#6  Edwin Theron is an open book

Loading player...
In this episode of In Focus with Insight, Pamela Hellig is joined by Head of Sanlam Digisure, Edwin Theron, for a rich and wide-ranging conversation that moves from entrepreneurship to automation, and from small beginnings to bold ideas.

They dive into the lessons of books such as The Innovation Stack by Jim McKelvey and Shoe Dog by Phil Knight — exploring the value of starting small, how passion fuels persistence, and why innovation isn’t reserved for a select few. Edwin reflects on the discipline and teamwork he learned through sport, and how that’s shaped his approach to leadership and building businesses.

They also discuss the responsible use of AI, the importance of protecting creativity and critical thinking, and the kind of mindset needed to thrive in times of rapid change.

Edwin’s book picks:

Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari
Trillion Dollar Coach by Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg and Alan Eagle
Life of the Beloved by Henri J.M. Nouwen
The Innovation Stack by Jim McKelvey
Show Dog by Phil Knight
Connect with Edwin Theron on these platforms:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwin-theron-119554100/

Insight LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insight-actuaries-&-consultants/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insight_za/
Visit our website: https://www.insight.co.za/
Season 5 / Episode 6 7 Aug 2025 English South Africa Tech News · Tech News

Other recent episodes

Shaun Burger Smal is an Open Book

In this episode of Open Books, Pamela Hellig sits down with Shaun Burger Smal — qualified actuary and Acting Chief Investment Officer at the Road Accident Fund — for a candid conversation about failure, fellowship, fairy tales and the very human side of the Road Accident Fund. Shuan shares his…
Season 7 / Episode 1 1 hr 02 min

Inside the Biohackathon: How Real Data Is Changing Health & Wellness | Lubalethu & Liezél van Deventer

In this episode of InFocus, host Lubalethu Dube sits down with Dr. Liezél van Deventer, Clinical Innovation Lead at Insight Health Solutions, to unpack the Inside Biohackathon Experience — a groundbreaking experiment that used continuous glucose monitoring to uncover surprising truths about health, wellness, and lifestyle choices. From uncovering conflicting…
Season 1 / Episode 10 17 min

Katlego Mohlabeng is an open book

In this episode of In Focus with Insight, host Pamela Hellig speaks with Chief Risk Officer and actuary Katlego Mohlabeng about the books that have influenced his thinking, his approach to leadership and risk culture, and his passion for emotional intelligence and mentoring young actuaries. Together they explore themes from…
Season 5 / Episode 11 43 min

David O’Brien is an open book

In this episode of Open Books, host Pamela Hellig sits down with the Founder and Managing Director of the financial wellness business, Meerkat, David O’Brien, to talk about his career and philosophy via the books that have shaped him. Having come from Ireland to Cape Town via the UK (to…
Season 5 / Episode 10 1 hr 07 min