Risky Business with Bryan Hattingh

In Episode 34 of Risky Business, host Bryan Hattingh and co-host Jonathan Shaw take the mic together for a candid conversation on navigating uncertainty, economic strain, and personal anxiety. Facing global unrest, rising costs, and local hardships, the duo explores the physiological toll of "what-if" thinking and how to break the cycle of worrying about things that haven't happened. Grounded in empathy, practical wisdom, and the importance of daily gratitude, Bryan and Jonathan discuss how building emotional and psychological resilience allows us to weather life's inevitable storms and thrive anyway.

Find more at https://riskybusiness6.wordpress.com/ or https://www.cycan.co.za/

In this episode of Risky Business, host Bryan Hattingh and co-host Jonathan Shaw sit down with executive and non-executive director Les Rance for an insightful discussion on leadership development, professional transitions, and the lifelong journey of learning. Les shares his fascinating personal trajectory, moving from a rural upbringing in Zimbabwe to dynamic corporate executive roles across the globe, eventually transitioning to his current work on non-profit and corporate boards in the UK.

The conversation dives deep into the distinct differences between performance coaching and transformational mentorship. Drawing from personal experiences and the pioneering research of Les's wife, Dr. Dudu—whose upcoming book explores the often-overlooked perspective of the mentor's own growth and vulnerabilities—the trio discusses why the corporate world must move past rigid "command and control" models. Instead, they advocate for a systemic, curious, and empathetic approach to leadership that balances organizational structure with genuine, heart-led human connection.

Find more at https://riskybusiness6.wordpress.com/ or https://www.cycan.co.za/

In this episode of "Risky Business," host Bryan Hattingh and co-host Jonathan Shaw dive deep into the stark, often misunderstood distinctions between traditional contingent recruitment and retained executive search. Tracing the industry's roots back to its pioneering era in 1926, the duo examines why senior talent acquisition requires an exclusive, proactive, and forensic approach rather than simple order-taking. From dissecting the "epidemic" of executive placement failures to outlining how companies can properly evaluate a candidate's unconscious competencies, this conversation serves as a masterclass in modern leadership alignment and career management.

Find more at https://riskybusiness6.wordpress.com/ or https://www.cycan.co.za/

In this episode of the podcast, host Bryan Hattingh and co-host Jonathan Shaw sit down with Heinoux Roux, the CEO and founder of NexBDM Venture Studio, to dissect the practical realities of automation for modern business owners. Moving past the massive "sci-fi fear" and hype surrounding artificial intelligence, Heinoux shares how his company builds bespoke solutions, electronic systems, and language models to streamline tasks and eliminate repetitive workflow chokepoints. The conversation emphasizes that true digital integration is less about replacing workers and more about repurposing human capital—freeing up time from mundane administrative data entry so teams can return to the highly valued, face-to-face personal relationships that drive authentic commercial success.

Find more at https://riskybusiness6.wordpress.com/ or https://www.cycan.co.za/

In this episode of the podcast, host Bryan Hattingh is joined by tech pioneer Hannes van Rensburg for an insightful look back at the creation of Fundamo—the world’s first mobile payment platform. Hannes shares the incredible journey of being challenged by his CEO at Sanlam to leave his comfortable corporate life and invent the future of digital finance. From hacking payment logic onto 8k SIM cards to dominating the Pakistani market and engineering a massive acquisition by Visa Inc., the conversation explores what it takes to build a business when you are miles ahead of the curve. Beyond the tech, Hannes and Bryan reflect on the true meaning of success, the importance of corporate ethics, and the responsibility of giving back to the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Recommended music with this podcast:

• Keith Urban - Guitar Man
• Joe Bonamassa - I Fall Apart

Find more at https://riskybusiness6.wordpress.com/ or https://www.cycan.co.za/

In this episode of the podcast, host Bryan Hattingh and co-host Jonathan Shaw are joined by Tomasz Nadrowski, an investment professional at Amvest Capital and author of Mineral War: China’s Quest for Weapons of Mineral Destruction. Nadrowski dives into the highly complex world of critical minerals and rare earth elements, highlighting how China has effectively monopolised the production chains essential for everything from daily consumer tech to advanced military equipment. The discussion covers the stark differences between private equity and public markets in resource financing, the severe shortages of engineering talent facing the Western mining sector, and why modern geopolitical strategies must urgent shift to counter supply chain weaponisation.

Find more at https://riskybusiness6.wordpress.com/ or https://www.cycan.co.za/

In this episode of the podcast, host Bryan Hattingh and co-host Jonathan Shaw are joined by Sarah Richardson, founder of Streepi, to unpack the massive systemic gaps in global accessibility. Highlighting the staggering UN statistic that 1 in 6 people globally live with a severe disability, Richardson shares moving firsthand accounts of the harrowing challenges disabled travellers face—including an elite South African athlete humiliated on a recent international flight. The conversation expands beyond travel to critique the hollow buzzwords of corporate sustainability, the critical need for a collaborative leadership style that empowers the youth, and how true accountability is built only when the frustration curve is replaced with genuine inclusivity.

Recommended music with this podcast:

• Zager & Evans - In The Year 2525
• Bob Dylan - Forever Young
• Barry McGuire - Eve Of Destruction
• No Nukes - The Times They Are A Changin'

Find more at https://riskybusiness6.wordpress.com/ or https://www.cycan.co.za/

In this insightful episode of Risky Business, host Bryan Hattingh welcomes Patrick Kayton, co-founder and UK CEO of Cognician, an innovative corporate education and behavior change platform. Drawing on themes central to modern corporate navigation in 2026, the discussion highlights Kayton’s lifelong pursuit of understanding human psychology and driving effective learning. Kayton breaks down how Cognician leverages deliberate, thought-provoking digital questioning to move beyond traditional, passive training methodologies. By shifting the corporate focus from raw data retention to deep mental-model alignment, the episode provides leaders with a practical blueprint for activating personal accountability, navigating change, and "failing forward" at scale.

Recommended music with this podcast:

• Bruce Springsteen - Streets of Philadelphia
• The Jimi Hendrix Experience - All Along The Watchtower
• Audience - Stand By the Door
• U2 - The Hands That Built America

Find more at https://riskybusiness6.wordpress.com/ or https://www.cycan.co.za/

In this episode of Risky Business, host Bryan Hattingh welcomes Megan Harrington-Johnson, the founder and CEO of HJW Attorneys, marking her first appearance on the show in nearly a decade. Harrington-Johnson shares her multi-faceted life story, from her days as an elite open-water swimmer completing world-first Guinness record attempts to building a highly successful legal practice that has expanded well beyond its boutique origins. The conversation explores the intersections of self-leadership under pressure, the shifting dynamics of the legal landscape in South Africa, and the profound personal lessons she learned when her daughter successfully fought infant leukemia.

Find more at https://riskybusiness6.wordpress.com/ or https://www.cycan.co.za/

In this episode of Risky Business, host Bryan Hattingh and co-host Jonathan Shaw sit down with Tamara Lane, CEO and founder of the New York-based fintech company MPWR. Transitioning from a high-profile career as an Emmy Award-winning investigative journalist and financial news anchor, Lane shares her journey into the tech startup ecosystem. The conversation digs deep into the limitations of current generative AI, contrasting basic prompt-bound chatbots with Empower's proprietary, "policy-bound" AI agents. By helping lenders automate manual workloads and safely analyze unconventional data, Lane explains how her platform is successfully expanding credit access for the underbanked while driving massive operational efficiencies for banks.

Recommended music listening with this podcast:

• Mike & The Mechanics - "The Living Years"
• Golden Earring - "Twilight Zone"
• Free - "Little Bit Of Love"

Find more at https://riskybusiness6.wordpress.com/ or https://www.cycan.co.za/