Well Branded

Miss Australia 2013, Erin Holland is a force to be reckoned with. Not only does the former beauty queen have killer looks, she also knows a thing or two about sport. Her remarkable knowledge of the game of cricket has landed her the role of leading lady for many international tournaments, and most recently a place on one of Australia's leading television networks, Channel 7.

Erin is one of the most hard working women I've met. She 's built a successful profile that has caught the attention of leading international brands like Sephora and Qatar Airways, and is regularly flown all over the globe to lead the discussion on and off the pitch. As a qualified opera singer, it seems her talents are never ending.

I chat to Erin about her journey from pageantry to the pitch, and all the lessons she's learnt along the journey so far.

When engineer and former Miss India, Prachi Mishra, met South Indian movie star, Mahat Raghavendra, they wouldn't have guessed that in the not too distant future they'd become Mr & Mrs. 

When two strong personal brands come together, the union usually extends to more than just hearts.... it's brands, audiences and influence that need to make room for the other. In this case, Prachi's move to Chennai meant winning over the market, and exploring a completely unique space; while Mahat smoothly transitioned from being an eligible bachelor to a doting husband. 

So, how did their fans and markets react? 

Listen in on my casual chat with these somewhat still newlyweds in lockdown.

The world has erupted in the last week around racial prejudices, with specific focus on black lives following more incidents of police brutality in the USA. So many of us took to social media sharing black squares, and voicing our alliance or support for people within the black community with hopes of contributing to the cause of improving lives and bringing equality to the world we live in.

In this podcast interview I chat to Masego (Maps) Maponyane, a young, black South African male who travels the world for work and leisure. Maps and I have a conversation about the global movement of 'Black Lives Matter'; what it's like walking through the world as a black man, and how everyday people can mobilize to make a change.

*WELL BRANDED EXCLUSIVE* 

Something special happens at the end - Maps shares a very personal piece of creative writing with us that gives us an incredible perspective into a world many of us will never fully understand.

The art of the perfect 'flat-lay' is something that is part science and part art.

Donna Roper, Founder of Donna Hearts Beauty on Instagram, talks to us about how she does it. Donna's story is real - it's an inspiring account of how she turned a forced corporate career slow down into a thriving content creation business, and did it with pure heart, and a small following.

From large international brands across fashion, beauty and lifestyle, she not only offers a true look into how to nab the big brand names, but also shares her insider apps and tips to creating, polishing and sharing content for the purpose of business and brand.

Follow Donna on Instagram @DonnaHeartsBeauty

Australian fashion illustrator, Megan Hess, burst on to the scene as the cover illustrator for Candace Bushnell's book, Sex and the City. Since then she has gone on to illustrate for some of the world's leading luxury brands, celebrities and personalities, as well as build a personal brand empire of illustrations, homeware, fashion and so much more. As a multiple award winning author, she has extended her brand into the world of children's books with her chic and well traveled character, Claris the mouse, who is as fashionable as she is inspirational.

After working with Megan for just over 6 years I am always fascinated by her. Her effortless style, incredible talent and admirable down-to-earth personality has made a remarkable impact on me, but also allowed me to grow and challenge myself whilst working on her brand in the Middle East and briefly in South Africa. In 2016, we hosted an intimate influencer launch event with The Plaza, New York which was the cherry on the top to several inspiring years of working with Megan.

I chat to Megan about her brand journey, her vision for her personal brand as well her ever-stylish little mouse and what we can expect from her next.

Follow Megan's journey on Instagram at @meganhess_official and be prepared to fall in love!

I pulled this audio off an Instagram LIVE chat I had with Michael Nagy of Fairmont Rio. We talked about the travel industry, what the future holds for travel and how we see the destinations we visit, as well as expectations of travelers from the properties and brand they invest in. Despite the odd general knowledge question thrown our way, and my little one popping in (at 1am Dubai time) mid-sleep... it's a great chat that fuels the travel bug within!

All the way from Montreal, Canada, I chat to Lidija of Lidija's Kitchen who has transformed the way we see culinary experiences with her breathtaking gowns, and ever stylish high heels. Step into the kitchen with her of some of the best restaurants in Dubai and beyond, and hear first hand the success and challenges of marrying the world of fabulous cuisine with the some of the world's leading fashion brands. 

In March 2020 my husband and I traveled to Rio De Janeiro. What we found there fascinated us.

This interview was pulled from a video interview done with the Director of Sales and Marketing, Michael Nagy, when I asked him to tell us more about the fascinating destination, and tourism in Rio. From popular misconceptions, to insider tips on places to see off the beaten track... as a South African born, British raised, proud Carioca... Michael gives us the low down on this fantastic city by the sea.

Rio Carnival was one of the most incredible experiences of my life, and I definitely would love to see more visitors to Brazil which really does have so much to offer!

*** Apologies for the grainy audio due to the busy space we chatted in.

Take a front row seat as I chat to Dale Herbst of That Food Guy SA - a South African publishing and advertising agency.

After a recent big launch event, I ask Dale for his expert opinion on publishing - the criteria, the numbers, and the brand story that he looks for before bringing a book to life.

If you've dabbled with the idea of becoming an author, interested in what makes one book successful from the next, or simply curious about the world of food and publishing this is for you.

You can find Dale on Instagram @ThatFoodGuySA or online at www.thatfoodguysa.co.za

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