In Conference with Michael Jackson

Miles Kubheka was a successful I.T. guy who decided to quit his job to open up a food truck. He was inspired by the television ad and made it into reality, branding his food business "Vuyo's". Miles now owns a restaurant in Vilakazi Street, Soweto... and is opening another restaurant in Umtata by April.

Dorianne Weil is a well-known psychologist who has done numerous interventions, workshops and conferences. She speaks about acceptance and belonging in humans.

Andy Preston was a professional buyer who changed to a professional seller. Andy has a top performing sales career where he rose from being a newbie who was hopeless at selling, to the top salesperson in the country.

David Hilton-Barber has worked as a journalist, public relations consultant, and is the author of many books. He is also an Associate Member of the Professional Editors Guild.

Founding partner of a boutique PR agency, Franco D'Onofrio has a passion for the marketing industry. His company specialises in media brands and helps clients unpack their brands to their clients. An info and news junkie, Franco also has a passion for food and cooking.

Brand Pretorius is a successful man who has received numerous national marketing, motor industry and leadership awards - including Marketing Person of the Year, Automobil Man of the Year and Boss of the Year. He has also published a book titled, 'In the Driving Seat - Lessons in Leadership'.

In her mid forties, Melissa Hogarth made the challenging decision to start a new career in a field that is as arty as it is technical. A passionate photographer and keen videographer, she has taken her PR/marketing experience and applied it to her photography sessions.

Cyrus is an MC known as 'the man with the velvet voice'. He has spent the last 10 years producing television scripting, directing, recording voice overs and more. Cyrus has always had a love for the spoken and written message and knows how to keep his audiences entertained.

Bev Hancock is a Business Leadership Strategist, facilitator and inspirational speaker. She believes in the power of conversation to transform the way we live and work. Bev's role is to co-create strategic thinking spaces and the skillset for leaders and their teams to have the conversations that release leadership potential, deepen awareness and drive bottom line growth.

Dr Rutendo Hwindingwi has an insatiable desire to see the exponential growth of business in Africa, as well as a passion for the development of Africa’s greatest resource – its people. An active Associate Director of Deloitte, he is part of the Technology and Outsourcing team that is a strategic business unit focused on offering technology solutions to companies operating in Africa.

Zipho Sikhakhane is an international speaker, business writer and advisor. She has a passion for business and started her own business at the age of five. Zipho received a full scholarship in Cape Town and achieved an MBA from Stanford University.

Maureen Grobler is an image specialist who speaks about unlocking people’s personal brand and helping them to feel confident. It's about self-worth, contributing to who you are as a person and how you see yourself. Her passion lies with people and her approach is "less is more" in terms of make-up!

Christien Groothof is the Project Director of Duke Corporate Education. She speaks about how they specialise in helping leaders to drive their business differently.

Rusty Labuschagne is a successful businessman, formerly from Zimbabwe. He suffered an unfortunate incident where he was wrongfully convicted of drowning a poacher, and served 10 years in Zimbabwe’s notorious prison. Rusty shares his inspirational story of how he survived his time in prison, eating only one meal a day and having only a glass of water daily to do everything with. Hear how he learnt true forgiveness for the people who wrongfully convicted him.

Mark Keating is the CEO of the Sales Guru. He does in-house training and is also a speaker. Mark believes that to be successful in the sales industry you need to have the right attitude, love what you do, believe in yourself, have the right mindset, and have a passion for sales.

Andy Appalsamy is the Managing Director of an events company and very passionate about her job. Andy speaks about delivering excellent service to clients and how one needs to be passionate, attentive to detail, work with the right people, and have good suppliers.

Adriana Marais is a potential Mars astronaut. She wants to be one of the first settlers on the planet. Adriana is aware that this a one-way trip to Mars and is quite happy to go ahead. The first settlers on Mars will be trained before leaving Earth so they can set up basic needs there.

Kerry Manning Colson is a strong, positive woman who broke through an abusive marriage. She has a passion for helping people and says that there 5 things that make a fabulous woman: Networking, Positivity, Motivation, Inspiration, and Creativity.

Greg Blandford is passionate about renewable energy. He works for Rubicon, which is one of three authorised resellers of the Tesla home battery system. Michael finds out more about this groundbreaking technology.

Former Rugby player Kobus Wiese was part of the winning squad of the Rugby World Cup in 1995. He is a successful entrepreneur but still sees himself as a regular person who feels very blessed.

He's been called South Africa's "most recognised comedian"... Michael Jackson speaks to John Vlismas, who is also an entertainment promoter. They discuss being introverted, venting, performing comedy overseas, #FeesMustFall and lots more.

Kevin Lewis speaks about the importance of owning your Identity and the risks of Identity Theft in the digital age. The ability to verify people makes any interaction or transaction more secure, mitigating the risk of fraud.

Gary Bailey is a former footballer who made nearly 300 appearances in the Football League, playing as a goalkeeper for Manchester United. Born in Ipswich, Suffolk, he grew up in South Africa, but went on to be capped twice for England. He’s now an international speaker, along with his wife Michelle, on ‘Success Under Pressure’.

Michael Jackson speaks to Lala about her new restaurant La Trinita

Michelle McLean-Bailey is a Namibian actress, writer, model, and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe in 1992. She was 19 years old when she represented Namibia, and became the first woman from the country to win the crown. She’s an international speaker along with her husband Gary Bailey on ‘Success Under Pressure’.

Danny K is probably one of SA’s most recognised entertainers, with a multitude of awards. He is ready to share his extraordinary story in a brand new talk, revealing his remarkable journey as a young South African boy to the man he is today... embraced and loved by South Africans across the racial and social spectrum.

From kids TV shows to the newsrooms of radio... and now one of the most well-known faces on Carte Blanche - Bongani Bingwa chats to Michael about how his resilience, the desire to follow his dreams, and doing whatever it took made him who he is today.

Ryan Hogarth talks about digital transformation... what it means, how to do it, its challenges and how businesses around the world are succeeding with it. Digital transformation initiatives are now a high priority for business leaders. Changing the culture within organisations while also enhancing the customer experiences are no longer nice to haves, they are at the very heart of the future success of your business.

From Vanderbjil to the stages of South Africa and abroad, performing over 270 times a year – who is the man behind Defending the Caveman? Michael and Alan chat about the secrets to making it in the world of comedy.

Rapelang Rabana’s curious mind has always questioned how the world works... even as a youngster she believed there had to be better, simpler and more effective ways to do things – and there is: technology! As a speaker, she takes this message across the globe and her innovative thinking has contributed to many changes in the way organisations adapt and thrive in the new world of work. Featured on the cover of Forbes Africa magazine before the age of 30 and named ‘Entrepreneur for the World 2014’ by the World Entrepreneurship Forum, Rapelang is an internationally lauded technology entrepreneur.

What is the eventing industry all about… communication, strategy, and value – or muffins and drinks? What are the sentiments and real value behind the scenes? Jonathan Lang from O2PRO chats to Michael about how companies could get the most out of their events and leave a lasting impression.

Is there a journalism crisis? What is the future evolution in the world of media? Bruce Whitfield chats to Michael Jackson about his latest transition – find out the latest and hottest news on what Bruce will be doing on stages around the world.

What is the latest improvement course to assist in making the conferencing scene better? Is there a trade secret? Lynn Baker talks to Michael about authenticity, passion, and professionalism.

Who is the man behind the mentalism? Is it supernatural? Gilan Gork uses the art of influence to show/prove that the “Average Joe" can attain that dream job or close that major deal. From business to personal life, how do you influence to get the outcome you want? From debunking psychic myths to driving blindfolded, Gilan shares some tastes of what influence can achieve.

Are you stress rich and time poor? What does it take to be top of your game, and what is the new digital detox? Michael speaks to Behaviouralist Joni Peddie about behaviours and innovative thinking. Joni gives tangible hints and tips on how to find what is lacking in life as we know it today.

Who’s the guy behind The Burning Platform? He’s frank, open and honest… and he speaks about a revolution and a new way of thinking. From writing about the news to making news, Justice Malala tells Michael where social media has taken journalism, who inspires him, what scares him, and more.

Lee den Hond is an events planner from Johannesburg and the third South African woman to summit Mount Everest. She shares her reason behind doing the climb with Michael Jackson.

Derek Barber speaks to Michael Jackson about creating his unique concept of business networking for SMEs, and shares the exciting upcoming opportunities in South Africa.

Regarded within South Africa as one of the country’s leading political commentators and economic experts, Daniel Silke chats to Michael about what to expect in SA now and in the future.

From corporate head to self-made business owner and entrepreneur, Eloise Boezak chats to Michael about what “going at it on your own” is all about in the areas of branding, marketing and eventing.

Happiness boosts sales, productivity and performance. The Parnassus Workplace Fund only invests in happy companies and delivers a nearly 7% higher return than average. Based on cutting-edge scientific research, fresh out of the field of positive psychology, listen to Justin Cohen talking to Michael about how to create more happiness in your life and work.

Gerry Skerritt from Dream Team loves nothing more than a delighted client and spends all his waking hours dreaming up ways of making this a reality. He’s equally at home presenting ideas to a prospective client, or delivering energetic events to big groups.

Unravelling the Digital Future of Events: Michael chats to Mike Lysko to find out what’s disrupting the conferencing scene right now and into the future, and taking company brands to the next level.

From a white privileged school and upbringing, to the courtrooms of Cape Town... fighting for inequality and against racial discrimination, who is the man behind Chester Missing? Michael chats to Conrad Koch.

One of South Africa’s funniest and busiest corporate comedians, Al Prodgers, gives Michael Jackson some insight into his journey “behind the scenes”.

World-leading authority on the subject of mind power and personal mastery, positive thinking guru Robin Banks chats to Michael Jackson about where it all started and what has kept him “ticking” all these years.

Hear from a woman who has extensive experience, from being the Deputy Global Head of Human Resources for Standard Bank, to being the HR Director for the Nedbank Group, hear what Shirley Zinn has to say.

Andy Rice is probably South Africa's best-known branding and advertising expert. As a strategist, he headed up Ogilvy Johannesburg's account planning department before founding Yellowwood. Andy talks to Michael Jackson about strategy, inventing and re-inventing brands and defining exactly what a brand is.

Craig Wing is a futurist and speaker working at the nexus of leadership, strategy, exponential organisations and corporate culture. When he was Head of Small Business Marketing for Google South Africa, he was selected as the "Googliest Googler" by his peers across Africa. Michael Jackson finds out why and more.

It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you! The Visibility Coach, David Avrin, talks to Michael Jackson about the art of reputation management.