this gap requires coordinated efforts between governments, the private sector, and civil society.The discussion also delves into the role of artificial intelligence, the significance of local language data, and the need for AI-ready infrastructure to help Africa leapfrog into a digitally inclusive future. Angela emphasizes the importance of investment in green energy and forward-thinking policies to unlock the continent's full digital potential. This episode is essential viewing for anyone interested in Africa’s tech ecosystem, digital inclusion, and sustainable innovation.
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 loyalty rewards.Flood Finance is designed to bring informal and legacy retailers into the digital economy without requiring delivery logistics. With successful launches in the Maldives and West Africa, and interest from Latin America to Southeast Asia, the platform offers scalable tools for onboarding, data tracking, and integration. It’s a simple plug-and-play solution for partners looking to power hyperlocal commerce.
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: Treasury Restructuring.Merafe is a 2017 Archbishop Tutu Fellow and holds a BCom in Economics and Investment Management.He has also completed the Finance Executive Development Programme at Cass Business School, holds an ACI dealing certificate, and a Master’s Degree in the Management of Finance and Investments.In this What’s Next interview, Merafe discusses the new multicurrency pockets feature available on Investec Private Bank Accounts.He explains how this feature makes it easier to manage money in different currencies, and unpacks real-world examples of who would find this offering useful.Merafe then discusses how multicurrency pockets challenge the legacy model of needing multiple banks — or third-party apps — to manage different currencies.He also delves deeper into the technologies and innovations that power multicurrency pockets, and how they make switching between currencies so quick and seamless.Merafe talks about the importance of taking banking more digital and international, and explains how multicurrency pockets fit this trend perfectly.He concludes the discussion by explaining how Investec continues to balance cutting-edge technologies with the personal service that clients still value.
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 playing in driving powerful transformations for its clients across areas like employee engagement, client experience, operational efficiencies, and innovation.Before working at NTT Data, she was a partner at McKinsey, before joining NTT Ltd (now part of NTT DATA) as a Global SVP.She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics and Instrumentation from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, and a PGPM from the Indian School of Business.In this What’s Next interview, Singh discusses the power of agentic AI.She unpacks the key elements that set agentic AI apart from traditional generative AI.Singh then reveals the company’s groundbreaking Smart AI Agent Ecosystem and how it is a big step forward for the entire AI sector.She explores responsible AI deployment and the practical integration steps that CIOs can take to ensure data security, negate bias, and minimise job losses.Singh also shares how NTT DATA helps enterprises use agentic AI to modernise legacy systems and improve employee and customer experiences to deliver assured outcomes — even in complex environments like South Africa’s finance, healthcare, and public sectors.She provides tips on how to begin your organisation’s agentic AI journey, and concludes the discussion by discussing what’s on the horizon for agentic AI over the next 12–18 months.
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.Sanders then built up an impressive portfolio of experience, having worked as a tech analyst at Sabvest, a portfolio manager at General Pacific Management Services, a fixed-income portfolio manager for Draper Grain Investments, and an investment manager at venture capital firm Knife Capital.He also has several start-ups under his belt, including founding online university application system Application Portal; event-driven proprietary trading firm Sataya; and crypto-asset advisory firm Blocktree Capital.In this interview, Sanders unpacks the Altify platform and highlights its offerings.He explains to viewers what an alternative investment is and how it differs from traditional investment solutions.Sanders then discusses Altify’s private credit investment offering.He closes the interview by discussing the minimum amount South Africans can invest with Altify.
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 Manager at Nedbank before returning to Standard Bank.Matlala has remained at Standard Bank ever since, holding notable positions like Senior Manager, Head of Province Business Banking for Limpopo, Head of Business Development for the Public Sector, and Head of Enterprise Development.His stellar performance across these roles eventually resulted in his promotion to his current position in 2021.Matlala holds an MBA from the Henley Business School and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management, Business Administration, and Management from MANCOSA.In this What’s Next interview, Matlala outlines why banks need to reconsider how they engage with the public sector.He then explains how Standard Bank supports municipalities without overstepping the divide between the public and private sectors.Matlala then reveals how Standard Bank’s public sector offerings are unique, before unpacking the scope of his department - including how lending and liquidity management fit into the business model.He concludes the interview by discussing the biggest opportunities for public-private partnerships in South Africa.
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 benefits of their SAP Investments while shaping the future of SAP software development.Mathebula is the Chairman at AFSUG and is an industry expert with over 25 years of experience.Across this quarter century, he has held multiple key roles that have given him the knowledge and skills to execute the duties of his current position.In this What’s Next interview, Mathebula explains what AFSUG is, noting its importance in the current SAP market, and Gibbs outlines the organisation’s goals and vision for the future.She then unpacks the upcoming SAPHILA 2025 event, an IT conference for key decision-makers and professionals in the SAP ecosystem.Mathebula reveals which individuals outside the SAP industry should attend SAPHILA 2025, and Gibbs explains how interested parties can register for the event.They conclude the interview by sharing their message for anyone who has never attended a SAPHILA event.
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 sustainable growth using locally developed, industry-proven technologies.Before joining Amoeba TSC, Ashley served as Group CTO at EDGE Telecoms Holdings, where he launched South Africa’s first disaggregated broadband solution.In this What’s Next interview, Smith unpacks Amoeba TSC – including what it does and its key areas of expertise.He then unpacks the role Amoeba TSC plays in the telco industry – including the typical type of client it serves.Smith also reveals the key milestones and achievements in Amoeba TSC’s journey.He concludes by discussing the Saldanha Bay Smart City project – including why it was created, and what its core objectives are.
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 become healthier while protecting and enhancing their lives.In this What’s Next interview, Dr Whelan outlines Discovery Health’s Personal Health Pathways.He highlights the AI technology and robust dataset that Discovery Health uses to power the service, and explains how Personal Health Pathways helps South Africans live healthier lifestyles.Dr Whelan also explains how Discovery Health provides clients with financial incentives to ensure they make the right decisions.He concludes the interview by highlighting the interest they have seen in the offering since its launch, and explains how Discovery Health members can get started on their Personal Health Pathway.
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 Philosophy, which forms part of the university’s Humanities faculty.He has a strong involvement in ethics, which has prepared him to head up the NWU AI Hub.In this interview, Verhoef begins by discussing the reason for the NWU AI Hub and its biggest successes so far.He highlights the measures NWU is taking to ensure the ethical and responsible use of AI within the university.Verhoef then explains how NWU is prioritising student development to ensure its graduates remain competitive in the workforce of the future.He concludes by sharing insights into NWU’s AI literacy courses and how students have responded to these initiatives.
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.Before this, she worked in roles at the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, ICASA, and Primedia Broadcasting.Kashif is the Head of Nokia’s Southern African Market Unit for Mobile Networks at Nokia.He boasts an impressive 27-year track record in the telecommunications industry, having held leadership roles at companies like Nokia, Alcatel-Lucent, and IBM.He holds an MBA focused on International Management from Vlerick Leuven-Gent Management School.In this What’s Next interview, Batyi explains what the Association of Comms and Technology does, and Kashif explains Nokia’s role in the African telecommunication industry.Kashif then outlines how AI is changing how Radio Access Networks (RANs) operate, and Batyi unpacks the challenges in optimising RAN infrastructure in Africa.She also discusses the role of policy-making in accelerating growth and change in the South African telecommunications industry.They concluded the interview by outlining how they expect the South African telecommunications industry to evolve in the coming years.
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 in 2024 and leverages her extensive experience and expertise to ensure Vodacom Business sits at the top of the enterprise telecommunications industry.In this What’s Next interview, Proothveerajh explains the importance of Vodacom Business being crowned South Africa’s Most Trusted Enterprise Telecommunications Provider in the MyBroadband Awards. She unpacks the key areas she believes Vodacom Business stands apart in the enterprise telecommunications industry, and highlights the company’s most significant achievements since she joined it.Proothveerajh also discusses how Vodacom Business is leveraging new technologies like AI and machine learning to deliver improved value to its South African clients.She concludes the interview by sharing Vodacom Business’s plans for the future.
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 2021.In this What’s Next interview, Burger discusses how the CFO role is evolving in South Africa. He unpacks the new challenges and responsibilities that have emerged, and explains how these changes have led to CFOs having a greater impact on the C-Suite.Burger also outlines how CFOs can balance their organisations’ current finances with the need for growth.He then notes the importance of automation for generating growth opportunities, and explains how Sage can assist with this.Burger concludes the interview by sharing his vision for the future of finance, and the role Sage will play in this.
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 position of Chief Executive Officer for Discovery Life in 2016.Kallner also briefly served as the CEO of Discovery SA before being appointed to his current position as Discovery Bank CEO in 2021.In this What’s Next interview, Kallner explains how Discovery Bank has achieved such excellent growth and why he predicts Discovery Bank will enjoy R3 billion in generated profits by 2029.He then discusses how banking can improve people’s lives, using the recently revealed Discovery AI as a key example of this.Kallner unpacks how Discovery AI will provide customers with a more personalised, seamless, and secure banking experience.He concludes the interview by sharing other additions to Discovery Bank - including the Discovery 911 service and the new additions to the Vitality Money offering.
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 industry’s largest players.Through this experience, Van der Vyver has developed strong commercial acumen and the ability to solve problems and make the right decisions in high-pressure situations.In this What’s Next interview, van der Vyver discusses the important role MTN has played in connecting South Africans over the decades.He then unpacks MTN’s updated brand positioning, which focuses on the phrase “Today We Make Moves.”Van der Vyver expands on how MTN is working to address the digital divide in South Africa through access to connectivity and technology.He then discusses the moves MTN is making to build better connectivity offerings for its South African customers.Van der Vyver concludes the interview by sharing a message with South Africans who want to take charge of their future through technology.
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 global technology giants for the good of technology users.He explains that HONOR believes we are at the intersection between the digital and the AI ages, and that this necessitates a new mindset.Zhou then talks about HONOR’s new Magic7 Pro smartphone, which features a cutting-edge AI photography engine.He unpacks the HONOR Magic7 Pro’s deepfake identification technology, which helps users protect themselves against malicious parties who leverage deepfake technology.Zhou concludes the interview by discussing HONOR’s sponsorship of Bafana Bafana.
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, Business Development and Product Development.Zahela currently serves as the Acting Executive Head of Department for Security at Vodacom Business.He is an adept leader in security technology with an unwavering passion for innovation and profitable growth within the sector.In this What’s Next interview, Beharie and Zahela discuss the reasons that SMEs often overlook cybersecurity.Beharie explains that many SMEs have two major misconceptions about cybersecurity — that they’re too small to be targeted, and that cybersecurity is too expensive.He also unpacks the major cybersecurity threats the SMEs face in 2025 — noting that many of these are becoming more sophisticated.Zahela then discusses the benefits of investing in a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy for SMEs.He explains how Vodacom Business can help SMEs enhance their cybersecurity posture, as well as how SMEs can enjoy secure network access for hybrid working set-ups through Vodacom Business.Beharie then explains how SMEs can balance the costs of cybersecurity with the importance of it to their business.Both experts conclude the interview by providing their most impactful advice for SMEs relating to cybersecurity.
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 Bredenkamp Inc. in 2010.Following this, she worked at Leahy and van Niekerk Attorneys Inc. as an Attorney, and then became a Director at Leahy Attorneys Inc.Van der Laan took on her current position at Standard Bank Group in 2021.In this What’s Next interview, van der Laan discusses how new technologies are changing the legal sector in South Africa.She expands upon the biggest challenges facing legal professionals in South Africa, and how Standard Bank is solving these challenges through unique financial solutions for its small to medium-sized law firm clientsVan der Laan then unpacks Standard Bank’s future plans to expand its legal financial solutions, and concludes the interview by giving advice to legal professionals on how to grow their businesses.
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 current role, Hartman is leading Sage’s strategic expansion of its accounting, human resources, and payroll businesses across Africa and the Middle East.In this What’s Next interview, Hartman discusses why financial professionals should be excited about AI, rather than worried about it.He reveals where AI can offer the most value to CFOs and finance departments.Hartman then discusses the other tech skills that CFOs should prioritise to keep up with the rapid advancement of the finance function.He also shares how CFOs must break down silos to adapt to the changing business landscape, as well as how the CFO role will continue to evolve in the years ahead.Hartman concludes the discussion by explaining how CFOs can prepare themselves today for the finance department of the future — all while maintaining a healthy work-life equilibrium.
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 South Africa’s healthcare sector.He discusses the major milestones it has achieved in the medical banking sector, and how Standard Bank is adapting to the industry’s biggest challenges.Van Kan also explains how Standard Bank supports private medical practices, and reveals several initiatives the bank plans to introduce to support the South African healthcare sector further.He additionally details Standard Bank’s view on the NHI, noting the positives it may offer to South Africans.Van Kan concludes the interview by sharing his advice for healthcare professionals and business owners to strengthen their financial resilience and grow in a competitive industry.
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 business integrates rigorous business planning with astute analytical skills.Aoun is the Sales Director for Middle East and Africa region for HP Poly.He firmly believes that equipping employees with the right tools is critical to a business’s success — including hybrid working tools that help professionals thrive.Aoun holds an MBA from the Université Panthéon Sorbonne and boasts a strong ICT skill set that ranges from operations management to pre-sales.Learn more about Headset Solutions: http://www.headsetsolutions.co.za/In this What’s Next interview, Truter and Aoun expand on the ways HP Poly has integrated AI into its products — and how this differentiates their products.Aoun unpacks the new AI-powered devices that HP Poly recently launched at ISE Barcelona, as well as several AI-focused updates to existing products.Truter elaborated on the features of HP Poly AI-powered products which most impress prospective and existing clients, and how these features benefit South African businesses.Aoun shares predictions on the workplace of the future and reveals ways in which HP Poly is designing its products to adapt to this workplace.Anyone keen to chat to Nielle and his team about the latest HP Poly products available to them, can reach out on www.headsetsolutions.co.za
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Elani van der Laan discusses Standard Bank’s tailored solutions for accounting and professional services businesses.Van der Laan is the Head of Accounting & Legal Sectors, Business and Commercial Banking and has held the position since 2021.She boasts nearly 15 years of experience working in the legal sector and has held several notable positions at leading companies.In this What’s Next interview, van der Laan shares how Standard Bank is supporting accounting businesses with financial products that meet the needs of this sector.She outlines the process that Standard Bank goes through to develop new and relevant solutions that meet the needs of small and medium-sized accounting businesses in South Africa.Van der Laan then unpacks the biggest challenges in the sector from Standard Bank’s perspective and explains how ESG and sustainability goals factor into this.She concludes the interview by sharing her advice for accounting businesses that want to stay competitive and meet their goals.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, David Plink discusses the importance of implementing a connected HR ecosystem for your business.Plink is the CEO of the Top Employers Institute and boasts over 25 years of HR industry experience.He has honed his skills across various HR themes, including general, commercial, and change management while working for global, results-driven companies.In this What’s Next interview, Plink explains how the Top Employers Institute empowers companies with daily HR insights.He discusses how the connected HR ecosystem is evolving, and the role the Top Employers Institute is playing in this process.Plink then unpacks the most significant HR trends of 2025, and how these trends are impacting the HR function.He explains what differentiates excellent HR practices from the rest, and the benefits of implementing a connected HR ecosystem.Plink concludes the interview by explaining how the Top Employers Institute can help businesses embrace a connected HR ecosystem.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Prasanth Seevnarayan discusses the importance of having a high-quality mattress.Seevnarayan is the CEO and Executive Director at Lylax and Serta South Africa.He is a visionary South African entrepreneur who has founded and led many successful businesses across several industries.One of these businesses is Lylax, which is a family business that has been manufacturing premium mattresses and bases in South Africa for 40 years.In this interview, Seevnarayan unpacks the Lylax and Serta mattress brands, noting that they have been in South Africa for 40 years and 25 years respectively.He explains why it is important for South Africans to sleep on a high-quality mattress.Seevnarayan then explains how customers must approach buying the right mattress for their needs – whether this is online or in-person.He then highlights various interesting innovations that set Serta and Lylax mattresses apart from the competition in South Africa.Seevnarayan concludes the interview by revealing how MyBroadband readers can buy the latest high-tech mattresses
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Bonga Gumede discusses Altron Digital Business’s latest report, which focuses on embracing key technology trends.Gumede is the Executive: Retail GTM at Altron Digital Business.He brings a wealth of experience to his role, where he crafts strategic growth solutions tailored to the South African retail landscape.Gumede has a track record of leveraging digital tools to enhance retail operations, customer engagement, and profitability.In this What’s Next interview, Gumede discusses a new Altron Digital Business guide titled “Future-Ready Retail: Embracing Key Tech Trends.”He discusses the key findings of the report, including the fact that 73% of South African businesses see edge computing as crucial for digital transformation.Gumede then discusses the report’s findings regarding how AI and machine learning are being used to optimise stock replenishment and reduce wastage, before unpacking other key findings from the guide.With these insights in mind, Gumede explains how Altron Digital Business is positioned to help South African businesses take advantage of the latest business technology trends.He also discusses which emerging technologies he thinks will play a key role for successful South African retailers in 2025, and concludes by discussing the most important thing local retailers can do to thrive in 2025 and beyond.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Mohammed Mosam discusses how CFOs can leverage automation to improve their businesses.Mosam is the Regional Product Marketing Director for Sage Africa and Middle East (Sage Intacct) and boasts over 30 years of industry experience.This includes working as a Support Consultant at Pink Software, Director for Support and IT Operations at Brilliant Business System, and Divisional Director for Sage Pastel Accounting.In this interview, Mosam outlines what CFOs and finance leaders should look for in financial software without having to get rid of their existing investments.He explains what automation comprises in the financial sector, and how CFOs can use it to add more value to their businesses.Mosam then unpacks why finance departments should be excited about advances in AI and reveals where he thinks AI can offer the most value for finance functions.He also notes how the roles and responsibilities of CFOs are evolving beyond historical expectations.Mosam concludes the interview by explaining how CFOs and finance leaders can adapt to these new responsibilities.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Tracker COO Duma Ngcobo discusses South African crime statistics relating to business-owned vehicles.Ngcobo is a veteran executive with over 20 years of experience in the technology and telecommunications industries.In his current role as Chief Operating Officer at Tracker, which he assumed in 2021, Ngcobo formulates and implements strategies that promote operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.This includes leading initiatives that have successfully improved customer experience, reduced costs, and enhanced the company’s market standing.In this What’s Next interview, Ngcobo discusses the importance of the vehicle crime statistics Tracker recently published, and explains why hijacking business vehicles is so popular with criminals.He then explains how Tracker is leveraging the power of AI to improve business vehicle safety for its clients.Ngcobo also discusses geofencing, explaining how it can be used to protect businesses against vehicle-related crimes.He highlights other emerging technologies Tracker is investigating to protect its clients from malicious parties.Ngcobo concludes the interview by discussing what he believes the government and lawmakers can do to reduce business vehicle crime in South Africa.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Professor Waldo Krugell unpacks what South Africans should expect from the 2025 Budget Speech.Krugell is a Professor in Economics at the North-West University’s Potchefstroom campus. He holds an MSc in Economics and completed his PhD focusing on the geographical economy of South Africa.In this What’s Next interview, Krugell discusses the general economic sentiment in South Africa ahead of the 2025 Budget Speech, and unpacks what can be expected for the NHI in the budgetary allocation.He outlines his predictions for tax changes and his thoughts on how the expansion of the Basic Income Grant will be funded.Krugell then reveals his expectations for further information about the R940 billion infrastructure investment President Ramaphosa has previously spoken about.He concludes the interview by sharing how, based on his expectations, the rating agencies will react to the 2025 Budget Speech, and the relevance of recent issues between President Ramaphosa and President Trump.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Macrocomm Group CEO Sivi Moodley unpacks the company’s 20-year journey to becoming an industry leader.Moodley founded Macrocomm Group in 2005 and has since turned the company into a premier force in the smart solutions sector – focusing on the Internet of Things (IoT) and driving innovation across the African continent.He boasts a diverse career history, having worked in healthcare, retail, communications, marketing, advertising, and IoT.In this interview, Moodley unpacks Macrocomm Group’s exciting 20-year journey in South Africa.He discusses the significant milestones the company has reached along the way, and how the company has created a holistic portfolio of services across energy management, water management, food security, safety, and health.Moodley then expands on Macrocomm Group’s contributions to the smart utilities sector and its role in strengthening South Africa’s energy infrastructure – including in underserved communities.He also shares his thoughts on how Macrocomm Group has helped drive advances in the South African IoT and IoE fields.Moodley then unpacks the upcoming projects he’s excited about, including the company’s continued international expansion.He concludes the interview by sharing his advice for South African entrepreneurs looking to achieve success.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Morne Kroukamp discusses Dell’s redesigned PC portfolio and its partnership with Qualcomm Technologies.Kroukamp is a Field Product Marketing Manager at Dell Technologies.He has worked at Dell Technologies for over 16 years and has accrued experience in various roles – such as internal sales, product specialist, account executive, and field product manager. In this What’s Next interview, Kroukamp unpacks the new range of redesigned Dell AI PCs and how they leverage the latest silicon innovations to ensure industry-leading PC capabilities across software, manageability, security, and sustainability.He reveals the three simplified categories for the company’s PCs: • Dell – for everyday users • Dell Pro – for professional users• Dell Pro Max – for maximum performanceHe then discusses Dell Technologies’ partnership with Qualcomm and how it aligns with Dell Technologies’ goal of becoming the leading PC brand in the AI revolution.Kroukamp explains that the Qualcomm Snapdragon X series processors are transforming the Dell PC landscape by integrating AI into its PCs through a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) – enhancing performance and improving battery life.He also discusses how Dell Technologies is leading innovation in the PC monitor sector and announced several new monitors and monitor technologies at CES 2025 – including the world-first 32-inch IPS Enhanced Black Display with QD-OLED panel technology.He concludes the interview by explaining how the Dell PC ecosystem is a key priority for the company, ensuring that Dell Technologies caters to every working style and all employees.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Abraham van der Merwe discusses how South Africans can save on electricity with Stage Zero.Van der Merwe is the founder and CEO of Stage Zero — a renewable energy provider that specialises in embedded generation and energy storage solutions for residential and commercial customers.He is an accomplished investor with over 20 years of experience in the embedded systems and telecommunications industries.In this What’s Next interview, van der Merwe reveals what led to the creation of Stage Zero and how it differs from other South African solar providers.He explains why load-shedding ceased in 2024, how this impacted the market, and his thoughts on the future of load-shedding in South Africa.Van der Merwe then details how Stage Zero helps its clients install solar and notes the process and advantages of going off-grid.He concludes the interview by unpacking Stage Zero’s plans for the future and how those interested in its offerings can get in touch.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Deloitte’s Mohammed Shaikh discusses the shifting media consumption landscape in Africa.Shaikh is a Partner in Assurance Services, Audit, and Assurance at Deloitte Africa.He also serves as Deloitte Africa’s Media and Entertainment Sector Lead, where he helps clients navigate the evolving challenges and opportunities within the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) industry.In this What’s Next interview, Shaikh discusses the evolution of media consumption in Africa over the past ten years.He explains that both global and local streaming platforms have entered the African market, and provides insight into how media and entertainment companies can navigate this dynamic landscape.Shaikh then reveals several key trends in the African media industry, including the rise of local content, competition with social media platforms, and the power of fandoms and communities.He concludes the interview by discussing how media companies and streaming platforms can partner with telcos and banks to deliver better consumer value.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Justin Hume discusses the key features of the new Samsung Galaxy S25 smartphones.Hume is the VP of Mobile Experiences at Samsung South Africa and has worked in the cellular industry since 1997.In 2012, Hume rejoined Samsung South Africa as the Product and Marketing Director and quickly rose through the ranks.He soon became the Chief Marketing Officer and then the Director of Integrated Mobility before taking on his current role.In this What’s Next interview, Hume discusses the most exciting features of the Samsung Galaxy S25 series smartphones.He explains how Samsung has improved the AI capabilities of the S25 smartphones by introducing multimodal AI agents, which work together to give users a more natural and comprehensive AI-powered experience.He expands on why Samsung is so heavily focused on delivering this better AI experience to its smartphone customers.Hume then discusses the photographic capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy S25 series smartphones and explains how AI tools contribute to better photos — both during the shot and in post-editing.He also covers the various performance enhancements to the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, including a new chipset explicitly designed to run these smartphones’ multimodal AI agents effectively.Hume concludes the interview by detailing the look, feel, and robustness of the Galaxy S25 smartphones, as well as how the pre-order process works.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, NTT DATA’s Chris Wiggett unpacks the latest trends in business intelligence and AI that South African businesses must be aware of.Wiggett is the Head of AI and Data Analytics at NTT DATA Middle East and Africa.He has fourteen years of experience in data analytics and is well-known for his thought leadership in Advanced Analytics.Wiggett is also obsessed with the future of data science, with a particular passion for the business insights it generates.In this What’s Next interview, Wiggett unpacks the latest trends in data and business intelligence that are currently shaping the industry.He highlights that data-driven decision-making has been spoken about for a long time, but with the rise of AI, it is finally being realized in practice and at scale.Wiggett explains how NTT DATA differentiates itself through its proven processes and extensive experience implementing powerful AI and business intelligence solutions that generate real client value.He then emphasizes the importance of effective data access controls, ensuring that the right people, teams, and tools have access to all the data they need, while avoiding giving out data access when it is unnecessary.Wiggett also talks about the importance of implementing guard rails for AI tools, and explains why it is crucial that organizations promote inter-departmental collaboration and coordination to ensure that the full value of data-driven insights and AI is achieved.He concludes the interview by discussing what he is most excited about in the fields of AI and data analytics in the future.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Tumi Mothoagae discusses how AI helps Liberty to streamline the claims process for its clients.Mothoagae is the Divisional Executive for Claims Management at Liberty Group South Africa and has worked at the company for 13 years.During this time, she has held the roles of Team Manager and Financial Advisor – having joined the company after being an Associate Lecturer at Wits University.In this What’s Next interview, Mothoagae discusses how Liberty has integrated technology into its claims processes – ensuring death and funeral claims can be processed in under 20 minutes, and lifestyle claims can be processed within 24 hours.She explains how this is enabled by the use of AI, which pulls extensive data from multiple sources. Mothoagae then discusses the challenges Liberty faced when implementing automation into its claims processes – including dealing with increased claims volumes due to COVID-19 – as well as how employees benefit from having repetitive processes removed.Mothoagae concludes the interview by unpacking the metrics which show how successful the integration of modern technologies has been for Liberty.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, MiWay CEO Burton Naicker discusses the latest trends in South Africa’s insurance industry.Naicker’s professional journey began in the banking industry, before transitioning into the insurance sector when he was appointed as a Legal Recoveries Advisor at Telesure.In the years which followed, Naicker progressed to senior management roles in the claims environment – culminating in him being appointed as the CEO of SIAS in 2010.In this What’s Next interview, Naicker discusses his journey to becoming the CEO of MiWay – explaining how the insurance industry has evolved over the past 20 years.Naicker then discusses the highlights of his tenure as MiWay CEO, as well as the biggest selling points of MiWay as an insurance provider in South Africa.He also unpacks the major trends he is seeing in the local insurance industry, and provides his top advice to South African insurance clients.Naicker concludes the interview by revealing his biggest goals for 2025 as MiWay CEO.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Metacom CMO Marius Visser discusses the company’s impressive range of SCADA, IoT, and router products.Visser is a 22-year veteran of the communications industry, who joined Metacom in 2010.Before this, he worked at MTN for six years as a Solution Consultant and Business Development Manager.He also worked at Psitek for six years as an Executive for its Access to Voice department.Visser then joined Metacom as the Executive of Business Development for Europe and Africa.He has since been promoted to Chief Marketing Officer, and was also appointed to the company’s board as a shareholding director in 2023.Visser is passionate about offering innovative connectivity solutions that meet the needs of Metacom’s clients.He details the company’s newest router range, which it launched last year, and discusses how popular these products have been.Visser then discusses the MC7000 enterprise router – outlining why it is the best enterprise router on the market.He also reveals the emerging technologies that Metacom is keeping an eye on for its future innovations.Visser shares several examples of how Metacom has helped its clients succeed, too, thanks to its superior connectivity solutions.He concludes the interview by discussing the initiatives and products Metacom is going to launch in 2025.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Ryan Switala discusses the technologies Liberty is using to improve its life insurance products.Switala is the Head of Simple Life Solutions at Liberty and has worked at the company for 18 years — beginning as an Actuarial Specialist in 2006.He then held several notable positions at Liberty before being appointed to his current role — including Head of Risk for Product Development, Actuarial Consultant for Group Reinsurance, and Chief Specialist for Partner Integration.In this What’s Next interview, Switala discusses how Liberty’s digital transformation strategy is helping make life insurance more accessible to its clients. He unpacks the powerful technologies that are being used to streamline the customer journey and make life insurance easier to understand for the average South African.Switala then expands on Liberty’s use of AI and machine learning to deliver ever-evolving, highly personalised client experiences.He concludes the interview by sharing the most exciting digital innovations that Liberty plans to incorporate into its life insurance offerings.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Shenge Buthelezi discusses Vodacom’s extensive MVNO offerings.Buthelezi is the Managing Executive of Wholesale and Carrier Services at Vodacom South Africa.He has worked at Vodacom for over 16 years and has held several important roles in the company’s Wholesale and Carrier Services business unit during this time – including Executive Head, Programme Manager, and Account Manager.In his current role, Buthelezi leads this business unit and is focused on fostering, maintaining, and growing strategic partnerships that grow revenue and profitability for Vodacom South Africa.In this What’s Next interview, Buthelezi discusses what makes Vodacom Business South Africa’s most trusted enterprise telecommunications provider, in South Africa.He then focuses on the company’s MVNO offering and the signing of its first MVNO partner: Mr Price Mobile.Buthelezi explains why Vodacom has entered the MVNO industry and why the network provider is a great partner for companies that want to launch their own MVNO.He highlights that Vodacom has built a mobile virtual network enablement platform to support its MVNO offering.Buthelezi concludes the interview by discussing the many exciting opportunities Vodacom’s wholesale business is working on moving forward.
In this Driving Sustainability with Aki Anastasiou interview, SolarAfrica Energy’s Brandon Horn discusses Electricity 2.0 – a new virtual power solutions suite for South African businesses in the commercial and industrial sectors.Horn is the Head of Commercial at SolarAfrica Energy and boasts over 16 years of experience working for multinational corporations in local and international markets.This has included working at Puma Energy, Brent Oil, and Centurion Systems.In this Driving Sustainability interview, Horn explains why volatile electricity price increases are an upcoming crisis for South Africa, and reveals the major drivers behind these rises.He then unpacks what businesses can do to combat electricity tariff increases, before discussing SolarAfrica’s Electricity 2.0 suite – including why a business will choose it over other power solutions.Horn outlines how a business can start wheeling energy through Electricity 2.0, and what businesses must look out for when choosing an electricity wheeling provider.He concludes the interview by noting how to get in touch with SolarAfrica to learn more about Electricity 2.0.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, First Technology’s Barry Neethling discusses the power of AI technologies in the workplace.Neethling is the Chief Technology Officer at First Technology Group – and has worked at the company for 40 years.He is an expert in assisting South African companies to get the best value for their Microsoft licenses, and has been involved in licensing for about 30 years.In this What’s Next interview, Neethling discusses why it is important for South African businesses to experiment with and embrace the latest AI technologies – like Microsoft Copilot.He unpacks the major security and privacy concerns that come with AI tools accessing company data, and explains how businesses can address these challenges.Neethling then discusses the potential benefits of AI in the workplace – including its impact on productivity and employee satisfaction, and how AI can be used as a “superpower.”He provides his view on the pace of technological change and the future capabilities of AI, and concludes the discussion by giving advice to people who are hesitant about embracing AI and other new technologies.Website: www.firsttech.co.zaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-technology-national/
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, gicom’s Stefan Hilger discusses how retailers can improve their profitability by using SAP solutions.Hilger is a Co-Founder of gicom and an Executive Member of its board, where he is responsible for the company’s Sales and Marketing division.He has spent over 25 years working to ensure that his global clients optimise their financial agreements, margins, and profitability.In this What’s Next interview, Hilger shares how retailers can use SAP solutions in an increasingly competitive market to improve their profitability.He explains how gicom plays an important role in this process, before revealing the key elements of good negotiating when trying to improve supplier terms.Hilger expands on how SAP solutions help with this process, as well as the role of technology in retail negotiations in general.He concludes the interview by outlining how SAP helps businesses anticipate market changes that can have a material impact on their profitability
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Liberty’s Kedibone Chuene discusses the latest insurance trends in South Africa.Chuene is the Chief Risk Product Marketing Specialist at Liberty and has over 16 years of industry experience.During this time, she has worked at several leading companies — including m-Cubed, Alexforbes, Guardrisk, and Nedbank. In this What’s Next interview, Chuene discusses the latest insurance industry trends — including several trends impacting women.She also notes how these trends have influenced Liberty’s service offerings in different ways.Chuene then explains how Liberty has adapted to changing market conditions and client needs, and reveals the future innovations and initiatives clients can expect to see in the insurance industry.She concludes the interview by outlining how interested listeners can learn more about Liberty’s insurance products.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Thabiso Hlatshwayo discusses how OpenText helps South African retailers drive innovation and improve customer engagement.Hlatshwayo is the Solution Consulting Senior Manager at OpenText Africa, and has over a decade of experience in high-tech industries.He leads a team of highly-experienced consultants who are responsible for designing multifaceted technology solutions that serve the needs of OpenText’s clients.In this What’s Next interview, Hlatshwayo explains how OpenText enables retailers to streamline their operations using automation.He reveals how automation makes it faster to move from the product ideation stage to the product realisation stage, as well as how retailers can use real-time data to improve decision-making across their operations and customer engagement systems.Hlatshwayo then discusses how OpenText’s low-code platform accelerates innovation while maintaining the agility that retailers need, as well as how OpenText enables seamless collaboration between IT teams and business decision-makers.He also unpacks the benefits retailers receive from embracing a cloud deployment model in their tech stack – including how it helps retailers personalise customer interactions while maintaining operational efficiency.Hlatshwayo concludes the interview by providing examples of how companies are leveraging the full power of OpenText’s solutions to grow their businesses
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, ZTE’s Charles Yang discusses the success of the Mossel Bay 5G Ultra-range Maritime Coverage Project — executed by MTN and ZTE.Yang is the Director of Marketing and Solutions at ZTE South Africa, and plays a key role in the development and execution of projects like the Maritime Coverage Project.Yang and ZTE approached MTN after identifying Mossel Bay Harbour as the best location to run the project — thanks to its popularity as a tourism destination and role as an economic hub.In this What’s Next interview, Yang unpacks what the Mossel Bay 5G Ultra-range Maritime Coverage Project entailed.He discusses the major goals that they achieved, as well as the biggest challenges ZTE and MTN faced.Yang then expands on how ZTE and MTN overcame the typical range limitations of 5G technology to expand connectivity 22km out to sea.He details the future plans of ZTE and MTN to leverage this technology in other South African coastal regions, and explains how the project aligns with ZTE’s long-term vision for Africa.Yang concludes the interview by revealing the response to the successful project in the Mossel Bay region.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, PEP’s Helmuth Luttig unpacks the value that PAXI offers to businesses through its business-to-door courier service.Luttig is the Chief Executive for Commercial at PEP South Africa and boasts over 15 years of industry experience.This includes serving as the Commercial Director and General Manager for Financial Services at Ackermans, as well as the COO at Capfin.In this What’s Next interview, Luttig details the benefits of PAXI’s business-to-door courier service.He discusses how PAXI’s network of over 2,800 counter points benefits clients, before revealing how the service integrates into companies’ existing shipment and delivery management processes.Luttig then explains how PAXI ensures reliability and prioritises the safety of all delivered packages, as well as how the service can be adapted to the needs of various business types.He also outlines how PAXI differentiates itself from its competitors, in terms of its pricing and service offerings.Luttig concludes the interview by explaining the steps PAXI has taken to ensure all deliveries happen smoothly this Black Friday.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Accenture’s Aadil Jappie explains why retailer need to implement a powerful cloud ERP system.Jappie is the SAP Retail Capability Lead for Accenture Africa and is a seasoned IT executive with over 20 years of experience.He excels at building and maintaining strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, and has worked with retailers from across South Africa, the UK, and Europe.In this What’s Next interview, Jappie explains why retailers must move to a cloud ERP system – focusing on SAP S/4HANA as an example.He then outlines how Accenture helps its clients overcome their biggest operational challenges when transitioning to S/4HANA, while ensuring they make the installation as cost-efficient as possible.Jappie shares the recent innovations he’s seen in the retail ERP space, too, and explains how these new technologies help retailers stay a step ahead of their competitors.He concludes the interview by unpacking the trends he expects to emerge in the ERP cloud industry.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Absa’s Msizi Khoza discusses the challenges that African nations face in securing adequate climate finance - and how they can advocate for themselves at the upcoming COP29 conference.Khoza is CIB Managing Executive for ESG at Absa and leads the company’s extensive responsibility related initiatives.He has held several notable roles at Absa during his career, including Principal of Structured Asset Finance, and Chief of Staff to the Absa Group CEO.In this What’s Next interview, Khoza discusses the main challenges African nations face in securing adequate climate finance and details the goals and structures African nations should advocate for at COP29.He outlines the alternative financial strategies African countries should be considering, and reveals how the shift from climate loans to grant-based funding has impacted climate resilience and debt sustainability on the continent.Khoza then explains how African governments can mobilise domestic resources to fund climate initiatives if the COP29 negotiations fail to deliver the desired results.He concludes the interview by unpacking the role of national determined contributions (NDCs) in attracting international funding and investment.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Technology Corporate Management (TCM) solution experts Phillip Ambartzakis and Vishnu Naidoo discuss IBM’s use of AI and machine learning for power and storage management.Ambartzakis is a Senior Account Executive for External Sales at TCM, and has been in the IT industry for almost three decades. He has worked with IBM products and solutions since 1998. Ambartzakis was initially an IBM Advisory Telesales Brand Specialist, before becoming an IBM X-Series Sales Specialist in 2003 - and ultimately an IBM System X Brand Manager.Naidoo is the Technical Solutions Architect for Pre-Sales at TCM. He started his career as a Technical Support Engineer at IMS in 1991, and joined IBM as an IT Specialist in 1998. In his position at TCM, he specialises in data centre infrastructure and prides himself on meeting the solution design needs of TCM’s customers.In this What’s Next interview, Ambartzakis and Naidoo discuss IBM’s use of AI and machine learning to improve Power Systems efficiency and Storage management.Naidoo talks about the key innovations in IBM’s Power Systems and Storage solutions that empower customers to confront their business challenges. He also explains how IBM is integrating AI and machine learning into its Power Systems and Storage products to enhance performance, and unpacks the advancements being made in performance tuning.Ambartzakis details the key features that differentiate IBM Power Systems from competing solutions and architectures.He also provides insight into how IBM is addressing storage efficiency to benefit their customers – including through data compression and energy consumption.Find out more about IBM Power10 here: https://power.tcminsights.co.za/powersolutionsFind out more about IBM FlashSystem here: https://storage.tcminsights.co.za/storeagesolutions
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Master Power Technologies CEO Menno Parsons discusses the company’s founding and incredible success in Africa.Since founding Master Power Technologies in 1999, Parsons’ leadership has been instrumental in the company’s strong growth. Over the past 25 years, the company has expanded to more than 16 countries and completed over 150 data centre projects.In this What’s Next interview, Parsons explains why he decided to start Master Power Technologies and reveals the key factors that have led to its success in Africa.He discusses how designing, building, and operating data centres in Africa differs from other parts of the world — before highlighting the importance of research and development for retaining a competitive edge.Parsons then outlines the opportunities he sees for Master Power Technologies to expand into markets outside of Africa.He concludes the interview by unpacking the key emerging trends he believes will become important for the data centre industry moving forward.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, MVN-X CEO Valde Ferradaz discusses the value his company brings to the South African MVNO industry.Ferradaz is a highly respected and experienced business leader in the telecommunications industry, having held key positions at prominent technology companies before joining MVN-X.In this What’s Next interview, Ferradaz explains what MVN-X does and how it has established itself so strongly in the South African MVNO market.He discusses how the MVNO business model is currently evolving to meet consumer needs, and reveals the factors driving the diversification of the MVNO ecosystem.Ferradaz then explains that MVN-X is carrier and product agnostic, and reveals why this is beneficial to businesses that want to launch their own MVNO.He also shares his thoughts on businesses ‘bolting’ on MVNOs to their existing businesses, and expands on MVN-X’s role as an enabler in helping businesses launch a successful MVNO.Ferradaz concludes the interview by outlining the process of starting your own MVNO with MVN-X.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Brian Armstrong discusses the emerging technologies impacting the South African financial landscape.Armstrong is an independent Non-Executive Director at Old Mutual and Professor in the Chair of Digital Business at Wits Business School.He is regarded as one of Africa's foremost ICT industry leaders and has over 30 years of top-level management experience.In this What’s Next interview, Armstrong discusses how technology is reshaping the landscape of financial inclusion in developing economies like South Africa.He outlines the role traditional financial institutions play in the digital evolution of the financial sector, and reveals the most promising digital innovations helping to connect unbanked populations with financial services.Armstrong then explains how fintech startups and established financial institutions can collaborate to improve financial inclusion, before unpacking the potential risks and challenges of rapid digitalisation in the financial sector.He also unpacks the key policy and regulatory changes needed to support the digital evolution of financial services in South Africa.Armstrong highlights the importance of mobile technologies and digital wallets in driving financial inclusion in underserved communities.He concludes the interview by revealing how data analytics and machine learning can help create more personalised and accessible financial products for diverse populations
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Kevin Aron discusses the exciting changes coming to Medshield’s benefits and contributions for 2025.Aron is the Principal Officer for Medshield Medical Scheme and boasts over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry where he held multiple key positions across several major financial and healthcare businesses.These include Acting Chief Operating Officer at MSO, Private Equity Specialist at Investec, Financial Director at Solution Health Risk Management, Strategic Adviser at Mediclinic, and many more.In this What’s Next interview, Aron outlines what Medshield is, how long it has been around, and its current position in the market.He details the changes Medshield has made to its benefits and contributions for 2025, highlighting how these minimise members' out-of-pocket expenses.Aron then discusses the factors driving the rapid increase in healthcare costs and explains how Medshield is trying to negate this.He also explains the role new technologies are playing in improving Medshield’s services, as well as how these technologies enable better preventative care.Aron concludes the interview by discussing how the company will continue to grow in the year ahead.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Connect SA Sales Director Charlene George discusses the company’s end-to-end customer experience services.George oversees Connect SA’s sales strategy and execution, and manages the company’s team of account managers and business development managers.She has over 20 years of IT industry experience, which she acquired working at global technology companies such as IBM, Dell EMC, Oracle, and Cisco Systems.In this What’s Next interview, George discusses Connect SA’s vendor-independent approach to custom service solutions and explains how this benefits clients.George then reveals how Connect SA customises its solutions to meet each client’s needs.She explains how businesses can identify areas for improvement in their existing customer service systems, and reveals the different areas of the customer experience journey for which Connect SA offers solutions.George concludes the interview by discussing the innovative new technologies that can be used to solve the biggest customer service challenges of South African businesses.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Vodacom Business Chief of Sales Peter Malebye discusses how the company became a leader in the IoT sector.Malebye is a respected leader in the South African IoT industry.Before taking on his current role, he was the BCX Managing Executive responsible for industrial and commercial IoT and operational technology commercialisation.Malebye has also worked for major technology brands Nokia, Absa, MTN, Alcatel, and Accenture.He is passionate about discovering how Vodacom Business can help organisations succeed in a digital world and believes technology is a key enabler for young people to participate meaningfully in the knowledge economy.In this What’s Next interview, Malebye discusses the importance of Vodacom being crowned South Africa’s Most Trusted Enterprise Telecommunications ProviderMobile Network Operator.He explains how this has helped Vodacom Business become a leader in the IoT industry, and unpacks the other factors that have contributed to Vodacom Business’s success in this sector.Malebye then talks about the hurdles that Vodacom Business has faced along the way, before unpacking the major milestones the company has celebrated in the IoT sector.
In this What’s Next interview, Ross discusses the 2024 SingularityU South Africa event.She explains what the event is about and why Old Mutual has decided to sponsor it.Ross then highlights how Old Mutual prioritises sustainability and creates solutions that prioritise people.She also unpacks Old Mutual’s obsession with championing financial wellness in Africa and highlights Old Mutual’s focus on embracing technology and data-driven insights.
In this episode of What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou, Merchant Capital Founder and CEO Dov Girnun shares his insights on the incredible entrepreneurial opportunities in South Africa and the unmatched resilience of homegrown entrepreneurs.A disruptive innovator, Girnun began his career in London’s financial sector before his ambition to start his own business brought him back to South Africa.Recognising a gap in funding for small and medium sized businesses, he and his founding partners created Merchant Capital, an innovative solution tailored to address the unique funding challenges faced by SMEs.In the What’s Next interview, Girnun recounts his journey from startup founder to supporting the growth of nearly 50,000 SMEs.Built by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, Merchant Capital offers a firsthand understanding of the obstacles business owners face.Girnun emphasises that South African entrepreneurs are not only resilient; they are world-class and have the potential to compete on a global stage.He also highlights the role entrepreneurship plays in solving the country’s challenges and offers insight into the types of SMEs Merchant Capital supports.Girnun notes the strong, positive sentiment within the local market and the growing opportunities to fuel entrepreneurship in South Africa.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Ernst Fonternel discusses the importance of putting customers first.Fonternel is MTN South Africa’s Chief Consumer Officer and boasts over 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry.During this time, he has worked in many important roles - including as Senior Manager at MTN Group, Chief Marketing Officer at MTN Zambia, and Chief Marketing Officer at MTN Uganda.In this What’s Next interview, Fonternel explains why it is important for MTN to put its customers first and how it achieves this through its world-class mobile services.He reveals how MTN is also leveraging chatbots to improve customer experience, and using AI to create personalised mobile plans.Fonternel then explains how customers can take advantage of customisable MTN mobile plans, before discussing how MTN uses data-driven technologies to ensure optimal network performance.He concludes the interview by explaining how MTN is addressing inequality and helping underserved South Africans access the connectivity they need to thrive
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Altron Group CTO Dr Bongani Mabaso discusses the company’s impressive performance, growth, and profitability.In his current role, Dr Mabaso leads Altron’s group-wide technology function, product designs, and innovation strategies.Dr Mabaso was previously the CEO of SITA and the CIO of Digital and Customer Journeys at Standard Bank CIB, before joining Altron Group.Dr Mabaso talks about Altron Group’s stance on AI, as well as how it has embedded AI into its products and businesses.Dr Mabaso then discusses the opportunities for the public and private sectors to work together and unlock government data to serve the people of South Africa.He concludes the interview by discussing the technology trends and growth opportunities that he and Altron Group are excited about moving forward – including hybrid cloud and AI.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Resilient Innovations CEO Willem Olivier discusses the value of Disaster Recovery as a Service, backup as a service, and work area recovery spaces.Olivier explains why it is important for South African businesses to embrace DRaaS and how Resilient Innovations clients weren’t affected by the recent CrowdStrike outage. He then reveals that Resilient Innovations recently built its own DRaaS and backup facility.Olivier also explains the difference between DRaaS and BaaS, before outlining the pitfalls of relying exclusively on your existing cloud provider’s disaster recovery and backup mechanisms. He talks about work area recovery, too, and explains how it helps businesses get back up and running when disaster strikes.Olivier concludes the interview by explaining how businesses can attend the launch of the new Resilient Innovations DRaaS facility.
Romulen Pillay is the Managing Director of Philips Southern Africa and has held this position for over five years. In this What’s Next interview, Pillay discusses the key findings from the 2024 Philips Future Health Index report. He explains how South Africa’s skills shortage is affecting the healthcare sector, and reveals how the industry is addressing this challenge. Pillay then talks about how the healthcare sector is using innovative technologies like AI and streamlined data collection, before discussing the financial challenges the industry faces. He also reveals how the local healthcare sector is addressing the need to be environmentally friendly. Pillay concludes the interview by explaining why healthcare leaders want to collaborate with organisations in other sectors.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Everest Wealth CEO Thys van Zyl discusses the impact the Government of National Unity is having on local markets.Van Zyl has played a key role in South Africa’s financial industry for the past decade, and under his guidance Everest Wealth has grown into a multi-million-rand enterprise.He is passionate and knowledgeable about private equity and alternative investments, and is respected as a leading South African financial expert. In this What’s Next interview, van Zyl discusses how local markets have reacted to the results of the national elections. He warns that while there may be positive market sentiments about the GNU at the moment, it remains to be seen if the various political parties can work together in the long term.Van Zyl then reveals the key investment trends he is watching — locally and internationally — for the rest of 2024. This includes corporate bonds and tokens, and he provides his opinion on the future prospects of these opportunities in South Africa.Van Zyl talks about Everest Wealth’s Amethyst Living Annuity, too, and unpacks what it offers and how it delivers value to investors.Van Zyl concludes the interview by revealing Everest Wealth’s exciting plans for the future.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Botha van der Vyver - Founder and CEO of JustSolve - discusses how hyperautomation can help local businesses accelerate their digital transformation efforts.Van der Vyver is an IT leader with more than two decades of industry experience.In 2016, van der Vyver founded JustSolve with the purpose of building an innovative community of problem solvers dedicated to empowering clients to achieve more with less through the acceleration of global product development.In this What’s Next interview, van der Vyver discusses hyperautomation and its impact on digital transformation in South Africa.He explains what hyperautomation is and provides examples of how it can be used in specific industries to streamline operations. Van der Vyver then reveals how hyperautomation saves organisations money through improved productivity, increased efficiency, and a faster time to market.He also talks about JustSolve’s strategic partnership with Mendix and how this helps JustSolve provide low-code solutions to African businesses using a flexible and predictable financial model.He concludes by highlighting Mendix’s affordable entry point. It offers a service that lets South African businesses of any size support up to five users for less than R2,000 per month - including hosting and AWS infrastructure.
Founded in 2008, Sustainable Power Solutions (SPS) has to date successfully commissioned over 290 solar and battery storage projects in the commercial & industrial (C&I) sector across Sub-Saharan Africa, including St Helena Island and the Seychelles. We are a leading asset management company specializing in the funding, development, and operation of solar PV and battery storage plants. SPS is a portfolio company of Gridworks, part of British International Investment (BII), the United Kingdom’s development finance institution, and NewGX, owned by South African entrepreneur Khudusela Pitje. With the funding provided by our shareholders, we are able to offer tailored finance solutions to businesses and partner with developers & EPC partners across the region. Having both financial resources and technical expertise under one roof means that we are able to offer impactful and cost-effective solutions with short implementation times.Our team is proactively driving renewable energy initiatives within the C&I sector, with over 126 MWp of solar and 36 MWh of battery storage projects installed to date.To find out more visit www.sps.africa or email contact@sps.africaIn this What’s Next interview, Visagie discusses the work SPS does in the sustainable energy industry.She explains how SPS has managed to thrive in a competitive market, before discussing the Aqunion renewable energy plant project.Visagie provides details about what the project entailed and how it will help Aqunion build a more sustainable future.She also talks about the microgrid concept, which formed part of the Aqunion project, and explains how this delivers incredible value to South African businesses.Visagie then discusses the current projects SPS is working on, and concludes the interview by explaining how businesses can work with SPS to achieve the same benefits that Aqunion will see for years to come.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Poly HP’s Bob Aoun discusses how hybrid working has evolved.Aoun is the Regional Sales Director for Poly HP, a position he has held for over eight years.Aoun strongly believes that equipping employees with the right tools is critical to a business’s success.In 2024, this includes providing the hybrid working tools professionals need to thrive – no matter whether they’re working at home or in the office.Aoun begins the interview by discussing how HP’s acquisition of Poly has benefited both companies.He then discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic transformed the modern workplace and explains how Poly has evolved to meet the needs of businesses that support hybrid working.Aoun outlines Poly’s most popular work-from-home solutions and explains what makes them unique.He also reveals the trends he has noticed in home offices and which tools are in the highest demand to increase work-from-home productivity.Aoun concludes the interview by sharing his insights into upcoming video conferencing technologies he is most excited about, such as holograms.
In this What’s Next with Aki interview, CloudZA founder and CEO Jonathan Oaker discusses the benefits cloud technology offers to South African businesses.Oaker is an entrepreneur who is known for his visionary leadership in the cloud computing industry.He is now responsible for leading CloudZA as its CEO, and is committed to ensuring the company offers cutting-edge solutions to South African businesses.In this What’s Next interview, Oaker discusses his vision for cloud computing in South Africa and how it inspired him to start CloudZA.He explains what big data is and details the benefits and opportunities it brings to local businesses.Oaker then highlights the cloud-based skills young South Africans must develop to stay relevant and competitive in the job market.He also talks about how Generative AI is reshaping South African industries and the role cloud infrastructure plays in this transformation.Finally, Oaker explains how cloud technology can help solve many of South Africa’s biggest challenges – such as energy management and healthcare delivery.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Tom Crotty discusses how claims processing has evolved in recent years.Crotty is Liberty’s Lead Specialist for Technical Marketing and boasts well over a decade of experience in the financial services industry.Crotty also worked as an Actuary for Alexander Forbes from 2013 to 2017 and, before this, as an Actuarial Analyst for Arthur Els & Associates Consulting Actuaries for over three years.Crotty begins the interview by explaining what his role at Liberty entails.He then discusses what sets Liberty apart from its competitors when it comes to processing claims and talks about the key milestones the company has achieved in 2023.Crotty explains how Liberty paid out a total of R6.72 billion in personal risk cover claims in 2023 and reveals how the claims landscape has changed over the past few years.He also discusses the role technology has played in advancing Liberty’s claims processes, allowing the company to adapt to its customers’ evolving needs.Crotty concludes the interview by outlining Liberty’s goals for 2024 and beyond.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, the director of broadcast cybersecurity and anti-piracy at Irdeto, Frikkie Jonker, discusses the importance of fighting piracy.Jonker is a highly respected name in the South African anti-piracy industry, boasting over 30 years of experience in the field.In his current role, Jonker heads up the Irdeto team fighting against piracy in Africa.Irdeto is owned by the MultiChoice Group and is dedicated to working with organisations like Partners Against Piracy (PAP) to fight cybercrime in video entertainment.In this What’s Next interview, Jonker discusses how piracy has evolved in the digital age and explains why the fight against piracy remains incredibly important.He explains why he is committed to fighting piracy and protecting the creative industry through his current role, highlighting piracy’s financial impact on individuals and businesses.Jonker then discusses how the partnership between MultiChoice and PAP has been valuable for both parties, and reveals how MultiChoice has offered its expertise and resources to help PAP protect the creative industry.He expands upon the various strategies and technologies that Irdeto and PAP use to combat the rising threat of piracy in the digital landscape and notes the role social media plays as a platform for sharing pirated content.Jonker concludes the interview by explaining how ISPs, governments, and regulatory bodies play important roles in fighting piracy.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Dr Angus Hay – Africa Data Centres’ Regional Executive for South Africa – discusses the company’s new data halls in Cape Town.He began his leadership journey in the telecommunications industry when he was appointed as the CTO of Transtel from 2001 until 2006.He now oversees the commercial and operational development of Africa Data Centres’ facilities in Johannesburg and Cape Town.Hay begins this interview by discussing Africa Data Centres’ new Cape Town data halls.He unpacks the new technologies being deployed at these facilities and explains how they will increase performance levels.Hay then provides potential timelines for the completion of the new project and explains how interested parties can contact Africa Data Centres to take advantage of this new facility.He also discusses how successful 2023 was for Africa Data Centres, before sharing the company’s exciting plans for 2024.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Bill Blackie discusses key insights from the Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking Africa Unlocked Conference.Blackie is the CEO of Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank Group and boasts over 25 years of experience in the industry.In 2022 he was promoted to his current role, where he is tasked with ensuring Standard Bank’s commercial clients get the best banking experience possible.In the interview, Blackie explains the key focus points of the recent Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking Africa Unlocked Conference.He reveals the biggest highlights from the conference and the insights he has gained.Blackie then unpacks the major financial opportunities that exist for African businesses in the modern economy, including the potential that renewable energy provides.He concludes the interview by discussing how intra-Africa trade benefits the entire continent and how Standard Bank encourages this practice.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Boitumelo Mothoagae discusses how Liberty automates its claims process.Mothoagae is the Divisional Executive for Claims Management for Liberty Group South Africa and has worked with the company for over a decade.Her extensive experience and knowledge position her as a top expert in the insurance industry.Mothoagae begins the interview by explaining how she started working in claims management and what her role at Liberty entails.She outlines how Liberty automates its claims and how this has transformed the claims management processes – noting the drastic increase in speed and accuracy compared to the system that was used five years ago.Mothoagae then expands on this by detailing what sets Liberty’s automation apart from its competitors and how this can be seen in the company’s excellent claims statistics.She concludes the interview by sharing the future improves Liberty plans to make to its claims process.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Lisa Gibbon discusses the reasons why certain insurance claims are deemed invalid and how you can avoid this.Gibbon is the Divisional Head of Onboarding at Liberty, a position she has held for over five years and where she leverages her over 25 years of industry experience.Gibbon studied at the University of South Africa, where she obtained a Master of Business Leadership qualification.Gibbon begins the interview by explaining how she got into the insurance industry and why she has become a specialist in the claims process.She discusses how insurance companies determine the validity of an insurance claim and lists several common reasons why claims are deemed invalid.Gibbon then explains how Liberty helps its clients deal with invalid claims and the importance of always disclosing updates about your lifestyle – such as job changes.She also outlines the measures Liberty has taken to ensure the claims process is fair and explains how Liberty educates its clients to help them avoid mistakes.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, SmartCrypto Managing Director Dayle Wheeler discusses cryptography’s role in data protection.Wheeler boasts over 30 years of experience in the ICT industry and has held his current position at SmartCrypto since 2020. Before this, he worked as SmartCrypto’s Technical Director for three years.Wheeler also has extensive IT security and cryptography experience outside of SmartCrypto, most notably leading the IT security teams at multiple Olympic Games.Wheeler begins the interview by explaining what SmartCrypto does and how its core offering – cryptography – contributes to the data security industry.He expands upon the differences between cryptography and cybersecurity, and explains why cryptography is particularly important for protecting organisational data.Wheeler then unpacks SmartCrypto’s cryptography offerings and explains which business types benefit most from each of these services.He also speaks about SmartCrypto’s niche solutions in more detail and highlights what makes them special.Wheeler concludes the interview by discussing SmartCrypto’s massive growth in Africa and how the company intends to continue this positive trajectory.
In this 2024 Cloud and Security Conference interview hosted by Aki Anastasiou, BCX Cloud Advisory and Consulting Executive Mpho Mothapo discusses the cutting-edge cloud solutions offered by BCX.Mothapo is a respected entrepreneur and executive in the ICT sector, with extensive experience in business strategy and consulting.In 2019, Mothapo became the Sales Director for Dotcom Software Solutions, before taking a Cloud Advisory and Consulting Executive position at BCX in 2023.In this position, Mothapo plays a pivotal role in the evolution of South Africa’s ICT sector.Mothapo begins this interview by highlighting the partnerships BCX has with top cloud providers and explaining how this sets it apart from its competitors.He then discusses the different types of cloud implementations that BCX offers and the purposes they serve.Mothapo expands on this by explaining how BCX uses these cloud implementations to deliver highly specialised and tailored solutions that perfectly fit the needs of their clients — and explains why BCX is the best partner for cloud deployments.Mothapo concludes the interview by giving a teaser of the presentation he will deliver at the 2024 Cloud and Security Conference.The 2024 Cloud and Security Conference takes place on 11 July 2024 at The Venue in Melrose Arch.
Jeanetta Hendricks is the General Manager for the Care division at Fedgroup.In this role she oversees the operation of the Fedgroup Beneficiary Care offering. Hendricks has over 30 years experience in the financial services industry and has occupied a variety of roles which included advisory services, consulting, administration, and intermediary services to many corporate clients.Her history in the healthcare industry has equipped her with skills and empathy for the people she serves, which is why Beneficiary Care sits close to her heart.Hendricks completed her MBA on the role of marketing strategies in service delivery in 2019.In this episode of What's Next, Hendricks explains what beneficiary funds are and how they work. She also unpacks whether enough attention is given to beneficiary fund administration by providers and clients.
In this interview, Dr Nkosi Kumalo, MTN’s General Manager of Product and Capability at MTN Business, speaks with Aki Anastasiou about MTN Business’s impressive cloud offerings.Dr Kumalo is responsible for driving MTN’s product strategy and innovation.Before joining MTN, Dr Kumalo held various leadership positions at Oracle, BCX, and Telkom.Dr Kumalo begins this interview by explaining the benefits of getting your business’s cloud solutions from a company like MTN, which also owns its own network infrastructure.He discusses the core cloud solutions offered by MTN Business, noting that its product suite is suitable for businesses of all sizes.Dr Kumalo also explains the importance of forging the right partnerships and how this allows MTN Business to offer superior cloud services.He then covers MTN Business’s most popular cybersecurity solutions before explaining the power of MTN Business’s capability to deliver bespoke solutions to businesses of all sizes.Dr Kumalo concludes the interview by giving viewers a teaser before his presentation at the Cloud and Security Conference 2024.Learn more about this year's Cloud and Security Conference: https://cloudconference.co.za/
In this What’s Next in Business Banking interview with Aki Anastasiou, Investec Business’s Hazel Banach and Dr Greg Cline discuss finding the right lending and import partner.Hazel Banach is the Head of Product for Investec’s business lending division and boasts extensive experience in areas like business development, key account management, and product development.Dr Greg Cline boasts a career spanning over 20 years and is currently the Head of Corporate Accounts at Investec Business.The interview begins with Banach outlining the opportunities and challenges businesses grapple with regarding business banking – particularly in the mid-market sector.Banach also notes how views on debt have changed in this sector, before detailing the funding options these businesses can access to support their growth strategies.Cline then explains how Investec Business simplifies imports for mid-market businesses through its fully integrated trade and import support.Cline also details how this support helps these mid-market businesses retain competitive rates and generate cost savings.Banach and Dr Cline conclude the interview by offering their advice to businesses looking for a lending and import partner that will put them first.Investec Bank Limited registration number 1969/004763/06, an Authorised Financial Services Provider (11750), a Registered Credit Provider (NCRCP 9), an authorised Over the Counter Derivatives Provider and a member of the JSE. Investec is committed to the Code of Banking Practice as regulated by the National Financial Ombud Scheme. Copies of the Code and the Ombudsman's details are available on request or Investec COBP.
In this interview with Aki Anastasiou, Cipherwave CEO Shamith Maharaj discusses Cipherwave’s partnership with OADC to deliver cloud services through its data centres.Maharaj has extensive knowledge in project management, network design, network activations, network operations, network management, IT management, and service assurance.He previously worked at CMC Networks for over 14 years, serving as the Head of NOC (Network Operations Centre) and Service Assurance, and then as the Vice President of Global Network Operations.Maharaj begins this interview by discussing Cipherwave’s main cloud services and the importance of partnering with OADC to deliver these cloud services using OADC’s data centres.He then explains the key benefits of this partnership, including world-class security, an extensive network of data centre infrastructure, and fantastic power rates.Maharaj also discusses the cloud technologies and trends that Cipherwave is keeping an eye on for the future.He concludes the interview by giving viewers a sneak peek at the presentation he will give at the 2024 Cloud and Security Conference.
In this Driving Sustainability with Aki Anastasiou interview, SolarAfrica Head of Commercial Brandon Horn discusses the impact of rising electricity prices on South African businesses.Horn boasts over 16 years of sales and business development experience, and has a proven track record of driving sales growth and business expansion.Horn begins the interview by discussing the current electricity prices in South Africa.He explains that while there is plenty of doom and gloom about these tariffs, businesses can protect themselves against rising electricity prices by embracing electricity wheeling.Horn then discusses the intricacies of what electricity wheeling is and how it helps businesses save money.He also provides a practical example of this service in action.Horn concludes the interview by explaining how businesses can determine if wheeling is the right choice for their electricity needs.
In this Investec What’s Next in Business Banking interview, Investec’s Kevin Hogan and Thivian Moodley discuss the importance of security in business banking.Hogan is the Head of Fraud Risk at Investec. He has worked in the banking industry for 21 years — first as a credit analyst at Nedbank and then as part of the first retail banking fraud prevention team, which he led until 2009.Moodley is the Head of Product and Development for Investec Bank’s Transactional Products and Solutions, and Client Value Proposition segments. He leads the team responsible for building and launching the Investec Business Transactional Banking platform for business and corporate clients.Hogan begins the interview by discussing the changing cybersecurity landscape and which threats are particularly prominent at the moment.Moodley then explains how Investec implements security measures into its business banking products, noting how it approaches the challenge of balancing security with a great customer experience.Hogan also discusses which security tools are indispensable for business banking, while Moodley explains how smaller businesses can protect themselves without the huge budgets of a large enterprise.Moodley then discusses the key focus areas that Invested Business Banking is examining right now, particularly in the mid-market segment.He touches on the PayShap rapid payments programme RPP and its security benefits — including reducing the amount of physical cash South Africans use and more secure payment authorisations.Hogan concludes the interview by explaining the importance of customer education, noting that modern threats are still underpinned by the same fundamental premise – social engineering.Investec Bank Limited registration number 1969/004763/06, an Authorised Financial Services Provider (11750), a Registered Credit Provider (NCRCP 9), an authorised Over the Counter Derivatives Provider and a member of the JSE. Investec is committed to the Code of Banking Practice as regulated by the National Financial Ombud Scheme. Copies of the Code and the Ombudsman's details are available on request or Investec COBP.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Head of MarTech and Data Product at CloudSmiths Anton Kopytov explains the benefits of Salesforce Data Cloud.Kopytov is a visionary technology leader with over two decades of experience leading digital transformations across various industries.He is renowned for crafting robust technical roadmaps and driving significant organisational advancements globally.Kopytov begins this interview by explaining what CloudSmiths does and what his role at the company entails.He then discusses the role CloudSmiths plays as a Salesforce Partner, before expanding on the value of Salesforce Data Cloud for South African businesses.Kopytov explains how it helps businesses thrive in a rapidly evolving data landscape by helping them better understand their customers – and how CloudSmiths approaches integrating Salesforce Data Cloud into its clients’ systems.Kopytov also covers several emerging trends in the data management sector – including AI and machine learning – and discusses how CloudSmiths takes these trends into account when helping its clients leverage the full power of Salesforce Data Cloud.He concludes the interview by sharing how their Salesforce Data Cloud Workshops help participants learn more about the solution and how it addresses specific business challenges.Find out more about CloudSmiths Data Cloud Workshop here: https://ww2.cloudsmiths.co.za/datacloud
In this What’s Next in Business Banking interview, Investec Head of Treasury Sales and Structuring Dhiren Mansingh, and Investec Head of Digital for South Africa Davina Maharaj, discuss the evolution of business banking in South Africa.Mansingh has worked at Investec since 2011. He specialises in many areas, including interest rates, the money market, foreign exchange, commodities, and equities.Maharaj has been with Investec for 20 years and has accumulated experience in both client-facing and technology-focused roles.Mansingh begins the interview by unpacking how business banking has evolved in recent years, while Maharaj explains how this has been driven by digital technology.This leads Mansingh to answer the pressing question: With the rise of digital interfacing, do customer relationships still matter?Mansingh then outlines what he is seeing in the digital payments sector in South Africa, noting that large volumes of physical cash transactions are set to be replaced by PayShap — South Africa’s real-time rapid payments programme.Maharaj also covers the critical topic of security, noting that Investec Business Banking is in a position of incredible trust with its clients — and for good reason.Mansingh and Maharaj conclude by explaining what we can expect from business banking in the future, especially in the mid-market.Investec Bank Limited registration number 1969/004763/06, an Authorised Financial Services Provider (11750), a Registered Credit Provider (NCRCP 9), an authorised Over the Counter Derivatives Provider and a member of the JSE. Investec is committed to the Code of Banking Practice as regulated by the National Financial Ombud Scheme. Copies of the Code and the Ombudsman's details are available on request or Investec COBP.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Fedgroup’s Warren Winchester and Jason Green unpack the nuances of providing finance in diverse domains.Warren Winchester is the General Manager of Ventures at Fedgroup.Jason Green is the General Manager of Property Finance at Fedgroup and boasts an impressive track record in the finance industry.Green begins the interview by outlining the biggest challenges facing companies who need commercial property finance in South Africa, and why this financing is so important.Green also discusses solar energy as a key focus for commercial property finance in South Africa and notes that Fedgroup has developed its funding model to accommodate it.Winchester then explains how easy it is to access Fedgroup’s commercial solar products.He also discusses the importance of agriculture financing solutions and highlights the ease with which farmers can access the appropriate Fedgroup financial products.Green and Winchester then expand upon how Fedgroup understands local market dynamics and how this has influenced its ability to serve specific market segments.They conclude the interview by sharing several success stories from the agricultural sector.
In this What’s Next in Motoring with Aki Anastasiou interview, Tracker’s Chief Operating Officer Duma Ngcobo explains how businesses can protect themselves against fleet vehicle crime.Ngcobo has over 20 years of experience in finance, telecoms, and IT, which has equipped him with a wide range of skills for his role at Tracker.Ngcobo begins the interview by discussing South Africa’s recent rise in fleet vehicle crime, and Tracker’s Vehicle Crime Index.He provides several reasons for the rise in fleet vehicle crime and explains how businesses can avoid becoming victims.Ngcobo then highlights Tracker’s products that help businesses defend themselves against this.He concludes the interview by discussing the ways criminals try to infiltrate businesses and advises on how to mitigate these threats.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Everest Wealth CEO Thys van Zyl discusses the upcoming national elections and their impact on local markets.Van Zyl is passionate about private equity and alternative investments and has earned a reputation as one of South Africa’s best financial planners.He has worked in the industry throughout the past decade and takes a unique approach to local and international investments.Van Zyl begins the interview by outlining Everest Wealth’s offerings and its success to date.He then provides insight into investing in the JSE in 2024 and highlights the alternative investing options he’s paying particular attention to this year.Van Zyl also discusses how the South African elections are influencing local markets and how the potential results are causing uncertainty.He concludes the interview by explaining how South Africans must approach investing during this time of uncertainty — and how Everest Wealth can help.
In this episode of What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou, Wetility brand ambassador and Springbok rugby legend Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira discusses Wetility’s solar power products.Mtawarira began playing for the Springboks in 2008 and retired in 2019 after winning the Rugby World Cup that same year.In 2022, Mtawarira founded The Beast Wine Collection and is currently studying towards an MBA with Henley Business School.Mtawarira is also the brand ambassador for Wetility, where he champions the all-in-one Beast Bundle power solution.In the interview, Mtawarira explains how his partnership with Wetility came about and why he believes in Wetility’s mission to provide South Africans with reliable solar power solutions.Mtawarira then discusses the Beast Bundle – a solar and battery power package – and explains how affordable it is for South Africans.He advises South Africans considering getting solar power on how easy Wetility makes the process – even for people who don’t understand complicated solar jargon.He also talks about the Wetility products installed at his home,his incredible experience with the backup power solution, and Wetility’s impressive customer service.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Head of First for Women Seugnette van Wyngaard discusses the importance of offering insurance products tailored for women.First for Women is owned by Telesure Investment Holdings (TIH), and before taking on her current role in 2018, van Wyngaard worked in several other positions in the group.In her lead role, Van Wyngaard is responsible for guiding First for Women’s growth by identifying market gaps and planning how to fill them.Van Wyngaard begins the interview by explaining why it was important to create an insurance company targeted specifically at women.She then details how First for Women sets itself apart from its competitors and unpacks the unique value the First for Women app offers South African women – in addition to its superior products and services.She also discusses the biggest challenges insurers face in 2024, and the work she and First for Women have been doing to uplift women in the country.Van Wyngaard concludes the interview by outlining the exciting plans First for Women has for 2024 and beyond, and offers advice to female entrepreneurs.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Absa CIB Managing Executive for ESG Msizi Khoza discusses how Absa CIB supports sustainability initiatives.In his current role, Khoza provides executive leadership over the firm’s numerous ESG-related initiatives. He also works with clients to help them access local and international capital markets that meet their financing needs.This What’s Next interview begins with Khoza discussing the pressures of his position, before unpacking the recently launched Absa CIB sustainability report.Khoza explains why it is important for Absa to publish this information, and unpacks how Absa balances social inclusion with protecting the environment.Another topic of interest is CIB’s approach to the fossil fuel, oil and gas sectors, which Khoza discusses in-depth, before talking about Absa’s contributions to the alternative and renewable energy industries.The conversation then moves to debt-for-nature swaps, and Khoza expands on these and the benefits they offer to South Africans.Khoza concludes the interview by noting how someone can engage with Absa on debt-for-nature swaps.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Cogence CEO Jonel Matthee-Ferreira discusses Cogence’s partnership with Discovery, and how it helps Cogence build superior financial products.Matthee-Ferreira joined Cogence in January 2024 and has assumed the roles of CEO and CIO immediately.Before joining Cogence, Matthee-Ferreira worked at Sanlam Multi-Management and Absa Multi-Management.In this interview, Matthee-Ferreira begins by detailing how her career has led to her current role at Cogence.She then explains what Cogence does and how it is related to Discovery.Matthee-Ferreira expands upon the value of working with Discovery, including how the data it receives from Discovery helps improve its investment products.She concludes by unpacking the key trends in the investment landscape based on the Cogence 2024 Market Outlook report.
In South Africa, 45% of corporations are actively using GenAI. Unlock valuable insights into the use of GenAI and access recent research by World Wide Worx, Dell Technologies and Intel. To view the webcast announcement of the research results, contact marguerite@pbpr.co.za and we will send you the link.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Amazon Web Services (AWS) Country General Manager for South Africa, Chris Erasmus, discusses the importance of AI technology.Erasmus is responsible for setting AWS’s local strategy and guiding its local growth.He is well-qualified for this job, as he boasts over 15 years of strategic, commercial, and operational experience.Erasmus begins the interview by unpacking why Amazon sees AI as an important technology.He discusses the three technology layers Amazon uses to build its AI solutions, before expanding on generative AI and why it is one of the most transformative technologies in recent years.Erasmus then details Amazon’s generative AI solutions and discusses the top generative AI trends he sees in South Africa.He concludes the interview by explaining how businesses can access AI technologies from AWS.
In this What’s Next in Finance with Aki Anastasiou interview, Fedgroup’s Michael Field unpacks the biggest challenges facing local investors. Field is the General Manager for Investments at Fedgroup and has worked for the company since 2011. Before working at Fedgroup, he gained experience working for Murray and Roberts, and MegChem Engineering and Drafting Services. Field begins the interview by discussing which factors investors must prioritise to mitigate risk when investing in volatile markets. He then outlines which investment types deliver the best long-term value and stability. Field also explains how diversification helps build a resilient portfolio, and how financial advisors can help their clients navigate market volatility.He concludes the interview by outlining the key factors FSPs must consider when developing investment offerings that provide stability and long-term growth
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, MediaTek’s Director of Business Development for the MEA region, Rami Osman, unpacks the key features of the Dimensity 9300 chip.In 2006, he joined Microsoft as a Corporate Account Manager, before joining Qualcomm as the Country Manager for Business Development in GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) and Levant countries.Osman then took on his current position at MediaTek in 2014, where he leads the team that supports the MEA region’s rising demand for technology and connectivity.In this What’s Next interview, Osman unpacks the features of the new Dimensity 9300 chip, including the benefits of its innovative All Big Core design.Osman then talks about the Dimensity 9300’s next-gen APU790 AI processor and its Generative AI capabilities, explaining how they significantly improve the chip’s performance.He also discusses the graphics and photography processing improvements to the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 chip.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, HONOR South Africa General Manager Fred Zhou explains what makes the new HONOR Magic Series smartphones disruptive in South Africa.HONOR is a leading global provider of smart devices and was founded in 2013.Headquartered in Shenzhen, China, HONOR has grown to become the biggest smartphone brand in the Chinese market and has quickly expanded this popularity worldwide.With the launch of two new flagship smartphones, Honor expects to grow its popularity in South Africa’s premium segment in 2024, too.In this episode of What's Next, Zhou unpacks HONOR’s launch of the Flagship Magic Series in South Africa and how they plan to lead foldable and AI technology in the smartphone industry.Zhou begins this interview by unpacking HONOR as a company and discussing its history in South Africa.He then focuses on the new HONOR Magic Series smartphones – the Magic 6 Pro and the Magic V2.Zhou explains how HONOR’s approaches to foldable smartphones and smartphone AI differ from those of its competitors, before detailing how this manifests in the HONOR Magic series.He unpacks the Magic Series’ target audience, before revealing the pricing and availability of these smartphones in South Africa.Zhou ends the interview by highlighting HONOR South Africa’s key focuses in 2024.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, PEP Chief Executive Michael Silke discusses PAXI – PEP’s counter-to-counter parcel delivery service.Silke has over 21 years of experience in the retail sector – much of which has been with PEP.In his current role, Silke oversees all PEP’s departments – including Cellular, Financial Services, FMCG, and PAXI.In this interview, Silke begins by explaining why PEP decided to launch its PAXI parcel service.He then unpacks how the solution has evolved since its inception, as well as who its core user base is currently.Silke talks about the benefits available to businesses that use the service, too, before discussing the upcoming developments PAXI for Business has in store.He concludes the interview by providing interesting statistics about the number of parcels sent by PAXI since its launch.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Microsoft experts John Press and Michelle Olivier explain how AI tools take Windows 11 to the next level.John Press is a sales and marketing executive at Microsoft Device and Partner Solution Business in South Africa.He has been with Microsoft for over 16 years and has gained experience across many of its departments, including Product Management, Category Management, Channel Management, and Business Development.He was joined by Pinnacle Microsoft Product Manager, Michelle Olivier.Olivier boasts over 30 years of industry experience and has worked across a variety of hardware and software portfolios.Under her leadership, the Pinnacle Microsoft team has developed several Best Business Practice recommendations that have been used in local and international markets.Press kicks off the interview by discussing the trends Microsoft is seeing around security, especially as it relates to remote workers.He talks about the role of an individual’s device and operating system in security and touches on Microsoft’s approach to its own security.Olivier then highlights the urgency of the looming end-of-support date for Windows 10 and explains what this means for users.She also discusses what can be done to mitigate the risks of having an unsupported operating system.Press discusses how Windows 11 is being improved for users through features such as Microsoft’s AI tool, Copilot.He unpacks how Copilot differs from ChatGPT, how users can benefit from it, and who can access it.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Comsol founder and CEO Iain Stevenson unveils Comsol’s new business-focused 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) product. Stevenson boasts 27 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, having founded Comsol in 1997.As CEO, Stevenson continues to guide the business's overall direction to ensure its continued success and growth. Stevenson begins the interview by unpacking the significance of Comsol’s new business-focused 5G FWA product and detailing how it differs from other 5G products available in South Africa. He then explains that Comsol 5G FWA is an evolution of the previous products Comsol has deployed through its Private Networks division. Stevenson also discusses how Comsol's access to the biggest tranche of 3.7GHz spectrum in South Africa has made it a frontrunner in the local 5G market.He then covers how Comsol’s 5G FWA service will perform during power outages, where there will be coverage, and how businesses can sign up for the new solution.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, MasterStart Chief Learning Officer Dr Alexia Cox discusses why it is important for South African companies to embrace innovative learning solutions.Dr Cox holds a PhD in Human Resource Management and Literature from the University of Stellenbosch, as well as a Masters in Art, English Language, and Culture and a Bachelors in Management Science from Leiden University.Dr Cox begins the interview by providing an overview of MasterStart’s innovative learning solutions.She then unpacks MasterStart’s shift in approach from being a consumer-focused course provider to focusing on business skills development.Dr Cox also gives her opinion on AI in the learning sector, and outlines her approach to identifying new development programme opportunities.She concludes the discussion by explaining how MasterStart will continue developing its offerings in 2024.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, ESET Southern Africa Group CTO Adrian Stanford unpacks how AI is transforming the cybersecurity industry.Stanford is an experienced cybersecurity professional who bridges the gap between business and technical teams to deliver excellent outcomes.This is thanks to his strong ethos of curiosity and his passion for understanding how things work - both technically and commercially.He strongly believes that the starting point of any successful technical or product journey is creating a strong team culture that not only attracts the right talent, but also enables people to do their best work.Stanford has been with ESET Southern Africa for over 12 years and has worked his way up from his initial role in channel development to his current C-level position.
On this episode of What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou, Telkom Group CEO Serame Taukobong discusses the company’s evolution into an Infraco.Taukobong studied at the University of Cape Town, where he completed a BSc degree in chemistry, and went on to study executive management courses at IMD in Switzerland, GIBS, INSEAD in Singapore, and the Wharton School of Business.In 2018, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer for Telkom’s consumer business, and he grew Telkom’s mobile business by over 300% before being appointed as the Telkom Group CEO in June 2022.In this What’s Next interview, Taukobong provides an overview of how the South African telecommunications landscape has evolved in recent years.He then unpacks Telkom’s impressive network infrastructure — both in terms of Openserve’s fibre network and Telkom Mobile’s network coverage — before explaining why Telkom has pursued an infrastructure play.Taukobong also discusses the major telecommunications trends and opportunities he expects to see locally in 2024.He concludes the interview by explaining how Telkom’s strategy for the future is focused on prioritising areas in which it is particularly strong – such as its fibre and data centre businesses.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, CipherWave CEO Shamith Maharaj discusses CipherWave’s expansion plans for Africa.Maharaj has extensive knowledge in project management, network design, network activations, network operations, network management, IT management, and service assurance.Maharaj joined BCX in 2019 as the Executive for Data Networks before moving to CipherWave in 2023.Maharaj began the interview by discussing CipherWave’s new strategy and direction for the future.Part of this new strategy is being an “enabler of enablers”, and Maharaj explains what this means for the South African market.Maharaj also highlights CipherWave’s focus on client support both at the physical and application layers.He then discusses CipherWave’s plan to expand into the rest of Africa and details how this benefits existing clients.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Hein Engelbrecht — the Group Chief Executive Officer at Mustek Limited — discusses the role of education and training services in ending South Africa’s technology skills shortage.Engelbrecht joined Mustek in 1997 as Group Financial Manager and was promoted to Group Financial Director in 2001.He was then promoted to Group Managing Director, and spent 14 years in this role before being appointed as Mustek CEO in 2022.Engelbrecht begins the interview by unpacking Mustek’s 2024 goals after an excellent 2023.He discusses the industry trends that have caught Mustek’s attention this year before unpacking the biggest investments Mustek has made recently in cybersecurity and cloud.Engelbrecht also explains the challenges and opportunities that these two investment areas present.He then talks about South Africa’s technology skills shortage and explains how Mustek is addressing this challenge through education and training.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub discusses Vodacom’s huge success – both in South Africa and across the continent.In 2011, Joosub was appointed CEO of Vodafone Spain, before returning to South Africa to take the reins as Group CEO of Vodacom in 2012. He has held this position since and has led Vodacom from strength to strength, contributing to his reputation as a world-class CEO.In this What’s Next interview, Joosub discusses the milestones Vodacom has recently achieved - including surpassing 200 million customers across Africa.He unpacks the key strategies that have helped Vodacom reach these milestones and led to its success over the years.Joosub then talks about how much spectrum Vodacom will need in the future as it grows its operations.He also highlights Vodacom’s top priorities for 2024, such as the MAZIV deal, and explains how customers will benefit from this acquisition.This is followed by Vodacom’s virtual wheeling agreement with Eskom, and Joosub detailing the changes he expects to see in the South African telecoms space in 2024
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Supersonic Managing Director Carolyn Holgate unveils her customer-centric vision for the ISP in 2024 and beyond. Holgate unpacks her vision for Supersonic and explains how the company will navigate the changing broadband landscape in South Africa.She emphasizes that because Supersonic is not a tier 1 ISP, the company can be more agile and deliver a superior customer journey to its users. As a result of this, Supersonic’s primary focus is not on specific Internet types — but rather on delivering the services that customers actually want, whichever technologies this may require.Holgate also details the trends she expects to see in South Africa’s broadband market in 2024 and explains how Supersonic is preparing to adapt to these changes. She concluded the interview by discussing Supersonic’s new business system, Agility, and how this will streamline its core business processes.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Dimension Data CEO Alan Turnley-Jones discusses why the company is rebranding to NTT Data.Turnley-Jones held multiple managerial roles at BCX in the 1990s before joining Dimension Data in 1999.Turnley-Jones also held other roles at Dimension Data, such as Services Executive and Managed Cloud and Infrastructure Services Executive, before taking over the reins as CEO in 2022.Towards the end of 2023, Dimension Data announced that after 40 years, it would be changing its name to NTT Data starting 1 April 2024.Turnley-Jones joins Aki Anastasiou to discuss the motivations behind this move.He explains how the company will benefit from this change while maintaining the legacy Dimension Data has built in South Africa over the last few decades.Turnley-Jones also unpacks the digital trends he expects to see in 2024 and explains how Dimension Data will adapt to these changes.He talks about the sustainability of Dimension Data’s data centres before concluding by revealing the company’s plans for 2024.
In this episode of What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou, Justin Hume – the Vice President of Mobile at Samsung South Africa – unpacks the newly launched Samsung Galaxy S24 flagship smartphone lineup.Hume has worked in the cellular industry since 1997. He first served as the Marketing Manager for Mobile Phones at Samsung Electronics for 11 years before joining Altech Autopage Cellular as its Marketing Director in 2008.In this interview, Hume meets with Aki Anastasiou to discuss Samsung’s newly launched Galaxy S24 flagship smartphone lineup.Hume begins by discussing Galaxy AI and the new AI-powered features of the Galaxy S24 series.He then unpacks many other features of the Galaxy S24 smartphones that consumers can look forward to. Hume also discusses the recommended retail pricing of each of Samsung’s new flagship smartphones and concludes by detailing when South Africans can pre-order and purchase the new smartphones.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Thato Matsio – The Impact Catalyst Head of Department: ICT and Education – discusses the Northern Cape School Connectivity project. Matsio has helped customers and organisations deliver ICT projects and programmes for the past 14 years while serving in a variety of important roles, including:• Acting Manager of ICT Operations and Project Management at the Agricultural Research Council. • ICT Project Manager and Senior Manager for Hosting and Secure Operations at SITA SOC. • Project Manager at Anix Consulting. He has held his current role at The Impact Catalyst for over a year and is passionate about the work being done under his leadership.Matsio begins the interview by explaining what The Impact Catalyst does and why ICT and education are two of its key focus areas. He then outlines the initiatives his departments focus on and unpacks the impact of the Northern Cape School Connectivity project on the schools that are involved. He also expands on how the Northern Cape School Connectivity project ties into key topics such as the future of work, 4IR, and the importance of collaboration between the private and public sectors.Matsio concludes by discussing potential plans for expanding the School Connectivity project to the rest of the Northern Cape, and the support needed to achieve this goal.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Datacentrix Sales Leader for Digital Business Solutions, Phil Anderson, discusses the importance of embracing AI in business.Anderson is an experienced technology delivery and sales leader who is fulfilled by helping clients create more profitable, sustainable businesses through technology adoption.In this interview, Anderson outlines how new innovations in the AI industry can benefit South African businesses.Anderson then discusses the most important things executives should consider when developing an AI adoption strategy.He also talks about IBM Watson, which has been a leader in AI for many years.Anderson unpacks the new innovations IBM have brought to market through Watson and concludes by explaining why the IBM Watson X platform is the right choice for South African businesses.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Andrew Allison – CCO of Red & Yellow Creative School of Business – explains how educators can keep up with the latest trends.Allison is a Chartered Management Accountant with a keen interest in the intersection of technology and marketing with education, transformation, and diversity.Allison begins the interview by explaining what it means for educators to be ‘looking around the corner’ and detailing how tertiary educators can be future fit.He then unpacks the skills of tomorrow given the latest shifts in technology, data, and remote working.Allison also explains how educators can move at the speed of culture to keep ahead of the curve.He then discusses AI and the potential benefits it offers to Red & Yellow. This includes telling listeners about Red & Yellow’s AI and educators project.Finally, Allison explains what sets Red & Yellow and its students apart.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Botha van der Vyver — Founder and CEO of JustSolve — discusses how AI and low-code solutions accelerate digital transformation.Van der Vyver is a software developer with over two decades of industry experience.In this interview, Van der Vyver explains what low-code is and highlights the emerging trends and market disruptions produced by low-code and AI solutions.He then discusses the value of implementing AI and low-code development in a company’s strategy and explains how businesses use these solutions to gain a competitive edge.He also talks about the challenges businesses face when adopting the solutions and how JustSolve can help.Van der Vyver concludes the interview by discussing how JustSolve keeps ahead of the development curve to provide its customers with the most up-to-date and powerful solutions.
In this episode of What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou, Vishal Maharaj – Beyond Banking Divisional Executive at Nedbank – discusses the Nedbank Avo SuperShop app.Maharaj is a founding member of Nedbank Avo SuperShop and recognises the importance of delivering extraordinary, data-driven customer experience.Maharaj begins the interview by highlighting the success of Nedbank Avo SuperShop app since its launch three years ago. He explains how the app has evolved during this time and what sets it apart from other super-apps.Maharaj then highlights what makes the Nedbank Avo SuperShop app such a great option for shopping in particular – and discusses its rewards offering, He concludes by discussing Nedbank Avo SuperShop’s plans for the future.
In this episode of What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou, David McDonald — co-founder and CEO of SolarAfrica — discusses electricity wheeling and the positive impact it can have on the South African energy landscape.McDonald boasts over 17 years of experience in the power industry, and his technical expertise and hands-on approach have been instrumental to SolarAfrica’s success.In this interview, McDonald unpacks the basics of electricity wheeling and details the types of businesses that will benefit most from the service.He then discusses the importance of grid allocation, given that SolarAfrica is one of the few IPPs allowed to wheel electricity in the country.McDonald also touches on Eskom, explaining why it is essential that the national power provider partners with the private sector on energy projects that will benefit the country.He concludes by outlining SolarAfrica’s plan to wheel electricity into Eskom’s grid with its utility-scale solar farm.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Dr Ayotunde Coker — CEO of Open Access Data Centres (OADC) — discusses how better data centres can drive digital transformation in South Africa.Coker is one of the leading figures in the African data centre industry and is the chairperson of the influential Africa Data Centres Association industry group.In this interview, Coker unpacks what makes OADC different to its competitors and explains how this allows it to power digital transformation in South Africa.He discusses the benefits of independent internet exchange points – and talks about how the convergence of these exchange points and data centres can ignite business transformation in South Africa.Coker then details why South African businesses must embrace digital transformation and end-to-end digital connectivity solutions.He concluded by discussing OADC’s plans for the future and the live “Connect Africa” discussion he is hosting on 7 November 2023.
In this What’s Next in Motoring interview, Alex Taplin — TiAuto Investments Group CEO — talks to Aki Anastasiou about Tiger Wheel & Tyre and its successful business model.Taplin has been with TiAuto Investments for over 25 years, during which time the group has expanded its operations across South Africa.In this interview, Taplin talks about one of TiAuto Investments’ most popular brands, Tiger Wheel & Tyre.He explains how Tiger Wheel & Tyre has generated a strong brand image, which has helped it grow and succeed for so long.Taplin also talks about Tiger Wheel & Tyre’s offerings that extend beyond ‘wheels’ and ‘tyres’, including its recently-launched insurance product.He concludes the interview by providing South Africans with advice for looking after their wheels and tyres.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Merelda Wu – Co-Founder and CEO of Melio AI – unpacks the services her business offers and explains how South African businesses can benefit from AI and machine learning (ML). Wu is an ML evangelist who holds a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from Wits University.In this interview, Wu explains what Melio AI does and which client segments it focuses on.She unpacks the major benefits businesses enjoy from building their own enterprise ML platforms and embracing a data-driven culture. Wu also highlights the challenges that must be navigated to realise these benefits, and explains how Melio AI helps businesses adopt and maximise the value of their enterprise ML platforms.She then details the importance of having multi-skilled teams when developing enterprise ML solutions, before giving businesses tips to accelerate their time to delivery while retaining quality. Lastly, Wu explains how IT teams can work with Melio AI to prove the ROI of an enterprise ML platform to their organisations.
In this episode of What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou, Barney Harmse, Rolf Mendelsohn, and Schalk Erasmus – the three co-founders of Paratus – reflect on the company’s 20 years of success in the telecommunications industry.Barney Harmse is the Executive Chairman of the Paratus Group and has guided the company to become a major telecommunications player with a substantial footprint in Africa.He also boasts a unique skill for spotting talent, which has allowed Paratus to grow rapidly.Rolf Mendelsohn is the Chief Technical Officer of the Paratus Group and has also served as the CEO of Paratus Angola (formerly ITA) for the last seven years.He plays an instrumental role in ensuring the company’s infrastructure is comprehensive and effective, with the latest example of his efforts being a deal struck in the DRC to activate hundreds of kilometres of fibre.Schalk Erasmus is the Group CEO of Paratus and works closely with Harmse to implement the company’s vision for changing Africa’s connectivity landscape through exceptional digital infrastructure and customer service.He has led several of Paratus’ most recent projects, including landing the Equiano subsea cable in Namibia and launching the newest Paratus data centres in Windhoek.In this What’s Next interview, Harmse and Mendelsohn discuss how Paratus was founded in Angola in 2003.Erasmus then unpacks the company’s key achievements over the past 20 years, as well as its current projects — which he believes will double their revenue in the next five years.Harmse also highlights what sets Paratus apart from the competition and how the company is working to transform Africa through affordable, reliable connectivity solutions.Mendelsohn then explains why Paratus has entered the data centre market, before the three co-founders conclude by outlining their vision for Paratus in the next 20 years.
In this What’s Next in Motoring interview, Aki Anastasiou speaks to Nicholas Viljoen – Managing Director of Wheel Collision – to discuss the services the business offers to South Africans.Viljoen previously worked as the Group Commercial Manager for Faircity Hotels and Apartments, before joining TiAuto Investments in 2018.In this interview, Viljoen begins by unpacking the services that Wheel Collision offers, including its Mobile Mag Medic solution.He discusses what makes Wheel Collision’s repair services superior and tells viewers about its X-ray certification.Viljoen then explains how you can find out if wheel damage on your car is cosmetic, or if it will affect the wheel’s integrity.He also talks about Wheel Collision’s main refurbishment branches and its partnerships with Tiger Wheel & Tyre, and Tyres & More®.Finally, Viljoen talks about Wheel Collision’s plans for the future.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Rami Farah — CTO of MTN South Africa — discusses how MTN won the 2023 MyBroadband Best Mobile Voice Network award.Farah has worked at MTN for over 20 years, during which time he has served as CTO in multiple regions — including Uganda, Rwanda, Liberia, and Iran.In this What’s Next interview, Farah discusses MTN winning the 2023 MyBroadband Best Mobile Voice Network award and explains what it takes to earn this accolade.He then expands on how MTN is handling the major issues that all South African operators are facing: load-shedding and vandalism.Farah also touches on the value generated by the spectrum MTN acquired during the 2022 high-demand spectrum auction.He concludes the interview by outlining the technological advances that MTN has been working on to provide its customers with the best possible network experience.
In this episode of What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou, Infobip’s Senior Client Success Executive, Brighton Chidoma, discusses the benefits of RCS (Rich Communication Services) over SMS. Chidoma is an experienced software development executive and digital marketing expert who is passionate about customer success management.In this interview, Chidoma talks about Infobip’s RCS offering. He explains what RCS is, what benefits it offers, and why it is better than SMS. Chidoma then unpacks how Infobip integrates RCS into its customer experience strategy. Finally, Chidoma tells viewers which smartphones can support RCS and what happens if a device doesn’t offer support for the communication service.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Kedibone Chuene — Chief Specialist of Risk Product Marketing at Liberty — discusses how Liberty is assisting women to enjoy the full benefits of insurance.Chuene boasts over 16 years of industry experience, having worked at organisations such as m-Cubed, Alexander Forbes, Guardrisk, and Nedbank.In this What’s Next interview, Chuene explains the importance of differentiating between men and women when discussing insurance trends.She then unpacks the types of claims she has found to be more prevalent among women, and notes that women tend to be underinsured compared to men.Chuene also discusses what can be done to ensure women are not underinsured and how Liberty is helping women receive the full benefits of insurance.
In this What’s Next interview, Aki Anastasiou meets with Raymond Wright, the founder and CEO of Network Alliance, to discuss the value of Microsoft Modern Workplace and the security benefits associated with using Microsoft 365 Defender.Wright founded Network Alliance in 1995 and has grown the business to become a leading provider of professional and scalable IT solutions to organisations across the world.In this What’s Next interview, Wright explains how businesses can benefit from Microsoft’s Modern Workplace tools and the security features associated with Microsoft 365 Defender.He unpacks the importance of multi-factor authentication as a vital security measure and talks about the relevance of user awareness training in building a resilient security culture.He then speaks about the unique benefits Network Alliance provides to its clients through its partnership with Microsoft.Finally, Wright discusses the latest trends in cyber security that modern businesses should be aware of.
In this What’s Next in Motoring interview, James Barclay — Jaguar TCS Racing Team Principal and the Managing Director of JLR Motorsport — discusses Jaguar’s presence in Formula E with Aki Anastasiou.
Barclay was appointed team director for Jaguar’s Formula E programme in November 2015 and has managed the British brand’s exciting return to motorsport in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
Over the last eight years, Barclay has overseen the growth of Jaguar TCS Racing into a race-winning team.
In this interview, Barclay begins by unpacking how Formula E brings the pinnacle of EV technology to the streets of the world’s biggest cities.
Barclay then discusses Jaguar’s involvement in Formula E and explains how the technologies used have evolved since the popular car brand entered the competition in 2015.
In this episode of What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou, Lisa Wright – Ecosystem Partner Manager at Console Connect – discusses why Console Connect is a great Network-as-a-Service solution for businesses looking to transform their operations.
Wright is a seasoned IT professional whose strategic prowess has been instrumental in establishing and expanding PCCW Global’s ecosystem – including Console Connect.
In her interview, Wright unpacks what the Console Connect Network-as-a-Service solution offers.
She then explains why it is a great choice for businesses that want to digitally transform their operations, and unpacks the different connectivity models offered by Console Connect.
Wright also highlights the key value propositions of the solution – including simplicity across multi-cloud systems, robust security, and global coverage across 958 points of presence.
She concludes the interview by detailing how a significant new investment is enabling Console Connect to expand its reach and enhance the quality and breadth of its services.
In this What’s Next in Motoring interview, Craig Roberts – MD of Mazda Southern Africa – joins Aki Anastasiou in-studio to discuss the new Mazda CX-60.
Roberts has worked for Mazda Southern Africa since 2014, where he served as the Head of Sales until taking on his current role as MD in 2017.
He uses his passion for the automotive industry to promote Mazda’s challenger spirit and its reputation for groundbreaking innovation.
In this interview, Roberts talks about the superior driving experience of the new Mazda CX-60.
He unpacks the benefits of the CX-60’s excellent driver recognition and personalisation systems and highlights several features that contribute to how safe and comfortable the vehicle is to drive.
Roberts then discusses the breathtaking design of the Mazda CX-60 and explains why stylish SUVs like it are so popular in South Africa.
Lastly, Roberts tells us what to expect from Mazda in terms of hybrid and electric vehicles coming to South Africa in the near future.
In this episode of What’s Next in Cloud with Aki Anastasiou, Dr Angus Hay – the African Data Centres Regional Executive for South Africa – discusses the rise in data collection by African businesses.
In his current role, Dr Hay oversees all the commercial and operational development of Africa Data Centres’ facilities in Johannesburg and Cape Town. He is also the current Director of the Number Portability Company.
In his episode of What’s Next in Cloud, Dr Hay unpacks how quickly the volumes of data collected by businesses is increasing, and what challenges this causes.
He then explains how Africa Data Centres can provide better data management and processing solutions to help local businesses overcome these challenges.
Dr Hay also discusses how Africa Data Centres is collaborating with key players in the business sector to capitalise on the potential of big data in Africa.
He concludes the interview by detailing how parties that are interested in superior data management can contact and work with African Data Centres.
In this episode of What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou, Justin Hume – the Vice President of Mobile Experience at Samsung South Africa – discusses the company’s newest foldable smartphones.
Justin Hume is a Samsung smartphone expert, having worked at the company for over 11 years. He has held his current position since March 2022.
In his interview on What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou, Hume discusses what makes the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Fold 5 smartphones special, and an important step forward for the Galaxy smartphone business.
He begins by explaining the key improvements the Flip 5 and Fold 5 make over the previous generation of Galaxy Z foldable smartphones.
Hume then outlines when these smartphones will be available for purchase in South Africa and their recommended price point.
He also notes the trade-in deals that will be available for the Flip 5 and Fold 5 smartphones, and concludes by detailing the target markets for these devices.
In this What’s Next with Aki interview, Netstock Co-Founder and CTO Barry Kukkuk discusses the journey that has seen the proudly South African software company go global.
Kukkuk is an experienced technology expert who has helped grow Netstock into a leading global brand.
In this interview, Kukkuk tells the story of how a homegrown South African software company has gone global.
He then discusses how Netstock was first-to-market in terms of bringing AI into inventory management software through its new Opportunity Engine.
Kukkuk expands upon how this works, and how its Opportunity Engine sets Netstock apart from its competitors.
He then discusses Netstock’s plans for future developments and enhancements to the Opportunity Engine, and concludes by explaining how Netstock prioritises supporting local businesses – even after going global.
In this episode of What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou, Lisa Gibbon – the Divisional Executive for Onboarding at Liberty Life – discusses full disclosure and its importance in underwriting.
Gibbon has a Bachelor of Commerce, MBL Management from the University of South Africa, and boasts over 20 years of industry experience.
In her What’s Next interview, Gibbon explains what an insurance company underwriter does.
She then unpacks why full disclosure is essential to the underwriting process and details the legal consequences of withholding information.
Gibbon also explains that the consequences are not only legal in nature, and details how withholding information will hurt your ability to successfully claim on a policy.
She concludes the interview by outlining notable areas where she’s seen a lack of full disclosure and discusses how clients can avoid unintentional errors.
In this What’s Next interview, Tom Crotty – the Lead Specialist for Technical Marketing at Liberty Group South Africa – discusses the group’s recently-published Claims Stats 2022 report.
Crotty is a trained actuary who worked as an Actuarial Analyst at Arthur Els & Associates from 2009 until 2013.
In this What’s Next interview, Crotty meets with Aki Anastasiou to talk about the findings of Liberty Group’s Claims Stats 2022 report.
He unpacks these findings and details how there was a significant decrease in personal risk cover claims.
Crotty then talks about Liberty Group’s most common post-pandemic claims and highlights several interesting industry trends.
Based on these trends, he gives advice to South Africans looking to take up health and life insurance in 2023.
Finally, Crotty discusses Liberty Group’s Claims Explorer portal and the value it brings to South Africans.
In this episode of What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou, Brent Petersen – Head of South Africa and Legal Lead at Easy Crypto – discusses the differences between cryptocurrency investing and forex trading.
Petersen is an admitted attorney and Notary Public of the South African High Court who boasts over nine years of industry experience.
In this episode of What’s Next, Petersen discusses how interest rates affect the willingness of South Africans to commit to long-term cryptocurrency investments.
He then outlines the key differences between cryptocurrency investments and forex trading, before unpacking how the stigma surrounding cryptocurrency investments can be destroyed.
Petersen also discusses how at a global level, people between the ages of 18 and 35 are showing an increased willingness to embrace cryptocurrency, and explains whether this is the case in South Africa.
He concludes the interview by detailing the biggest opportunities for cryptocurrency in the retail space.
In this What’s Next interview, Robert Timmis – CEO of Emergent Energy and Fund Manager of Fedgroup’s Green Energy Fund - talks about the feasibility and growth of solar power in South Africa.
Timmis is a registered engineer with extensive experience in nuclear, conventional, and renewable power generation in South Africa.
Timmis meets with Aki Anastasiou to discuss the silver lining of South Africa’s ongoing energy crisis – which is a booming private energy sector.
He talks about the feasibility and growth of solar power in South Africa and explains why Fedgroup, a financial services provider, is concerned with renewable energy. Timmis then highlights the barriers Fedgroup has faced when rolling out solar power projects across South Africa, and how it is overcoming these challenges.
Timmis also talks about what makes solar energy an attractive investment option and discusses Fedgroup’s innovative impact investments that enable investors to share in the financial returns generated from commercial solar installations.
In this episode of What’s Next in Motoring with Aki Anastasiou, Craig Roberts – Managing Director of Mazda Southern Africa – discusses the launch of the Mazda CX-60 in South Africa.
Roberts has served as the Managing Director of Mazda Southern Africa for over six years and has spent a further 16 years in the automotive industry.
He previously worked at Volvo Car Group as its National Sales Director for South Africa and then as its Market Area Director – where he was responsible for the markets in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Turkey, and South Africa.
In his What’s Next in Motoring interview, Roberts discusses the launch of the Mazda CX-60 and highlights what makes it special among the range of Mazda vehicles available in South Africa.
Roberts then talks about the target audience of the Mazda CX-60 and why it is the best buy for South Africans shopping for a luxury SUV.
He explains that the Mazda CX-60 will launch with two model options – the Dynamic and the All-Wheel Drive – and unpacks the differences between these vehicles.
Roberts concludes by outlining his sales expectations for the Mazda CX-60 in South Africa.
In this episode of What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou, Mike van Lier – Vice President of Consumer Electronics at Samsung South Africa, discusses the latest advancements in Smart TV technology.
Mike van Lier has over 20 years of experience working across multiple categories in the ICT and Consumer Electronics industries.
During this time, he has provided meaningful strategic leadership and accumulated substantial experience managing regional teams and multi-million-dollar portfolios in both the business-to-business and consumer segments.
In his What’s Next interview, van Lier discusses the latest advancements in Smart TV technology and explains what to look for when choosing your next Smart TV.
He then outlines what 2023 holds for Samsung’s lineup of Smart TVs and explains how best to integrate a Smart TV seamlessly into your home.
Van Lier concludes by highlighting how Samsung is delivering innovative calm technology and eco-conscious practices to help improve customers’ lives.
In this What’s Next interview, Aki Anastasiou meets with Gour Lentell, the CEO of mobile data optimization company Datafree, to discuss its new tool - Datafree Connect.
Lentell began his career at PWC as a Management Consultant in the United Kingdom and Australia.
He then joined Oracle in 1992 as a Consulting Industry Director, before becoming the Senior Vice President for Systems Delivery at OzEmail
Lentell begins his What’s Next interview by explaining what Datafree is and why he founded it.
He then unpacks the company’s new product, Datafree Connect, and explains how it lets employees use essential work apps without paying for data.
Lentell also unpacks the potential use cases for Datafree Connect, and dives deeper into how it benefits specific industries
In this What’s Next interview, Fedgroup’s General Manager for Ventures, Warren Winchester, talks about the role of sustainable investing in global issues such as food and energy security.
Winchester is a qualified chartered accountant with experience in investment banking and debt capital markets.
Winchester has held several key financial positions at top organisations and has a track record of success in operations, reporting, and controls.
Winchester begins his interview with Aki Anastasiou by explaining why a financial services provider like Fedgroup is concerned about sustainability and impact investing.
He then discusses why farmers struggle to get access to capital, and how Fedgroup decides which farming projects to provide with funding through its Impact Farming product.
Winchester also talks about Fedgroup’s involvement in the green energy space and explains how it is adding value to existing projects.
He highlights the benefits of Fedgroup being involved in these sustainable projects, as well as how it measures the impact it is having
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Brent Flint – Cloud Services Executive for Dimension Data Middle East and Africa – discusses everything your business needs to know about cloud migrations.
Flint has been a part of the Dimension Data team for over 20 years, where he has held strategic leadership roles across multiple departments.
He has an intimate understanding of the IT services market, which has helped Dimension Data to perform and deliver on shorter-term commitments, while also transforming its delivery model to embrace long-term managed and cloud services.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Flint discusses the process of moving to the cloud.
He begins by discussing cloud ERP migrations in particular and highlights the challenges businesses face when undergoing this process.
Flint then explains when businesses should move their systems to the cloud, as well as the scenarios where it isn’t the best idea.
He also covers how businesses can measure the success of their cloud migration, as well as how they should manage their new cloud systems to maximise their value.
Flint concludes by discussing the biggest mistakes businesses make when embarking on their cloud migration journeys.
In this What’s Next interview, Fedgroup CEO Grant Field meets with Aki Anastasiou to discuss how sustainability trends can positively impact the investment landscape.
Field holds a BSc in Engineering from the University of Witwatersrand and an MBA from the University of Pretoria. He has worked at Fedgroup since 2002, where he initially used his tech expertise to help set up its IT department.
In his interview, Field talks about the growing trend of ESG investing and why investors should pay attention to it.
He highlights the opportunities in sustainable investing and talks about whether investors really care about saving the world or if their sole concern is making money.
Field then explains how Fedgroup’s investment approach differs from other financial services institutions.
He discusses how the company began and how he has used Fedgroup’s Impact Farming investment product to bring new offerings to the market.
Finally, Field highlights the risk-return trade-off in sustainable investing and explains how Fedgroup mitigates these risks.
Brandon Horn is the National Sales Manager at SolarAfrica Energy and boasts over 16 years of sales and business development experience. He possesses a proven track record in driving sales growth and business expansion, with a strong focus on developing solar energy and battery storage proposals for commercial and industrial customers.
In this Driving Sustainability with Aki Anastasiou interview, Horn discusses the importance of battery storage when building load-shedding solutions. He begins by noting the concerns businesses have about load-shedding and explains how battery storage can be used to solve these challenges — even if you already have a generator. Horn also unpacks which businesses benefit the most from battery storage and explains how it can be affordable for these organisations.
SolarAfrica’s solutions are then discussed, including where battery storage fits into its holistic energy offering. Horn also explains what a stackable renewable energy solution is and concludes the interview by discussing what the value of battery storage will be when the country’s energy outlook eventually improves.
In this episode of What’s Next, Tony Bartlett — Dell Technologies Director of Data Centre Compute for the SADC Region — meets with Aki Anastasiou to discuss Dell Technologies’ new PowerEdge servers.
Bartlett has worked at Dell Technologies for over 16 years and has a comprehensive knowledge of the brand’s solutions.
Prior to joining Dell Technologies, Bartlett worked at Tiger Brands, where he held positions such as Group Technology Architect and Divisional IT Manager.
Across his nearly 30 years of industry experience, Bartlett has cultivated a deep passion for the data centre sector and how it is constantly changing to keep up with new demands.
This has led to him being an active member of the local technology community, frequently taking part in industry events and spearheading thought leadership initiatives.
In this episode of What’s Next, Tony Bartlett discusses why Dell Technologies chose to power its new PowerEdge servers with 4th-generation AMD EPYC processors.
In this What’s Next interview, Aki Anastasiou meets with Morne Hugo – Executive for Microsoft Solutions at Mecer Inter-Ed - to discuss how the education solutions provider achieved the global title of 2023 Microsoft Learning Partner of the Year.
Hugo is an innovative Microsoft Training and Certification Solutions specialist with decades of experience in South Africa’s ICT training industry. He began his career as a Systems and Operations Manager at International Franchise Concepts before joining Dynamix Learning Solutions.
Hugo was with Dynamix Learning Solutions for over 12 years and served in multiple managerial positions during that time – including as Branch Manager and Operations Manager.
In 2012, Hugo joined Torque-IT as the Business Unit Manager for Microsoft, Robotic Process Automation, and Blockchain. Hugo then joined Mecer Inter-Ed seven years later, and has served as the Executive for Microsoft Solutions since
In this episode of What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou, Cheri Scholtz – CEO of PETCO – provides valuable insight into the South African recycling industry.
Scholtz has led PETCO since it was founded in 2004 and has grown it from a small, industry-based initiative to a leading entity at a global level.
In her role, Scholtz performs traditional CEO functions and operates in a hands-on corporate capacity, too.
She represents PETCO on the boards of the Paper and Packaging PRO Alliance, and Packaging South Africa, too.
Additionally, Scholtz has helped develop PET EPR organisations in both Kenya and Ethiopia – which follow the PETCO model – and is on the advisory panel of the African Marine Waste Network.
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Cheri Scholtz discusses the work PETCO is doing in South Africa.
She begins the interview by explaining what PETCO is, what it does, and who it works with.
Scholtz then discusses the Section 18 amendment to the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, and explains the impact it has on what PETCO does.
In this episode of What’s Next, Takealot.com CEO Frederik Zietsman discusses how online purchasing trends have been impacted by load-shedding.
Zietsman attended Paarl Boy’s High and studied at Stellenbosch University, where he became a qualified Chartered Management Accountant.
Before joining Takealot in 2015, Zietsman spent over five years working for Distell, focusing on revenue growth management and commercial business analytics.
He arrived at Takealot to take on the Head of Retail and Marketplace role before being appointed Takealot.com’s CEO in 2021.
In this What’s Next interview, Zietsman speaks to Aki Anastasiou about the massive impact that load-shedding has had on South Africans and how this has affected their spending habits.
In this episode of What’s Next in Cloud, Stone He – President of Huawei Cloud in Southern Africa – discusses how Huawei Cloud supports e-commerce businesses in the region.
He is an experienced ICT leader in the African market, who has worked in Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, and Innovation through Technology.
Previously the Managing Director of the Huawei Telkom Key Account in South Africa from April 2012 to April 2017, He took on the role of CEO of Huawei Kenya until August 2020 – at which point he was appointed to his current role.
In this What’s Next interview, Africa Data Centres CEO Tesh Durvasula meets with Aki Anastasiou to discuss the company’s journey to becoming an industry leader in the data centre and hosting industry.Durvasula is an experienced CEO who specialises in digital infrastructure.He served as the Vice President of the Internet Services Division at AboveNet Communications from 1997 until 2002 – when he co-founded NYC Connect.Serving as NYC Connect COO for five years, Durvasula then joined Telx as its Chief Marketing and Business Officer, before taking on the same role at Quality Technology Services (QTS).Durvasula then moved to CyrusOne in 2012, where he worked for 10 years as the company’s CCO. During this time, he also was appointed as President for CyrusOne Europe in 2018, and President and CEO of CyrusOne in 2020.Durvasula was responsible for driving sales growth and leading significant acquisitions worth over $1 billion while in the role, and grew CyrusOne’s annual revenue from $221 million to $1 billion.He was appointed as the CEO of Africa Data Centres at the beginning of 2022 and has demonstrated excellent leadership and generated exceptional value for the company.Durvasula begins the interview by talking about Africa Data Centres’ journey to becoming a leading data centre provider in Africa.He discusses the biggest challenges along this journey and explains how Africa’s data centre industry compares to the rest of the world.
In this What’s Next interview, Aki Anastasiou is joined by Anita Erasmus, Head of Business at Bob Group; Graeme Cumming, Chief Product Officer at iKhokha; and Gill Balfour, Co-Founder of Stone Hut Designs, to discuss their companies’ exciting new partnership.Anita Erasmus heads up the business systems of Bob Group – an ecommerce ecosystem aimed at making online shopping reliable, simple, and trustworthy.Erasmus previously worked as an Operations Assistant and a Business Consultant before becoming the Business Manager of uAfrica – which was rebranded to Bob Go in February 2023.Graeme Cumming is the Chief Product Officer at iKhokha, where he has worked since the beginning of 2022.Cumming pioneered streaming television in Africa as the Head of Product Development for the MultiChoice Group, and has over 20 years of digital leadership experience.His focus is now on building the future of FinTech at iKhokha, and he is driven to deliver technology-based payment solutions that help entrepreneurs start, manage, and grow their business.Gill Balfour is the Co-Founder and Owner of Stone Hut Designs.Her corporate career began in the ICT industry in London in 1994, where she developed a passion for web design and development.She then returned to South Africa to found website design and development company Stone Hut Designs in 2002.Over the past two decades, under the leadership of Balfour, Stone Hut Designs has grown to serve customers worldwide, and has developed a reputation for delivering exceptional service and top-notch work.In this What’s Next interview, these three prominent business leaders talk about the exciting new partnership between Stone Hut Designs, iKhokha, and Bob Group’s e-commerce software, Bob Go.
In this What’s Next in Security interview, Sudipto Moitra – GM for ICT Solutions at MTN Business – joins Aki Anastasiou to discuss MTN’s transformation from a telco to a TechCo.Moitra has built up extensive experience holding several strategic management positions at leading companies – including TCS and Dimension Data.In his current role at MTN Business, Moitra is responsible for ensuring that the company creates industry-leading B2B ICT solutions by converging legacy telco infrastructure with modern technology.Moitra is a distinguished thought leader in this arena and is building a strategy that will move MTN Business up the ICT stack.Moitra begins this What’s Next interview by explaining what a TechCo is and why MTN Group is focused on becoming one.He then unpacks the latest B2B ICT trends and highlights the trends where South Africa is lagging behind the rest of the world.
In this episode of What’s Next, Anker experts Lorraine Gillesen and Chantelle Batty discuss the brand’s best load-shedding products.Lorraine Gillesen is the Anker National Sales Manager at Premium Brand Distributors. She has over 20 years of experience in IT hardware sales, business development, and channel management across different market verticals. Gillesen has an innovative approach to sales, with a proven track record in increasing brand awareness, coverage, and growth – while driving up sales.Chantelle Batty is the Anker Product and Procurement Manager at Premium Brand Distributors. Batty is responsible for selecting products within the Anker range and its subcategories that are globally relevant, feature-rich, and meet the needs and requirements of local consumers.Her biggest strengths are understanding what benefits a product can offer a customer and analysing data to make informed business decisions. Batty has extensive experience in direct sales and marketing, including over four years in brand and inventory management at SMD Technologies.In this What’s Next interview, Gillesen and Batty begin by unpacking the key procurement and sales trends they have observed with Anker’s energy products.
In this What’s Next interview, Metacom founder and chairman Réan van Niekerk meets with Aki Anastasiou to discuss the benefits and challenges of building an ICT company in Africa.Van Niekerk is an accomplished thought leader, technology architect, innovator, and entrepreneur who has successfully built multiple companies and complex tech solutions throughout his 40-year career.This includes Van Niekerk founding Metacom in 2001, which he has been instrumental in growing into a leader in the ICT space.His vision for Metacom is to be the go-to, point-to-point connectivity partner for enterprises, connecting data securely, reliably, and cost-effectively – no matter the location.Van Niekerk begins the interview by unpacking how he founded Metacom and grew it to become an industry leader in Africa.He then explains why African companies prefer products and services designed in South Africa.
In this episode of What’s Next, Thabiso Hlatshwayo – Senior Solution Consulting Manager at OpenText Africa – discusses the relevance of Cloud FinOps, a topic he will be presenting at the Cloud & Security Conference 2023.Hlatshwayo leads a team of highly-experienced solution consultants who are responsible for the design of multifaceted technology solutions for clients across Africa.Born a digital native, he describes himself as a proud and passionate African who believes in the potential of people.He holds a BSc Honours degree in business and technology and has over a decade of experience in high-tech industries.In this interview, Hlatshwayo discusses Cloud FinOps – including why it is relevant and why businesses should care about it.To find out more about the 2023 Cloud & Security Conference visit the conference website: https://cloudconference.co.za/
In this episode of What’s Next, Marco Fonto – Managing Director at Stratum Benefits – discusses the benefits of gap cover.Fonto worked in the insurance industry in the late 1990s and early 2000s, before founding Stratum Benefits after noticing an opportunity in the market.Specialists were charging more than medical aid members were covered for, and the patients were struggling to pick up the difference.Stratum Benefits was founded to solve this problem and has grown from strength to strength ever since.Fonto believes in going the extra mile for every client and encourages his employees to tap into their individual strengths to leave a positive mark on the people around them.In his What’s Next interview, Fonto explains what gap cover is, as well as why someone should consider getting it if they already pay for medical aid.He then provides examples of how gap cover from Stratum Benefits helped two clients who required significant medical procedures.
In this episode of What’s Next, Matthew Cruise – Hohm Energy’s Head of Business Intelligence and Public Relations – talks about the role of solar energy in South Africa.Cruise is an energy expert who worked for Eskom for 11 years. During this time, he held multiple positions, including Engineering Project Manager, Integration Specialist, and Energy Specialist.He joined Hohm Energy at the beginning of 2022 as the Lead Campaign Manager before taking on his current role in December 2022.Cruise holds a BSc Honours in Mechatronics Engineering from the University of Cape Town and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Witwatersrand.He also completed an MBA in Management Consulting and Entrepreneurship, with a dissertation titled “Eskom: Too Big To Fail, or Necessitated Change?”Cruise is passionate about solving the world’s problems and is interested in how the latest technologies can be used to develop sustainable solutions.In this What’s Next interview with Aki Anastasiou, Cruise talks about the role Hohm Energy is playing in South Africa’s move to using more solar power.Cruise then explains why South Africans should choose Hohm Energy to help them achieve their solar goals – including how it only works with the best and most reputable brands and businesses in the sector.
In this episode of What’s Next, Jan Bouwer – Chief of Digital Platform Solutions at BCX – discusses the benefits of managed cloud solutions, a topic he will be presenting on at the Cloud & Security Conference 2023.Bouwer started his career as an IT professional at a leading iron and steel manufacturing company, before joining Andersen Consulting and then Accenture – a global NYSE-listed company.He had an impressive 23-year career as a management consultant, including 13 years as a Managing Director (Partner).As Managing Director, Bouwer was involved in various multi-year IT transformation projects – responsible for the Health and Public Sector business within South Africa – and was the industry solutions lead for Government Enterprise Solutions in Europe, Latin America, and Africa.Bouwer then joined BCX in 2017 to lead its transformational solutions and pre-sales units, and has since held key positions as Managing Executive for the West Coast Region and Managing Executive for Retail and Consumer Goods.In 2021, Bouwer was appointed Managing Executive for Enterprise Application Solutions, and in March 2021, he was appointed Chief of Digital Platform Solutions.In this interview, Bouwer discusses the benefits of managed cloud solutions and when they are most suitable.He then explains how offering a wide range of cloud-based solutions across both the public and private cloud enables BCX to serve the specific needs of each client.To find out more about the 2023 Cloud & Security Conference visit the conference website: https://cloudconference.co.za/
In this episode of What’s Next, Lee Syse – Lead Cloud Solutions Architect for the Cloud Providers business at VMware Sub-Saharan Africa – explains what he will present at the 2023 Cloud & Security Conference.Syse joined VMware in 2016 and has reached his current role as Lead Cloud Solutions Architect through hard work and a passion for the cloud industry.In this role, he collaborates with African cloud service providers to help them build business models that are cloud-centric and serve the growing need for hybrid cloud real estate on the continent.Syse is also passionate about training and partner enablement, and is well-known in the industry for his practical advice on these topics.In this interview, Syse discusses VMware’s Gold Sponsorship at the 2023 Cloud & Security Conference, and what he is most looking forward to at the event.He then reveals the topic of his presentation for the event and explains why he believes this theme is important – given the state of the South African cloud industry.To find out more about the 2023 Cloud & Security Conference visit the conference website: https://cloudconference.co.za/
In this episode of What’s Next, Lazaros Karapanagiotidis – Chief Product and Marketing Officer at IoT.nxt – and Vusi Mngomezulu – Head of Sales at IoT.nxt – discuss the role IoT is playing in addressing key ESG challenges in South Africa.Karapanagiotidis has extensive experience in key business areas such as digital strategy development and implementation, e-commerce, digital product development, marketing, and enterprise transformation.In his current role, he investigates the latest trends and creates products that resonate with both current and future demands.Mngomezulu has over 8 years of experience in the ICT sector, and is highly motivated by his philosophy of “driving tomorrow.”This has helped him grow as an entrepreneur and serve effectively on the boards of many ICT companies.
Stephen van Niekerk is the Executive Head of Momentum Myriad and has worked at Momentum for over 20 years.He has played a vital role in the evolution of the impressive benefits offered by the Momentum Myriad life insurance products.Van Niekerk and his team have been responsible for key innovation in the risk protection market – such as Longevity Protection and Momentum’s Breadth of Cover Guarantee.His most recent contribution to the life insurance industry is as the brains behind the revolutionary LifeReturns® solution – Momentum Life Insurance’s digital screening application.Stephen van Niekerk graduated from the University of Stellenbosch in 1999 and became a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries in 2022.In this episode of What’s Next, Stephen van Niekerk discusses the advantages offered by Momentum’s digital screening innovation, LifeReturns®.
David Behr is the CEO of Liquid C2 and is a highly respected voice in the Southern African cloud and cybersecurity industries.He is a top internet pioneer and entrepreneur who first rose to prominence when he founded ZOL in 1995 and grew it into Zimbabwe’s largest ISP.When ZOL was acquired by Liquid Intelligent Technologies in 2012, he joined the company as an Executive Director and was responsible for building Liquid’s Cloud and Cyber Security businesses across Africa.Under Behr’s guidance, these businesses solving their clients’ biggest technology challenges through innovative products and solutions.Behr has a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Bristol and an MBA from Harvard Business School.In this interview, Behr explains why Liquid C2 decided to become an event sponsor at the Cloud & Security Conference 2023.He also outlines the topic he will be presenting on at the event, and explains why he chose this topic in particular.
Dinesh Govender is the CEO of Discovery Vitality South Africa and holds a position on the Discovery Executive Board.Govender has held his CEO position for over five years and is dedicated to the belief that behavioural economics and clinical science can improve people’s health.As a result, the Discovery Vitality Programme prioritises using the latest technologies to positively transform people’s lives in South Africa and around the globe.Govender holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Management from Harvard Business School.In this episode of What’s Next, Dinesh Govender explains the science and technology behind Discovery Vitality.He also discusses the success of Vitality Active Rewards since its launch in 2015 and talks about the newly-released Vitality Active Rewards 3.0.
Iain Stevenson is the founder and CEO of Comsol and boasts over 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry.In 1997, Stevenson founded Comsol to fill a gap in the wireless telecommunications market in South Africa.Since then, he has grown the company from a single regional business to an industry leader in building terrestrial wireless access infrastructure across all sectors.Stevenson’s role as CEO of Comsol is now to guide the overall direction of the business and ensure it continues to grow.In this episode of What’s Next, Iain Stevenson outlines how Comsol continues to provide excellent connectivity – even as its competitors are struggling to do the same.He then discusses the reliability of modern fixed wireless solutions and how they compare to other popular connectivity solutions like fibre.
Rebatho Madiba is the Managing Executive for Business Development at BCX, a title she has held since July 2022.Madiba previously served as the SAP Competency Manager for Debswana, where she established the Debswana SAP Change and Training Management programme across its mines.She also worked at Transnet and held multiple prominent titles, including Digital Project Manager, the acting Group Chief Information Officer, and the General Manager of IT Operations across a cumulative ten years.She then joined BCX in 2021 as the Executive of Specialised Sales for Digital EXA, before taking on her current position.In this What’s Next interview with Aki Anastasiou, Madiba talks about how South Africa is embracing the 4th industrial revolution (4IR).She discusses the disruption of business models by digital transformation and how it is changing the customer experience and improving operational processes.
Charles Mizzi is the head of Malta Residency, and Kurt Farrugia is the Chief Executive Officer of Malta Enterprise.Mizzi began his career in the banking sector and in 2014, he was appointed as the Executive Director of Media and Marketing for the Maltese Presidency in the European Council.He then became the Chief Officer for Communications and Business Development at the Individual Investor Programme Agency in 2017, before being appointed as the CEO of Residency Malta Agency in 2019.Mizzi holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Henley Business School.Farrugia served as the Head of Government Communication and the spokesperson for the Maltese Prime Minister from 2013 to 2019 before becoming Malta Enterprise’s CEO.He holds a Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship from the University of Malta.In this episode of What’s Next, Farrugia and Mizzi discuss the Malta Startup Residence Programme.Mizzi outlines why the Malta Startup Residence Programme was created and how it functions on a technical level. Farrugia then explains which businesses are eligible for the programme.Mizzi and Farrugia also unpack the benefits that programme participants receive, and how Malta Enterprise and Malta Residency work together on the programme.Visit https://startup.residencymalta.gov.mt for more information
Jan Roux is the portfolio executive for Digital Workspace Management (DWM) at BCX, a position he has held for over four years.Roux is a South African IT professional who has been in the industry for over 23 years. He is known for his technical expertise, leadership skills, and deep understanding of industry and technology trends.He previously worked at Integr8IT as the MD and then the CIO, before the company was acquired by BCX.In this role as portfolio executive at BCX, Roux is responsible for defining, establishing, and growing the company’s DWM business unit.This responsibility includes high-level strategic planning, decision-making, and leadership of the DWM business unit.In this What’s Next interview, Roux meets with Aki Anastasiou to discuss digital workspace management.He talks about the evolution of the digital workspace and how it changed the way ICT service providers had to look at traditional end-user support.
Riaan van Reenen is the CEO of Discovery Life and over two decades of experience with this business unit.He worked at Discovery Health until Discovery Life was founded in 2001 – and he has since served in various roles in the Discovery Life division.Van Reenen’s main goal is to help Discovery Life’s customers lead healthier lives through unique, shared-value offerings.He also chairs the ASSA Life Assurance tax committee and represents Discovery on multiple industry forums around tax and IFRS17 implementation.In this episode of What’s Next, van Reenen discusses the tech trends that are changing the life insurance landscape.He unpacks the impacts both the pandemic and climate change have had on the insurance industry.
Hylton Kallner is an actuary, business builder, and the Chief Executive Officer of Discovery Bank.He has been a part of the Discovery ecosystem since 1996, where he began his journey as a key player in various marketing, actuarial, and strategic projects. He then became the company’s Chief Marketing Officer in 2006, and has since served in multiple CEO positions at Discovery Limited - becoming the Discovery Life CEO in 2016, the Discovery South Africa CEO in 2020, and then the Discovery Bank CEO in 2021.Kallner’s extensive experience at Discovery Limited and his understanding of its shared-value business model have positioned him to drive outstanding growth at Discovery Bank.In this episode of What’s Next, Kallner unpacks the SpendTrend 2023 report. He explains why Discovery Bank partnered with VISA to compile this report, before digging deeper into its contents
Waldo Krugell is a professor of Economic Sciences at North-West University, where he teaches macro and microeconomics.He serves on the board of Economic Research Southern Africa, and previously was the editor of SAJEMS – a leading South African academic publication focused on Economic and Management Sciences.Krugell also shares his thoughts about the economy on his podcast – Die Ekonomie Minuut.In this episode of What’s Next, Krugell discusses the prospects and growth trajectory of the South African economy.He unpacks why many economists believe that South Africa faces slower economic growth this year, and explains what can be done about this.Krugell also talks about how high inflation has been in recent years, and explains how he expects inflation and interest rates to perform moving forward.
Shameel Joosub is the Group CEO of Vodacom and the winner of the 2023 MyBroadband Telecoms CEO of the Year award.Joosub holds a Bachelor of Accounting Science from the University of South Africa, an MBA from the University of Southern Queensland, and an Advanced Management Program certificate from Harvard University.He has developed a reputation in South Africa as an excellent telecoms CEO and is respected throughout the industry for the role he has played as Vodacom Group CEO for over a decade.In this episode of What’s Next, Shameel Joosub discusses the significance of winning the 2023 MyBroadband Telecoms CEO of the year award.Joosub then unpacks his biggest victories as Vodacom CEO over the past year that led to him winning this honour.
Greg Smith is the co-founder and joint CEO of OneSpark Insurance.He is a qualified actuary who designed dozens of award-winning insurance products, helped start a bank, and even contributed towards creating one of South Africa’s largest Social Impact Bonds before founding OneSpark.OneSpark Insurance’s main purpose is to continuously innovate for the betterment of its clients and the pursuit of a better world.This was an important focus for Smith when founding OneSpark, as he has always believed that each individual has the power to change the world and move it forward.In this What’s Next interview, Smith discusses the journey that led him to found OneSpark, as well as how OneSpark’s industry-defining AI algorithm improves upon legacy insurance models.Smith also unpacks OneSpark’s world-first “Pay-As-You-Need” life cover model, and explains why it is superior to the traditional models used by other life cover providers.
Kobus Visagie is the Executive of Business Solutions at Tracker.He is an experienced IT entrepreneur who has spent the past 25 years converting IT strategy into integrated solutions that give businesses a competitive advantage. Visagie has extensive technical knowledge of IoT, SaaS solutions, supply chain management, logistics, and various other technology industries. He uses this knowledge and experience to solve business problems for Tracker’s clients.In this episode of What’s Next in Motoring, Visagie explains how the data from Tracker’s Track and Dispatch IQ (TDIQ) assists with investigations into road incidents that involve fleet vehicles.
Shamith Maharaj is the Executive of Data Networks at BCX and has 18 years of global telecommunications experience.He has extensive knowledge in fields like project management, network design, network activations, network operations, network management, IT management, and service assurance.Maharaj prides himself on having built strong relationships with customers and suppliers throughout his career, as well as his creative management style – which is easily adaptable to the team that he is working with.He is highly analytical and a proven problem solver who is committed to ongoing learning and development.In this episode of What’s Next, Maharaj talks about autonomous networks – including what they are, their key benefits, and the capabilities they enable.Maharaj then discusses how autonomous networks are different from automated networks, highlighting the benefit of the former over the latter.
Justin Hume is the Vice President of Mobile at Samsung South Africa.Hume began in his current role 11 months ago and has 26 years of industry experience overall.This experience includes serving in roles like Director of Product and Marketing, Chief Marketing Officer, and Director of Integrated Mobility at Samsung South Africa.In this What’s Next interview, Hume explains how the newly-launched Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone range acknowledges the important smartphone market trends and addresses them with unrivaled innovation.
Wynand Theron is the CEO and founder of iTried, an IT services and consulting company that helps start-ups, SMEs, and schools protect their cloud data.Theron founded iTried to share his knowledge and passion with smaller organisations and help them build secure networks.He gained this knowledge through years of working in the ICT, hospitality, and co-working sectors as an IT manager and entrepreneur.This includes working at Nashua Mobile for several years before joining ECN and Workshop17.Theron then founded iTried in August 2020, and it has been a tremendous success.In this What’s Next interview, Theron discusses iTried’s latest developments – including the launch of ‘as-a-service’ products, which offer huge cost benefits to smaller businesses and schools.One of these solutions is Radius-as-a-service, which allows businesses to manage their Wi-Fi and network security easily.Read the full article here:
Ryan Martyn and Craig Nowitz are both directors of Syntech, a leading technology distribution company in South Africa.Martyn was born and raised in Johannesburg and has always had a passion for technology and innovation. He studied at the University of Cape Town, where he earned a BCom degree in Information Systems. Since co-founding Syntech in 2002, Martyn has been instrumental in the company’s success – leading the team to develop cutting-edge solutions for its clients.Nowitz was born and raised in Pretoria and is a pioneer in the South African IT industry. He started his own distribution company in 1993, and by the late 90s, he was part of the creation of the largest IT distribution company in Africa. He also served as CEO of Pinnacle before co-founding Syntech so that he could realise his passion for finding and growing new brands and revolutionary products.In this Driving Sustainability interview, Martyn and Nowitz discuss Syntech’s in-house energy brand, Gizzu. They explain how consumer trends have changed due to load-shedding, as well as what makes Gizzu special. Next, Martyn and Nowitz unpack the different products Gizzu offers, as well as what products are set to be released in Q2-Q4 2023.
Asif Hoosen is the Head of Retail and Planning for Audi South Africa and boasts a wealth of experience in the automotive and media industries. He has a strong sense of business and is skilled in various areas – including marketing, product strategies, strategic planning, business planning, operations management, public relations, and customer service. Before joining the Audi brand in 2020, he honed his skills for 18 years as a part of Volkswagen South Africa. In this episode of What’s Next, Asif Hoosen discusses the headline features of the new Audi S8 and what sets this vehicle apart from others in its market segment. He unpacks the S8’s performance levels and how Audi has ensured this vehicle offers phenomenal ride quality. Hoosen also outlines what Audi fans can look forward to from the popular car brand in 2023.
Vaughn Naidoo is the General Manager of the B2B Technology Centre of Excellence at MTN. Naidoo is an experienced executive with a solid track record of working in the telecommunications, data centre, and IT industries. He has an MSc in Computer Science and is a veteran CMO, CDO, CIO, and CTO with a talent for disrupting the market. In this episode of What’s Next in Cloud, Vaughn Naidoo discusses the advantages of MTN’s new strategic alliance with Microsoft in Africa – including the new technologies MTN will now have access to. Naidoo then talks about how the partnership will contribute to MTN’s B2B Technology Centre of Excellence - including the centre’s ICT objectives for 2025
Dr Karen Luyt is a Consultant for Digital Transformation at BCX.She has held various positions in her 32-year career – from development and specialist roles to several management positions – and has extensive international experience in regions like the UK, Spain, and Australia. Luyt has also been active in the Doctoral Programme of the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) – both as a lecturer and as an MBA and Doctoral-level supervisor.In this episode of What’s Next, Luyt discusses why digital transformation has not yet been achieved by all organisations – even though it has been a key topic of discussion for many years. She then explains how organisations can accomplish their radical digital transformation goals by approaching this journey practically.
Daniel Wilks is the EMEA Vice President of Solution Sales and Employee Workflow at ServiceNow.Wilks joined ServiceNow in October 2021 and leads a team of experts focused on employee experience across all business segments. He has over 20 years of experience in leadership and strategic selling of technology, including working as the Head of Public Sector Services Sales for Microsoft for over a year. Wilks also accrued over 15 years of leadership experience at IBM, where he was the Software Sales Leader and later became the Director of IBM Cloud and Cognitive Software for the UK and Ireland.In this interview, Wilks explains how ServiceNow helps build a better employee experience. He talks about how the technology that ServiceNow offers can benefit case worker teams and expands on the other areas this technology can help.
Liziwe Maseko is the BCX Executive for Digital Software Engineering.Maseko has a strong performance history as a business leader and boasts extensive experience leading and managing various IT functions. She has been instrumental in developing, managing, and launching multiple market-leading IT products to deliver revenue and growth targets for large customer bases.Maseko has also demonstrated major expertise in supporting companies to maximise their investments, reduce their costs, and increase their efficiencies.In this What’s Next in Cloud interview, Maseko talks about the state of the South African ICT landscape and how this has evolved over the years. She then discusses what 4IR means for South Africa, and unpacks the current adoption rate of digital transformation projects in the country.
David McDonald is the co-founder and CEO of SolarAfrica, where he leads a dynamic team that is passionate about solar energy savings.
McDonald has over 13 years of experience in renewable energy project development and a BEng qualification. His technical expertise, knowledge, and hands-on approach are all instrumental to SolarAfrica’s success.
In this episode of Driving Sustainability, McDonald talks about how battery storage has become a viable option for South African businesses. He explains that this is because of increased global inflation, rising electricity costs, and technological advances in this industry.
Megan Nicholas is the Managing Director of Supersonic South Africa and has over 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry.
She has acquired numerous awards for her contributions to this field, such as Most Influential Woman in ICT in Business and Government (2016), Most Engaging Leader via the Telkom Employee Satisfaction Survey (2015, 2016), and National Female Leader Representative and sponsor for Telkom’s Female Leadership Development Program (2014-2020).
Nicholas leads in the areas of strategy and business turnarounds by designing and executing plans that deliver enhanced profitability.
In this episode of What’s Next in Cloud, Megan Nicholas discusses how she and her Supersonic team are working to improve connectivity in South Africa. She unpacks the issues currently surrounding connectivity in the country and why it is important that these issues are solved.
Sabahat Kazi is the President of Intelligent Enterprise at Nihilent and the Co-Founder of Intellect Bizware.
Kazi has over 27 years of experience in the ICT industry, including over 24 years of experience in the SAP ecosystem. During this time, he has been involved in over 50 SAP implementations on both the customer side, and the implementation side. At Nihilent, he is responsible for its Intelligent Enterprise business – which includes SAP and other solutions – and he also manages Intellect, a subsidiary of Nihilent that he co-founded in 2007.
In this What’s Next interview, Kazi explains what intelligent supply chains are and why they are particularly relevant in a post-COVID world. He then unpacks the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) — including the role it plays in helping businesses develop intelligent supply chains.
Antony English is the co-founder of Freedom Won – a company focused on pioneering the transition to renewable energy in Africa.
In his role as a leader at the company, English is focused on steering Freedom Won towards its goals by promoting its impressive energy storage technologies. English has a Bachelor’s Degree in Electro-Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cape Town, and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Management, and Operations from the Gordon Institute of Business Science at the University of Pretoria.
In this episode of Driving Sustainability, English discusses the highlights and challenges of Freedom Won’s 10-year journey since being founded in 2012. He discusses what it means that Freedom Won recently won the SANEA Shapeshifter award, as well as co-Founder Lizette Kriel winning the Women Entrepreneurship award, and explains how these accolades position Freedom Won as a leader in the local renewable industry.
Henri Fourie is the Head of Delivery at Mint Group, where he ensures that his clients’ modern workplace roadmaps are paved for success.
Fourie brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the Microsoft 365 space and has career experience with Microsoft as a solutions sales professional in the company’s Modern Workplace division. He previously ran his own Modern Workplace business for over 6 years, so he is well-equipped to lead the digital transformation journey for clients and Mint Group alike.
In this episode of What’s Next, Fourie talks about the new employee ‘worth it’ equation and explains how leaders can use this concept to make the office more comfortable for their employees.
Phila Dube is the Chief Commercial Officer at Openserve and leads the network operator’s market-facing and back-office commercial operations.
In this role, Dube is responsible for Openserve’s Sales, Marketing, PR, Commercial, Product and Pricing, and Relationship Management divisions. He has extensive experience in the telecoms industry, having been involved in the commercial departments of Openserve and Telkom for over 16 years.
In this episode of What’s Next, Phila Dube breaks down the lack of internet connectivity in Africa - commonly known as the digital divide. He explains why Africa has been slow to benefit from internet connectivity despite this technology being a key enabler in crucial sectors like education, health, and business.
In this What’s Next in Cloud interview, Aki Anastasiou is joined by Ahmed Mahomed and Sandile Dube.
Mahomed is the Group CEO of Datacentrix and a seasoned businessman with 22 years of experience in the IT industry. He has been with Datacentrix since 2002, having joined to head up the company’s Infrastructure division. He was then named the COO in 2007 and soon took the lead as the CEO in the same year.
Before joining Datacentrix, Mahomed held several executive management positions, including being Operations Manager at Cashbuild for 12 years and the Managing Director of Pinnacle for four years.
Sandile Dube is the Acting Managing Director for Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) South Africa. He is experienced in management, having been the Country Manager for HPE South Africa and the Sales Manager for Dimension Data’s MEA region.
These two experienced businessmen join Aki to discuss how their companies are working together to deliver a unique hybrid cloud solution to the South African market.
Mahomed begins by explaining why Datacentrix is pushing a data-first strategy while others are focusing their attention on cloud-first approaches. Dube then talks about the challenges companies face when moving to the cloud, before Mahomed highlights that while one of these challenges is the cost of moving, the greater cost will be incurred if companies do not deploy one.
Stephan Gilliland has over 12 years of experience in the IT industry and is the Head of Information and Cyber Security Portfolio at CoCre8 Technology Solutions – which was formerly known as Fujitsu South Africa.
He has held multiple positions during his time at the company, such as a sales executive and a product manager. Stephan Gilliland is certified in sales and pre-sales across all Fujitsu equipment and is now certified to work with the cybersecurity solutions offered by CoCre8 – including those from Fortitude and Absolute Software.
In this episode of What’s Next in Security, Gilliland breaks down the most common cybersecurity threats that South African businesses face and how to deal with them. Gilliland talks about Fortitude’s security services – including its automated continuous penetration testing capabilities and its other AI-based features.
Clare Loveridge is the Vice President and General Manager for EMEA at Arctic Wolf, and Jason Oehley is the Regional Sales Manager for South Africa at Arctic Wolf.
Loveridge has over 20 years of experience in sales and channel roles at companies like Data Domain and Nimble Storage. At Nimble Storage, she was very successful in growing the business across the EMEA region.
Oehley is a successful and highly motivated business leader with over 20 years of managing and developing regions and accounts across the technology industry. He specialises in Start-up, Channel, OEM, Security, Operational, Cloud, Transformation, Consolidation, and Virtualisation solutions.
In this episode of What’s Next in Security, Loveridge and Oehley discuss why Arctic Wolf, which has recently launched in South Africa, is an appealing cybersecurity partner for local businesses. Loveridge explains that highly-trained Triage and Concierge Security experts work as an extension of internal teams to provide 24x7 monitoring, detection and response, ongoing risk management and security awareness training to give organisations the protection.
She also unpacks how the global cybersecurity market has changed in recent years, including how the threat to businesses has increased drastically.
Oehley discusses the state of cybersecurity in South Africa, including how businesses are increasingly looking to switch from a cybersecurity strategy that focuses on working hours, to one that protects them 24/7.
Arctic Wolf: https://arcticwolf.com/
Sascha Sauer is the Head of Audi South Africa and has worked at the company for 25 years.
He has extensive experience in sales, planning, business strategy, and team performance management. Sauer is passionate about the South African market and strives to make Audi the premium automotive brand in the country.
In this first episode of What’s Next in Motoring, Sauer discusses how he is using his 25 years of experience to grow Audi in South Africa. Sauer then unpacks why now is the right time for South Africa to embrace an electric motoring future and explains what his team is doing to change consumer attitudes in the country.
Julian Liebenberg is the Chief of Cloud Platform Solutions at BCX and has more than three decades of experience in the ICT sector.
Liebenberg has a talent for contextualising large services-based deals in simple business language and has a personal philosophy rooted in empowering people to achieve more than they thought possible. His specialities include Sales and Marketing, Solutions, Design and Facilitation, Strategy Design and Execution, Public Relations and Communications, and Business Management.
In this episode of What’s Next, Julian Liebenberg discusses how BCX’s partnership with Alibaba will give customers access to Alibaba’s cloud infrastructure technology. He also explains why cloud computing is such a vital technology for modern businesses and how far the technology’s capabilities have come in recent years.
Morne Kroukamp is a Field Product Marketing Manager at Dell Technologies.
He has worked in the technology industry for over 10 years and is passionate about working with customers to deliver successful business outcomes. He prioritises building long-term relationships with these customers that are based on trust and integrity.
Brett Bygate is the Dell Technologies Brand Executive at Pinnacle ICT.
He has worked in Pinnacle’s Dell Technologies department for over seven years – first as a Dell Commercial Manager before assuming his current role in February 2019. Bygate has extensive experience as a product manager and prides himself on using this knowledge to benefit Pinnacle’s partners and customers.
In this episode of What’s Next, Kroukamp and Bygate explain that e-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world, and discuss how responsible technology companies can change this.
Sean Duffy is the Global Vice President of Cybersecurity GTM at NTT, a position he has held since June 2019.
Duffy is responsible for the development and execution of the NTT Security GTM strategy and portfolio. He joined Dimension Data in 1999 and worked there until 2019, holding many prominent positions during this time - including Security National General Manager, Security MEA Executive, and Senior Vice President of Group Security.
In this What’s Next in Security interview, Duffy discusses the latest trends in the cybersecurity industry. He talks about how the skills shortage across South Africa is affecting the managed security services market.
Rafe Pilling is a security researcher at Secureworks Counter Threat Unit, where he focuses on cyber threat intelligence.
Pilling has over 13 years of experience in the cyber security industry and is recognised as an expert in the field. Pilling holds his Honours in Computer Science and Management Science from the University of Edinburgh and a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Networking and Web Technologies from Edinburgh Napier University.
In this episode of What’s Next in Security, Pilling says that there has been a significant increase in both the scale and frequency of malicious cyber activity – with ransomware being one of the more prolific threats.
Colin Erasmus is one of the most experienced technology executives in the country and was recently appointed as the COO of Microsoft South Africa.
Erasmus has worked at Microsoft for over 22 years and held several prominent positions in the company during this time. He was the Microsoft Tech-Ed and Partner Summit Event Technical Director for over 10 years before being appointed as the Business Group Lead in 2007.
In this What’s Next in Security interview, Erasmus meets with Aki Anastasiou to discuss how businesses can improve their security posture. Erasmus highlights the security issues organisations face under the hybrid working model and suggests how this risk can be reduced.
Anton Herbst is the CEO of Tarsus On Demand and Tarsus Technology Group and has over 25 years of IT industry experience.
During his tenure in the MB Technologies Group, Herbst has held multiple positions, including CEO of Advanced Channel Technologies (ACT) and Executive Director on the main board of MB Technologies Group.
Herbst holds a National Higher Diploma in Extractive Metallurgy and BCom Degree from Technikon Witwatersrand and the University of Pretoria, respectively.
In this What’s Next episode, Herbst discusses how the cloud has evolved over the last few years. Herbst notes that many businesses have had to shift their technology from client-based to cloud-based systems.
Louis van Schalkwyk is the Head of Technical Operations for Digicloud Africa, a position he has held since October 2018.
Van Schalkwyk is a Google-certified professional with qualifications in Cloud Architecture, Security, Collaboration, and Machine Learning. He previously worked at Grove Group for ten years, first as the Head of Deployments from 2007 and then as the Technical Presales Team Leader from 2012.
In this What’s Next interview, van Schalkwyk joins Aki Anastasiou to discuss the impact Machine Learning can have in business. He talks about the benefits it offers to businesses and provides several real-world examples of how Machine Learning is being used in South Africa.
Andrew Cruise is a co-founder and MD at Routed – with the latter being a position he has held since June 2016.
Cruise and two business partners started Routed to help large enterprises migrate their important applications to the cloud. They chose VMware Cloud Director for this purpose and have since built a VMware Cloud with 100% uptime.
On this What’s Next episode, Cruise is joined by Lee Syse, Lead Cloud Solutions Architect for the Cloud Providers business at VMware Sub-Saharan Africa.He has been with VMware since 2016 and has worked his way up to his current position as the Lead Cloud Solutions Architect.
In this role, Syse works with cloud service providers across Africa to help them build cloud-centric business models that serve the growing need for hybrid cloud real estate.
In this interview, Syse and Cruise unpack the conversations South African businesses are having about the cloud. Syse explains how partnering with Routed has helped VMware to deliver its cloud solutions to local businesses.
Craig Anderson is the Temenos Sales Director for the Africa region – a position he has held since February 2022. Before taking up his current role, Anderson accrued experience at a variety of prominent businesses, including Oracle, EY, and FIS. He is passionate about educating prospective Temenos clients on the benefits of the company’s banking products – such as its banking cloud product, as well as platforms like Temenos Infinity and Temenos Transact.
In this What’s Next interview, Anderson explains how Temenos sees the African banking industry developing in the short and medium-term. He then unpacks the biggest challenges this industry faces on the continent. Anderson also explains what composable banking is and how Temenos has embraced this concept. He then discusses why Temenos sees telcos playing a much more aggressive and significant role in the banking sector moving forward.
Neal Botje is the Practice Head of Security for Dimension Data, a position he has held since August 2021.
He is passionate about data privacy and information security, and has a background in problem-solving, critical and systems thinking, and protecting sensitive data for large financial institutions. Botje previously worked at XON as the Head of Information Security and Compliance for over five years.
He then joined McAfee in 2016 as an Enterprise Account Executive involved in data protection and cybersecurity. Finally, Botje moved to Dimension Data in November 2020 as a Cloud Executive before assuming his current position.
In this What’s Next interview, Botje joins Aki Anastasiou to discuss the latest cybersecurity threat trends and how Dimension Data is adapting to tackle them. Botje highlights the biggest cyber vulnerabilities most organisations currently have and explains the best way they can mitigate these threats.
Wynand Theron is the CEO of iTried, an IT services and consulting company that he founded to help start-ups, SMEs, and schools protect their cloud data and build a secure business. He is an experienced IT manager and entrepreneur who has worked in the ICT, hospitality, and co-working industries. Theron also has extensive knowledge in data security and networking communication infrastructure, as well as a passion for safe data communications.
In this What’s Next interview, Theron meets with Aki Anastasiou to explain what iTried does and how it helps start-ups and SMEs protect their data. He talks about the company’s future plans and how it is continuing to grow its offering to SMEs. Theron then suggests how SMEs can protect themselves from data leaks and hacks and highlights how iTried can help these organizations. He also discusses how iTried is helping schools to protect their data when transitioning to a smart classroom, as well as how iTried can help these schools source devices such as laptops at an affordable rate.
Titilayo Adewumi is the Regional Sales Director for West Africa at SAP and is responsible for managing the Sales portfolio for the West African Region for both General Business and Large Enterprises, ensuring quarter on quarter achievements.
She has over 10 years of experience working in Information Technology, Public Health, Financial Services and Telecommunications industries in both Canada, Sweden, Denmark and Nigeria.
Titilayo is passionate about advocating for Women’s Leadership and Growth.
In this episode of What's Next, Adewumi talks about SAP's operations in West Africa. She explains the type of customers and industries that SAP services across West Africa and discusses the relevancy of cloud in West Africa.
Dr. Ayotunde Coker is the Chief Executive Officer of Open Access Data Centres.
Dr. Coker is one of the leading players in the development of the data centre industry in Africa and is Chairperson of influential industry group, the Africa Data Centres Association. Before joining OADC as Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Coker led Rack Centre to becoming a household name in Nigeria and a leading brand in Africa, with global recognition and numerous prestigious international awards.
Throughout a distinguished international career as a technology and business leader, Dr. Coker has held senior positions in finance, energy, management consulting, and UK Government. He holds an MSc from Cranfield Institute of Technology and a PhD (Honoris Causa) from ESCAE University.
His achievements have been recognised by numerous awards, including the Distinguished Manufacturing Alumni Award (Cranfield Institute of Technology) 2020, and in the same year, he was recognised as one of the Global Top 30 Edge Computing Leaders by Data Economy Magazine.
In this episode of What's Next in Cloud, Dr. Coker talks about the launch of Open Access Data Centres' first data centre in South Africa and what this Durban facility provides. He also explains why he believes South Africa is the right location to invest in with this sort of infrastructure.
Videsha Proothveerajh is the CEO of LexisNexis South Africa.
Proothveerajh is a corporate leader who stands at the forefront of the dynamic South African technology space. Prior to joining LexisNexis SA, she was the Data Centre Group Director for EMEA Territory and the GM for Intel.
She recently won the prestigious Woman in Tech award at the Africa Tech Week Award 2022 ceremony.
In this episode of What's Next, Proothveerajh talks about what is driving growth at LexisNexis South Africa despite tough economic times. She explains how LexisNexis South Africa has been anchored in line with the key focus areas of the global company.
Stanley Dube is the Head of Cloud ERP at SAP Africa.
Dube leads a team that inspires SAP’s customers to envision the full potential of digitalisation of their business processes. His team helps companies understand the path to harnessing the synergies of digitized value chains.
Prior to his current role, he was a Senior Solution Advisor supporting inbound logistics sales processes across Africa and the Middle East. Over numerous years he assisted companies across Africa and Europe implement software applications to automate and optimise their supply chain processes.
In this episode of What’s Next, Dube unpacks the key trends among companies that are performing well in a post-pandemic world. He discusses the differences between traditional ERPs and Cloud ERP – explaining how there has been an evolution in terms of what these systems offer.
Colin Banks is the Industry and Customer Advisory Lead at SAP Africa, and Kwena Mabotja is the Global Director for Purpose and Sustainability Marketing and Solutions at SAP.
Banks has worked at SAP for over 10 years and is passionate about helping SAP customers drive innovation through the use of the latest technologies.
Mabotja is focused on cementing SAP’s commitment as an enabler and exemplar of purpose-growing awareness and scaling the impact of SAP’s purpose and sustainability offerings and initiatives.
In this episode of What’s Next, Banks and Mabotja discuss the importance of sustainability in the South African business space. Banks also unpacks why South African businesses in particular should be concerned about climate change, and Mabotja explains how African businesses can begin their sustainability journeys so that they become responsible players in local and global markets.
Mpho Matsitse is the Head of Industry and Value Advisory at SAP Africa.
In his role, Matsitse leads a team of highly talented industry and value advisors across the SAP Africa region. This high-performing team acts as trusted advisors to SAP Africa’s customers by offering a value-based engagement approach that helps customers advance their adoption of leading SAP technologies to unlock new business value.
Matsitse aims to use his ability as a business strategist to enable the successful growth of transformative organizations that are actively enacting positive change.
In this What’s Next interview, Matsitse explains what value management is and where the concept comes from. He also unpacks why value management is a necessity for any organization investing in technology.
Hardeep Sound is the Regional Director at SAP East Africa, a position he has held since October 2019.
Sound previously worked as a Consultant at Deloitte in Kenya, and then as a Technical Trainer and Infrastructure Consultant at InfoSys in Ethiopia. He joined Microsoft as a Senior Consultant in 2003 and went on to become the Specialist Sales Unit Manager in 2010. Sound also worked at Oracle in Kenya from 2013 to 2019 - first as a Senior Sales Manager and then as a Sales Director.
In this What’s Next interview, Sound joins Aki Anastasiou to discuss how private and public sector organisations in Africa can accelerate their digital transformation through the cloud. He explains how the cloud provides innovation and agility to businesses of all sizes and unpacks which aspects businesses should focus on when moving to the cloud.
Scott Thwaites is TikTok’s Head of Business Partnerships for Gaming and New Markets in the Middle East, Turkey, Africa, and Pakistan (METAP) region.
As one of TikTok’s first employees in the METAP region, Thwaites has been instrumental in designing and implementing business structures to generate revenue in these markets. Prior to his appointment at TikTok, Thwaites worked as the Head of Global Projects at Ad Dynamo for over a year. He then joined Twitter in 2014 as a Partner Manager for the EMEA region. He quickly became the Senior Sales Partner Manager for the MENA region before joining TikTok in 2019.
In this What’s Next interview, Thwaites meets with Aki Anastasiou to discuss TikTok for Business, which provides brands and marketers with access to TikTok’s broad user base that consumes a diverse range of content. Thwaites also outlines how brands can track their metrics through the TikTok for Business platform to drive business impact and measure success.
Makgosi Mabaso is the Telkom Consumer Broadband and Smarthome Managing Executive, a position she has held since July 2021.
During her career, she occupied several roles within the IT ecosystem – including being the CIO of Faritec – before moving into the commercial side of the telco industry.
Mabaso has now been with Telkom for over 10 years and held various other senior positions during this time – including the Chief of Staff for the Telkom Group. Mabaso also worked in Managing Executive positions at BCX in 2017 and at Openserve in 2018.
In this What’s Next interview, Mabaso meets with Aki Anastasiou to discuss how SMBs benefit from Telkom Business Endless Fibre. Mabaso highlights the value these solutions offer to SMBs, as well as the various deals and line speeds available.
MyBroadband editor Jan Vermeulen interviews Binance co-founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao ('CZ').
CZ discusses why he believes it's in regulators' best interests to licence cryptocurrency exchanges and allow local banks to work with them. He also gives examples of real-world uses of cryptocurrency outside of payments that markets like South Africa with already-mature payments infrastructure could benefit from.
Jan and CZ also discuss the trade-offs that come with new technologies, with CZ likening the emergence of blockchain to the early days of the Internet.
CZ also answers questions about South Africa's regulatory environment and Binance's plans in the country, and the region.
David Behr is the CEO of Liquid Cloud and Cyber Security.
He is a leading internet pioneer and entrepreneur who founded ZOL in 1995 and grew it into Zimbabwe’s largest ISP. He joined Liquid Intelligent Technologies as an Executive Director in 2012 through the acquisition of ZOL, and is responsible for building Liquid’s Cloud and Cyber Security businesses across Africa.
Under Behr’s guidance, these businesses create sustainable value for customers by solving their biggest technology challenges through innovative products and solutions. Behr has a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Bristol and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
On this episode of What’s Next, Behr explains how cyber security incidents have become exponentially more common over the past two years. He then talks about the recent launch of Liquid Intelligent Technologies’ first Cyber Security Fusion Centre in Johannesburg and unpacks what is meant by “fusion.”
Behr explains what motivated Liquid Cyber Security to launch this fusion centre in Johannesburg, and expands upon future plans to launch more of these centres. He highlights that the Cyber Security Fusion Centre will allow Liquid customers to be proactive, and unpacks why this is important. Behr also touches on Liquid Intelligent Technologies’ partnership with Xcitium to offer solutions to small and medium businesses that require SOC services, but can’t afford to hire the skills that would usually be required.
Dumisani Moyo is the Marketing Director at SAP Africa, where he is responsible for leading marketing efforts across the South, East, West, and Lusophone Africa regions.
Moyo is also a member of SAP Africa’s Senior Leadership team and the EMEA-South Marketing Leadership team. He has extensive sales and leadership experience in the technology sector and was previously the SAP Head of Sales for Southern Africa.
In this interview, Moyo joins Aki Anastasiou to discuss Africa’s technology adoption compared to the rest of the world. He talks about the significance of tech-enabled SMEs in Africa’s economic development and highlights the challenges that technology can solve to boost business growth.
Hylton Kallner is an actuary, business builder, and the Chief Executive Officer of Discovery Bank. He has been a part of the Discovery ecosystem since 1996, and he has served in multiple executive positions during this time. Kallner began his Discovery journey as a key part of various marketing, actuarial, and strategic projects before becoming the company’s Chief Marketing Officer in 2006. He then served in multiple CEO positions at Discovery Limited — becoming the Discovery Life CEO in 2016, the Discovery South Africa CEO in 2020, and finally the Discovery Bank CEO in 2021.
Kallner’s vast experience at Discovery Limited and the understanding of its business model he gained during this time have positioned him to drive growth at Discovery Bank. Under Kallner’s guidance, Discovery Bank aims to create greater banking value for people who manage their money well through its famous shared-value model.
In this What’s Next interview, Kallner meets with Aki Anastasiou to discuss Discovery Bank’s latest milestones and offerings. He highlights Discovery Bank’s incredible growth and success since its launch in 2019, and how this culminated in it recently reaching a million subscribers. Kallner then discusses his favourite Discovery Bank tools, including its financial analyser and its Forex product.
He also talks about several new products Discovery Bank has launched, including Discovery Pay-as-you-Gym. He and Aki conclude by touching on how Discovery Bank’s product caters directly to its customers by listening to their needs.
Emad Haffar is the Head of Technical Experts for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa at Kaspersky.
He is responsible for managing and guiding a team of system engineers whose goals are to support and grow Kaspersky’s enterprise business in these regions. He oversees large strategic projects and has direct involvement in planning, designing and consulting activities for complex solutions across the Middle East, Turkey and Africa.
Emad has more than 18 years of IT experience - including over 12 years in the cybersecurity industry.
In this What’s Next interview, Haffar explains why Kaspersky is an authority on prominent cyberthreats facing South African businesses and organizations. He unpacks the most talked-about cyberthreat - ransomware – and why it is such a big problem for South African businesses.
Find out more about Kaspersky's enterprise offering here: https://www.kaspersky.co.za/enterprise-security
Mohammed Manjra is the CEO of Zoom Fibre, a fast-growing and agile fibre network provider that will pass 100,000 endpoints by the end of June 2022.
Manjra has been in this role since November 2020 and was awarded the South Africa CEO of the Year Award by CEO Global in 2021. Prior to his appointment at Zoom Fibre, Manjra was approached to start Vumatel in 2014, with the goal of deploying the first true Fibre to the Home (FTTH) infrastructure in South Africa. He spent three years as the Vumatel Implementation Director and during this time, Manjra and his team broke records by passing more than 850,000 homes across more than 550 South African suburbs.
In this What’s Next interview, Manjra meets with Aki Anastasiou to discuss how Zoom Fibre is serving the missing middle. He talks about how important it is to cater to the middle- and low-income areas in South Africa and how much demand there is for the service. Manjra then tells us about the Saldanha Bay Smart City project and highlights the challenges of building public-private relationships when developing Smart Cities. He also discusses the citizens’ app launched by Zoom Fibre and announces that it has officially gone live in several South African towns – including Saldanha Bay – as part of its Smart City project.
Finally, Manjra talks about how Zoom Fibre’s young team has enabled it to achieve its many milestones.
Ryan Ramawoothar is the Executive Head for Software at First Technology.
He is an experienced business executive with 16 years of experience in the IT industry who has spent most of his career in cyber security and business management roles. Ramawoothar has a strong background in SaaS platforms, cloud technologies, and security, and is highly skilled in go-to-market strategies and market shifts.
His mission, and that of First Technology, is to drive positive change and ensure the company’s customers and their employees are geared for the current and future demands of their industries.
In this episode of What’s Next, Ramawoothar discusses how First Technology is helping its customers as they optimise their approaches to hybrid working. Ramawoothar discusses the latest trends First Technology is seeing in this regard, and focuses on the need for businesses to adopt proactive thinking and implement systems that help employees develop healthy boundaries. He contextualises this by talking about the Great Resignation, which is seeing businesses lose employees who feel overworked and underappreciated.
Ramawoothar then explains how technologies like Microsoft Viva can play a major role in helping employers and employees find a balance between driving productivity and maintaining healthy work-life boundaries. He also touches on the burning question around data protection by detailing how Viva is compliant with POPI.
Ramawoothar concludes by discussing how First Technology helps its customers by improving the Microsoft Viva experience.
Gareth Friedlander is the Deputy CEO at Discovery Life - a position he has held since January 2020.
He joined the Discovery ecosystem in 2008 and has since held various positions at the company. Friedlander started this journey as an Actuarial Analyst, before becoming the Head of Life Technical Marketing in 2010, and then taking up the role of Head of Research and Development at Discovery Life in 2013.
In this What’s Next interview, Aki Anastasiou meets with Friedlander to discuss Discovery Life’s various claims benefits. Friedlander begins by explaining the innovative Discovery Life proactive claims feature and the benefits this offers to clients. He also talks about the latest technology trends Discovery Life is seeing in the insurance industry and explains how the company is leveraging this insight to enhance the customer experiences it provides.
He then goes into more detail on several award-winning world-first innovations from Discovery that are designed to make it easier for advisors and clients to sign up for policies. Friedlander also highlights Discovery Life’s Cancer Exome Sequencing cover and other benefits targeted at cancer patients.
He then talks about the general Discovery Life claims experience, including how it is designed with clients in mind, and concludes by explaining what goes into developing this experience.
Stephen Coull is the Sales Director for Keyrus South Africa, where his leadership skills are helping to accelerate the growth of the technology consultancy.
Coull believes that the most important elements for success are for businesses to have a true understanding of the issues their customers face, and for them to have an intimate knowledge of the technology solutions that can solve these issues. He has used his 20 years of experience in technology, and his passion for using modern technology to solve customer challenges, to expand Keyrus’s customer-centric strategy over the past five years.
In this What’s Next interview, Coull meets with Aki Anastasiou to discuss Keyrus’s growth, its partnership with Tableau, and the evolution of data usage in recent years. Coull discusses how Keyrus has become a leading technology consultancy in South Africa and explains how it has grown significantly over the past few years.
He highlights Keyrus’s new partnership with leading analytics platform, Tableau, and talks about how Keyrus’ new partnership status allows Keyrus to enhance its offerings. Coull and Anastasiou then discuss business intelligence enablement and why it is so important.
Finally, they talk about the evolution of data usage in recent years and the future of the business intelligence industry.
Boland Lithebe is the Accenture Security Lead for Africa.
He has extensive experience within the African security industry and is passionate about helping Accenture’s clients reduce their risk. Lithebe believes this is incredibly important in the face of the ever-increasing cybersecurity threats that organizations must manage.
In this What’s Next interview, Lithebe discusses how businesses have had to adjust to the new ways of working while continuing to protect their important business data and resources. He contextualizes this by unpacking research which shows that cyber threats are one of the largest risks to global stability. Lithebe then outlines the big trends that he has seen in the cybersecurity industry, and how these risks can be minimized.
He also explains that organizations should always presume that they’re facing major cyber security threats, and should therefore have a Security Operations Centre (SOC). He discusses how South Africa is lagging behind the rest of the world in terms of its maturity when handling cybersecurity threats, but also notes that local businesses are acting to change this.
He concludes by discussing the importance of POPIA and projecting the future landscape of cyberthreats.
Kobus Visagie is the Executive of Business Solutions at Tracker.
He is an experienced IT entrepreneur who has 25 years of experience converting IT strategy into integrated solutions that give businesses a competitive advantage. Visagie has extensive technical knowledge of IoT, SaaS solutions, supply chain management, logistics, and various other technology industries. He uses this knowledge and experience to solve business problems for Tracker’s clients.
In this What’s Next interview, Visagie explains how Tracker has evolved from just being a stolen vehicle recovery company to offering a diverse range of additional solution-based services to corporates. Visagie discusses how Tracker incorporates modern technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence to train its neural networks for tasks like predicting traffic patterns and identifying hijacking hotspots. He then outlines Tracker’s partnership with Locus and explains how this will help futureproof Tracker’s fleet management solutions.
Visagie also talks about how Tracker implements dash cams in its fleets business and explains all the benefits these devices provide. He then explains how Tracker uses iDrive to track driver behaviour through facial recognition in real-time.
Visagie concludes by discussing the biggest trends he expects to see in the fleet business moving forward.
Nitesh Singh is the Managing Director for Communications, Media, and Technology at Accenture South Africa.
He has over 20 years of experience in the industry, and is focused on delivering digital business transformation to maximise scalability and performance in organisations. He has worked in a number of operations in Africa and has developed clear acumen of the contracting and governance process therein. He is also the Growth and Sales Lead for seven of Accenture’s African business, including Retail, Consumer Goods, Telco, Media, Banking, Insurance, and Industrial.
In this What’s Next interview, Singh discusses Accenture’s report on 5G in South Africa. He outlines the areas where he believes 5G will have the greatest impact in South Africa – including hybrid workforces who will be able to work from even the most remote of regions.
Singh also explains that he expects a huge uptake of 5G services in the coming year across an extensive range of industries – including healthcare and mining. He also outlines how 5G technology is poised to be a key tool for disruptors looking to enter their respective industries. Singh then discusses the role government must play in ensuring that the public and private sectors work together to build a successful 5G environment.
He concludes by using Accenture’s global reach to discuss the international trends when it comes to planning for and implementing 5G technologies.
Kgomotso Lebele is the Managing Director and Technology Lead at Accenture in South Africa.
In this position, Lebele is responsible for guiding Accenture’s multi-disciplinary teams as they transform and implement resilient modern architectures for their clients.
Lebele previously led growth and sales in the South African region both for Accenture’s Resources group and for its Health and Public Services group, and was also the client account lead at key clients for the broader Accenture group.
He has over 17 years of consulting experience, having previously worked in the public sector, as well as in the mining, utilities, and consumer goods industries.
In this What’s Next interview, Aki Anastasiou meets with Lebele to discuss how local companies and workforces are transforming to meet the demands of the digital economy.
Lebele also talks about how the digital transformation patterns in South Africa compare to the global trends that Accenture has observed – especially in the context of a post-pandemic world.
Finally, Lebele offers advice to businesses that want to shape their digital strategies.
Werner Kapp has been at Dimension Data since 2000 and is now the CEO for the Middle East and Africa region. He served as a regional executive for 15 years before becoming the company’s Chief Operating Officer in 2015, and finally taking the reins of Dimension Data in April 2021. As the Dimension Data CEO for the MEA region, Kapp has been instrumental in delivering integrated solutions to clients across the region.
In this interview, Kapp meets with Aki Anastasiou to discuss Dimension Data’s strategy for the rest of the year. Kapp talks about his expectations from the IT landscape over the next few years – including the digital transformation trend. He then talks about how Dimension Data is managing the transition as things return to the way they were before the pandemic. Kapp closes by discussing the company’s ongoing data centre expansion and provides details about when the new NTT Johannesburg 1 Data Centre will go live.
Kagiso Khaole is the Head of Mobility Operations at Uber Sub-Saharan Africa. He is passionate about transforming how people and goods move across cities and is focused on building Uber into the biggest earnings platform in Africa. Khaole compares his management style as “akin to cartography”, as he is able to lead teams into unknown territories, help them find their “True North”, and - using both scientific and creative methods - leave with detailed maps.
In this episode of What’s Next, Khaole discusses the latest developments at Uber Sub-Saharan Africa. He talks about Uber’s latest initiatives, including its exciting new on-demand delivery solution – Uber Connect Car. Khaole also unpacks how Uber has changed the services it provides over the past year, as well as how the market reacted to these changes. He concludes by discussing the trends he has seen regarding the explosive growth of delivery and general consumer behaviour in South Africa as the pandemic draws to a close.
Mlamli Booi is the CEO of Sentech — a position he has held since 2015. Booi has been working in the ICT sector since 1987, and during this time he has gained experience in business leadership, engineering, policy, strategy, and management. Prior to his appointment as Sentech CEO, Booi was directly appointed to the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Council by President Nelson Mandela in 1997 and was part of the team involved in licensing commercial and community radio stations. In 1999, Booi founded ICT consulting firm Z-Coms, which he managed until he moved to Sentech. Booi is an entrepreneur with a keen interest in innovation and has over thirty years of experience in the ICT sector.
In this interview, Booi meets with Aki Anastasiou to discuss Sentech’s operations and services. He talks about how Sentech has shifted its focus from digital migration and details its new direction. Booi then details Sentech’s Pan African Satellite project, including what it is, how it works and what it takes to make it work. He expands upon the company’s critical role in satellite communications in South Africa, and concludes by explaining how this project will benefit South Africans and the rest of the African continent.
Akhona Nkalitshane is a product manager at Rectron South Africa, and Peter French is the GM for Middle East and Africa at Acronis.
Nkalitshane is a cloud computing specialist who focuses on ground-breaking offerings in this area by cybersecurity OEMs such as Acronis. She has over seven years of experience in the IT and services industry, working at companies like HP and Introstat.
French is a passionate technologist who has nearly 15 years of experience working in the IT industry at companies like ESET and Synapsys. He is an accomplished technology speaker and thought leader who is passionate about how tech can keep us connected while improving systems and the way we do things.
In this What’s Next interview, French explains how Acronis sets itself apart in the cybersecurity space. Nkalitshane then discusses how remote working has added new cybersecurity considerations for businesses. She also outlines the common practices that companies overlook, which puts them at increased risk of being affected by cyber-attacks. French then talks about how POPIA has affected how South African businesses look at cybersecurity and data protection. He also mentions Acronis’ launch of a local data centre, and explains how this will help South African companies achieve data protection compliance. Nkalitshane then discusses the free security products that are designed for consumers, yet commonly used by small companies. She explains that these offerings are not good enough for business use. French concludes by discussing the added services Acronis offers to provide comprehensive cyber protection to businesses – including its powerful anti-ransomware tools.
Shameel Joosub is the CEO of Vodacom and one of South Africa’s most respected telecoms leaders. He joined Vodacom in 1994, where he served as the MD until 2010. He was then appointed as CEO of Vodacom Spain before becoming the Vodacom Group CEO in 2012. Joosub has played a vital role in developing Vodacom into one of the top telecommunications companies in South Africa and has seen the company bring the first commercial LTE and 5G mobile networks to the country.
In this What’s Next interview, Aki Anastasiou meets with Joosub to discuss Vodacom’s 5G rollout and the future of the cellular industry in South Africa. Joosub discusses Vodacom’s substantial infrastructure investments over the past year, including spending R1 billion in the Western Cape and R450 million in Mpumalanga. He talks about the focus points of Vodacom’s 5G rollout and network expansion and highlights several of the biggest obstacles the company has faced. Joosub also discusses Vodacom’s plan of action after the conclusion of the spectrum auction. Finally, Joosub talks about Vodacom’s plans for the rest of 2022 and discusses his outlook for the cellular industry over the next few years.
Zaheer Ebrahim is a Senior Sales Engineer at Trend Micro, and has been involved in the IT industry since 2008. He is a certified Blue Knight with extensive knowledge in the security architecture and configuration domain, and has worked at New Horizons, Secure Data, Dimension Date, and now Trend Micro.
In this What’s Next interview, Ebrahim discusses the 2021 edition of Trend Micro’s Annual Cybersecurity Report, titled “Navigating New Frontiers.” He unpacks how ransomware actors have evolved since 2018, and how the new strategies they are using are far more effective.
Ryan Noach is the CEO of Discovery Health, and Eric Peacock is the co-founder and CEO of MyHealthTeam. Noach was appointed to his current position in January 2020 after serving as the Deputy CEO of Discovery Health for over five years. Peacock is dedicated to helping people diagnosed with chronic health conditions and founded MyHealthTeam because he believes we should not have to face these conditions alone.
In this What’s Next episode, Noach discusses the rise of lifestyle diseases like diabetes in South Africa and explains how online patient communities help patients live through these conditions. Peacock then talks about how online patient communities first came to be and how MyHealthTeam brings something new to the table in this field. Noach then explains why Discovery Health decided to partner with MyHealthTeam to bring its online communities to Discovery Health’s members and why it specifically focused on communities for diabetes, heart disease, and long COVID.
Interestingly, Peacock predicts that in the future, many people will fail to understand that the symptoms they experience are caused by long COVID because they will think that too much time has passed for long COVID to be still affecting them. Noach also discusses how Discovery’s belief in shared value extends to Discovery Health and explains that it focuses on incentivising healthy living to reduce the chance of its customers contracting health conditions and to reduce the impact of these conditions on those who already have them. Noach and Peacock also explain how Discovery Health clients can get started with the MyHealthTeam online patient communities and the benefits they provide.
Paul Basson is the Chief Financial Officer at Taropa Technologies and has been with the company since 2011. He is highly involved in the company’s daily operations and high-level decision-making, ensuring that the company keeps moving forward and aligns with its customer and vendor requirements.
Samantha Swanepoel is the Operations and Service Manager at Taropa Technologies. She comes from an HP background which has helped her to develop an in-depth knowledge of the products, services, and procedures within HP.
In this interview, Basson and Swanepoel join Aki Anastasiou on MyBroadband’s What’s Next talk show to discuss Taropa’s services. Basson begins by introducing Taropa and explaining which business-to-business services it offers, focusing primarily on its HP Managed Print Solutions (MPS). Swanepoel explains what MPS are and how companies of various sizes can benefit from them. Basson also explains the advantages of HP’s printing services, such as the security-first focus of these solutions, as well as the fact that HP is an environmentally friendly company. They then talk about how businesses can save money by using Taropa as their HP MPS provider, as well as the many other benefits of working with the company.
Robert Paddock is the Founder and CEO of Valenture Institute and the co-founder of GetSmarter. He is passionate about helping more South Africans get access to a high-quality education, and holds many positions that align with this mentality. This includes Paddock being a founding board member of Africa’s first EdTech incubator, Injini, as well as being an executive director at Cape Town education technology agency Hubble Studios.
In this episode of What’s Next, Paddock discusses the major benefits of online learning when compared to in-person alternatives. He unpacks the most common myths involving online learning, before discussing the biggest challenges this industry actually faces. Paddock then talks about the state of the online learning industry in South Africa, and details how much he thinks it can grow in the future. He then talks about Valenture Institute, explaining what it is and what it does. Paddock outlines Valenture Institute’s partnerships with both the St Stithians Online High School, and the UCT Online High School, and explains how Valenture is helping both of these institutions. Paddock concludes by discussing the future plans for Valenture Institute.
Dietlof Mare is a seasoned telecoms executive and the CEO of Vumatel - South Africa’s leading open-access fibre to the home operator. Mare previously held the position of executive head of direct expenditure at Vodacom, and also rose through the ranks to occupy several senior management positions. These include CEO of Vodacom Albania, managing director of Vodacom Congo, and managing director of Vodacom Tanzania.
Throughout his career he has been a driving force behind the development of winning teams that provide impressive profitability to their businesses. In this discussion, Mare discusses the success behind Vumatel’s fibre rollout. He explains how Vumatel has consistently hit its fibre rollout targets to make sure more homes are covered. Mare also shares insight on how the acquisition of Herotel has bolstered the Vumatel stable and talks about the operator’s plans for future acquisitions. Finally, he describes where he thinks the focus should be in the South African fibre landscape and talks about Vumatel’s plans for 2022.
Michael Jordaan is one of South Africa’s most well-known and respected business leaders, and a co-founder of Bank Zero. Jordaan previously served as the CEO of First National Bank until 2013, after which he founded Montegray Capital. He has since become one of the most respected venture capitalists in South Africa, with Bank Zero and Rain among his most reputable achievements.
In this What’s Next episode, Jordaan meets with Aki Anastasiou to discuss how Bank Zero has revolutionised the South African banking industry. Jordaan highlights what sets Bank Zero apart from the online banking services of its competitors, and discusses how easy it is for customers to sign up. He also explains how Bank Zero is able to offer an affordable service – with almost all transactions being free. Jordaan then talks about the trends he has noticed in the local banking industry since Bank Zero launched. Jordaan suggests how Bank Zero can help to change the savings behaviour of its customers for the better. He also highlights several new products and services Bank Zero customers can expect to see in the future, including the ability to open a business account through iOS.
Anton Ossip is the CEO of Discovery Insure – a position he has held for over 10 years. Ossip is also on the board of the South African Insurance Association, and is an actuary who has over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry. In his time at Discovery Insure, he has grown the business from a startup into a top South African insurer, and a global leader in shared-value insurance.
Discovery Insure turned 10 in 2021, and in this What’s Next interview, Ossip discusses the lessons he and his team have learned over this period. Ossip then discusses Discovery Insure’s tech-enabled safety offering across both personal lines and business clients, including how this product continually evolves for the better. He also talks about Discovery Business Insurance’s goal of impacting 10,000 SMEs – including the practical measures that are in place to support these organizations.
Orediretse Molebaloa is the Regional Sales Engineering Manager for Infobip, where he is responsible for the growth, strategic management, technical excellence, talent management, and internal quality of service for the company’s sales engineering department. He previously worked as an Operations Support System (OSS) Engineer at Huawei Technologies, where he was responsible for the day-to-day administration of information systems and databases for network operations.
In this interview, Molebaloa meets with Aki Anastasiou on MyBroadband’s What’s Next talk show to discuss omnichannel strategies. Molebaloa outlines the benefits of having an omnichannel strategy for businesses trying to enhance their customer experience. He then highlights why start-up businesses in particular should adopt an omnichannel strategy, and suggests which tools they should use.
Tim van der Berg is the Managing Director of Galdon Data, a position he has held for almost 10 years. Van der Berg previously worked as a Senior Corporate Account Manager at NSS, where he was responsible for new business development and selling core network monitoring and traffic management solutions.
In this What’s Next interview, Aki Anastasiou meets with van der Berg to discuss Galdon Data’s experience with Microsoft Teams and online communication solutions. Van der Berg explains how the pandemic has impacted the use of Microsoft Teams, with many businesses requiring guidance in their adoption of the software. He highlights several crucial steps for a business to take when considering Microsoft Teams, including first identifying its needs.
Van der Berg also details how Galdon Data and Microsoft equip and prepare their customers to deal with changes in the technology sector. He then talks about the Microsoft Teams Phone System and explains how it connects your existing phone system to the Microsoft worldwide network.
Peter van Zyl is the founder of Canvas Intelligence, and Archie Marincowitz is the company’s Head of Business Development. Van Zyl is a business visionary with the unique ability to combine finance and technology to solve critical business challenges.
Marincowitz is a strategically-minded senior executive who has over 10 years of application development experience, as well as extensive experience in executive-level sales engagements. He has developed intricate knowledge in IT development, data warehousing, and the customisation needs of the South African financial services industry.
In this episode of What’s Next, van Zyl explains that he founded Canvas Intelligence after identifying a business need for better data visibility. Marincowitz discusses how Canvas Intelligence helps businesses tell a story with their data, as many businesses have data that they don’t know how to leverage effectively. Van Zyl then details how Canvas Intelligence has built its team to provide the best possible services to its customers, before providing recent examples of how these teams have achieved major success. The interview also covers a variety of technical points, such as whether Canvas offers real-time solutions, the importance of drilling down and decluttering your data, and the most significant value-adds that Canvas Intelligence provides. Marincowitz and Van Zyl then explain the company’s plans for the future, as well as its partnership with Microsoft to supply and sell solutions to its customers.
Devina Maharaj is an experienced banking professional and the Program Head of Investec Business Online and API Banking SA. She has a Master of Business Administration from the University of the Witwatersrand, specialising in business and commerce, and was previously Investec’s Head of Digital for South Africa. Maharaj has also served in the role of Team Lead for Strategic Projects at the financial services firm, and previously worked as Head of the Corporate and Career Programme at The Posse Foundation in the United States.
In this What’s Next interview, Maharaj discusses Investec’s cool new private banking product – Programmable Banking. She unpacks what this product offers, why these features are so valuable, as well as the major pain points that they solve – such as the desire to have more control over their digital experiences. Maharaj also explains why Investec partnered with OfferZen on this product, before discussing how Programmable Banking will revolutionize both the local business banking market, and how businesses and individuals operate and transact in the digital economy. She concludes by discussing Investec’s plans to build upon Programmable Banking to provide even more value to its customers.
Sean Sanders is the founder and CEO at Revix. He is also a CFA Charterholder and a serial technology entrepreneur. As an intelligent investment management platform, Revix is an intelligent investment management platform that provides its customers with simplicity and trust. Sanders is committed to helping these customers through the provision of portfolios and bundles of the world’s top cryptocurrencies.
In this episode of What’s Next, Sanders discusses the differences between cryptocurrency investing and cryptocurrency trading. He then outlines the benefits of the former, and explains how Revix incentivises this longer-term cryptocurrency strategy. Sanders also unpacks Revix’s cryptocurrency bundles before detailing why Revix is the best option for South Africans who want to invest in cryptocurrency. He provides valuable insight into how professionals are investing in the cryptocurrency market, before unveiling an awesome promotion that Revix is currently running.
Ricky Pereira is the Dell Enterprise Business Unit Manager at Pinnacle – a position he has held since July 2017. Pereira is an experienced technical operations professional with an impressive history in the information and technology services industry. He is particularly passionate about Dell EMC PowerEdge servers and the value they offer to South African businesses.
In this episode of What’s Next, Pereira unpacks how Dell EMC PowerEdge servers place a major priority on cyber resilience and security from before your server is even up and running. Pereira also discusses Dell Technologies’ Cyber Resilient Architecture 2.0, including what makes it superior to its predecessor and the other options on the market. He then talks about how Dell EMC PowerEdge servers offer built-in protection against firmware attacks, before discussing how these servers help you recover data quickly if you are targeted by a ransomware attack.
Timothy Thomas is the Country Manager at Epson Europe B.V., a position he has held since 2019. In this position, he is responsible for the Southern Africa Sales and Marketing operations, as well as driving the growth and development strategy for consumer and business-to-business operations. Thomas is well-equipped for this position, having over 18 years of experience in sales and 13 years of experience in strategic leadership.
In this interview, Thomas discusses Epson’s recent partnerships, its public awareness campaigns, and the future of Epson. Thomas explains the recent expansions in Epson, such as a recent investment in its first local warehouse facility in Linbro Park, and discusses why it was important. He highlights several of Epson’s partnerships and explains how they fit in with Epson’s goals, including its partnership with Usain Bolt to promote cartridge-free printing, as well as its partnership with National Geographic. Thomas also highlights the other environmental projects that Epson is involved in, such as a general reduction in the environmental impact of its products, the results of a recent climate Barometer survey it conducted, and its continual efforts to raise public awareness of climate change in 2022. Finally, Thomas gives viewers a taste of what they can expect to see from Epson in 2022.
Brett Orwin is the EHOD of Network and Collaboration at Nexio South Africa. He has over 30 years’ experience in Telecommunications and Information Technology, where he has recently been responsible for technical sales and consulting in three distinct practices: Security, Cloud Computing, and Software Defined Networking.
In this What’s Next interview, Orwin talks about Cisco Intersight and explains the various integrated services it provides. He expands upon how these services are particularly valuable in the context of current market trends, before drilling down on Cisco Intersight Workload Optimizer. Orwin explains how Cisco Intersight Workload Optimizer has been deployed within Cisco’s own cloud as a Software as a Service offering, and uses an open API architecture to allow non-Cisco vendors to enter the mix. He also contextualises the role Nexio plays in deploying Cisco Intersight for South African businesses and organisations, emphasizing how this solution is particularly useful for organisations with legacy data centre systems.
Satish Nrusimhadevara is the Vice President and Business Head for Africa at HCL Technologies, and Venicia Solomons is the Senior Security Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft. Nrusimhadevara is a global IT leader who has 25 years of experience in IT infrastructure and digital transformation. Solomons is an accomplished professional who has a demonstrated history of working in the information and cyber security industry.
In this episode of What’s Next, Solomons discusses the key market trends that enterprises should be monitoring in terms of cloud adoption, and Nrusimhadevara provides real-life examples of how enterprises have been approaching the complexity that comes with multi-cloud and hybrid-cloud environments. Solomons then explains how moving to the cloud can actually protect businesses, such as through business continuity and disaster recovery, before discussing whether the acceleration of cloud adoption has led to the evolution of more sophisticated cyber threats. Nrusimhadevara continues by detailing the common challenges that organisations are facing while transitioning to the cloud, and Solomons outlines the key indicators that show whether an enterprise has the right skills to complement its installed security controls. The interview concludes with Solomons and Nrusimhadevara talking about how Microsoft and HCL Technologies offer unique value within the cybersecurity space, particularly in the context of end-to-end cybersecurity.
Nadine Abou-Khalil is the Business Lead for Customer Engagement for Middle East and Africa at Microsoft, and Karin Jones is the Head of Business Applications at Microsoft South Africa.
Abou-Khalil has over a decade of experience in Customer Engagement which includes Customer and Field Service, Customer Data Platform and Commerce and has worked with numerous global leaders. Jones has over 20 years of experience in the IT industry and has repeatedly demonstrated her ability to guide her teams towards achieving delivery and service excellence while addressing the technology needs of Microsoft’s South African customers.
In this episode of What’s Next, Abou-Khalil discusses the main challenges that organisations face when creating a unique customer experience across multiple touchpoints. Abou-Khalil then outlines the three key expectations she has of an organisation’s customer experience journey, and notes that while mistakes happen, businesses must listen to their customers and turn a bad experience into a unique one. Jones explains how organisations can provide a personalised experience to their customers in different industries, using the examples of retailer Signature Cosmetics and financial institution Investec.
Andre Fourie is the Director of Operations at ITgility, an IT infrastructure solutions company that was founded in 2011. ITgility specialises in IT solutions across areas such as storage, backup and recovery, virtualisation, disaster recovery, and cloud initiatives. It leverages its knowledge and expertise to provide end-to-end IT solutions to businesses through a consultative-led approach to satisfy its customers and build strong relationships.
In this What’s Next interview with Aki Anastasiou, Fourie describes ITgility’s long-standing relationship with IBM, and explains how ITgility’s infrastructure background and IBM’s hybrid cloud offering complement each other. Fourie highlights the trends that ITgility is observing in the local market, such as a rise in the adoption of cloud services. He then discusses several key offerings from IBM that can address these trends and gaps in the market, such as IBM Cloud Paks and Flash Systems.
Aarti Mohan is the MEA ERPM Strategy Leader at Oracle, and Ronnie Toerien is the Oracle HCM Sales Dev and Strategy Leader for Africa.
Mohan is a passionate leader who is dedicated to supporting Oracle clients with enterprise digital transformation solutions. Toerien is an extremely experienced Human Resources professional, having been involved in the industry since 1990.
In this episode of What’s Next, Mohan explains why businesses are moving to connected planning, and outlines the five key processes that organisations should consider in the connected enterprise planning process. Toerien then discusses how organisations have had to transform as a result of the pandemic, paying particular focus to how that has impacted planning. Mohan and Toerien both explain how the best enterprise performance management tools, such as Oracle Cloud EPM, combine finance and operations with HR to provide an effective single data model that you can work with.
Marc Emert is the Customer Experience Manager at SAP, and has over 10 years of software selling experience in both B2B and B2C environments. This has involved servicing, selling, and consulting to top South African corporates, and Emert has extensive experience selling SaaS products such as CRM, Marketing Automation, CIAM, ECPM, eCommerce solutions, CDPs, and much more. SAP’s Customer Experience division focuses on rapid transformation and agility across all channels, and makes products that cut costs, time, and complexity so that businesses can focus on innovation and strategy.
On this episode of What’s Next, Emert explains that he encounters many businesses that are lacking in their customer experience approaches because they aren’t prioritising a personalised relationship. He details how the national lockdown has driven major change within the customer experience industry, and how personalisation has been key to this – making it a must for all businesses. Emert also provides examples of how certain businesses are approaching customer experience correctly, such as Amazon, which prioritises a personalised customer experience in almost everything it does. He then explains how SAP’s customer experience solutions helps businesses collect important front-office and back-office data in a GDPR and POPIA-compliant way. This data is then fed into marketing automation systems, which enables you to provide a superior, personalised experience to your customers.
Cricut Website: https://cricut.com/ Cricut Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cricut_mea/ Cricut Facebook Group “Cricut Family South Africa”: https://www.facebook.com/groups/473426786992011
Cricut Where To Buy: https://www.incredible.co.za/brands/cricut https://www.takealot.com/promotion/cricut
Martin Kruger is the Head of Middle East and Africa at Cricut, which is a leading brand of cutting plotters and machines. Kruger is an experienced international sales manager who has a proven track record across sales leadership, building successful organisations and teams, as well as go-to-market strategy creation and execution.
In this What’s Next interview, Kruger discusses what the Cricut brand represents and how its products work. He unpacks the fact that Cricut’s cutting devices have a broad target market, and explains what sets these cutters apart from their competitors. Kruger then explains that while Cricut has recently launched in South Africa, it has a much longer history globally, before outlining the current and future plans for Cricut in South Africa.
Learn more about Troygold: https://bit.ly/3DpDQPj
In this episode of What’s Next, Bastiat Viljoen discusses how the Troygold platform digitises the gold ownership process, and Rael Demby explains how The Scoin Shop stores the physical gold on Troygold’s behalf.
Demby also highlights that The Scoin Shop believes in the project so much that it has now become an angel investor in Troygold alongside its original marketing, distribution, and physical infrastructure roles. Demby discusses what the partnership between Troygold and The Scoin Shop means for existing gold investors in South Africa, and then Viljoen explains how one can begin investing with Troygold.
Viljoen and Demby also detail how they keep clients’ investments secure – both physically and digitally. Demby concludes by offering insight into what investors can expect from the gold price moving forward.
Guy Chennells is the Product Head for Discovery Employee Benefits and has been with Discovery Limited since October 2017. He is responsible for product, profitability, and customer experience design across employee benefits, including group risk and umbrella funds. Chennells is an innovator and a thought leader, and is passionate about using new tools to tackle any challenge in the old industry.
In this episode of What’s Next, Chennells discusses the significant increases in Discovery’s Group Risk claims profile and an unexpected difference between 2020 and 2021 claims data. He suggests possible reasons for this discrepancy, including the effects of the pandemic and inaccurate COVID-19 death reporting. Chennells highlights several surprising statistics related to life cover during the pandemic, as well as how motor vehicle accident claims have been affected by national lockdowns. Discovery’s data interestingly shows that funeral claims increased more than life cover claims, and Chennells offers possible explanations for this. He also unpacks Discovery’s Income Continuation Benefit and highlights the connected claims trends that the group has witnessed. He closes by discussing how Discovery’s Vitality system has observed significantly higher COVID-19 survival rates in customers who live more healthily.
Franz Schoeman joins Aki Anastasiou on the What’s Next online talk show for the third episode of SYSYPRO’s ERP series.
Schoeman is a Sales Solution Architect at SYSPRO Africa, a position he has held since 2016. He has worked within the SYSPRO ecosystem for over 25 years, focusing on manufacturing, distribution, and innovation.
In this interview, Schoeman explains how ERP systems can improve the efficiency of the manufacturing process, such as how they can help businesses to overcome supply chain disruption issues and maintain smooth operations.
Top IT executive Deirdré Fryer, who is the Head of Solutions for SYSPRO Africa, joins Aki Anastasiou on the What’s Next online talk show.
Fryer has worked in many different capacities within SYSPRO, and specialises in understanding customer needs and driving product improvement across Africa.
In this interview, Fryer discusses how an ERP system can help businesses achieve their digital transformation objectives and highlights the functional benefits of such a system — including how it allows businesses to make real-time changes and decisions.
Mark Wilson is the Chief Executive Officer of SYSPRO for Europe, Middle East, Africa and India.
He oversees the go-to-market and channel strategies in these regions while identifying key growth areas and developing new partnerships. He then joined SYSPRO Africa as the Managing Director in 2017, before becoming the SYSPRO EMEA CEO in 2020.
In this interview, Wilson explains what an ERP system is and why it is important, explaining that it provides users with an integrated view of their business and adds value to complex systems.
Dharshan Naidoo is the sales team lead for Infobip Africa and is responsible for driving digital transformation across various industry sectors, including banking, fintech, insurance, retail, and media. Prior to his appointment at Infobip Africa, Naidoo was the key account manager at Vox Telecom for over eight years, and then worked for Liquid Telecom South Africa as the enterprise business development manager. He has over 19 years of experience in the ICT sector, and he uses this to assist clients and partners with complex consumer communications.
In this interview, Naidoo explains how financial organisations can evaluate whether they have the technology stack to support the humanising of their customer engagement experience. Naidoo also unpacks omnichannel digital banking, explaining that it bridges the gap between traditional face-to-face banking and the modern online experience. He also discusses why banks need to find new ways to put their customers first, as these customers expect convenience and a memorable experience. Lastly, Naidoo highlights the need for banks to offer customer security and cost efficiency, amongst other important drivers.
In this What’s Next episode, Aki Anastasiou is joined by Aruba’s Mandy Duncan, as well as Neo Phukubje, Prashil Gareeb, and Darisé Kirby from BCX Wireless, to discuss Wi-Fi 6. Gareeb explains who BCX Wireless is and unpacks three main categories of services it offers, including fixed wireless access which incorporates Wi-Fi 6 as a product offering. Phukubje explains how the global demand for services such as Wi-Fi 6 is growing, and how it offers seamless connectivity for workplaces. Duncan describes the nature of the partnership between Aruba and BCX, explaining how the two companies’ philosophies align, which allows them to effectively engage with and benefit from each other to provide Aruba as a service.
Duncan also explains how, through its partnerships, Aruba has expanded its services beyond being an enterprise-only company, to now offer hybrid solutions that target businesses ranging from small coffee shops to large businesses with 5,000 users. Kirby discusses the current trends in the market, mentioning how customers want their infrastructure needs to be assessed and how BCX and Aruba can re-design their systems to offer centralised control. Prasheel wraps up the interview by explaining how, as a forerunner in the market, BCX is able to efficiently take new products to the market through partnerships such as its relationship with HPE Aruba.
Akash Dowra has been part of Discovery Bank for over four years, and is now the head of both Client Insights and its Technical Marketing Department. Dowra previously worked as the Discovery Deputy General Manager of Special Projects, and also spent three years working at Deloitte, and six years at McKinsey and Company.
In this What’s Next episode with Aki Anastasiou, Dowra talks about how Discovery Bank adapts to new trends before outlining how it has integrated new digital tools into its platform. Dowra explains how customers can benefit from Discovery Pay, which is a digital tool that allows them to securely pay anyone within the Discovery network using just a cell phone number. He goes on to discuss another one of the Bank’s innovative new projects, Discovery Day, and describes how it will drive innovation in the future.
Ryan Ramawoothar is the current Head of Software at First Technology and is an experienced business executive with 16 years in the IT Industry. He has been with First Technology since 2017, and has spent most of his career in IT security and business management roles. He has a strong background in SaaS platforms, Cloud Technologies, and Security, and is also highly skilled in go-to-market strategies and market shifts.
In this What’s Next interview, Ramawoothar talks about how the pandemic has forced businesses to embrace Cloud, and has accelerated the journey by 5 to 10 years. He explains how businesses are increasingly focusing on consolidating their security efforts into a single vendor that approaches security broadly, rather than just on tools that target specific cyber security vectors. He also discusses some of the investment areas CSOs are most focused on in order to protect their employees and data from malicious parties.
JP Gough is the Executive of Cloud, Software, and Solutions at Mustek, and Darren Williams is the CEO and founder of BlackFog.
In this What’s Next interview, Williams explains why organisations – such as Transnet and the Department of Justice – are still being caught out by cyber criminals despite a booming cyber security market. Gough discusses Mustek’s new software and cloud business unit, which he will be leading, and explains how this will benefit Mustek resellers.
Ethel Nyembe is the Group Head of Card & Payments at Standard Bank South Africa.
Nyembe has served in several executive roles within the banking group, among them as Head of Small Enterprise and Head of Business and Commercial Transactional Products. She and her team have formed key partnerships that give customers product choice, value-added benefits and payment options when they shop, travel, pay bills, remit to loved ones and live.
Ethel's banking career started at First National Bank between 2004 and 2010. In the first quarter of 2010 she joined Standard Bank.
Ethel is passionate about the entrepreneurial spirit the country holds and has served on several business boards as well as on the boards of co-operatives in the Johannesburg city centre and Economic forums in Gauteng. She has a great interest in sport and social upliftment in the community.
This episode of What's Next is brought to you by Intel and Dell Technologies.
With digital transformation being a major area of focus for businesses and government across South Africa, Dell Technologies has reinforced its commitment to advancing the country’s ICT agenda. Dell Technologies Forum South Africa 2021 will be held virtually this year and will bring together business leaders and industry experts, to share insights on how technology can help shape the future success of businesses in the country.
Michelle Olivier is the Microsoft brand manager at leading ICT distributor Pinnacle. Olivier is an expert on Microsoft solutions, having previously worked with Microsoft’s products and solutions for 17 years at Mustek before joining Pinnacle. She has a burning passion for technology and where it is leading us into the future.
In this episode of What’s Next, Olivier discusses Windows Server 2022, which launched on 18 August 2021. She details the main changes that this new software brings to the industry, including the Windows Admin Centre, which is a free-to-use tool that lets you manage your Windows Server system from anywhere. Olivier also discusses the top needs Pinnacle’s partners face today – including flexibility, scalability, and maximising access for remote workflow. She talks about the key impressive hybrid capabilities that Windows Server 2022 offers when paired with Microsoft Azure, and also discusses the advanced multi-layer security offered by this new server software.
Jacques Malherbe joined Axiz in 2013 to build its Advanced Technologies business and is now the Chief Technology Officer of the company. His ICT career stretches over three decades, during which time he has established a track record of building distribution businesses throughout Africa - including as the CEO of Westcon South Africa.
In this interview, Anastasiou speaks to Malherbe about the new Distributed Edge. Malherbe explains what the new Edge is, why it is important, and how it helps datacentres to manage and reduce centralised traffic. He then discusses the strategy that Axiz is building to adapt to the new Edge and explains how data management centres can use network slicing to deal with various 5G traffic loads. Malherbe then talks about mobile WAN provider CradlePoint, and explains how it offers Wi-Fi connectivity to non-static and remote spaces such as on buses, on building sites, or in rural areas.
Traci Maynard is the Executive Edge Consumer Software, Hardware, and HPE Business Unit Manager at Axiz Aruba. She has a track record of maximising revenue growth and offering the best possible customer service. As part of the senior leadership team, Maynard is responsible for Axiz’s HPE business unit as well as the distributor’s Microsoft and Lenovo portfolios.
In this interview, Maynard discusses Aruba Instant-On access points, which are popular products on offer through Axiz. Maynard talks about how the Aruba Instant-On product offering caters to small businesses such as tech start-ups, boutique clothing stores, and gourmet cafes. She explains how easy it is to setup and use Aruba Instant-On access points, and how flexible and affordable they are.
Cameron Beveridge is a seasoned cybersecurity professional and the Regional Director for Southern Africa at SAP, a role he has held since January 2019. He has 25 years of experience in technology, and after joining SAP in 2007 he led SAP Africa’s largest business unit, the SAP cloud business and related solutions, including Human Capital Management, SAP Hybris, SAP Ariba, SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud, SAP S/4HANA Cloud Platform and SAP Concur.
In this What’s Next episode, Beveridge explores the current cyber security trends and the role SAP plays in data security. Beveridge explains that the biggest threat and weakness in cybersecurity is still human error which can be either naïve or deliberate. He expands on the need for people to form part of a culture of security awareness to ensure the investments into technologies that enforce cyber security are effective.
Bradley Pulford is an experienced IT business management professional who is currently the Vice President and Managing Director for HP Africa. Pulford has 25 years of operations and management experience within the IT industry and began his current role in November 2020.
In this What’s Next interview, Pulford talks about the state of the South African technology industry and compares the local market with its global counterparts. Pulford discusses HP’s extensive range of business products and services, including how HP Africa has adapted to the evolution of the print industry.
Christine Wu is a leading banking executive and joined Absa in January 2019 as the managing executive for customer value management at Absa Retail and Business Bank. At Absa, Wu is responsible for strategy, value proposition design, digital channels, strategic marketing and advanced analytics.
In this What’s Next episode, Wu explores the trends in the banking industry and the relevance of traditional banking services in the face of growing digital options. Wu explains that the banking industry is experiencing unprecedented levels of growth with multiple new entrants and discusses the place of a traditional bank in a quickly evolving digital environment.
Hylton Kallner is the CEO of Discovery Bank, and has 25 years of experience within the Discovery business. He previously worked at Discovery Life as a CMO and CEO before being appointed to his current title at the beginning of this year.
In this episode of What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou, Kallner discusses why South Africans are moving away from branch-based banking and towards digital alternatives, and outlines how Discovery Bank’s shared-value business model adjusts customer financial habits in a way that benefits all involved parties.
In this What’s Next episode, Aki Anastasiou talks to prominent ICT expert Deon Geyser, the CEO of Liquid Intelligent Technologies in South Africa. Geyser has over 15 years of experience in the ICT and telecommunications sector and is responsible for the leadership, strategy, and operations of Liquid Intelligent Technologies in South Africa.
In this interview, Geyser discusses how companies can save money by using unified communications solutions that eliminate the need for multiple devices and enable cheap cross-border communications.
Jeremy Osbourne is a prominent ICT figure and the Strategic Account Manager at Infobip. With over 25 years of experience in the digital communications, telecommunications and digital-security sectors, Osbourne has been a great asset to every organization that he has been a part of.
In this interview, Jeremy Osbourne gives an overview of how brands communicate with their customers and explains why listening is so important. He discusses how industries are required to adapt to their customers’ needs and how retailers need to be responsive to rapidly evolving customer expectations.
In the second What’s Next interview with Nihilent, Sabahat Kazi gives insight on the iVEN and iDEAL solutions and how Nihilent is connecting the supply chain for customers as well as vendors.
Sabahat shares how SAP is positioning its Business Technology Platform (BTP) and he gives insight into the adoption of BTP by SAP customers.
Johan Scheepers is an experienced IT expert working as a Senior Manager in Solution Architects at Red Hat in Sub-Saharan Africa. He is a highly-motivated professional that has garnered 30 years’ experience in the information technology industry.
In this What’s Next interview, Scheepers discusses why organisations should automate and modernise their IT systems. Scheepers highlights the benefits to organisations of using open source software to implement automation and how Red Hat can help.
Sabahat Kazi is an experienced SAP expert and the Global Head of ERP at Nihilent – a global consulting and services company. He is also the CEO and founder of Intellect Bizware Services, the SAP business unit of Nihilent in the APJ region.
In this What’s Next episode, Sabahat explains how his team was able to produce the first Rise with SAP S/4HANA Cloud, private edition solution in the Asia-Pacific and Japan region with Nihilent’s deep-rooted SAP expertise. He shares how Nihilent is now bringing its packaged solutions and the success formula to South Africa and explains how South African SAP ECC customers can transform into intelligent enterprises in just a few weeks.
Julian Liebenberg is a leading ICT executive and the Chief of the Converged Communications Business unit at BCX. Liebenberg has over three decades of experience in the ICT sector having served at numerous large-scale organisations across South Africa.
In this What’s Next interview, Liebenberg discusses how several enterprise network trends are combining and compelling businesses towards software-defined wide area networks (SD-WANs) and integrated cloud-based network security. He mentions why cybersecurity should be a high priority and lays out why you need to plan your network migration to SD-WAN with cloud-based security controls in mind as an integrated architecture.
Crispin Cheadle is an expert on smart home systems and runs the South African division of Advantage Air, the Smart Home manufacturer which has offices based in South Africa and Australia. Advantage Air developed the MyPlace Smart Home system 18 years ago and has been improving on it ever since. To date, their products have been recognised as world-leading products.
In this What’s Next episode, Cheadle provides background on Advantage Air’s MyPlace system and the solutions they provide. He discusses the life improvements that can be provided by MyPlace and how common, everyday pain points can be solved.
In this What’s Next episode, Aki Anastasiou discusses the future of SMS with tech experts Charles Stretch and James Pearce, the founders and joint CEOs of SMSPortal. Stretch and Pearce have built SMSPortal from a garage-based start-up to an international player and the biggest bulk SMS provider in Africa.
In this episode, Stretch and Pearce give some background on the journey of SMSPortal and how it has grown organically over the last few years. They expand on the recent growth in the African market for bulk communication platforms to achieve maximum reach and customer engagement.
Kobus Burnett is a storage and tech expert who is currently the territory lead for South, East, and West Africa at Seagate. Burnett has worked at Seagate since 2019 and has more than 10 years’ experience with the Seagate brand.
In this What’s Next interview, Burnett shares some of the exciting features consumers can experience with Seagate’s One Touch portable drive series, including massive storage capacity and blazingly fast transfer speeds.
In this What’s Next episode, Aki Anastasiou talks to security experts Guy Golan, the CEO and co-founder of the Performanta Group, and Paul Green, the Services Director at Identity Experts.
Golan and Green discuss the acquisition of Identity Experts by the Performanta Group and how the acquisition allows Performanta to extend its security capabilities across the Microsoft portfolio.
They also share how Performanta Group deals with issues around cyber defence and how they are moving forward as a business by offering in-house Microsoft security capabilities.
Ryan Ramawoothar is an experienced business executive and a senior software and cloud specialist at First Technology. Ramawoothar has been with First Technology since 2017 and has a history of working in the SaaS and cloud industries.
In this What’s Next interview, Ramawoothar discusses the typical problems and challenges business face to become POPIA compliant and shares how the Microsoft Compliance Center and Microsoft Compliance Manager tools make it seamless for businesses to manage their POPIA compliance and how First Technology can assist them in their journey.
Simon Just is a leading ICT expert and the Cluster Executive of Advisory, Solutions and Group Marketing at EOH and iOCO.
In this What’s Next episode, Simon shares how the work environment has changed over in recent times, and what the future of work looks like.
Mike Styer is an IT industry veteran and the country manager of GlassHouse South Africa. GlassHouse South Africa is a leader in managed services, backup, recovery, business continuity, and managed SAP services and systems monitoring.
In his second What’s Next interview, Styer provides background on legacy SAP systems and shares insight into SAP’s modern upgrades. Styer provides key reasons for businesses to migrate to SAP S4/HANA system and explains why it is important to start the process as soon as possible.
Ricky Pereira is a leading ICT distribution expert serving as the Dell Technologies Enterprise Business Unit Manager at Pinnacle, a leading ICT distribution company and authorised distributor for Dell Technologies in South Africa.
In this episode of What’s Next, Pereira discusses how the pandemic accelerated the demand for enterprise solutions and how Pinnacle had adapted to the changing demands. He also shares some important factors to consider when looking for data storage and protection solutions.
Pieter Pienaar is the Chief Executive Officer at Informed Decisions and a leading ICT executive in South Africa.
In this What’s Next interview, Pienaar shares details around why Informed Decisions was started and the unique solutions they provide. Pienaar gives some insight into the future growth of IoT, their crowning achievement, and what the future holds for Informed Decisions.
Owen McConnell is an experienced software professional and the Director of Commercial Sales at Zendesk in EMEA.
In this What’s Next episode, McConnell talks about digital transformation and the change in customer experience which has been aided by technology.
Mike Styer is an accomplished technology executive with more than 30 years’ experience in the information technology sector.
In this What’s Next episode, Styer shares how the Covid pandemic had impacted organisations’ ability to protect their data and discusses cyber recovery and its importance for organisations.
Brett van Rensburg is a top ICT expert and the Sales Director for the Network Division of iOCO, Africa’s leading integrated technology services company.
In this What’s Next interview, Van Rensburg discussed the advantages and challenges of a hybrid workforce and shares insight into the different remote access options for organisations, and the benefits of each option.
In this interview, Aki Anastasiou talks to two cyber security experts from Nexio South Africa, Brett Orwin and Guy Shannon, about how SMEs are being breached and why cyber security solutions for SME’s are often too complex, resource inefficient, and costly.
Brett Orwin is the EHOD: Network and Collaboration at Nexio South Africa and has more than 30 years’ experience in the telecommunications and information technology industries. Guy Shannon is the Cyber Security Operations Lead at Nexio South Africa and an experienced cyber security warrior.
Valde Ferradaz is the Chief Executive Officer at Ignition Telecoms and the Head of MVN-X. Valde is a highly experienced, successful and well-regarded business leader in the Telecommunications industry, having led numerous technology-related companies over the past decade. Valde most recently held CEO responsibilities in the Digicel Group, a Telecommunications network company operating across Asia Pacific, Caribbean and Central America. Previously, Valde held various C-Level Executive positions at Cell C,Telkom and Vodafone Romania and the UK. Valde has vast international experience and operated in the Retail and Wholesale Telecommunications markets in several countries around the world.
Morgan Malyon is the Executive Product Manager/Senior Solution's Manager Huawei Enterprise Technologies.
Morgan is a skilled and highly innovative Senior Product Manager within the Information and Communications Technology sector. His strength and experience lie within the Data Centre environment, including data protection, disaster recovery, high availability, replication, virtualisation, SAN connectivity, networking, storage, and management. Encompassed within this ambit is an exceptional working knowledge around Cloud-based technologies in product planning and management of product lifecycle, for enterprise and consumer business. His participation has proven to increase the profitability of existing products and to develop new products and services, working closely with sales, marketing, technical teams, and key stakeholders. His primary focus is on data protection. His current tenure is as an Executive Product Director at Huawei South Africa, where he is strategically positioned as an advocate for the Huawei business, whilst maintaining focus on customer and partner development, and helping to broaden the brand of Huawei Enterprise in South Africa.
Greg McDonald is Director – Systems Engineering at Dell Technologies in South Africa. A data centre evangelist, Greg draws on his deep technical expertise to convey to customers and the press what Dell Technologies can achieve through Digital Transformation. He leads a passionate team of system engineers, engaging with a wide range of customers, from small business to enterprise, across verticals including healthcare, retail and financial services. Together, Greg and his team deliver architectural platforms on which organisations can build the next wave of digital services and unlock the promise of transformation.
Phathizwe Malinga is the Managing Director at SqwidNet.
He has been involved in the information technology and telecommunication industries for over two decades and has held several senior management level positions. As the Managing Director of SqwidNet, a fully-owned subsidiary of Dark Fibre Africa, Phathizwe is responsible for building an IoT connectivity business in South Africa in partnership with International IoT giant SIGFOX.
Phathizwe is no stranger to the role of a strategist, as he consulted with Max Healthcare and worked for the Life Healthcare Hospital Group in his previous position. He completed his Executive MBA from the Graduate School of Business, Cape Town.
Joe Robertson represents Fortinet to the CISO community, where he advises the executive committees of large enterprises and service providers as their digital transformation strategies require security-driven networks and holistic security approaches. In over four decades in the security and networking business Joe has held technical, marketing, management, and executive roles at companies as diverse as Juniper Networks, Dimension Data, Bay Networks, IBM, and AT&T. He also founded and was on the board of directors of a network security startup.
Vino Govender is the Chief of Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Innovation at DFA.
He has held key roles in the ICT industry in African market leaders such as Liquid Telecoms, MTN, Vodacom, Neotel, Telkom, Nokia Siemens Networks, and BMI-T.
Vino is a Chartered Marketer (SA) who has shared his wealth of knowledge through numerous thought-leadership articles and published market reports. He is also a member of the Coleman Research International.
Vino has a keen interest in the adoption and application of digital technologies to boost the continent’s socio-economic advancement and has commented and advised widely on issues relating to 4IR in both African and global contexts.
Lixiang Baumann is the Country Head for China Mobile International (CMI) South Africa and Southern Africa area. Lixiang is responsible for CMI South Africa and Southern Africa overall strategy, business development, operation as well as local partner management. Her strategic focus areas cover carrier business, enterprises business, mobile and platform business across the region. CMI offers a full range of international telecommunication services to global carrier partners and enterprises customers, including data connectivity, voice, IPX, A2P, IoT and various custom-made enterprise solutions. Lixiang has over 19 years of experience in the telecommunication industry, majority of the 16 years spent in South Africa and Africa telecommunication market. Starting her career as a transmission engineer in Huawei in 2001, Lixiang later on held various senior management positions in ZTE Africa. Lixiang has been living in South Africa for the last 16 years with her family. She holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Shanghai Jiaotong University and a MBA from Wits Business School in Johannesburg.
Barry Venter, CEO of Nashua has extensive experience in the Information Technology and Services Industry. His history includes General Manager of Operations at Allied Mobile, Chief Operating Officer at Nashua Mobile, Acting CEO at Nashua Mobile, Chief Operating Officer at Nashua and now CEO of Nashua. Barry’s qualifications include an BCom in Marketing Management followed by an MBA in General Management from TUKS. This has enabled him to have an excellent understanding of Business Development, Supply Chain Management, Operations, Project and Change Management, Sales, Management and Customer Experience. He’s philosophy is built on Customer Centricity and forms the core of the focus for his vision for Nashua.
Jean-Pierre Pienaar is a Cloud Optimization Practice Lead at Synthesis Software Technologies and he heads up the Synthesis Well-Architected Program. He has extensive AWS Cloud knowledge with seven AWS Certifications including Solutions Architect Professional, DevOps Professional, and Security Specialty. He has been a part of the cloud enablement and security of various financial institutions and has in-depth understanding of how to succeed with cloud.
Glenn Du Toit was appointed General Manager of Acer Africa in April 2020. Prior to this, he served as Head of Consumer Business in Acer Africa overseeing the expansion of Acer's business into the African market.
In 2014 Glenn was the founder of MyDigitalMunicipality an online platform to assist municipalities in the area of service delivery. In 2015, Glenn joined Acer Africa and has been involved in various IoT related entities including CloudProfessor, Acer’s innovative education tool and Acer’s ABS IOT signage division. Glenn has extensive experience in consumer-related industries including a tenure at Sony and a period in consumer retail including the global sourcing of various consumer goods.
Glenn has a Batchelor’s Degree in Information Technology Architecture from the Technological University of Dublin and a Professional Certificate in Computing and Behavioural Economics from Boston College in the USA.
Having gained extensive experience throughout his career in the consumer electronics industry in areas such as operational and purchasing management, marketing and demand creation, international sourcing and supply chain management Glenn has applied these extended skills to his role as General Manager at Acer bringing new thinking and leadership to empower his team to grow Acer into an industry thought leader in education, retail, eSports and enterprise edge solutions.
Glenn has the drive to empower his team to make a difference, each day, pushing each individual to build both personal and Acer’s brand value proposition. This philosophy is filtering down into the everyday ethos of Acer to provide solutions that empower Africa.
Ludi is the CEO of iSphere Cloud which was founded in 2012, a member of EPI-USE Labs and the groupelephant.com family. Ludi has for many years been part of the iSphere Cloud technical team, leading SAP managed-hosting provider in South Africa. He has extensive knowledge in public and private cloud, and has hands-on experience in designing secure cloud hosting solutions that align with your business and infrastructure needs. He goes the extra mile to maximize the scalability that cloud hosting provides.
Dietlof Mare is the CEO of Vumatel, South Africa’s leading open-access fibre to the home (FTTH) operator, a position he has held since May 2018. To date, he has been a driving force behind the company’s focus on and commitment to bringing better connectivity, through fibre networks, to all South Africans. Under his leadership, the fibre network operator launched a world-first of its kind prepaid platform for fibre-to-the-home services for lower-income communities. By the end of March 2021, the company passed more than one million homes, the first fibre network operator in the country to do so.
Natalia Shuliak is a Regional Sales Director of Observability - South EMEA at Splunk. Shuliak has a strong track record of business growth and experience in early-stage startups, corporations and in hyper-growth scale-ups. Shuliak has extensive knowledge and experience in big data, AI, predictive analytics, machine learning, RPA and SaaS business model.
George Fraser is the Vice President: Customer Business Executive, Africa at Amdocs. In his role as Vice President for Africa at Amdocs, George leads the company’s efforts in supporting digital transformations for Telecommunication providers across the continent. George led international teams across multiple continents, and brings 30 years of experience supporting major telecommunications and media companies including BT, AOL, RealNetworks, and CSG.
Jannie van Zyl is the executive head of innovation at Vodacom.
Jannie is an electronics engineer by training and an ICT veteran, with over 25 years of experience in the industry. Jannie has been with the Vodacom Group since the launch of 3G in South Africa at the end of 2004.
He became Group CEO of Wireless Business Solutions in 2009, where he worked to turn around iBurst until he rejoined Vodacom in 2010. Since then, he's served in various roles at the company, including the position of executive head of consumer data from 2011 to 2013.
Stephane Duproz is Chief Executive Officer at Africa Data Centres, where he oversees the commercial and operational development of the pan-African network of data centre facilities. As well as growing ADC’s customer base of local and international cloud providers, carriers and enterprises, Stephane also manages the expansion of ADC’s network of data centres across the continent. A highly experienced data centre professional, Stephane has worked for over 20 years in the sector, including over 14 years at TelecityGroup. Stephane has also served as Chairman of the Board for the European Data Centre Association (EUDCA) and acted as Vice President Member of the French Data Centre Association (CESIT).
Marina Ionova is an International Partnership Development Manager at ITGLOBAL.COM. Marina is a Cloud Expert with 10 years of experience in the IT industry, Cloud Business, hardware and infrastructural projects.
Evgeniya Kosareva is an International Sales Account Manager at ITGLOBAL.COM. Evgeniya has a masters degree in Foreign Trade and wide experience in international communications with more than 8 years in the IT-sphere. She worked in purchasing, sales, served as a product manager and now represents ITGLOBAL.COM on a global stage.
Deon Geyser was appointed the Chief Executive Officer of Liquid Intelligent Technologies SA and brings over 15 years' experience in the ICT and Telco space, having worked in different countries across the African continent.
Donna Mostert is the Huawei Line of Business Manager at Mustek Limited. Donna is a high achieving, well networked, entrepreneurial Business Executive with an outstanding record of maximizing opportunities and growth within the most challenging and competitive environments. As a business leader, she has developed a B2B multi-disciplined and multi-cultural sales teams as well as customer and business relationships. As an influential decision-maker, Donna has also solved complex business problems and enabled enterprise strategies that facilitate other significant achievements and corporate goals. Donna is a consummate professional, bringing a variety of expert skills to the table.
Hector Beyers is the CEO and Founder of Codehesion. Hector has a Master of Computer Engineering Degree (Cum Laude) from the University of Pretoria with more than 11 years of experience as a software architect for both large corporations and start-ups. His unique skill set ensures that you are kept up to date and your project is delivered successfully.
Dominic has extensive experience in advising on the commercial and regulatory aspects of new technology, broadcasting, and electronic communications ventures for local and international companies and policy and regulation in the ICT and telecommunications sectors, having spent 14 years advising the public and private sector on ICT legal issues.
Dominic is involved at all stages of the communications law and regulation-making process and liaises closely with, inter alia, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), the Department of Communications, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, SAPS Cybercrime Division, National Gambling Board, Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services and the Film and Publications Board on an ongoing basis.
Dominic holds a B.Bus.Sci, an LLB, and an LLM in Information Communication Technology.
Calvin Collett is the Chief Executive Officer at Supersonic. Collett is an entrepreneur from his epicentre has formed a fundamental role in the business of software and systems support across the South African IT sector. Calvin’s career took off when made a name for himself at Accenture, then the Automobile Association and finally, was retained as the software support specialist by Getronics.
Calvin then founded iConnect that focussed on quality, voice connectivity solutions – which progressed to the emerging VoIP sector. In a short space of time, Calvin’s business had grown to an entire network which naturally received significant interest from the likes of Telco giant, MTN. Calvin was unsurprisingly headhunted by the leading African network to turn around their ‘fibre to the home’ business (then Smart Village), from the captain’s chair, with a ‘renewed focus and direction’; and name – Supersonic.
David Redekop is the Co-founder of Nerds On Site and a cybersecurity expert. David has a strong focus on incident response and prevention of security lapses by implementing practical, yet strong policies.
Jacques Malherbe is one of South Africa’s top executives in South Africa’s technology distribution industry and is currently the Chief Technology Officer of Axiz.
In this What’s Next interview, Malherbe shares the trends he noticed in work culture during the Covid-19 pandemic and how he sees these trends evolving in the future once the pandemic is over.
Malherbe also provides insight into Cisco’s range of tools that enable and true hybrid workforce and the role Axiz plays in helping South African business get the full benefit of Cisco’s business resiliency solutions.
Tertius Zitzke is an experienced business leader in the information and communication technology sector and currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer at 4Sight.
In this interview, Zitzke provides background on Adoption and Change Management (ACM) and share details around 4Sight’s ACM offering - which is supported by Microsoft.
Andre Human is one of South Africa’s foremost distribution executives who currently serves as a Dell Technologies Brand Executive at First Distribution.
First Distribution is a leading value-added distributor of ICT solutions in Africa. It provides ICT solutions in various market segments, including data centres, enterprise, cybersecurity, and cloud.
In this What’s Next interview, Human explains why First Distribution prioritised adding the Dell Technologies CSG product line to its extensive range of offerings.
Stefan Van De Giessen is a cyber security expert and the General Manager of Cyber Security at value-added distributor Networks Unlimited Africa.
In this What’s Next in Security interview, Van De Giessen explains how The Broken Window Theory applies to Cyber Security and why companies need to adopt a “broken window” attitude when reviewing their cyber security posture.
Reagile Moatshe is a financial veteran and currently the Head of Supplier Finance at Investec.
In this What’s Next interview, Moatshe shares some of the trends that are currently shaping the telecoms industry and he discusses how Investec is supporting telecom businesses that are driving new networks and innovation.
Sean Sanders is the founder and Chief Executive Officer at Revix and an expert in technology entrepreneurship, fintech, and portfolio management.
In this What’s Next interview, Sanders shares his outlook on how the cryptocurrency market will fare over the next 5 years and also discusses the investment products that Revix offers including an explanation of how their crypto bundles work.
Phakamo Tech is a fast-emerging South African cybersecurity company which offers a full set of governance, risk, compliance, cybersecurity, and Microsoft Cloud services.
In this interview, Aki Anastasiou talks to the Phakamo Tech Chief Executive Officer, Lucas Ledwaba, and the Director of Strategic New Business Development and Partnerships, Kabelo Sekele.
Ledwaba shares insight into the critical considerations companies face if they wish to mitigate cyber risks and explains how organisations should respond if they currently lack sufficient cybersecurity and governance capabilities.
Sekele discusses the impact COVID-19 has had on the fourth industrial revolution and explains how the pandemic has increased the magnitude of cyber security threats faced by organisations.
Jonathan Hurvitz is a registered Chartered Accountant and the Chief Executive Officer at Teljoy, a leading online retailer offering electronics, furniture, and even gym equipment on a rent-to-own basis.
In this interview, Hurvitz shares his outlook of the rental economy in SA and how Teljoy brings the benefits of rent-to-own to South African custom.
Garsen Naidu is a leading sales executive who has served as the Country Manager at Cisco South Africa since 2019.
In this What’s Next interview, Naidu shares how Cisco has adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic and how tools and technologies allowed the company to continually focus on the needs of its partners and customers.
Wayne D’Sa has over 17 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry and is the Chief Executive Officer of CipherWave.
In this What’s Next interview, D’Sa discusses some of the trends in the fibre industry and the impact of Covid and the lockdown. D’Sa provides some insight into how CipherWave Business has adapted over this period and how they have kept up to the demands of people that need connectivity to work from home.
Natasha Bezuidenhout is the Microsoft Brand Executive at First Distribution and has a passion for helping businesses move to the cloud.
In this What’s Next interview, Bezuidenhout unpacks the status of the Microsoft public cloud in South Africa and shares some of the key opportunities Azure provides to South African businesses.
Troy Hunt is a world-renowned security expert and the creator of Have I Been Pwned?, a data breach notification service.
In this What’s Next in Security episode, Hunt shares his views on the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has on cybersecurity.
Hunt also touches on the changes he has seen in the types of data breaches and cyber-attacks since countries moved into lockdowns and gives his view on the biggest cyber threats that concern him the most.
Peter Reid has an avid interest and passion for Artificial Intelligence and is currently the Head of AI at Mint Group, a leading global systems integrator.
In this What’s Next interview, Reid gives insight into the latest trends on Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Computing solutions and how this tech has been used to address the challenges brought by Covid-19.
Johannes Kanis is one of the most experienced cloud experts in the country, currently working as the Cloud and Enterprise Business Group Lead at Microsoft South Africa.
This interview, Kanis explores how the explosion of data in the last few years is creating new challenges, but also immense opportunities to unlock new business value.
Kanis also shares some details of the Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics, a limitless analytics service that significantly reduces project development time for business intelligence and machine learning projects, leading to rapid data-driven decision making and overall operational efficiencies.
Now more than ever, restaurant and fast-food outlets need to be able to provide fast and effective digital delivery services.
This is according to Hymie Marnewick, who recently spoke to Aki Anastasiou on MyBroadband’s What’s Next YouTube series about the challenges facing the restaurant industry and what it must do to ensure future growth and success.
Marnewick is managing director of XLink Communications, South Africa’s leading processor of card payment traffic and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vodacom.
He possesses more than twenty years’ experience within the IT and retail environment, including seven years’ experience developing IoT related products and services.
Ermano Quartero is an experienced Managing Executive at Vodacom with a demonstrated history of working in the telecommunications industry. Quartero has been with Vodacom Business for the past 13 years, building and driving the fixed-line business.
In this interview, Quartero gives some background on what SD-WAN is and its relevance within various industries. Quartero shares some of the benefits SD-WAN provides to South African businesses and how businesses can digitally transform and become more efficient with an SD-WAN solution.
Willie Jansen van Rensburg is a leading cloud expert currently serving as an Executive at Axiz Cloud Technologies.
In this interview, Jansen van Rensburg explains how the modern workplace has changed and how employees expect to work securely from anywhere, on any device.
Thabiso Hlatshwayo is the Solution Consulting Manager at OpenText Africa. Thabiso leads a team of highly experienced solution consultants who are responsible for the design of multifaceted technology solutions for clients across Africa.
In this What’s Next in Security discussion, Thabiso speaks about how the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a major increase in cybercriminal activities like phishing.
Nathan Ragovan is one of the leading cloud experts in the country, currently serving as the Director of Cloud Infrastructure at Oracle, Oracle ZA & SADC.
In this episode of What's Next, Werner Herbst, the General Manager for Tarsus Enterprise product range demos Aruba Instant On, the ideal wireless solution for small businesses.
Barry Venter is the Chief Executive Officer of Nashua and one of the most experienced executives in the information technology and services industry. In this interview, Venter discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nashua and how they’ve had to adapt. Venter also shares how Nashua as a Total Workspace Provider is enabling businesses to work smarter.
Malebona Mokhutsoane is a leading Analytics Specialist working in the Business Technology Platform team at SAP South Africa as a Solution Advisor for Analytics and Data-Warehousing. In this interview, Mokhutsoane explores the idea of Augmented Analytics and why it is important now. Mokhutsoane also touches on how to improve adoption or awareness of the power of augmented analytics.
Dumisani Moyo is the Head of Sales for Mid-Market at SAP Africa. Moyo is responsible for small and medium-sized enterprises, in both the private and public sectors in the Southern Africa region. He is passionate about helping Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) transform their businesses through leveraging technology.
In this interview, Moyo discusses in light of the pandemic how SMEs can leverage technology to navigate disruption, survive in a turbulent and tough economic climate, and drive efficiencies.
Dell Technologies South Africa’s Managing Director, Doug Woolley, is focused on equipping companies with the tools they need to survive and prosper in an increasingly digitised economy.
In this What’s Next interview, presented by Intel and Dell Technologies, Woolley discusses why digital transformation is important for South African businesses.
In this special episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou talks to three of the top energy experts to unpack the state of the energy industry in South Africa, which is in crisis.
Chris Yelland is the Managing Director at EE Business Intelligence, Andrada Manu is National Product Manager for Eaton at Mustek Limited and Jaco Du Plooy is Eaton Product Manager for Africa.
Colin Erasmus is one of the most experienced technology leads in South Africa and currently heads up the Modern Workplace Business Group at Microsoft South Africa.
In this interview, Erasmus shares his views on the heightened focus on information protection and compliance since the drive for more people to work from home.
He also discusses the implications of POPIA on South African businesses and what strategy and solutions are out there to help organisations.
Justin Hume is the Director of Integrated Mobility at Samsung South Africa.
In this interview, Justin talks about the latest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2.
Aki Anastasiou interviews the lead of financial services at OpenText, Susan Page.
With over 21 years’ experience in the financial service industry, Page has helped numerous financial services companies to run simpler so that they can become more profitable and sustainable.
In this interview, Page shares her knowledge about the potential for modern technologies to enhance all components of banking.
Adrian Gore is founder and CEO of one of South Africa's leading medical insurers, Discovery Limited.
Discovery has evolved into a diversified and multinational financial services group and provides insurance cover for more than 200,000 companies and close to 2 million people.
Sivi Moodley, the Chief Executive Officer of Macrocomm, is a serial entrepreneur, and has successfully built, led and managed small, medium and large businesses.
Sivi founded Macrocomm in 2005 and built it into the leading IoT supplier of smart solutions to large corporates as well as the public sector in Africa.
Neale Hill is the Managing Director of Ford South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa.
Over his 25-year plus career at Ford, Hill has worked across various functions including sales, marketing and at general management level.
Danie joined OUTsurance in 2002 as a sales advisor, rapidly working his way up through the ranks. He was appointed to the EXCO in 2005 as the company's Head of Sales. With over 20 years' experience in the insurance industry, he was appointed as Chief Executive Officer for OUTsurance in 2017.
Aki Anastasiou interviews Chief Executive Officer of Capitec Bank, Gerrie Fourie. Fourie has lead the company for the past 6 years and has been with Capitec Bank since it was established 19 years ago.
Jordaan Burger is the Financial Director at Sage Africa & Middle East.
Jordaan Burger oversees the finance function for Sage Africa and Middle East, driving business performance, supporting business development and setting the commercial strategy.
Aki Anastasiou interviews Jacques Celliers the Chief Executive Officer at FNB for the second episode of What's Next in Finance.
What’s Next in Finance is the latest online talk show from MyBroadband, sponsored by Sage and hosted by Aki Anastasiou.
What’s Next in Finance provides insight into the latest financial management, investing, insurance, fin-tech, and banking trends, and what the future holds for businesses and the industry.
What’s Next in Finance is the latest online talk show from MyBroadband, sponsored by Sage and hosted by Aki Anastasiou.
What’s Next in Finance provides insight into the latest financial management, investing, insurance, fin-tech, and banking trends, and what the future holds for businesses and the industry.
Aki Anastasiou interviews Pieter Bensch the Executive Vice President, Africa and Middle East at Sage.
What’s Next in Finance is the latest online talk show from MyBroadband, sponsored by Sage and hosted by Aki Anastasiou.
What’s Next in Finance provides insight into the latest financial management, investing, insurance, fin-tech, and banking trends, and what the future holds for businesses and the industry.
Huawei Consumer Business Groups Chief Technology Officer Akhram Mohamed is a respected South African technology leader, spearheading the brand's localization and Innovation strategy in the country.
Akhram started his career in telecommunications a decade and a half ago having served in various roles across large telecommunications multinationals.
Mohamed joined Huawei South Africa in December 2014 and has held various roles including Retail Director and Product & Marketing Director.
In August 2018, Mohamed was promoted to Chief Technology Officer, a position he currently holds. Mohamed is responsible for Huawei’s product innovation strategy and currently leads Huawei’s Eco-system localization efforts.
MiRO Managing Director Marco de Ru is one of South Africa’s top technology leaders with extensive knowledge of the telecommunications equipment market.
Niral Patel joined Oracle in July 2017 as Managing Director and Technology Leader for Oracle South Africa, bringing forth almost two decades of experience.
SqwidNet managing director Phathizwe Malinga is one of the most recognisable faces in the South African telecommunications and Internet of Things (IoT) market.
SAP Africa Managing Director Cathy Smith is one of South Africa’s most respected business leaders with 25 years of business and technology experience. Smith joined SAP from Cisco, where she was managing director for Sub-Saharan Africa, leading the company’s go-to-market sales and digital transformation strategies.
Jeremy Ord is South African business royalty having founded and helped to grow Dimension Data into a global ICT powerhouse. Ord founded Dimension Data in 1983 by Keith McLachlan, Werner Sievers, Jeremy Ord, Peter Neale, and Kevin Hamilton.
Aki Anastasiou interviews Gian Visser, CEO at Afrihost. Visser is one of South Africa’s most respected ICT executives who has helped to build the country’s largest independent ISPs. Visser started Afrihost in September 2000 as a hosting provider with two friends – Brendan Armstrong and Peter Meintjies.
Aki Anastasiou interviews uAfrica MD Andy Higgins. Higgins is one of South Africa’s ecommerce pioneers who have helped to start many large online players, including Bidorbuy, Payfast and Takealot.
Microsoft South Africa Managing Director Lillian Barnard is one of the country’s leading technology executives who has built a strong, high-performing team to run the company. Barnard has more than 20 years’ experience in the ICT industry who has held senior executive positions in South Africa and abroad.
In this short trailer Aki Anastasiou interviews venture capitalist Dr Michael Jordaan, one of South Africa’s most respected business executives. Michael discusses the COVID-19 pandemic, his investment in Rain and Bank Zero, and the biggest winners and losers in this fast-changing world.
Aki Anastasiou interviews Reshaad Sha, the founder of BriteGaze, a fund used to grow businesses that are committed to building capability around artificial intelligence.
Aki Anastasiou interviews venture capitalist Dr Michael Jordaan, one of South Africa’s most respected business executives. Michael discusses the COVID-19 pandemic, his investment in Rain and Bank Zero, and the biggest winners and losers in this fast-changing world.
Aki Anastasiou interviews Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub, who runs one of the world’s top telecommunications companies. Shameel discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the telecoms market, what people can expect from 5G and the new data-driven world.
Aki Anastasiou interviews EOH CEO Stephen van Coller, who is busy turning around EOH. Stephen discusses the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, how it is changing the business world and what is happening at EOH.