This is an educational series where we interview people we consider Incredible Machines. The conversations will be facilitated in a way that allows us to establish what makes these people “incredible” so that we may learn and try their strategies and tactics where applicable.
Reading the feed…
Welcome to Episode 57 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Graeme Stiles, the founder, CEO and Chief AI Officer of Algorithm, to unpack a journey that started with uncertainty and self-doubt and eventually led to building a global performance marketing agency. The conversation explores what happens when a technical specialist becomes a business owner. Graeme shares the realities of starting Algorithm from a bedroom while preparing to become a father, learning to sell, building a team, expanding internationally and n
Welcome to Episode 56 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Kuki Shah, a Kenyan born entrepreneur, executive coach, facilitator and former family business leader who now helps entrepreneurs and leadership teams unlock clarity, accountability and long-term growth through Bloom Growth. He is based in Dubai. After helping scale his family's business, he went onto successfully compete against multinational giants such as Unilever and Vaseline, he transitioned into coaching founders and leadership teams across Africa and
Welcome to Episode 55 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Thando-Rose Dladla, a spiritual healer, transformational breathwork facilitator, entrepreneur, speaker and the woman behind The Funkie Healer. Thando shares the experiences that led her from Johannesburg to KwaZulu Natal and ultimately towards answering her spiritual calling. She reflects on identity, culture, religion, ancestral wisdom and the complicated journey of understanding who she truly is. Beyond her spiritual journey, Thando is actively involved in
Welcome to Episode 54 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Shaadia Vawda, an award-winning marketing executive, leadership coach and former global executive who has built brands across South Africa, the United Kingdom and international markets. Known for her passion for leadership development, innovation and helping organisations embrace change, Shaadia offers practical wisdom for navigating an increasingly uncertain world. During the episode we also touch on her leaving corporate life, the future of AI and human ju
Welcome to Episode 53 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Clinton Shum, the founder of Xpect Performance, a golf fitness specialist, entrepreneur and host of his own podcast called, Xpect Performance. Clinton shares how courage became his guiding word for the year and explains why intentional action matters more than perfect planning. He reflects on growing a business, opening a second studio, becoming a father and learning to make decisions despite uncertainty. The three also explore the hero’s journey, lessons fr
Welcome to Episode 52 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Samantha Edwards, a marketing and advertising professional whose life and career have taken her from Port Elizabeth to London, back to South Africa and through two cancer diagnoses. Samantha shares how her stable childhood, early working years, time in the UK, agency life, marriage to Scott and motherhood shaped the person she is today. She speaks openly about the fear of diagnosis, the shock of cancer returning, the emotional weight of waiting for answers,
Welcome to Episode 51 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Pieter “PG” Geldenhuys, an author, business coach, leadership facilitator, storytelling expert, and the mind behind Boks to Business. From growing up in Stellenbosch and Strand, to travelling through Austria, London, Israel, South America and beyond. He reflects on his early love of reading and writing, and the way his parents’ travel business became an early classroom for leadership, systems and service. PG also unpacks the power of storytelling, from the h
Welcome to Episode 50 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Sbonelo Mbatha, an entrepreneur, author of The Petrol Attendant, founder of Petro Connect, and one of South Africa's most reputable voices in the fuel retail industry. Born and raised in rural KwaZulu Natal, his journey is an incredible story of resilience, faith, and relentless action. From growing up without electricity to becoming the owner of multiple petrol stations and building a multi-million-rand business empire, his story challenges the standard thi
Welcome to Episode 49 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this deeply moving and uplifting conversation, Jon Oliff sits down with Jessica Hare, founder of Ditch the Lump and co-founder of Smart Meeting Rooms South Africa. Jessica shares the life experiences that shaped her faith, resilience and heart for people. She reflects on her early years as a teacher, her time in missions and community development, the burnout that forced her to slow down, and the relationships that helped her rebuild. From growing up in Durban and dreaming of adventure, to travelling through America, Hawaii and India
Welcome to Episode 48 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Marc O.Stöckli , a Swiss entrepreneur, investor, board member, former Global Chairman of Entrepreneurs’ Organization, and author of Make Boards Work. Marc shares a deeply practical and reflective account of how discipline, trust, humility and curiosity have shaped his life and work. From his upbringing in Switzerland and formative leadership lessons in the Swiss Army, to his international career across Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York and Switzerland. His journey
Welcome to Episode 47 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Justin Apsey, the former Managing Director of Unilever South Africa. We discuss his remarkable journey from his early days in Cape Town to leading one of South Africa's most iconic companies for over 25 years. He shares insights on finding your purpose, creating goosebump moments, and building truly inclusive organisations. The conversation covers his transformative "red pill" moment that awakened his understanding of South Africa's complex social landscape,
Welcome to Episode 46 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Laura Jane Thomas, an award-winning CMO, brand strategist, and founder of The Aligned Woman Co. We discuss her incredible journey from her early days at Vega, to launching her agency Salt and Candy with Coca-Cola as her first client, to navigating burnout, loss, and personal reinvention. She shares raw insights on the pressures women face to "tick the boxes," the dangers of masking burnout with medication, and the transformative power of finally asking for h
Welcome to Episode 45 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Shaun Tomson, a legendary South African surfing world champion, entrepreneur, author, and leadership speaker. From his remarkable upbringing in Durban, shaped by two extraordinary parents who each survived the Second World War, to becoming one of the most celebrated surfers of his generation, Shaun's story is one of courage, resilience, and profound purpose. He shares the origins of the iconic Instinct brand, his time at Patagonia under Yvon Chouinard, and t
Welcome to Episode 44 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Colleen Wilson, a Durban-based transformational consultant, coach, speaker, trainer and mentor whose work brings together the Enneagram, nervous system literacy, parenting support, personal development and team dynamics. From growing up in Durban and reflecting on a privileged, steady childhood, to experiencing early loss, complex relationships, chronic illness, motherhood, entrepreneurship and personal reinvention, Colleen shares the life experiences that s
Welcome to Episode 43 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Simon Nicolson, an Executive for Institutional Advancement at Emeris, and the driving force behind one of SA's most significant private higher education rebrands. From his formative years growing up in Pinetown and Pietermaritzburg, to navigating the challenges of national service, university life, and a career that took him from newspaper advertising to retail and ultimately into private higher education, Simon shares a fascinating and honest account of the
Welcome to Episode 42 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Kevin Parry, a Durban-based creative director, designer, and endurance athlete. He shares his journey from discovering his creative passion at a young age, navigating the ups and downs of the local design industry, to ultimately leading award-winning campaigns. He unpacks his personal challenges that shaped his career and outlook; including experiences with failure, family struggles, sobriety, and the importance of vulnerability and mental health, especially
Welcome to Episode 41 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Briony Bosse, a Durban-based brand consultant, lecturer, and mentor. She shares her journey from the call centre world to academia, reflecting on her passion for education, brand integrity, and helping others discover their authentic selves. Briony delves into her approaches to personal and corporate branding, the importance of truth and self-knowledge, her experiences with whole-brain thinking, and the challenges and opportunities AI brings to education. Sh
Welcome to Episode 38 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Raeesa Bayat, the director of Startup Grind Durban and a passionate advocate for female entrepreneurs. She speaks about her journey from a traditional Indian family, overcoming self-esteem challenges, to confidently commanding stages and building entrepreneurial communities in Durban. Raeesa shares memorable stories about iconic South African advertising, her path to public speaking, and the unique challenges of fostering local startup ecosystems. Jon, Luke
Welcome to Episode 40 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Ronen Aires, founder of Student Village, youth specialist, author of "Breach," and passionate coach in breathwork and performance. Marc shares his personal journey from growing up in a small South African town and being groomed for the family business, to carving his own path as an entrepreneur dedicated to empowering the next generation. The discussion delves deeply into generational perspectives, with Ronen reflecting on the evolving nature of confidence,
Welcome to Episode 39 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with James Lees, an entrepreneur, educator, and co-founder of Advantage Learning Technology. He shares his journey from a challenging childhood in Johannesburg and Durban to building one of South Africa’s most innovative digital education businesses. He speaks about key moments that shaped his life, from family upheavals and educational pivots to founding a business with a mission to unlock potential across Africa. James reflects on the importance of discipline,
Welcome to Episode 37 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Dorin Bambus, a creative director, agency founder, and all-around storyteller. He shares his journey from a sports-obsessed teenager navigating life-changing injuries, through his years as an editor and co-founder of Gorilla Creative Media, to his recent leap into the unknown by moving abroad and embracing new opportunities. Dorin digs into the lessons learned from physical adversity, the evolution of South Africa’s creative agency landscape, and how self-un
Welcome to Episode 36 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Laiela Dorasamy, the director of Ahavah Corporate Gifts & Uniforms, a mental health advocate and a transformational coach. We delve into themes of authenticity, emotional healing, faith, and personal growth. Laiela speaks about her journey through family trauma, supporting her daughter through anorexia, and discovering spiritual strength by embracing vulnerability and connection. Explore the significance of genuine relationships, self-compassion, and the pow
Welcome to Episode 35 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Jeff Dean Hubbard, a professional bodyboarder and entrepreneur from Hawaii. We discuss Jeff’s journey from his early days on Kauai to becoming a world champion and co-founding Hub Boards with his brother Dave. He shares insights on bodyboarding culture, product innovation, and the challenges of running a specialized sports brand. The conversation covers community traditions, the cyclical nature of the sport, and balancing family life with business. Jeff’s re
Welcome to Episode 34 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Judy Le Roux, a resilient mother and lifelong learner whose journey is marked by adaptation and perseverance. Judy speaks about raising her son Michael, who faced significant medical challenges from birth, and how these experiences shaped her outlook on life. She reflects on her childhood, the pivotal moments that led to career changes, and her willingness to embrace new technology and opportunities. Throughout the episode, Judy emphasizes the importance of
Welcome to Episode 33 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Mzokhona Gumede, a radio presenter who grew up on a farm in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, in a polygamous family. He shares his challenging upbringing, early fascination with radio, and determination to escape rural life. Through perseverance, Mzokhona built a successful radio career, growing audiences and embracing both traditional and digital media. In this conversation we explore the evolution of radio, the importance of community, and the role of women in
