The Lead Creative
The Lead Creative podcast hosts a series of conversations with great minds behind some of the leading brands, businesses, organisations and top ideas that we all love. From advertising thought leaders, forward-thinking brand leaders, innovative digital marketing minds to content creators - the podcast gives into what makes the world engage with some of the top brands. Founded and hosted by Mongezi Mtati, the podcast shares analysis, trends, and strategic intelligence.
Episodes
85 episodes
Cannes Lions: Cultural Nuance and Global Impact with Xolisa Dyeshana and Saf Sindhi
What does it take to create work that wins at Cannes Lions while also solving real brand problems? In this episode of The Lead Creative, hosted by Mongezi Mtati in collaboration with Danette Breitenbach, Editor of Bizcommunity...
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Season 7
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Episode 5
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1:16:41
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Human Truth Shapes Destination Marketing: Thembisile Sehloho
What does it take to market a country like South Africa in an always-on, cluttered world?In this episode of The Lead Creative, host Mongezi Mtati speaks with Thembisile Sehloho, Chief Marketing Officer of South African Tourism, ...
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Season 7
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Episode 4
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53:03
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The Art of Reinvention and Creative Freedom: Jill Greenberg
Over the past three decades, Jill Greenberg has created some of the most emotionally charged work in photography, from the End Times series to surreal animal portraits. Her images have appeared on Time, Variety, Newsweek and Wired. She has work...
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Season 7
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Episode 3
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45:33
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Short-Term Thinking in Advertising and Marketing Erodes Brand Growth: Gillian Rightford
Advertising and marketing are often driven by quick wins, and campaigns are designed to spike sales or chase trends. But in doing so, brands risk losing long-term relevance and impact.In this episode of The Lead Creative...
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Season 7
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Episode 2
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56:13
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Converting Strangers into an Engaged Community
How do you move from followers to a real community? In this episode, Selebogo Molefe shares how he built The Hookup Dinner, The People’s Fund, and more by focusing on trust, shared values, and consistency. We discuss bu...
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Season 7
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Episode 1
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1:02:08
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Crafting Iconic Stories That Influence Generations: Angus Gibson
What makes a story iconic and lasting? In this episode of The Lead Creative, filmmaker Angus Gibson shares his journey from the genre-defining Yizo Yizo to the visually stunning Shaka Ilembe. Fresh from the edit suite...
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Season 6
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Episode 12
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1:06:26
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From Resonance to Relevance: The Role of Culture in Marketing, Advertising and Brand Growth
Marketing and advertising have always shaped culture and influenced society. Yet, many brands today lack cultural depth, focusing more on data and short-term wins than on building lasting connections with communities.In this episode of <...
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Season 6
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Episode 11
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52:50
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People, Purpose and Profit: Growing Brands and Empowering Communities
Many brands talk about purpose, but few put it into action. In this episode, Charlie Stewart, CEO of Rogerwilco, shares insights on:How B Corp Certification ensures purpose goes beyond wordsThe shift in B2B...
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Season 6
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Episode 10
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47:09
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The Science of Marketing: Sydney Mbhele
Marketing has evolved into a discipline that demands measurable impact and accountability.On this episode of The Lead Creative, Sydney Mbhele, the Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer of Absa Group di...
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Season 6
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Episode 9
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52:01
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Balance Brand Equity and Short-Term Results in a Digital-First World: Christa Kruger
Consumers avoid traditional advertising while consuming on-demand content and utilising ad-free platforms, leaving brands struggling to connect. In this episode of The Lead Creative, Christa Kruger, MD of Wavemaker South Africa, shares...
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Season 6
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Episode 8
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45:52
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How Challenger Brands Build Community and Trust
Avashnee Moodley, Head of Marketing at OPPO South Africa, shares how challenger brands can thrive in saturated markets. She reveals the strategies that set OPPO apart in the competitive smartphone industry. Discover how the brand t...
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Season 6
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Episode 7
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45:55
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Creative Effectiveness and Strategy in a Fast-Paced Market: Margaret Johnson
In this episode of The Lead Creative, host Mongezi Mtati engages with Margaret Johnson OBE, Group CEO of Leagas Delaney, in an insightful discussion on creative effectiveness and strategy in today’s fast-paced marketing landscape. ...
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Season 6
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Episode 6
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47:38
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Seth Godin: Your Brand Has A Strategy, Not An Advertising or Marketing Problem
In this episode, the host of The Lead Creative, Mongezi Mtati talks to Seth Godin, author of This Is Strategy, about why brands mistake strategy issues for marketing and advertising problems. “It doesn’t matter how fast you’re...
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Season 6
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Episode 5
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37:15
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Reviving a Brand by Embedding it in Culture and Reclaiming Relevance: Charl Bassil
Charl Bassil, the Chief Brand Officer at the BBC and former CMO of Absolut Vodka, shares insights in rebuilding a global brand by deeply embedding it in culture. Charl shares his experience in leading Absolut Vodka’s resurgence when the brand h...
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Season 6
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Episode 4
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39:00
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The Creative Pulse Behind VW: Bridget Harpur
Mongezi Mtati talks to Bridget Harpur, Head of Marketing for Volkswagen South Africa (VW SA), about the secrets behind VW’s enduring cultural relevance and creative excellence. Volkswagen has long been more than a car brand; it’s a cultural ico...
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Season 6
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Episode 3
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41:39
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Compelling Content for Audience Growth and Brand Sponsorships
In this episode, Nicole Engelbrecht, creator of the True Crime South Africa podcast, shares her journey of building a loyal audience and attracting brand sponsorships. Key points include:Crafting compelling stories that resonate wit...
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Season 6
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Episode 2
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47:22
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Balancing Creativity and Brand Values in Influencer Marketing
Thando Gambushe, an FMCG influencer marketing lead, joins The Lead Creative to share her expertise on balancing creativity and brand values in influencer marketing. She reveals how passion-driven content and deep brand alignment create...
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Season 6
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Episode 1
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45:27
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Building Resilient Brands Through Ethical Leadership: Bonang Mohale
Should brands become more vocal on societal issues, or stay quiet until the dust settles and consumers are ready to shop again? These are some of the questions I posed to Professor Bonang Mohale, Chairman of Bidvest Limited and SBV Services. Pr...
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Season 5
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Episode 13
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48:52
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Rebuilding Brand Relevance: Nontokozo Madonsela
Rebuilding relevance for established brands can be a challenge. In this podcast, Nontokozo Madonsela, Group CMO of Momentum Metropolitan Holdings, explains how her team tackled this through strategic boldness, collaboration, and creativity....
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Season 5
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Episode 12
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58:20
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Breaking Cultural Barriers for Authentic Brand Engagement: Steve Babaeko
Steve Babaeko, the award-winning CEO and founder of X3M Ideas, delves into the remarkable journey that led to his agency's historic Cannes Lions win—the first for a Nigerian and West African agency. This conversation offers invalu...
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Season 5
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Episode 11
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48:12
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Brave and Authentic Brand Communication
Join Jessica Wheeler, Marketing Director at Nando's South Africa, as she reveals the secrets behind Nando's authentic brand communication. Learn about her transition from agency to brand, and how Nando's maintains its unique brand voice, ...
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Season 5
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Episode 10
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47:46
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The Secret to Higher Productivity in Creative Teams: Jack Skeels:
CEO of AgencyAgile Jack Skeels shares why traditional management structures are holding back creative agencies and how you can change this. The author of "Unmanaged: Master the Magic of Creating Empowered and Happy Organizations," shares ways f...
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Season 5
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Episode 9
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50:32
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Building Resilient Brands with Generational Relevance: Abey Mokgwatsane
In our latest podcast episode, Abey Mokgwatsane, the CMO of Investec, discusses the essence of brand endurance amidst market shifts. Drawing from his experiences in shaping brand strategies at Vodacom and Ogilvy, Abey stresses the ...
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Season 5
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Episode 8
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37:25
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Unleashing Brand Potential Through Marketing Innovation: Khensani Nobanda
In a crowded market where people are bombarded with marketing and advertising messages at every turn, where brands are clamouring for attention, what does it take to truly stand out? To create something that resonates with your audience and dif...
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Season 5
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Episode 7
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55:09
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The Impact of Diversity on Marketing and Business Growth: Veli Ngubane
In this episode, we sit down with Veli Ngubane, of Avatar Agency Group, to explore how diversity isn't just a buzzword in marketing and business—it's the secret sauce to their explosive growth and creative success. From a team of over 100 peopl...
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Season 5
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Episode 6
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47:07
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