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Business Unusual Podcast

As South Africa’s leader in business research, networking and conferencing, Topco Media has helped over 2 500 organisations connect and find value from our events. Over the last 21 years, we have worked with private and public departments and sectors such Microsoft, McDonalds, Mercedes-Benz and Coca Cola and government organisations such as the GCIS, DTI, DIRCO and DEA. The 10 000 organisations we conduct research each year, trust us to use quantitative and qualitative data to objectively grant external accreditation to the best-managed and best-performing companies in South Africa; to its BEE and gender parity leaders; to implementers of national development and to HR/tech innovators. Have a conversation with us today, about what partnership with Topco Media will do for you. Ralf Fletcher | CEO

Monthly English South Africa Business · Business

110 Episodes

1 – 20

Mark Furman: Your real competitor is not who you think it is

In this episode of the Business Unusual Podcast, Mark sat down with Ralf Fletcher to cut through the media hype to explain why AI is not a threat to be feared but an incredible tool to help businesses and people in their everyday life.

29 Oct 1 hr 17 min

Thandeka Nkambule: Why your social impact shouldn’t be your best-kept secret

In this episode Thandeka and Ralf Fletcher discuss why corporate transformation must be a strategic business imperative rather than charitable aid, and how South Africa’s future depends on the success of SMMEs.

8 Oct 1 hr 14 min

Simon Dingle: Navigating the global digital economy, the battle for privacy, and the stablecoin revolution

In this episode of the Business Unusual Podcast, host Ralf Fletcher sits down with Simon to explore the realities of stablecoins, navigating the global digital economy, why South Africa’s apartheid-era exchange controls are holding the country back, and how artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency intersect.

23 Sep 1 hr 12 min

Claude Hanan: The value of speed, scaling Superbalist, and building Bash

In this Business Unusual Podcast he joins Ralf Fletcher to chat about his journey, the Takealot days, the move to co-found Bash.com and the importance of speed and young talent in a competitive landscape.

28 May 1 hr 10 min

Alan Knott-Craig: Post-Mxit, bouncing back & building a R5 fibre revolution

In this episode of the Business Unusual Podcast the entrepreneur, author and founder of fibertime joins Ralf Fletcher to chat about everything from the lessons he learned from one year of running Mxit to the reason why he believes luck and networks have contributed to his success.

7 May 1 hr 02 min

From Soweto to Google: Why Kabelo Makwane believes comfort is the enemy of growth

In this episode of the Business Unusual Podcast, host Ralf Fletcher sits down with Kabelo to explore his fascinating career, dive into the realities of navigating diverse business cultures and how artificial intelligence is being localised to solve uniquely African problems.

26 Mar 1 hr 10 min

How Vera Nagtegaal and Vouch are bringing the human into financial advice

In this episode of the Business Unusual Podcast Vera, the CEO of Vouch SA, sat down with Ralf Fletcher to discuss why the traditional broker model is ageing out and why relying purely on digital price comparisons could be leaving you exposed.

19 Mar 50 min

How Amazon’s Robert Koen is building South Africa’s most loved store

In this episode of the Business Unusual Podcast, Robert Koen, the Managing Director of Amazon sub-Saharan Africa, joined Ralf Fletcher in-studio to discuss how they’ve balanced a “relentlessly Day One” startup culture with local authenticity.

5 Mar 1 hr 03 min

You’re losing millions in fees – Fynbos Money’s Adrian Hope-Bailie knows how to fix it

In this episode of the Business Unusual Podcast he joins Topco CEO, Ralf Fletcher to chat about the shocking realities of traditional financial advisory fees, the emotional barriers to investing, and why Fynbos Money has adopted a radically transparent, flat-fee membership model.

26 Feb 1 hr 08 min

He Is Revolutionizing Finance with AI and the Company is Now Worth Billions | Salvador Anglada

In this episode of the Business Unusual Podcast, Ralf Fletcher has a chat with Salvador Anglada, CEO of Optasia and veteran leader in telecom, technology, and fintech. With over 30 years of experience, including roles at e& enterprise, Telefónica, and O2, Salvador shares insights on driving growth through M&A, advancing…

4 Jan 59 min

Silicon Valley vs Policymakers: Beverly Schäfer on AI sovereignty and reclaiming humanity

In this episode of the Business Unusual Podcast, Ralf Fletcher chats with Beverly Schäfer, the former deputy speaker of the Western Cape provincial parliament, who served as the MEC for Economic Opportunities, Tourism and Agriculture in the Western Cape and is now a leading voice in data sovereignty and ethical…

16 Oct 2025 56 min

Why was EY able to create $1-billion in value by tapping into neurodiverse talent?

In the Business Unusual Podcast Dr Sarah Babb, founder and managing director at Stimm, joins Ralf Fletcher to explore the business case, market reality and strategic advantages in embracing neurodiversity in the workplace.

2 Oct 2025 1 hr 03 min

‘Winnie Mandela thought that was an assassination attempt’ - Mathews Phosa

In this Business Unusual Podcast Mathews joins Ralf Fletcher to reflect on an eventful career in politics which saw him play a key role in the Codesa negotiations, serve as Premier of the Mpumalanga province, and advise all five of South Africa’s democratically elected presidents.

7 Aug 2025 59 min

From HSBC to Binance: Hannes Wessels on leading Africa’s crypto rise under Richard Teng’s vision

In this fascinating conversation on the Business Unusual Podcast the former HSBC banker simplifies some technical aspects of the crypto world, addresses misconceptions and offers a sophisticated perspective on bitcoin investment cycles and the market dynamics in South Africa.

31 Jul 2025 43 min

From DEI to AI: Nedbank's Deb Fuller on why humanity is still key for success

In this episode of the Business Unusual Podcast Ralf Fletcher is joined by Deb Fuller, Group Executive: Human Resources at Nedbank.

10 Jul 2025 1 hr 09 min

Leadership is broken - Blanchard SA’s Jayson Naidoo knows how to fix it

What if the real problem in your company isn’t the strategy, the economy, or the competition… but you? In this episode of the Business Unusual Podcast, hosted by Ralf Fletcher, leadership coach and Blanchard South Africa CEO Jayson Naidoo flips the script on traditional leadership.

25 Apr 2025 59 min

CFO or Chief Value Officer? Nedbank's Mike Davis on mapping a sustainable future

How is the role of a Chief Financial Officer changing? What’s needed to reach the Sustainable Development Goals? What role can the financial sector play? In this Business Unusual Podcast, Nedbank’s CFO Mike Davis joins award-winning broadcaster Leanne Manas to answer these questions and more.

14 Nov 2024 43 min

From vision to reality: How Chipo Mushwana is shaping the future of payments

Chipo Mushwana, Executive: Emerging Innovation and Payments at Nedbank, joins Janine Brown to discuss her diverse career journey, focusing on her commitment to financial inclusion and mentorship within the fintech space.

15 Aug 2024 1 hr 01 min

Navigating social media policy in Africa - Meta's Duduetsang Makuse

In this episode of the Business Unusual Podcast, Sasha de Freitas, Senior Conference Producer at Topco Media, engages with Duduetsang Makuse, Public Policy Manager for SADC at Meta. This episode delves into navigating the complexities of social media policy in Africa compared to global standards.

28 Jun 2024 57 min

"I built the 'Amazon' of Zimbabwe" - Kudakwashe Manzanga, CEO, The Daily Sale Shop

In this Business Unusual Podcast, Sasha de Freitas, Senior Conference Producer at Topco Media is joined by Zimbabwean tech entrepreneur, Kudakwashe Manzanga, the CEO of The Daily Sale Shop, an e-commerce platform offering over 12 million products.

27 Jun 2024 49 min

1 – 20