Bruce Whitfield - Speaker

“Rebels, Renegades and Problem Solvers is a brand new talk about South Africa and why it is a great place for anyone with an entrepreneurial mindset. 

It incorporates individual case studies gleaned from financial journalist Bruce Whitfield’s two-decades of award-winning reporting on the political economy in one of the most complex societies on earth.

• Why has South Africa spawned so many globally competitive corporations?
• What do we learn from those that have thrived in the chaos of South Africa and how does that shape our future?
   

Rebels, Renegades and Problem Solvers analyses why some not only survive but succeed despite considerable volatility and uncertainty. Bruce Whitfield brings to life inspiring stories from some of SA’s most dynamic and diverse entrepreneurs.

It creates a sober, yet uplifting perspective on the challenges facing SA right now and how some of it’s smartest citizens are navigating the complexity of the current business environment.”

The Upside of Down is a 45 minute talk from Bruce Whitfield that takes audiences on a roller coaster ride through 50 years of South African history to provide some context to today’s troubles.

Nenegeddon was not the end. What felt cataclysmic at the time of Nhlanhla Nene’s firing in December 2015 is actually proving to be a catalyst for change – a slow and painful catalyst – but a catalyst nevertheless.

South African’s have prospered despite the noise and the chaos over more than five decades. While many feel down in the dumps, we can survived considerably worse. All you have to do to verify that claim is ready history books.

As a Financial journalist, author and broadcaster Bruce has been studying companies and those that lead them for nearly 25 years.

He has learnt that great leaders position their businesses ahead of rivals to capitalize on opportunities that emerge in times of stress and disruption. That enables them to seize opportunities, often hidden in plain sight

Building any kind of enterprise in an increasingly digital, AI driven, fiercely competitive environment is hard, and success is never guaranteed.

You will often hear: “they were just in the right place at the right time”, or that their timing was “lucky” or they got a “lucky break” or that they were “just born lucky.”

Luck is not a single, random event. It can and must be cultivated and exploited.

How to Get Lucky: Where Strategy, Opportunism and Grit Collide, is drawn from the most critical lessons he has distilled through analysing successful global businesses for more than two decades.  

It is the perfect antidote to the prevailing negative sentiment afflicting many economies around the world as fears of recession and stagflation undermine leaders’ ability to shape their growth strategies for the future.

This talk is useful to all organisations looking to align their teams for growth.