Shapers Podcast

In this episode of Shapers, Benjamin Shaw speaks with Mathew Marsden, entrepreneur and ecosystem builder behind Startup Club ZA, about his journey from wealth management into technology entrepreneurship and his mission to strengthen South Africa's startup ecosystem.

Mathew discusses the four pillars of ecosystem building – community, media, technology and capital – and the importance of connecting founders with the people, resources and investment they need to succeed.

The conversation also examines founder-investor relationships, trust, the realities of raising capital in South Africa and Mathew's long-term vision for creating meaningful economic value.

Presented by EXEO Capital

What does it take to become a high-performing individual, leader or team, and what role does purpose play in that journey? In this episode of Shapers, Riël Mallan sits down with Jonti Mayer, a high-performance coach and author of Conscious Manifestation, for a wide-ranging conversation about coaching, purpose, leadership, spirituality and personal mastery.

Jonti looks at what it means to have a coach who challenges your thinking, helps you confront your blind spots and creates the space for you to realise your potential. He also unpacks the importance of humility, lifelong learning and recognising that even highly successful people still need guidance.

The conversation moves into purpose and high-performing teams, examining the powerful connection between personal purpose, team purpose and business purpose, and why the challenges we encounter can be an essential part of the journey towards mastery.

In this episode of Shapers Podcast, host Benjamin Shaw speaks to Tessa Forman and Theresa Michael, the leaders behind Afrika Tikkun Bambanani, about Early Childhood Development, education, leadership and building stronger foundations for children across South Africa.

The conversation looks at why the earliest years of a child's life matter, how ECD practitioners and principals can be supported, and how curriculum, assessment, mentorship and educational technology can strengthen learning outcomes in rural and township communities.

Tessa and Theresa also discuss sustainability, community development, entrepreneurship and the importance of treating ECD centres as organisations that need strong leadership, practical skills and long-term support to thrive.

Presented by EXEO Capital

In this episode of Shapers Podcast, host Benjamin Shaw speaks to Sheldon Tatchell – Founder and CEO of Legends – for an inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership and building businesses that create lasting impact.

From cutting hair in Eldorado Park at the age of 14 to growing Legends into one of Africa's most recognisable barber brands, Sheldon shares how relationships, purpose and community became the foundation of his success. He reflects on customer experience, youth development, skills training and why investing in people is one of the smartest business decisions an entrepreneur can make.

The conversation also makes its way into the future of small business in the age of artificial intelligence, lessons from Harvard Business School and why business leaders have a responsibility to create opportunities that extend far beyond profit.

Presented by EXEO Capital

In this episode of Shapers Podcast, host Benjamin Shaw is joined by Habib Noorbhai – professor, entrepreneur, author and former Mr South Africa.

Together, they bring us an intriguing conversation about the human body as "the most sophisticated piece of technology we'll ever work with". Habib shares how he has built his career at the intersection of science and innovation, translating biomechanics and performance research into real-world applications through entrepreneurship and collaboration with startups.

This delves into African leadership, peer-to-peer learning and what it takes to move knowledge out of journals and into products, platforms and everyday lives.

Presented by EXEO Capital

What does the future of agriculture look like when you blend risk, branding and bold thinking?

In this crossover episode, Shapers co-host Riël Mallan joins Dewald Kirsten and Louise Brodie on the Lucentlands Podcast to reflect on three decades of hard-earned lessons in agri-business, brand building and navigating change in a deregulated market.

From his early days trading in a shifting post-90s environment to building premium fruit export brands and shaping investment strategies in private equity, Riël brings his signature blend of wisdom, wit and candour to the conversation.

This episode dives into:

• The realities of deregulation and what it taught farmers about risk
• Why product quality alone won't cut it in a brand-driven world
• How private equity changed his outlook on scale, succession and sustainability

Whether you're in farming, finance, or just fascinated by how bold ideas take root – this is an unmissable listen.

🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts.

In this episode of Shapers, host Benjamin Shaw sits down with Professor Japie Greeff – electronic engineer, AI educator and one of South Africa's leading minds in gamification and serious game design.

With over two decades of experience spanning RF design, embedded systems, software development and academia, Japie brings a compelling perspective on how play, purpose and technology intersect. From his early days in product manufacturing to his current role as Deputy Director of the School of Computer Science and Information Systems at North-West University, Japie shares how he's turned his passion for persuasive design into powerful learning tools that impact people on a deeply human level.

This conversation sheds light on:

• How gamification can replace drudgery with meaning
• The psychology behind motivation and reward systems
• Why serious games are more than just fun
• And how the future of education and capability-building may well be game-shaped

If you've ever wondered how games can change the world – start here.

Presented by EXEO Capital

In this episode of Shapers, host Benjamin Shaw is joined by Bernard Laurendeau – a trailblazing entrepreneur and founder of Laurendeau & Associates. With roots in Ethiopia and France, and over 15 years of experience advising Fortune 500 companies, Bernard shares his unique journey from Silicon Valley to Addis Ababa and Tokyo.

They discuss the launch of Enkopa Lab Japan, a new advisory firm empowering Japanese businesses to expand into African markets, and the broader implications of tech, data and partnerships in shaping Africa's economic future.

This conversation offers critical insights into market development, intercultural strategy and what it takes to execute impactful change across continents.

Presented by EXEO Capital

In the final episode of Shapers for 2024, Co-Hosts Riël Mallan and Benjamin Shaw reflect on an extraordinary season filled with insights from leaders like Prof Nkuhlu, Dion Chang and Caitlin Nash. They also highlight key trends shaping the future and share holiday cheer while looking ahead to what 2025 has in store. Perfect for a reflective moment during the festive season!

From her humble beginnings in a small Free State town to reshaping the future of technology and innovation in Africa, Anita Nel's story is truly extraordinary. On The Shapers Podcast, Anita sits down with Benjamin Shaw to recount her remarkable journey – from working alongside tech pioneer Mark Shuttleworth to founding the renowned LaunchLab and establishing the University Technology Fund. Her career is a testament to curiosity, resilience and adaptability, navigating a path that spans teaching, psychology and technology commercialisation.

Anita reflects on the early days of internet security, the pivotal milestones in her career and her mission to empower startups while tackling real-world challenges. She shares how she transformed Stellenbosch University's Innovus into Africa's leading technology transfer office, all while driving innovation in healthcare, education and society at large. Tune in as Anita explores the lessons she's learned, the obstacles she's overcome and her vision for Africa as a global leader in the next wave of technological advancement.