Marketing Masterclasses

Marketing in 2025 demands agility, authenticity, and impact.

Revlon SA’s Heather Goate shares her insights on short-form video, the creator economy, AI in marketing, and the career mindset that will set you apart.

Packed with global brand experience and practical takeaways, this is a must-listen for marketers who want to stay ahead.

Your brand isn’t the hero, your audience is.

In this episode of Marketing Masterclass, we sit down with Tom Fenwick-Smith, Senior Conceptual Creative & Strategy Social Lead at VodafoneThree, to explore what it really means to be social-first in today’s world.

From feature films to TikTok, Tom’s journey shows how bold ideas, creator partnerships, and a willingness to take risks can transform brands.

He shares:

• Why creators are key to building brand authenticity

• How to sell risky ideas to risk-averse people

• Why network sideways is career-changing advice

• How to turn your quirks and “weird” into your greatest USP

Packed with insights on creativity, social strategy, and brand building, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the future of marketing.

In this episode of Marketing Masterclasses, Declan and Rebecca sit down with Liezel Swiegers, Marketing Manager at Naked, the AI-driven insurance disruptor.

Liezel shares her journey from Takealot to Naked, the lessons she’s learned building a brand that stands out in a saturated industry, and why the Naked Difference is reshaping customer relationships in insurance.

Expect insights on:

• How to create content people want to share on social media

• Why building in-house creative capability can be a superpower

• The hardest challenges in measuring marketing ROI

• Leadership lessons and advice for future marketers

• Her personal mantra: get off the beaten track

A fresh, future-focused conversation that blends creativity, strategy, and authenticity.

Part 2 of 3 from our Speaker Series, recorded live in partnership with Red & Yellow Creative School of Business.

William Battersby knows what it takes to turn a homegrown idea into a global success. As CEO of BOS Brands, he’s led the transformation of a proudly South African iced tea into an internationally recognised brand.

In this conversation with Verusha Maharaj, MD at Red & Yellow, William shares the lessons he’s learned from building brands across London, Cape Town, and beyond. From navigating the balance between storytelling and sales, to shaping company culture, to why innovation and authenticity are non-negotiable, this episode is packed with insights for students, marketers, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in purposeful business growth.

Listen in as William reflects on leadership, global expansion, and why your brand, not your product, is your strongest defence.

Part 1 of 3 from our Speaker Series, recorded live in partnership with Red & Yellow Creative School of Business.

From Unilever to her current role as CMO of Spur Corporation, Vuyokazi Henda’s story is one of courage, care, and conscious leadership.

In this episode, she shares her journey across global and local brands, the lessons she’s learned about resilience and purpose, and why she believes in leaving the world a little softer. We dive into the power of discovering your gifts, choosing your arena, and leading in a way that builds both people and brands.

Vuyo also talks about the future of Spur, how brands can stay relevant in a digital-first world, and the balance between heritage and innovation.

An inspiring listen for anyone who cares about leadership, marketing, and making an impact that lasts.

"When one of our campaigns performs well, it’s not just numbers on a graph,  it’s jobs being created and food on the table.”

In this Marketing Masterclass, Caterina Toffoli-Metcalfe (Head of Design at Sweepsouth) shares how purpose-driven creativity and people-first leadership shaped her journey from Yuppiechef to Pernod Ricard, and why authentic impact matters more than ever.

🎧 Listen for insights on:

• Why culture is built in small daily actions, not one-off events

• How to lead with energy and empathy

• Balancing creativity, structure, and purpose

From Estee Lauder to PepsiCo to Nestlé, Zakithi Mncwango has built some of South Africa’s most loved brands. In this episode of Marketing Masterclasses, Lara chats to Zakithi all about her journey as an “accidental marketer” and the lessons she’s learned along the way.

We dive into:

• Why creators are the gateway to authenticity and relevance

• How consumers can spot an ad a mile away

• The role of AI in building always-on, empathetic brand engines

• Leadership lessons on balancing empathy with toughness

Whether you’re a student of marketing or a seasoned professional, Zakithi’s insights on culture, creativity, and brand building will leave you inspired.

South African-born product marketing expert Katy Carter shares her unconventional journey from yachting to leading growth at one of the UK’s fastest-growing digital banks, Tide.

In this episode, Katy opens up about:

• Navigating competitive global markets
• Turning complex financial solutions into simple, compelling stories
• The role great leadership has played in her career

Expect insights on product launches vs. adoption, working across cultures, using AI for smarter marketing, and why taking your shot matters more than you think.

Marketing in 2025 demands agility, authenticity, and impact.

Revlon SA’s Heather Goate shares her insights on:

• Short-form video
• The creator economy
• AI in marketing
• The career mindset that will set you apart

Packed with global brand experience and practical takeaways, this is a must-listen for marketers who want to stay ahead.

From anthropology to AI at DeepMind, Rupert Kemp’s journey is anything but typical.

In this episode, Jon unpacks how curiosity, kindness, and nonlinear thinking led Rupert to one of the most advanced AI teams in the world.

We dive into the future of AI, why prompt engineering matters more than you think, and how tools like Gemini are reshaping everything from productivity to creativity.