Culture Over Convenience: The Bootlegger Leadership Story (Ricky Ruthenberg)
How do you build a brand that customers love, and a culture your people stay loyal to?In this episode, Christiaan van den Berg sits down with Ricky Ruthenberg, CEO of Bootlegger Coffee Company, to explore the leadership lessons behind one of South Africa’s most recognisable coffee brands.From growing up in Cape Town's restaurant scene to helping Bootlegger expand to over 77 locations nationwide, Ricky shares the pivotal moments, people-first principles, and hard-won wisdom that shaped his journey.For South African CEOs, and people leaders building for the long haul, you'll walk away with key insights on:Why culture beats convenience in scaling a businessHow to hire for character, not just experienceBuilding simple, focused systems that drive consistent growthLeading with empathy while staying true to your standardsCreating spaces and teams where people genuinely want to stay-Connect with Christiaan van den Berg on LinkedIn. Build the People is proudly brought to you by JOBJACK, a smart hiring platform that eliminates manual recruitment tasks, helping businesses find, filter, and hire the best entry-level talent, fast.
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Culture, Discipline & Risk-Taking: Inside Old School’s Growth with Daneel Steinmann
How do you build a people-first company without losing sight of performance and purpose?In this episode, Christiaan van den Berg sits down with Daneel Steinmann, Founder and CEO of Old School, to explore what it takes to lead with conviction, take bold risks, and develop high-output teams.From bootstrapping a fan-led jersey brand into a licensed partner of the Springboks and Orlando Pirates, Daneel shares the mindset and leadership principles that have helped him build culture, trust, and momentum.For South African CEOs, founders, and people leaders, you'll walk away with key insights on:Balancing intensity and empathy as a young leaderHiring with your gut, and getting it rightCreating a culture of radical ownership and purposePracticing leadership that builds trust and loyalty-Connect with Christiaan van den Berg on LinkedIn. Build the People is proudly brought to you by JOBJACK, a smart hiring platform that eliminates manual recruitment tasks, helping businesses find, filter, and hire the best entry-level talent, fast.
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Owning My Flaws with Alan Knott-Craig: Growing as a South African Leader
What will I gain from owning my flaws as a leader? In this eye-opening episode, JOBJACK Co-founder, Christiaan van den Berg, dives into the leadership journey of South African entrepreneurial icon, Alan Knott-Craig. From scaling Mxit to 50 million registered users and connecting over 74,000 township homes with fibertime™, Alan shares how leveraging self-awareness fuelled his growth.As a CA-turned-tech-pioneer with multiple successful ventures, his resilience offers people management lessons you can’t ignore. For South African CEOs, execs, and business leaders, you’ll unlock practical tips to: Turn your weaknesses into strengths by building a complementary team.Motivate your team through encouragement and confidence-building. Lead with authenticity and purpose in a challenging market.-Connect with Christiaan van den Berg on LinkedIn. Build the People is proudly brought to you by JOBJACK, a smart hiring platform that eliminates manual recruitment tasks, helping businesses find, filter, and hire the best entry-level talent, fast.
South Africa