Durban Small Business Podcast

Karien Hunter, founder of AMC Hunter and the legal tech platform Orion Law, joins Luke Holden to explore why contracts are essential business infrastructure, why owners often delay getting legal help and how to protect a growing business before problems arise.

Karien started AMC Hunter in 1987 with a three-year-old, a premature baby and a need to put bread on the table. She shares how the firm grew from a home-based practice, what happened when the financial crisis cut its income in half and how she learned to balance care for her people with the difficult decisions needed to keep the business alive.

This conversation offers practical guidance for entrepreneurs who want to build stronger legal foundations, make better use of expertise and protect the relationships and businesses they have worked hard to create.

Chapters

00:00 Why contracts matter before things go wrong
05:00 Finding the work you’re built for
16:25 Starting a business to put bread on the table
18:39 When your revenue halves overnight
30:05 Building a business that can outlive you
34:22 What not to share with AI
38:47 Can technology make good lawyers more affordable?
45:40 Why we wait too long to get legal help
48:42 Why trust isn’t a substitute for a contract
52:21 Three mistakes that hold small businesses back
1:03:29 Using AI for contracts? Get them stress-tested
1:07:52 The legal health check your business needs

Who Is Karien Hunter?

Karien Hunter is the founder of AMC Hunter, a South African law firm she established in 1987. With nearly four decades in practice and a focus on property law, her work combines legal problem-solving with the experience of building, leading and sustaining a business.

She is also building Orion Law, a legal tech platform connecting business owners with contract templates, educational resources and a network of legal specialists. Her focus is on making expertise more accessible while retaining the personal judgement and relationships at the heart of good legal advice.Links

• Karien Hunter LinkedIn: Connect with Karien
• AMC Hunter: amchunter.co.za
• Orion Law: orionlaw.co.za

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This Podcast is produced by Kythe Creative:

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Grant Gavin, owner of RE/MAX Panache and author of Thoughtonomy, joins Luke Holden in exploring how entrepreneurs can use proven systems while still trusting their own judgement.

He entered the real estate industry at 27 with no property sales experience and serious doubts about whether experienced agents would follow him. By focusing on coaching, training and people development, he transformed what he initially saw as a weakness into one of his greatest strengths as a business owner.

He shares how taking action created the evidence he needed to build confidence, why talented people frequently avoid activities they know will produce results, and how unconscious conditioning can influence business decisions.

This conversation offers practical guidance for entrepreneurs who want to identify the beliefs behind their behaviour, question outdated ways of working and decide which business rules should be followed, adapted or challenged.

Timestamps

00:50 Introducing Grant Gavin and writing Thoughtonomy05:45 Buying into RE/MAX Panache and becoming the sole owner07:03 Entering a sales business without property sales experience11:06 Recognising the value he could offer experienced agents16:26 Using training and coaching to strengthen the business26:02 The coaching problem that led to Thoughtonomy32:11 Challenging the belief that the economy is entirely to blame39:38 Finding and strengthening the sources of your business42:30 Adapting a proven model as the market changes44:18 The difference between coaching and rescuing46:46 Identifying unconscious patterns behind behaviour49:06 Tracing repeated patterns back to past experiences52:27 Changing a business model that worked for 30 years

Who is Grant Gavin?

Grant Gavin is the owner of RE/MAX Panache, an author, speaker and business coach based in Durban. After entering the real estate industry without property sales experience, he built his leadership approach around coaching, training and developing salespeople.

His book and podcast, Thoughtonomy, explore how conditioning, beliefs and repeated patterns influence behaviour, performance and personal potential.

Links:
🔗 Grant Gavin Website: ⁠https://grantgavin.com/⁠🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-gavin-9a120a4🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ggavin🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grant_gavin0🔗 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grantgavin

🔗 Thoughtonomy Website: https://thoughtonomybook.co.za/🔗 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thoughtonomy_Book 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thought_onomy/

🔗 REMAX Panache Website: https://www.remax-panache.co.za/🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/remaxpanache/🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/remaxpanache/🔗 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@REMAXPanache

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This Podcast is produced by Kythe Creative:YouTube - / @kythecreativeInstagram - / kythecreativemedia

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Nhlanhla Khambule joins Luke Holden to explore what education could look like if it prepared people not only to find work, but to identify real problems and build useful solutions.

With approximately 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur, he believes people don’t have to remain victims of the problems around them. They can learn to identify those problems, develop practical solutions, and create opportunities for themselves and others.

He also explains why the traditional education system often produces task implementers rather than confident problem-solvers. However, entrepreneurial thinking isn’t only valuable for people who want to start companies. It can also help people become better employees, leaders, innovators, and community contributors.

Through his See, Think, Innovate framework, Nhlanhla shares how learners and business owners can move from recognising a problem to building a useful solution. This includes understanding customers, exploring alternatives, conducting market research, developing a minimum viable product, and testing whether people are willing to pay before investing heavily.

Timestamps

00:45 Why Nhlanhla calls himself a human transformer

07:14 Seeing inequality in education from a young age

14:17 Why people are afraid to pursue entrepreneurship

22:07 Using an exit strategy to create focus and direction

28:27 What the traditional education system needs to change

33:58 Developing problem-solvers instead of task implementers

39:31 How the See, Think, Innovate framework works

45:05 Learning entrepreneurship through practical simulation

53:02 Nhlanhla’s schools, colleges, and education initiatives

59:53 Finding business opportunities in everyday problems

01:04:18 Market research, minimum viable products, and testing ideas

01:09:13 Why your business cannot sell to everyone

01:13:05 Lessons about persistence from Elon Musk

01:16:11 Focusing on opportunities instead of obstacles

Who is Nhlanhla Lucky Khambule?

Nhlanhla Khambule is an entrepreneur, education investor, and the CEO of Edinvest Education Group.

He has approximately 30 years of entrepreneurial experience, including 15 years leading Edinvest. His expertise includes building schools, investment management, structured finance, and developing education models that encourage entrepreneurial thinking.

Edinvest’s portfolio includes entrepreneurship-focused schools, artisan colleges, and an AI-supported online entrepreneurial mindset platform for schools, universities, and communities. These initiatives teach learners how to identify problems, develop solutions, and understand the practical foundations of building a business.

Nhlanhla holds a master’s degree in Development Finance from Stellenbosch University. His long-term vision is to open 12 additional schools and reach 100,000 learners annually across Africa by 2040.

Links:

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nhlanhla-lucky-khambule-734a1776/

🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nhlanhla.khambule/

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nkhambule/

🔗 Website: https://www.ada-sa.com/

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ada-holdings-pty-ltd/

🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edinvestholdings/

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This Podcast is produced by Kythe Creative:

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Instagram - / kythecreativemedia

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Most founders build a business around themselves. The real challenge is building one that can survive without them.

In this episode of the Durban Small Business Podcast, Luke Holden has a conversation with Dinesh Chetty, founder of DPF Home Loan Negotiators, to explore how a small finance business started in 2004 grew into a national operation that has helped more than 60,000 South Africans on their journey to homeownership.

We explore the discipline behind more than two decades in business, why Dinesh believes your biggest competitor should be yourself, and how losing some of his passion forced him to reconnect with the reason he started in the first place.

This conversation goes deep into team building. he explains why trust and transparency matter more than almost anything else when bringing people into a small business, how he transitioned from being the person closing deals to coaching others, and why the right people become “plug-ins” to the future of the company.

Timestamps
01:06 Dinesh’s conversation card and his 3am working routine05:47 How Dinesh involved his family in the business journey07:19 Finding practical ways to protect family time10:03 How DPF Home Loan Negotiators started in 200413:02 Earning trust as a 21-year-old in property finance15:02 The difficult decision to start expanding the team20:13 Making money without losing the soul of the business24:29 Why discipline and consistency are critical to longevity29:06 Finding the right people and building a team based on trust33:47 Social media, comparison and shutting out the noise38:24 Reconnecting with customers and the stories behind the business43:17 The shift from being the best player to becoming a coach48:29 The next chapter of growth for DPF Home Loan Negotiators53:41 Mitigating risk and planning for what could go wrong57:31 Why trust is the foundation of a successful business

Who is Dinesh Chetty?

Dinesh Chetty is the founder of DPF Home Loan Negotiators, formerly Durban Property Finance, a business he started in 2004 after helping his own family navigate the process of securing their first home loan.

Beginning from a small office with no established team, Dinesh spent more than two decades building a mortgage origination business centred on personalised service, relationships and understanding the story behind every application.

By 2019, the business had helped approximately 25,000 people on their homeownership journey. Since then, DPF has grown rapidly, surpassing 60,000 homeowners and expanding from a Durban-based operation into a national network of home loan negotiators.

A major focus of Dinesh’s leadership today is building a team capable of carrying the values, service and legacy of DPF into its next chapter.

Links:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinesh-chetty-5a3678109/🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dinesh.chetty.9🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chettydinesh/

🔗 DPF Website: https://durbanpropertyfinance.com/🔗 DPF Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/durbanpropertyfinance/🔗 DPF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dpf_home_loan_negotiators_/

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This Podcast is produced by Kythe Creative:YouTube - / @kythecreativeInstagram - / kythecreativemedia

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What changes when trust becomes a deliberate leadership strategy rather than something leaders simply hope will develop?

In this episode of the Durban Small Business Podcast, Luke Holden and Shane Ward, founder of IDthree, to explore how leaders can build organisations in which people feel safe, included and willing to contribute their best thinking.

They explore his Straight Eight trust framework, including inviting participation, sacrificing personal utility, transparency and vulnerability. He explains why people take ownership of strategies they help create, why leaders should place the wellbeing of clients and teams above their own immediate interests, and how transparency prevents uncertainty from becoming damaging workplace speculation.

Timestamps

01:04 A personal reflection on Shane’s father, courage and regret

03:13 Shane’s journey from young manager to senior FirstRand leader

08:24 Why businesses must think beyond what worked yesterday

10:41 The growing trust crisis and the pursuit of truth

20:27 Deciding to leave FirstRand after more than 14 years

27:16 Starting IDthree and helping businesses improve strategy and trust

32:15 How Shane developed the Straight Eight trust framework

36:18 Inviting participation and creating shared accountability

44:33 Sacrificing personal utility and putting others first

48:49 Why transparency means giving people context

54:22 Vulnerability and bringing humanity into leadership

01:03:05 Psychological safety, innovation and receiving people’s ideas

01:08:43 The difference between change and transition

01:14:42 IDthree’s services and the difference between managers and leaders

Who is Shane Ward?

Shane Ward is the founder of IDthree and a leadership strategist, speaker and business coach specialising in trust, strategy and organisational transition.

Before establishing IDthree, Shane spent more than 14 years within FirstRand. His leadership journey included serving as chairman of a wealth and investment division comprising six businesses and approximately 170 people across FNB Private Bank and RMB Private Wealth.

Today, Shane works with leadership teams through keynote sessions, workshops and longer strategic journeys. He helps businesses create stronger cultures of trust, develop practical strategies, improve accountability and navigate change more effectively.

Links:

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-ward-62bb7b121/

🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shane.ward.737001

🔗 Website: https://www.idthree.co.za/

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/idthree__/

🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/idthree.sa

Most impact work starts with good intentions, but good intentions are not enough to change a community.

In this episode of the Durban Small Business Podcast, Luke Holden has a conversation with Warren Farrer, the CEO and Trustee of the Do More Foundation, to explore how a corporate social investment initiative inside RCL Foods became a growing, partnership-led foundation focused on creating better tomorrows for young children in South Africa.

We explore the difference between charity and meaningful corporate social investment, the role of communication in building trust, and why businesses need to be careful about chasing visible outputs instead of real systems change.

This conversation offers practical insight for business owners, non-profit leaders, and anyone interested in building something that creates lasting value beyond the brand.

Timestamps

00:10 Warren’s conversation card and bungee jumping at Victoria Falls

02:20 Learning, leadership, and Warren’s doctorate journey

06:17 Warren introduces the Do More Foundation

07:18 From marketing to corporate social investment

09:47 Why transparency and communication matter

13:31 Using his doctorate to understand and replicate the model

14:37 Covid, food insecurity, and distributing meals to children

18:23 Purpose, legacy, and supporting young children

23:09 The Do More Foundation’s purpose statement

24:43 How partners contribute to meaningful impact

25:51 RCL Foods’ funding share shifting from around 95% to 17%

27:18 Why real community change takes seven to ten years

29:03 Why partners should contribute from their strengths

31:23 Vanity metrics, painted classrooms, and what really matters

33:53 Building culture and team inside the foundation

37:35 Why brilliant people matter in non-profit work

38:26 Intentional teamwork, innovation, and learning

40:27 The Mandela Day peanut butter sandwich challenge

44:05 The secret sauce of play in the workplace

47:09 Leadership, freedom, accountability, and trust

49:22 Pam Picken and Warren’s introduction to early childhood development

50:33 Why the early years matter so much

52:24 Mentorship, timing, and creating your own luck

54:41 Warren’s advice for small business owners

58:44 Why businesses must be careful what they measure

01:04:03 Warren’s closing thoughts on passion and energy

Who is Warren Farrer?

Warren Farrer is the CEO and Trustee of the Do More Foundation, a proudly South African non-profit organisation founded by RCL Foods in 2017. The foundation focuses on creating better tomorrows for young children by bringing together partners across the public, private and non-profit sectors.

Today, Warren leads a team working across early childhood development, nutrition, community development, and systems change, with a strong belief in purpose, play, collaboration, and practical hope.

Links:

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/warren-farrer-988613146/

🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warren.farrer

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warrenfarrer/

🔗 Do More Foundation Website: https://domore.org.za/

🔗 Do More Foundation LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-do-more-foundation/

🔗 Do More Foundation Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/domore.org.za/

🔗 Do More Foundation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/domorefoundation/

🔗 Do More Foundation Twitter: https://x.com/domore_org

🔗 Do More Foundation YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPq7UH1B7MN1O_TTLRpoKIA

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This Podcast is produced by Kythe Creative:
Website -/ kythecreative.co.za

YouTube - / @kythecreative

Instagram - / kythecreativemedia

Listen on:

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What does it take to build your own identity inside family businesses?In this episode of the Durban Small Business Podcast, Luke Holden and Mia Acutt, Operations Manager at Acutts Real Estate, explore her journey from a small town to helping lead one of South Africa's longest-standing family real estate businesses.Mia shares her unexpected career path, from studying, working aboard to eventually joining Acutts Real Estate. This conversation offers valuable takeaways for anyone working in a family business, building a long-term career, or trying to create meaningful impact through relationships.Timestamps00:10 Introduction to Mia Acutt and Holland relocation.2:14 Studying beauty therapy and life working on cruise ships.05:04 Travel, confidence and self-discovery.07:28 Moving into spa management.10:00 Childhood responsibility and learning to organise.15:18 Balancing work, family and switching off.17:28 Returning to South Africa and starting over.21:46 Meeting Jonathan Acutt and discovering the family legacy.23:18 Joining Acutts Real Estate.28:08 Building relationships across the Acutts network.31:14 Establishing confidence and credibility.34:39 Why Mia launched the Real Talk Real Estate podcast.41:06 Challenges facing the real estate industry.45:20 The people who shaped Mia's journey.49:42 The legacy Mia hopes to leave behind.52:53 Knowing when to walk away from a relationship.55:59 Reflections on life, leadership and adding value.Who is Mia Acutt?Mia Acutt is the Operations Manager of Acutts Real Estate. Originally trained in beauty therapy, Mia spent four years working aboard international cruise ships before returning to South Africa and building a successful career in hospitality, wellness, and business operations. Today, she has a key leadership role within the Acutts group, overseeing operational functions, supporting franchise growth, mentoring agents, and helping expand the business into new markets. She’s also the host of the Real Talk Real Estate podcast, where she brings together industry experts to educate buyers, sellers, investors, and aspiring property professionals.Links:🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mia.acutt🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mia-acutt-acutts/🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mia.acutt/🔗 Website: https://www.acutts.co.za/agents/mia-acutt/12806/SUBSCRIBE for more Stories from our local Durban Brands.This Podcast is produced by Kythe Creative:YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@kythecreativeInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kythecreativemediaListen on:Spotify - https://sptfy.com/durbansmallbusinessApple podcast - https://apple.co/3mQqpVjFollow:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/durbansmallbusinessFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/durbansmallbusiness

What does it look like to slow down before your body forces you to stop?

Aneesa shares how Float Wellness was started by her late husband, Saleem, after discovering floatation therapy through research and taking the leap and brought the experience to Durban. She reflects on her own journey into Body Stress Release, what she learned about stress, stored tension, and the importance of creating space to reconnect with yourself.

This conversation isn’t just about float therapy but more about how to regulate your nervous system and simple practices business owners can use to get back to full capacity.

Timestamps

01:35 Introduction Aneesa Dadabhay and Float Wellness

06:03 Life before Float Wellness and how the journey began

11:46 Practical ways to manage stress and look after yourself

17:38 Why self-care takes work and why founders look for quick fixes

21:00 Understanding the parasympathetic state

24:08 Early warning signs of burnout

28:05 Aneesa’s turning point through Body Stress Release

31:12 Learning to sit calmly in the storm

36:05 Three patterns that keep people stuck in stress mode

38:12 What Body Stress Release does for stored tension

44:22 Who Body Stress Release is most helpful for

48:00 What happens during a floatation therapy session

52:35 Floatation therapy, anxiety, and sensory reduction

56:27 Business ownership as a journey of self-awareness

59:30 Advice for business owners struggling with anxiety

Who is Aneesa Dadabhay?

Aneesa Dadabhay is the owner of Float Wellness in Musgrave, Durban, and a practitioner at Body Stress Release Centre. Her journey into this work began after seeing how body stress release helped her late husband, Saleem, with ongoing back and sciatic pain.

After training on the Garden Route, Aneesa built her practice around helping people understand how stress, tension, and overload can show up in the body. Through her work she supports people looking for natural, complementary ways to manage stress, pain, sleep, and nervous system recovery.

Links:

🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aneesa.dadabhay/

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aneesa.bodystressrelease/

🔗 Website: https://floatwellness.co.za/

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This Podcast is produced by Kythe Creative:

YouTube - / @kythecreative

Instagram - / kythecreativemedia

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Apple podcast -https://apple.co/3mQqpVj

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What does it mean to build a small business that holds space for people during life’s hardest transitions?

We get to talk with Claire De Sylva, founder of Claire’s Concepts, to explore how her work helping families declutter and relocate is about far more than organising homes.

Through her business, Claire helps people navigate difficult life moments such as loss, downsizing, relocation, and major transitions. In this conversation we explore the emotional side of letting go, the psychology behind why people hold onto possessions, and how a deeply personal experience shaped Claire’s purpose-driven business.

Timestamps

02:45 What Claire’s Concepts Actually Does

05:35 Helping People Through Life Transitions

06:00 Why We Hold On to “Stuff”

06:55 The Emotional Weight of Letting Go

08:30 Death, Divorce and Major Life Changes

09:30 The Psychology of Clutter

12:40 Helping Families Find Closure

15:20 The Role of Empathy in Her Work

18:45 The Business Behind Claire’s Concepts

21:50 Building a Second-Hand Thrift Model

25:10 Sustainability and Circular Economy

28:30 The Durban North Community Market

31:40 Generosity as a Business Principle

35:10 Supporting People Through Emigration

39:20 Setting Boundaries in Emotional Work

43:10 Advice for Small Business Owners

46:30 Building a Business That Holds Space for People

49:00 Final Thoughts

Who is Claire Da Sylva?

Claire Da Sylva is the founder of Claire’s Concepts, a Durban-based business that provides professional organising, relocation support, and sustainable thrifting services. Her work focuses on helping individuals and families navigate major life transitions while creating space for what matters most.

Links

Website: https://www.clairesconcepts.co.za/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-de-sylva-36b4b21a1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claires_concepts_thriftshop/ and https://www.instagram.com/resetandgo_sa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buyandsellallsorts

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@clairesconcepts

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What if the strongest businesses aren’t built around profit, but around people first?

What does it look like to build a business that is sustainable, profitable, and deeply impactful?

Cindy shares how Pro Talent began with just R2,500 in the bank and about the early challenges she faced in the recruitment industry. We also explored Cindy’s personal story, including the mentor who helped her see the “seeds of greatness” in herself, and how that moment shaped the way she now sees potential in others.

This conversation offers both inspiration and practical insight for small business owners who wants to build something that serves people well. From discrimination in the recruitment industry to the importance of hiring for good employers, she unpacks it all in this episode.

Timestamps

01:35 Introduction Cindy Norcott and impact-first businesses

06:46 Why generosity must start inside your own team

11:46 How Pro Talent began

13:50 What getting a job does for a person

16:02 Discrimination in recruitment and sending candidates on merit

20:38 What bad hiring delays cost a business

24:18 Hire slowly, fire quickly, and the 12-piece hiring puzzle

29:39 What “a heart for people” means at Pro Talent

36:02 Generosity as a sustainable business advantage

40:22 Seeing people beyond the transaction

44:27 Cindy’s childhood “Thrilling Three Society”

46:07 The mentor who saw Cindy’s seeds of greatness

49:59 Why business owners need mentors

52:47 How Cindy learned to see potential in others

01:05:44 What the Robin Hood Foundation does

01:10:05 Cindy’s next season: leading the leaders

01:18:25 Cindy’s advice on purpose, values, and intentionality

Who is Cindy Norcott?

Cindy Norcott is the founder of Pro Talent, a Durban-based recruitment company she started in 1994. For 32 years, she has helped companies find the right people while helping the new employees access opportunity, and purpose.

She is also the founder of the Robin Hood Foundation, a Durban-based non-profit organisation that began from a simple act of giving and grew into a major community impact initiative. Through projects such as Mahala Markets, sandwich drives, granny gifting, and support for vulnerable families, the foundation has helped restore dignity and practical support to people across communities.

Cindy is also a keynote speaker, author, mentor, and advocate for generosity in business. Her work is rooted in seeing the potential in people and helping them recognise the seeds of greatness within themselves.

Links:

🔗 Cindy Norcott’s Website: https://cindynorcott.co.za/

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindynorcott

🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cindy.norcott

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindy.norcott/

🔗 Pro Talent Website: https://pro-talent.co.za/

🔗 Robin Hood Foundation Website: https://www.robinhoodfoundation.co.za/

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