Marketing Masterclasses

How do you go from an unexpected start to leading marketing at one of Africa’s biggest banks?

In this episode of Marketing Masterclass, Sydney Mbhele, Chief Marketing Officer at Absa, shares the journey that shaped his career and the mindset that’s guided him along the way.

Sydney reflects on the moments that changed his trajectory, why he believes attitude matters more than talent, and what he looks for when building teams. The conversation also explores what the role of a CMO really involves today, beyond advertising and into real business impact.

If you’re thinking about growth, leadership, or your next step, this is a conversation worth listening to.

From engineer to CMO of PepsiCo South Africa, Vilosha Soni’s journey is anything but conventional.

In this episode, she unpacks what it really takes to build iconic brands, stay relevant across generations, and lead high-performing teams at scale. You’ll learn why curiosity is a marketer’s greatest advantage, how to translate consumer insight into business impact, and why having a bias for action beats waiting for perfection.

This is a masterclass in modern marketing, leadership, and thinking like an opportunist in a world full of noise.

How do you grow into leadership in marketing?

In this episode of Marketing Masterclass, Vilashni Vandayar, Marketing Director of Convenience Food and Beverages at PepsiCo, reflects on her journey from starting out in science to leading some of South Africa’s most recognisable brands.

Vilashni shares the mindset that has shaped her career, from staying curious and continuously learning, to stepping into opportunities that feel bigger than you’re ready for. The conversation also touches on leadership, building teams across diverse portfolios, and why real growth often comes from uncomfortable moments.

If you’re building a career in marketing or stepping into leadership, this is a conversation worth listening to.

How do you grow into leadership in marketing?

In this episode of Marketing Masterclass, Vilashni Vandayar, Marketing Director of Convenience Food and Beverages at PepsiCo, reflects on her journey from starting out in science to leading some of South Africa’s most recognisable brands.

Vilashni shares the mindset that has shaped her career, from staying curious and continuously learning, to stepping into opportunities that feel bigger than you’re ready for. She also touches on leadership, building teams across diverse portfolios, and why real growth often comes from uncomfortable moments.

If you’re building a career in marketing or stepping into leadership, this is a conversation worth listening to.

As retail continues to evolve, digital is becoming a big part of how Pick n Pay connects with customers and delivers value.

In this episode, Kerry Janse Van Rensburg, Head of Digital Marketing Operations at Pick n Pay, shares how her team is rebuilding the retailer’s digital engine. From paid media strategy and marketing technology to customer data and the Smart Shopper ecosystem, Kerry explains what it really takes to modernise digital inside a massive organisation. She also reflects on her journey from agency life to leading digital at scale and why understanding the entire digital ecosystem is now essential for modern marketers.

A great conversation for anyone interested in the future of retail and digital transformation, so give it a listen.

What does it take to build one of South Africa’s fastest growing digital banks?

In this episode of Marketing Masterclass, Lucia Malapane, Head of Brand Marketing at GoTyme Bank, shares with Declan the story behind the bank’s growth to more than 12 million customers.

Lucia reflects on her journey from being part of building the business in its early days to leading the brand today, and how GoTyme Bank is rethinking banking by making it more accessible, simple, and customer focused.

The conversation also explores what great marketing looks like in financial services, how brands can build trust with customers, and why young professionals should focus on learning, curiosity, and being open to opportunity.

What does it really mean to never stop inventing a better way to shop?

In this episode, Carol Feeley, Head of Creative at Ocado, joins Declan to share what that looks like in practice at one of the UK’s leading online grocery retailers. She talks about building a brand inside a business that is deeply data driven, and why consistency and patience matter more than constantly chasing the next new idea.

Carol unpacks the thinking behind Ocado’s purpose, how the Save and Splurge campaign helped reframe value in online grocery, and how she protects creative time so her team can focus on the work that truly makes an impact. She also shares why marketing should make life easier, and make people laugh.

If you care about building brands that last in performance driven environments, this is a conversation worth listening to.

Caroline is a firm believer that great businesses are built by great people. In this episode of Marketing Masterclasses, Caroline sits down with Declan to unpack what people-first leadership really looks like at scale.

She dives into the balance between strategy and culture, why narrowing down the tools your team actually values matters more than chasing trends, and how embedding corporate responsibility into business operations creates lasting impact.

Michaella Robertson has spent her career figuring out how to make brands matter, from big ideas to the little details that actually stick. In this episode, she joins Nicole to explore why social is a behaviour, not a channel, how AI should scale connection rather than replace it, and why the strongest creative work starts with a culture of trust. From Durban to Switzerland to leading global creative teams, Michaella shares what it takes to build brands that resonate in 2026 and beyond.

Karla Levick, Chief Marketing Officer at takealot.com, is a strong advocate for how brands must evolve in a creator-led world. In this episode, Karla sits down with Declan to chat through why brands should behave more like content creators, how to work authentically with South Africa’s creator economy, and how to build brand equity on social platforms. She also discusses consistency, trust, and why marketing success today comes from iteration and innovation.