In this episode, we speak to Chris Steel a senior adviser with Fletcher Advisory, a small, globally experienced strategic communications firm specialising in working with boards and EXCOs both locally and internationally. Chris advises on business-critical situations such as a licence to operate issues, shareholder value and employee engagement.

This episode covers the following topics:

- What is a communication strategy
- The need for company’s to develop a communication strategy
- Elements to remember when developing a communication strategy
- Do’s and don’ts of communication
- Communicating in a time of crisis

In this episode of the Ukwanda Podcast, we speak to Dr Chris Jacobs, an industrial-organisational psychologist, Human Capital practitioner and PhD academic. His research interests feature employee performance, digital technology, business process services and its impact on organisational human capital.

Chris discusses the effect of understanding personality on managing teams during the COVID-19 lockdown as virtual work becomes a reality for many companies. This interview is centred around the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) theory of personality.

What is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator? https://youtu.be/RoQi9Mvqip0

Topics in this episode:
* Personality and Virtual Work
* Communicating preferences
* Stress and virtual work

In this episode, we speak to Kevin Distiller, the new managing director of OMT subsidiary company Odyssey Talent Assessments. Kevin focuses on assessing the skills required to successfully enter the working world. He spends most of his time assessing individuals in the lower levels of organisations, identifying hidden talent, assessing work readiness, rolling out online assessment solutions and identifying the key levers to unlock performance at entry levels.

Some questions asked in this interview:

- What is the value proposition of assessments for business?
- Why do you focus on identifying talent in entry levels?
- When it comes to identifying and leveraging talent at this level, what are companies doing right and what are they failing to do?
- What is the current state of Psychological Assessment in SA?
- When it comes to Gamification are we doing enough in the gamified assessment space here in SA or should be dazzled less with its promises?

In this episode, we speak to Brad Ross who is the Marketing and Commercial Leadership Director, Coca-Cola West Africa Business Unit. We speak to Brad about his unique leadership style, some modern rules of leadership in the African context, his role in the FIFA Soccer World Cup, the effect of consumer behaviour and the role of data as a business imperative.

Brad also shares with us what it took to lead a team taking the Fifa Soccer World Cup trophy around the world, over 300 000 km, 42 time zones and 90 countries within 9 months.

To find out more about Brad, follow him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-ross-a527b225/

In this episode, we talk to the ‘travelling ergonomist’ Kirsty Angerer about the understated value of ergonomics in the workplace. Included are some practical tips you can use to improve your well-being at work today.

Kirsty is a Certified Professional Ergonomist, Frequent Flyer, Workplace Wellness Advocate, Fitwel Ambassador and Self Confessed Ergonomics Nerd.

She has worked in the areas of ergonomic program development and training for managers and employees for quite some time now, with a global client base. Travelling the world regularly, she strives to make it a more healthy and comfortable place

Kirsty is a Certified Professional Ergonomist, Frequent Flyer, Workplace Wellness Advocate, Fitwel Ambassador and Self Confessed Ergonomics Nerd.

She has worked in the areas of ergonomic program development and training for managers and employees for quite some time now, with a global client base. Travelling the world regularly, she strives to make it a more healthy and comfortable place

Egbe is an Organizational Effectiveness practitioner with over 20 years of corporate experience as a business analyst, talent strategist, and learning and leadership development expert. She is also an executive coach. Her focus has always been on leaving the system better than she found it and encouraging others to do the same.

Her full career profile can be accessed via this link:
http://linkedin.com/in/egbe-adeoye-543b4912

In this episode of the Ukwanda podcast, we talk to Ismail Lambat, the executive finance business partner and CFO at Eskom as he shares insights on how to deal with uncertainty as a manager and navigate others through difficult times.

Topics discussed:
- Eskom
- Leadership paradigms
- Team dynamics
- People focus vs task focus
- Performance
- Communication
- Managing self

In this episode of the Ukwanda podcast, we speak to Spencer-Rae Kerr, an organisational psychologist and change management practitioner. His passion lies in applying behavioural science knowledge to the workplace in a way that maximizes human potential and flourishing. Spencer gives us his insights into the role of psychologists in the South African workplace or whether we should leave it to HR and MBAs

Topics covered in this episode:
- Contribution as a psychologist in his current organisation
- Employee centricity/Org culture
- Employee wellness and strategic/competitive advantage
- 4th Industrial Revolution

If you are a people practitioner and would like to share your own insights, please contact
Andrew Morris - [email protected]
Hofmeyr de Beer - [email protected]

In this episode of the Ukwanda podcast, we speak to Spencer-Rae Kerr, an organisational psychologist and change management practitioner. His passion lies in applying behavioural science knowledge to the workplace in a way that maximizes human potential and flourishing. Spencer gives us his insights into the role of psychologists in the South African workplace or whether we should leave it to HR and MBAs

Topics covered in this episode:
- Contribution as a psychologist in his current organisation
- Employee centricity/Org culture
- Employee wellness and strategic/competitive advantage
- 4th Industrial Revolution

If you are a people practitioner and would like to share your own insights, please contact
Andrew Morris - [email protected]
Hofmeyr de Beer - [email protected]