Face to Face with Success

Fab academic Mamokgethi Phakeng and Sorbet Group Founder Ian Fuhr join Face to Face with Success presenter Nikiwe Bikitsha on stage for a special live event.

In this episode, we meet Adri Williams, the MD and co-owner of Khayelitsha Cookies. Hers is a story of unshakeable faith, finding your purpose, and the incredible ripple effects of social entrepreneurship.

A Mother and daughter doctor team have started a new, state of the art, medical centre in Dainfern Square, Fourways. Nikiwe Bikitsha sat down with this inspiring pair for this episode of FTFWS

From township kid who had to make his way at Grey College, without being able to speak a word of English, to rugby star, father, and aspiring fashion entrepreneur, Siya Kolisi shares his remarkable story with Charlotte Kilbane.

Find out how rejecting the generic, abandoning templates, and trusting your team can have long lasting effects. Charlotte Kilbane chats to Design Indaba Founder, Ravi Naidoo, gets his advice on how to kick creativity into high gear, and harness the powerhouse of your brain.

Desmond Mabuza is the owner of Signature, one of Johannesburg’s most popular fine dining restaurants. Since the restaurant started 8 years ago in Sandton, he’s opened another Signature in Brooklyn Pretoria. Nikiwe Bikitsha went to Signature to find out Desmond's secret to success.

Hear the amazing story of the Master of the SA Agulhas II. He’s been to some of the most remote places on the planet, faced wild oceans and shouldered huge responsibility. He shares with us, the secret sauce that makes his a life of service, adventure and success.

Meet the ICT powerhouse with an inspiring vision for the future of South Africa and the continent.

Find out what made the founder of Melissa's: The Food Shop start off in the first place, and hear what her ingredients are for a successful business, and a life of meaning.

Listen to the amazing story of how three broke guys started a global revolution. The co-founder and CEO of Air BnB, Brian Chesky talks sleepless nights, rejection, and belief in a radical idea. He chats to Charlotte Kilbane about growing a business from a shared lounge, to a global leviathan, and his vision for the future of travel.

Sun Valley Primary’s Principal, Gavin Keller talks to Charlotte Kilbane about redefining education, why failure is actually a stepping stone to success, and how brain science can help us improve the way our kids learn.

Marlene le Roux shares with Charlotte Kilbane her lifelong journey in the arts, and education, and tells her why the arts are so vital to uplifting the new generation of South Africans

Charlotte Kilbane finds out how this darling of the foodie world started at the very bottom of the food chain, and what inspires him to keep reinventing flavours and experiences that wow his diners.

M-Net channel head Yolisa Phahle chats to Nikiwe Bikitsha about why it's important for people to see their realities and lived experiences reflected back to them.

Former Vodacom executive turned entrepreneur Romeo Kumalo sits in conversation with Nikiwe Bikitsha to talk about forging his own path to success. 

Inspiring, honest and wise – Prof Zinn shares with Charlotte Kilbane the moment two high school teachers changed her life, and tells us of the tragedy that almost broke her. 

Find out how the beauty brand Sorbet was born, with this driven, focussed entrepreneur. Ian talks to Nikiwe Bikitsha about what drives him, and gives insight into the hurdles he had to clear to forge a successful national brand.

Mark Solms is a psychiatrist and an academic. But as Charlotte Kilbane hears, he’s also the man who together with workers on the wine farm his family owns, came up with a novel and highly successful model for land reform in South Africa.

As Charlotte Kilbane discovers, the story of Dorcus Dlamini is particularly resonant to so many young people struggling to find work, and so many more struggling to fund their education.

Face to Face with Success speaks to the founder of children’s clothing brand, Keedo. Nelia tells Charlotte Kilbane about the accident that almost killed her, and which importantly, led to the wake-up call that drove her to start her own business.

A legend of South African theatre, a voice of honour and reason. Nikiwe Bikitsha finds out how John Kani forged a path to success, even when everything was against him.

You’ll know her voice, and you’ll recognise her name. She’s a powerhouse economist who’s blazing trails in an industry that’s still overwhelmingly male-dominated. Nikiwe Bikitsha finds out what drives Thabi Leoka, and what advice she has for those who want to follow in her footsteps.

Ipeleng Mkhari is the founder of Motseng Investment Holdings (MIH). She's a bold, brave and brilliant, self-made multi-millionairess. She started off small, in 2009, but with grit, sweat and some clever decisions, the value of her company's assets under management have grown to more than R20 billion. Nikiwe Bikitsha finds out how Ipeleng forged a path to success, in an industry that's tough as nails.

Charlotte Kilbane talks to Katlego Maphai about making the leap from the safety of employment and building a product that makes a difference.

A traditional career in high finance, a killer CV, and a reputation as a business wunderkind. But Dean Kowarski wanted more. He wanted to change people's lives, and in his new incarnation as the founder of Real Foods, the company that recently bought the Kauai group, he's doing just that. One meal at a time. Charlotte Kilbane finds out what led Dean from a traditional corporate finance trajectory, to an adventure in the food industry.  

Telkom has a long history in SA, and is in a sense part of its ‘fibre’. It is not one of the most loved companies or brands, but over the past few years it has turned its fortunes and public perception of it around. We speak to a man, whom many believe is behind the turnaround at Telkom. The change at Telkom is palpable, it’s not just the cheeky adverts and endorsements by international sportsmen. You see It at Telkom headquarters in Centurion as well which is where Nikiwe Bikitsha caught up with Telkom CEO, Sipho Maseko, in this episode of face to face with success….

Find out how this African immigrant landed in Johannesburg with just R500 in his pocket, and grew 3 thriving businesses in the 16 years that followed. Charlotte Kilbane hears how according to Godfrey, impossible is nothing, and dreams are the fuel that drive him on. Since arriving in Johannesburg with virtually nothing, he has carved a niche for himself as a life coach and motivational speaking. As Charlotte Kilbane reveals, he also owns a guest lodge, and a car hire company!

Vusi Mahlasela is one of South Africa’s most celebrated musicians and cultural activists. Writer Nadine Gordimer, dubbed him ‘the voice’ of South Africa. He has performed in front of Kings and Queens around the world, but it’s his beloved hometown Mamelodi, which brings a song to his heart. Nikiwe Bikitsha met him there and has this face to face with success….

Meet the the woman who became a household name in South Africa, through her passion for good food, and great cooking. Ina Paarman shares with Charlotte Kilbane the story of humble beginnings in her garage, the trials and tribulations of formalising her business, and the profound impact her mother had on her will to succeed. A must listen with a very wise South African legend.

Thuli Madonsela has carved a lasting reputation in public life as one of the country’s most trusted public servants. As public protector, she has stood firm, by holding the powerful to account, and leaving no stone unturned in the fight against corruption. She sat down with Nikiwe Bikitsha as she prepares to end her term of office...

This former journalist realized she was the worst paid link in the media value chain, and decided to do something about it. Five years later, she runs her own PR Company with a blue chip client list boasting the likes of Google and Marriot. As her fledgling company was punching way above its weight, she decides to start a cheese factory. Yes, cheese. Rachel talks to Charlotte Kilbane about how the concept of success changes, and how backing yourself is the best thing you’ll ever do. 

The man who started one of South Africa’s most high-end tourism brands, Rovos Rail, speaks to Charlotte Kilbane about working hard, always sweating the small stuff, and the cash flow crunch that almost sunk him early on. A Rovos Rail journey is on thousands of bucket lists around the world, and even at 70 years old, Rovos’ founder and father is working round the clock to make sure the experience delivers.

Meet the co-founder of a true South African Cinderella story. Mark Forrester was part of the 3-man team that started Woo Themes. Last year, the company was acquired in a deal worth 10s of millions of dollars. Mark speaks to Charlotte Kilbane about boot strapping a business, reinventing company structures for the digital age, and the priceless role of serendipity in success.

Barclays Africa CEO Maria Ramos has been at the helm of one of the continent’s biggest banks since 2009. She describes herself as resilient and highly competitive. A recent poll found that she was the ‘most value for money’ CEO in all of the country’s banks, while another report says she is the most qualified banking CEO in SA. So what has driven Maria Ramos to succeed? She sat down with Nikiwe Bikitsha in this episode of Face to face with success… For more on the Face to Face with Success series of podcasts, published by Primedia Broadcasting, visit http://www.702.co.za/features/115/face-to-face-with-success

Arnold Goldstone is CEO of Invicta Holdings - a major, listed, industrial giant. He was on track to become a medical doctor, but he wasn't sure it was for him. so, in his first year of medicine, he opted to do a full suite of BComm subjects in addition to med school. This set the tone for a typical a-type achievers life, and culminated in him running one of the biggest companies in SA. His definition of success these days extends further than the boardroom. As Charlotte Kilbane finds out, his family is where his heart is, and they are the people who ground him.

Nigerian born, but a household name and face in South Africa, following his long stint on blockbuster soapie, Generations. Akin Omotoso is a creative, and a believer in the power of stories. He's a household name, and as Nikiwe Bikitsha discovers, a really down-to-earth guy.

Nic Haralambous started the massively successful MoTribe then cashed out and is now helping revive the textile industry in the Western Cape, with his new endeavour. He's thoughtful and considered, doggedly determined. And, as Charlotte Kilbane finds out, committed to giving back to the nation that has given him so much...

From humble beginnings in Mitchells Plein, to one of the most high pressure jobs in South Africa. In this episode Charlotte Kilbane meets Enver Duminy, the CEO of Cape Town Tourism. Enver's journey has been full of twists and turns, but in his early 40s, he's redefining what it means to be successful - both in tourism, and in life.

Rapelang Rabana experienced great success at a very young age. After a successful startup straight out of university, she and her partners were feted as South African pioneers in the VOIP space. She’s a serial entrepreneur who walks to the rhythm of her own drummer, and has a unique view of what it means to be successful. Charlotte Kilbane asked her what advice she has for people who want to walk a different path, and what keeps her going - even when the path is rocky?

At 33, Tertius Nyawose is set to achieve his life long dream. He is now a qualified attorney. He started working at the age of 12 in Port Shepstone, to help out his mom, who was his very poor and couldn’t make ends meet, from her meagre wages as a school caretaker. When he failed matric he thought his dreams of becoming a lawyer were dashed. Ashamed of the failure, he ran away from home and lived with a relative in Gauteng, where he took up several jobs, while repeating his matric at a night school. One of the jobs he did was being a personal trainer. That’s where Nikiwe Bikitsha met him 8 years ago, which was when he shared his dream of becoming a lawyer. It’s been years of struggle and sacrifice, but now the stocky and sinewy muscled fitness trainer, will exchange his tracksuits for dark suits. Nikiwe asks him what drove him to succeed when so many odds were stacked against him...

Bongani Mayose always wanted to be a doctor, but his considerable brain power has made him a leading light in medical research and academia. Now the head of Med School at UCT, Mayose is a true African, with some important things to say about the thought economy, the real challenges that many people face in academia, and how medicine can help the poorest of the poor. He speaks to Charlotte Kilbane...

On social media, she goes by the moniker, the Fab academic. And fabulous she is. She is one of the country’s foremost scholars and researchers in the field of Maths education. Her passion is around teaching and learning maths. In a stellar career, she is currently full professor and vice president of research and innovation at UNISA. She is soon to take up a new position as Deputy Vice Chancellor: research and internationalization at Africa’s best university, UCT. Nikiwe Bikitsha finds what it takes to thrive and be a leader in the competitive world of academia.