Thanks to sports management specialists, Forwardzone (https://forwardzone.com), and software development geniuses Platform45 (https://www.platform45.com/) for their continued support of the One-Eyed Man podcast.

Desiree Ellis is the coach of the South Africa women's national football team, Banyana Banyana.

She was awarded Confederation of African Football Women's Coach of the Year in 2018 after the team finished second place in the African Women Cup of Nations and qualifying for the Women's World Cup for the first time. During her club career she played as a midfielder for Spurs Ladies among other teams, but tragically, as I was to discover early in our conversation, now supports Manchester United ;)

We talk about her journey through the professional game, the many influences over her leadership style, her hopes and dreams for our national team, and some of the challenges they've had to overcome over the last year. Forwardzone · Platform45 · MikeStopforth.com · Connect with Mike on LinkedIn · Follow Mike on Twitter · 48h crisis communication consultancy

This Leading on the Field series of conversations with key sporting personalities is brought to you by sports management specialists, Forwardzone (https://forwardzone.com).

At the tender age of 18, golf prodigy Ashleigh Buhai turned pro after breaking almost every amateur record in South Africa. She was the youngest player (14) to receive full African colours, the youngest player to win the Ladies South African Amateur Stroke Play and Match Play double, and the first player in 101 years to win the South African Open title three times.

She went on to win three times on the European Tour, where she currently plays, and is a fantastic ambassador for young South Africans rising through the sport, not to mention the consummate professional in all aspects of her game.

I spoke to Ashleigh about the unique challenge of playing a sport at the highest level where, unlike football, rugby or cricket, you really have nobody else to blame for your shortcomings other than you. You're out there alone on the golf course, and that means taking extraordinary levels of responsibility for your own readiness and performance. Not unlike, I think, the unique challenge of entrepreneurship or leading any organisation of significance, which can often be a very lonely job.

A big thank you to the teams at Forwardzone and Platform45 for making this episode of the One-Eyed Man possible Forwardzone · Platform45 · Connect with Ashleigh on LinkedIn · MikeStopforth.com · Connect with Mike on LinkedIn · Follow Mike on Twitter · 48h crisis communication consultancy

This Leading on the Field series of conversations with key sporting personalities is brought to you by sports management specialists, Forwardzone (https://forwardzone.com).

Enoch Nkwe is the assistant coach of the South African national cricket team, the Proteas.

A former professional cricketer himself, Enoch's promising career was cut short by injury. Rather than be defeated by this setback, he reinvented himself as a successful coach in the franchise system, then in the Netherlands national team make up, and after a hugely successful stint at the coach of the Highveld Lions, settled into a new role with his beloved Proteas.

We talk about the unique challenge of leading a national sports team, and how leadership influences in his early life shaped the philosophy he brings to the team today.

Enoch's passion for his work is palpable, and I thoroughly enjoyed our discussion. I hope you do too, and if you do, please share it with your network.

A big thank you to Platform45 (https://platform45.com) for their continued support of the podcast. Forwardzone · Platform45 · Connect with Enoch on LinkedIn · MikeStopforth.com · Connect with Mike on LinkedIn · Follow Mike on Twitter · 48h crisis communication consultancy

A big thank you to Platform45 (https://platform45.com) for making this episode possible.

Should we be jumping the WhatsApp ship?

In this episode I talk to Nerushka Bowan about the recent panic over - and exodus from - WhatsApp. Nerushka is an emerging technology law specialist and legal technology innovator, and has been one of the more balanced and lucid voices in the noise around this interesting development. Nerushka's website - book her talks! · Nerushka on Twitter · Platform 45 · MikeStopforth.com · Connect with Mike on LinkedIn · Follow Mike on Twitter · 48h crisis communication consultancy

A big thank you to Platform45 (https://platform45.com) for making this episode possible.

Styli Charalambous — Daily Maverick | CEO/Publisher

The thinking behind the launch of print weekly DM168

In this episode I talk to Styli Charalambous, the visionary CEO and Publisher of Daily Maverick. In the midst of a particularly unpredictable time for media businesses (and the world at large, to be fair), South Africa’s digital-first-and-only news publication drew international attention with its launch of a print weekly, DM168.

We discuss the vision and motivation for this bold move, in context of a broader conversation about misinformation, disinformation, and the politicisation of media in general. Platform45 · 48h — My new social media crisis communication consultancy · Halo brand agency · The Daily Maverick · Connect with Styli on LinkedIn · MikeStopforth.com · Connect with Mike on LinkedIn · Follow Mike on Twitter · 48h crisis communication consultancy

Rowan Belchers — Lockstep | Founder

Dismantling and demystifying some widely held misconceptions about CEOs

In this episode I talk to specialist CEO advisor Rowan Belchers about what being a CEO really means, why the role is more important than ever in determining organisational success, and how modern CEOs are having to revise their views on leadership to adapt and thrive.

Rowan is the founder of Lockstep, which delivers customised leadership solutions to significantly impact business performance, and the creator of The CEO Project a programme specifically designed for leaders who sense they need a new blueprint for success in a rapidly evolving business and societal landscape. Lockstep Consulting · The CEO Project · MikeStopforth.com · Connect with Mike on LinkedIn · Follow Mike on Twitter · 48h crisis communication consultancy

Ian Fuhr — Hatch Institute | Founder

How race relations and diversity are fueling business growth and prosperity

In this episode I talk to Ian Fuhr, known to many as the dynamic founder of the Sorbet group, about his new project the Hatch Institute and its work in helping entrepreneurs build more inclusive, progressive and impactful businesses.

Ian defines the work of the Hatch Institute with the phrase 'cultureneering'. His first business, K-Mart, catered to underserved black markets in the late 1970s and early 1980, deep in darkest years of segregationist Apartheid South Africa.

In the early 1990s, Ian launched a labour consultancy, Labour Link, to assist businesses navigate race relations within their organisations during one of South Africa’s most tumultuous periods. Throughout his career Ian has remained convinced that, despite the complexity of the South African socio-political landscape, fostering working environments and cultures that revolve around a common purpose of obsessive customer service we will result in success.

We talk about his passion for South African business owners, about the opportunities and challenges of our complex business landscape, and especially about the power of having difficult conversations. The Hatch Institute · MikeStopforth.com · Connect with Mike on LinkedIn · Follow Mike on Twitter · 48h crisis communication consultancy

Charlie Quirk — Google | Consultant Director of Strategy

Why Kung Fu Panda should be in every leader's resource bank

"One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it. In this episode I talk to one of my favourite internet friends, Charlie Quirk, about our mutual passion for cinema, the lessons we can all learn from the Hollywood, and particularly, the wisdom of the Kung Fu Panda animated movies. I've been trying to find someone keen to have this discussion with me for ages, so I'm disproportionately excited about this show :)

Charlie Quirk describes himself as a global strategy director, cinephile, failed clarinetist, doting dad. He's worked with a broad range of companies including Google, Microsoft, HP, Chevrolet, PayPal, Samsung, AT&T, Visa, Symantec, Zillow, MetLife, Best Buy, Grant Thornton, Dickies, Adidas, Nissan, Qatar Airways and others." Charlie's website · The Furious Curious podcast. Charlie and Britton Rice go into unreasonable depth discussing the weird and wonderful of modern culture. · Charlie's tremendous Hollywood insights deck. · MikeStopforth.com · Connect with Mike on LinkedIn · Follow Mike on Twitter · 48h crisis communication consultancy

Robert Mtshali — MobiWashSA | Founder

Discussing perseverance and passion with Alexandra's Robin Hood

"In this episode I talk to the self-proclaimed Robin Hood of Alexandra township, Robert Mtshali (and who am I to argue?). Robert is a serial entrepreneur who reached out to me on Twitter because he believed his story would resonate with you, and wow, was he right.

After suffering unimaginable tragedy at a very young age, Robert consistently overcame odds and obstacles to pursue his dream of being an entrepreneur. It hasn't been an easy route, but it has produced a young man wise beyond his years, deeply passionate about creating value, impacting lives and importantly, teaching others to follow in his footsteps." Robert Mtshali on Twitter · The MobiWash SA website - but look up the App on your chosen App store! · MikeStopforth.com · Connect with Mike on LinkedIn · Follow Mike on Twitter · 48h crisis communication consultancy

I just ended a 13 year relationship...

with Facebook.

Now, before you laugh (ok, you can laugh), this was a bigger deal for me than I'd like to admit. For over a decade I ran a social media business that relied heavily on the existence of Facebook - and its impact on companies and customers - to grow and thrive. Much of my reputation and self worth is wrapped up in the existence and success of that company, and so part of my reluctance to quit Facebook, apart from questions about its utility and the healthiness of using it, was the potential hypocrisy of quitting now.

In fact, I found my own reluctance to pull the 'delete my account' trigger so surprising, comical and revealing, that I decided to record a catharsis of sorts which I've published on the One-Eyed Man podcast. This monologue style recording is a little out of character for me, so I'd appreciate your feedback and thoughts on the approach. And the topic, of course. I explore not only my decision to quit Facebook but the reasons I'm still so dependent on other social media. MikeStopforth.com · Connect with Mike on LinkedIn · Follow Mike on Twitter · 48h crisis communication consultancy