By Devan Moonsamy, CEO of The ICHAF Training Institute

Effective presentation skills are vital for all who are or who aspire to be leaders. According to Forbes Magazine, certain presentations can be career defining.

Here are a few rules and tips for becoming a better speaker.

1. Never wing it! If it’s important, or even if it would simply be some good practice, ensure you are fully prepared and that you practice what you are going to say numerous times.
2. During your speech, don’t draw attention to your nervousness by speaking about it. People will quickly forgive and forget signs of nervousness, such as stuttering, if you stick to your topic. Focus on the task at hand, rather than your own shortcomings, and you will earn your audience’s respect.
3. To counter nervousness, you must also ensure authenticity. Being yourself is much less stressful and more believable than trying to be someone else, so speak from your heart. Try to convey genuine warmth and a sense of contentment in order to make the audience comfortable with you. Calmness, combined with alertness, will also go a long way to winning the audience’s confidence.
4. Ask yourself the following questions before you begin planning what you are going to say:
   What am I trying to accomplish? What impact do I want to have on my audience?
   For example, do you want to inform your team of new changes to your organisation or to motivate your clients to buy into your brand or do you need to persuade a potential employer of your ability to fulfil the role you have applied for?
   Keep the ultimate purpose and desired outcome in mind from the preparation phases right through to the delivery.
5. Simplify everything. When we write sentences down, they tend to be longer than the sentences we would naturally say out aloud. If you are writing your speech down, bear in mind that convoluted, lengthy sentences will sound irregular when verbalised. Furthermore, condense your ideas and keep them simple so that they will be easier to follow.
6. Consider the size of your audience and the context. Find out exactly where your presentation will be held and what is available for you to use. Prepare for background challenges, logistics and technical requirements.
7. You may need to vary the subject and return to it again later if necessary so that you don’t bore the audience. For example, if you need to persuade a potential client to hire you, do not concentrate on yourself too much. Refer to the client’s needs, to the product or service and to the company you work for. Ask questions if possible and address the listener’s concerns.
8. Use props sparingly, including PowerPoint slides. You need to hold the audience’s attention and keep their focus mainly on you. Make sure your slides do not diverge from what you are saying, or you will confuse your audience. All slides must be precise and easy to read, even for those who are right at the back of the room.

Record Yourself
A great way to make sure you are on the right track is to record yourself delivering the presentation. You will quickly pick up on problems you would not otherwise have noticed. You could do this for the next speech or presentation you need to give or as an exercise to practice and identify problems now. In the latter case, select a topic that you know quite a bit about.
Remember that the audience will notice your facial expressions, gestures and how you stand and move. When you watch the video, identify areas where you can use gestures or points at which you may lose the attention of the audience. Correct this by varying your vocal tone and adding some appropriate and tasteful humour and wit. If you slouch, the quickest way to correct this is the dancer’s trick of aligning the hip and pubic bones vertically.

Record yourself again and check that you are implementing the changes effectively.

Devan Moonsamy runs the ICHAF Training Institute, and he is the author of Racism, Classism, Sexism, And The Other ISMs That Divide Us, AND My Leadership Legacy Journal available from the ICHAF Training Institute.
ICHAF offers SETA-approved training in business skills, computer use, and soft skills. Devan specialises in conflict and diversity management, and regularly conducts seminars on these issues for corporates. To book a seminar with Devan or for other training courses, please use the contact details below.

Tel: 011 262 2461 | Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | Website: www.ichaftraining.co.za | www.devan-moonsamy.com

Axigen leads the communication and collaboration offering provided by Ozone’s stable of IT solutions Johannesburg, South Africa, 14 May 2018: Ozone Information Technology Solutions is one of South Africa’s leading distributors of the Axigen email communication and collaboration product portfolio.

This intelligent and secure solution provides the full benefits of email communication and collaboration on a powerful mail server designed specifically to meet demanding business requirements. Axigen is fast, secure, scalable and customisable and includes an impressive bouquet of features and capabilities. “Axigen is designed to provide the business with fast and secure email communication while ensuring effective space management and 24/7 technical support,” says Henk Olivier, Managing Director, Ozone Information Technology Solutions.

“Available on both Windows and Linux operating systems, Axigen is comprehensive, easy to set up and customise and, perhaps most importantly, significantly reduces the admin burden.”

Axigen SmartProcessing and AxigenGrowSecure ensure fast and effective email communication and space management while ClamAV and SpamAssassin deliver additional email protection. Using Axigen, the business can synchronise email, contacts and calendars – wirelessly. It is also assured of both local and remote access - from native connectivity with Microsoft Outlook, to Ajax WebMail and POP/IMAP clients, Axigen provides email access across multiple platforms and services.

“Axigen includes multi-layer security and antivirus and antispam protection, much needed tools in the current cybercrime environment,” says Olivier. “It also has a variety of automated features that ensure backup, archiving, sync and other essential administrative tasks. It is a professional and reliable solution for any organisation looking to revitalise its email and communication systems without high overheads or barriers to entry. Simple to use and install, it offers an extensive set of tools to organisations of all sizes.”

To find out more about Ozone Information Technology and how it can work with your business to create intelligent technology, visit www.ozone.co.za, call +27 10 591 5588, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

24 October 2017, Johannesburg, South Africa

“Maths is to the mind what love is to the heart”, Edzai Zvobwo, Chief Genius at MathsGenius Leadership Institute (MGLI) strongly stated in his seminal book entitled The Mathematical Genius in You. The self-anointed maths genius has graced many a stage in South Africa and beyond in his bid to change people’s attitude towards mathematics and has used all sorts of platforms to preach the gospel of mathematics.

The 1873FM, an online radio station run by the leadership development network, The 1873 Network, announced on its social media pages that Edzai Conilias Zvobwo a.k.a MathsGenius will be joining the lineup of hosts as he tackles issues pertaining to problem solving and critical thinking for success. According to the reports, the MathsGenius will have the first show on the 24th of October 2017 at 9 PM South African time.

The show will be run every day at the same time.The show is a culmination of his efforts and passion for mathematics; this is evidenced by his motivational works across schools in South Africa. He has participated in intervention programs in the townships through workshops and camps assisting struggling learners.  Edzai called himself The Mathematical Evangelist on a Mindset TV programme.

A lot of MBA students from leading institutions of higher learning have benefited from his tutoring of research methods and statistics. His dream is to demystify mathematics and ensure that learners become good problem solvers. Edzai is a firm believer of the theory that Africa can be liberated if her people are mathematically literate and apply the problem solving thinking methodology to find solutions to social, political and economic problems that have long hounded the “Mother-Continent”. Good problem solvers will eradicate poverty in Africa. To become a good problem solver, one needs to be trained to think like a mathematician to achieve this.

He possesses a BSc Honours in Applied Mathematics, Diploma in Business Analysis and Certificate in Data Analysis, Certificate in Monitoring and Evaluation. Edzai has a good understanding of the Software Development Life Cycle and the value of keeping projects on time and within budget and meeting client requirements. His appreciation of methodologies for succeeding in the studying and applying mathematics in real world situations has led him to become a crusader for South Africa’s most feared subject.

Tune every night at 21:00 South African time on http://the1873fm.com

As the M2M market grows, horizontal strategies would progressively rise in significance, owing to the need for economies of scale and improved efficiencies, boosting service revenues in vertical segments by amalgamating systems and platforms.

It's not usual for telcos to make M2M apps all on their own as developing custom solutions is costly, lacks scale and is mostly outside the purview of many mobile operators' primary competencies.

It's essential for mobile operators to selectively choose their M2M partners based on their unique and integrated solutions. Besides just their technology edge, what's relevant would be their qualities that rope-in enterprise customers for mobile operators.

US-based mobile & wireless research specialist firm, TeleResearch Labs' advice to operators would be to pick those M2M partners which are apt with enterprise customers in critical domains such as automotive, healthcare, manufacturing, energy & utility. These partners must possess exhaustive research functionalities and the ability to support an operator's M2M footprint on a global scale. Such partners can provide additional support and efficient integration between existing and new infrastructures. Another factor in M2M partner selection is the ability of the M2M provider to support several mobile operators as enterprises desire simplified provisioning and management of devices and a same platform for multiple mobile operators eases the enterprise's M2M implementation.

Such operator-technology vendor partnerships are a necessity with M2M as not even a single mobile operator in the world possesses the ability to offer an enterprise a complete set of M2M solutions.

Looking for a detailed strategical handbook on mobile verticals in the M2M arena? Visit:http://www.teleresearchlabs.com/view_document/73-vertical-a-horizontal-worlds-of-mobile http://www.teleresearchlabs.com/

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone: +1   202-506-8078

TeleResearch Labs examines the scope and affects of big data on mobile vertical markets in its latest report: Vertical & Horizontal Worlds of Mobile.

TeleResearch Labs, a Maryland-based telecoms research company, foresees the worldwide expenditure on big data analytics/ hardware/ software touching US$125 billion in 2015. Big data projects would revolve around video/ audio/ imaging analytics. Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) solutions by IT vendors would gain traction.

Telcos have a huge opportunity in terms of big data analytics solutions in several vertical markets. Sectors such as retail, healthcare, utilities, media, financial services, security etc. are a few markets to which mobile operators could sell data under a DaaS business model.

In this, enterprise customers also present a prime business opportunity to telcos. The big data analytics market is projected to increase by almost 40% between 2014 and 2020.

Despite the applicability of big data analytics in almost all mobile vertical markets, telcos operating in such spheres often do not know how to use it and its various advantages. And so, many realise the need for big data's role in their operations but are not clear on what's actually required and in what manner to capitalise on big data opportunities. This necessitates that big data solution providers proactively think about what telcos actually require in their spheres of operations, and offer tailored solutions, enabling all-round mutual profitability for all associated telecoms players in the vertical market ecosystems.

For more matter and guidelines on how industry players can leverage effective partnerships in the realms of mobile vertical and horizontal markets for 2015 – 2018, visit: http://www.teleresearchlabs.com/view_document/73-vertical-a-horizontal-worlds-of-mobile http://www.teleresearchlabs.com/ Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Phone: +1   202-506-8078

Mobile network operators aren’t paying close attention to leverage DCB in mobile vertical markets. TeleResearch Labs examines many such hot opportunities in adjunct telecom markets for operators in its latest report: Vertical & Horizontal Worlds of Mobile.

As mobile payments is one of the broadest areas of horizontal potential, US-based telecom research company TeleResearch Labs strongly encourage operators to try incorporating direct carrier billing (DCB) – for physical goods. Though there are a few cases where it has started but operators have not yet focused on it. San Francisco-based company Boku, which specialises in direct carrier billing solutions, has entered into partnerships with the UK's three main telcos for supporting DCB payments for items such as magazines and bus tickets, and is looking for expanding into the food industry.

While operators do not foresee DCB in developed markets where the focus currently is on NFC/ mobile wallets, this payment method could be explored in emerging markets where millions of people don't possess credit/ debit cards and don't even have bank accounts. Telcos charge upwards of 25% of the cost of items purchased via DCB, and they could do worse than lowering this amount so as to expand scale of such payments. Moreover, this platform can also assist operators in competing with incumbent e-commerce/ m-commerce companies such as Amazon.

If only, mobile operators work with app developers facilitating DCB and the merchants to bring down the rates they charge, as has been done in South Korea, humongous revenues are in store as they would compete head-on with credit card companies. It would be additionally one more way to lure prepaid customers to sign up for postpaid contracts, especially in markets such as India, Pakistan, and countries in Africa.

For more strategical guidelines in mobile vertical markets, visit:
http://www.teleresearchlabs.com/view_document/73-vertical-a-horizontal-worlds-of-mobile
http://www.teleresearchlabs.com/
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: +1   202-506-8078

Event organiser Kinetic has confirmed that industry-giant Performanta has signed on as platinum sponsors for this year’s anticipated 6th edition of their successful flagship event; the IT Leaders Africa Summit.

The event, taking place from 18 - 19 March 2015 at The Maslow Hotel in Johannesburg, is set to go beyond your usual routine business conference, evolving to deliver on a more exciting, topical, trendy and current platform, utilising both the latest technologies coupled with the latest in conference trends internationally.

Together with Performanta, the event aims to deliver an expert-lead agenda that features an educational conference program backed by the latest in technology workshops and demonstrations. 

Performanta’s workshop; Safeguard your organisation now, your wallet will thank you later; focuses on measuring your organisation against the industry on 10 information security and privacy measures, derived from real-world assessments.

Performanta Consulting was established by Anthony Olivier 4 years ago, aligning information security consulting services to the Performanta Technology & Services stable. Performanta Consulting has provided services to primary South African banks, insurance companies, brokers, mining companies, service and retail organisations. Their key differentiator: senior, qualified, experienced consultants, integrated frameworks and fair pricing. Furthermore, the team has assisted in addressing security problems in seventeen African countries and has a thorough understanding of the continental landscape.

As thought-leaders in the industry, they are amongst the most active South African participants in industry conferences, blogs and podcasts.An expert-led advisory panel will lead the summit with industry giants Robert Sussman, co-founder and joint-CEO of Integr8; Hugo Timmerman, Head of IT Southern Africa at British American Tobacco; and Tunde Coker, MD of Rack Centre (A Jagal Group Company).

The event also features over 35 speakers, keynotes, panel discussions and numerous educational workshop sessions hosted by key industry providers, all sessions led by some of today’s most notable individuals who are shaping the IT landscape in South Africa and beyond.

Speakers, just to name a few, include; David Visser, CIO of Coca-Cola Southern Africa; Anthony Hlungwane, Group IT Director of Mr Price Group; Sal Laher, CIO Eskom; Rocky Gwewera, Global Head of Infrastructure Architecture at Sasol; Stephan Ekbergh, CEO and founder of Travelstart; and Sunil Joshi, MD and CEO of Neotel.

Some sponsors and partners include; Telkom Business, HP, Performanta and Blue Coat Systems, SITA, Airwatch, Kofax, Dimension Data, Neotel, Meso Systems, Sage Pastel Accounting and ERP Africa, and Blackberry.

For more information on the event to register to attend or to sponsor, visit www.itleaders.co.za or contact the event organisers Kinetic on +27 21 180 4700.Follow the event and stay up to date on Twitter. @ITLeadersAfrica and join in on the conversation using #ITLAfrica.

"We must make sure that at least there is some cushion for the poor so that they don't fall even lower than they are now. "That we must do. But we must also see it is important we do certain things that would reduce the dependence of the people on grants," he said. This included encouraging small business and co-operatives." All of these things, so that people don't think it is sufficient merely to hold out their hands and receive a handout, but to understand that all of us, as South Africans, have a shared responsibility to attend to the development of the country"

This is an excerpt of then President Thabo Mbeki’s speech to community development workers at an indaba in 2008. Mbeki certainly wasn’t revered for his theories, including the whole “HIV doesn’t cause AIDS” fiasco, but he may have had a point here…

What make South Africa so different?

The question is, why is it that South Africans have adopted a culture of expecting handouts? Contrary to common belief, handouts are not an inherent African ethos.

As one Nigerian put it in Polity.org.za "... They say once you put two Nigerians together, then you have a market. They're selling something to each other.”

That makes a lot of common sense. It means there’s always someone needing some services or products and willing to pay for them. So, isn’t it a matter of figuring out what people need and then making or buying and reselling these services or products?

As poor as Zimbabwe has become (only from an economic point of view!), “you don’t see beggars on street corners there the way you do in South Africa” says Jane Lyne-Kritzinger from Youth Dynamix. So, what does that mean?

Has the new government created a NEW problem?

Zuma was quoted in a City Press article in October 2014 entitled “South Africans must wakeup!” when he said “due to the extensive roll-out of services after 1994, South Africans had become dependent on the state.” He was making the point that nowhere else in Africa had so much been done to address the plight of the poor, yet you don’t see protests and strikes anywhere else. He went on to say, “Our people are waiting for government. Our people are not used to standing up and doing things.”  

What do South African youth think? 

Interestingly, even though the South African government has ploughed billions into infrastructure development and education, the youth continue to have a strong lack of belief in government. 85% of South African teens, according to YDx research, agree government is not living up to its promises. YDx research also shows that 73% of teens are worried about getting a job. 

This continues to be one of the biggest stress factors for youth in SA. And they often get lured into crime and expect handouts and social grants just to make ends meet. Linked to the high youth unemployment rate, YDx research also shows that 87% of SA teens are worried about South Africa’s economic performance; with 51% of teens saying they would like to leave SA (for a better job / opportunity / or education overseas).

The consequences of being a nation that expects handouts…

Children brought up in a handout environment may naturally grow up thinking this is the norm so they develop an attitude of expectancy. What will the country do for me, what will my employer do for me, what will the richer do for me? And the list goes on.

This level of expectation is also evident in terms of their aspirations and dreams. Research conducted by YDx shows that youth are exceptionally materialistic: Desperate to catapult themselves out of their current situation and directly into a world filled with expensive brands, possessions and fame.

Our research also shows that although it is good to dream, goals without practical steps are just empty dreams that never get realised.  So many young people have no idea HOW to practically realise their dreams and potential.

They have no steps in place to make it work or become successful. Not only do the youth expect handouts, other elements, such as the instantaneous nature of technology; and easy access to media ooze with aspiration value.

You see successful people and celebrities who never talk about the hard work, the effort and time that goes into accomplishing things.  Because the youth only see the seeds of success, they expect wealth and success to come by easily. 

Youth Dynamix is a specialist youth and family marketing and research agency.

Website: www.ydx.co.za

Tonya Khoury, the MD of media monitoring company, ROi Africa, is happy to update you on  the progress actor, Ivan Zimmermann, has made on the 12 000 km Tour d’Afrique.

“Yesterday it was one month since Ivan departed from Cairo on the Tour d’Afrique to raise 12 000 tins of food for Can-a-Kilo,” she says.   “Ivan is set to arrive in Cape Town on 9 May as part of the Leaders Never Quit campaign, which is supported by ROi Africa, the South African Institute for Chartered Accountants (SAICA) and Sage Pastel,” she adds.  

Ivan said yesterday, “I arrived two days ago in Gonder, Ethiopia, as a broken man. The first shower I had in eight days could not wash away any weary emotions. It could only wash away the dirt from my sticky skin. I have now covered more than 3 000km of the 12 000km journey and so far I happen to be in third place overall.”    

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a dream that has become a reality. A dream that will test me to my limits, but also a dream that will show the world that leaders never quit,” adds Ivan.  

Ivan will be available for interviews on the following days:

12 Feb: Bahir Dar (Ethiopia)
18-19 Feb: Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
25 Feb: Yabelo (Ethiopia)
2 Mar: Marsabit (Kenya)
8 Mar: Nairobi (Kenya)
11-13 Mar: Arusha (Tanzania)
21 Mar: Mbeya
24 Mar: Chitimba Beach
To book an interview, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 012-643 0436.  

For more information on Ivan’s quest, go to www.ivanzimmermann.com.

Tins can also be donated to Can-a-Kilo tab on Ivan's website.

NAME: Tonya Khoury 

E-MAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
CELL: 073 874 5377
WEBSITE: www.roiafrica.com
TWITTER: @tonyaroi / @roiafrica
FACEBOOK: /roiafrica    

By Antoinette Pombo

Millennials are commonly defined as those born between 1981 and 1996. That currently puts them at between 19 and 34 years of age.

The youngest of this generation will be in the throes of finding their own feet in the big wide world of employment or tertiary education…

Whilst many of their older counterparts will be settling down with their partners – some starting a family. But what does this really mean for South African marketers and brand managers?

Individuality, independence and career growth are extremely important to this generation at this stage of their lives. And their unique spending habits seem to be shaking things up fast.

The most significant contributing factors to this shake-up are the sheer size of this population segment as well as the rise of multimedia and networking.

The millennials make up about 26% of the South African population. To put this into perspective, the rest of the entire working population under the official age of retirement only makes up about 28% of the population in South Africa.

And although these percentages aren’t very different from 10 years ago, the actual numbers are significantly different. As marketers and brand managers, we have over one million “new” potential customers we can attract in this segment.

But that’s not all! This new up-and-coming generation has an extremely powerful force behind them: Instant communication and HUGE networking capabilities.

Consequently, as these millennials rise through the echelons of young adulthood, they’re shaping the future of brands, business and the economy – VERY fast!

Here’s your three-point checklist to ensure your brand is in the running to gain from this incredibly powerful generation…

• Take a little extra time to test the market to make sure your marketing touches the right emotional chords, otherwise, it could fall on deaf ears.
• Mellennials will read up on products and services of interest and compare brands much more so than past generations. Is your website packed with USEFUL information they can use to make their purchase decision? Do you target this generation specifically on your site or have you lumped the entire South African population into the same ‘box’? A message directed at a 50 year old is unlikely to be identical to a message targeted at a 20 year old.
• And finally, with the revolutionary expansion of the social networking landscape in recent history, millennials aren’t just connecting with friends online. They’re also connecting with thought leaders, idols, experts and other figures they’re interested in. Do you have a presence in this space? Here’s how to do that: You’re an expert on something if you provide a service or sell a product. So find a way to share your expert knowledge and advice with those who need it most – young potential customers. If you’re not the expert, find one! Hire idols or brand ambassadors the millennials aspire to in order to bring your product or service alive for this generation. Encourage this young generation to talk about your product/service and related topics. If you can get them personally involved in your brand, they’re more likely to engage with it. Of course, they’ll either love it or hate it so be sure you’ve worked out all the other bits, like your value proposition, customer service, return policies etc. There you have the most important reasons to sit up and pay attention to millennials.

If you don’t have a dedicated marketing strategy for this segment, you’re missing out. And worse, your brand’s future is at stake.If you need assistance getting to know this segment well and niching your marketing to this sector, speak to Youth Dynamix, Africa’s leading youth authority.

Website: www.ydx.co.za