Through the Fog

• Ep 11/12 - Negotiating, luck, and boardrooms with Guy Ellis

  In this episode of Through the Fog, Pierre sits down with Guy Ellis, global entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder of the Lekker Network. With over 60 board, advisory, and founder roles, Guy shares a wealth of insight into entrepreneurship, emotional intelligence, and the power of helping others. From his roots as a wannabe “Dr. Farmer” to his groundbreaking work at Harvard and across global markets, Guy explores how authentic connection can unlock transformative opportunities. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation about patriotism, privilege, purpose, and how South Africans can—and are—changing the world. Links: Guy Ellis - https://www.linkedin.com/in/guy-ellis/ Guy's first book is out soon: The Negotiation Code Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and quick banter 01:00 - Meet Guy Ellis: Global entrepreneur & Harvard instructor 02:25 - The origin of a “Dr. Farmer” dream 04:50 - Helping others and early signs of a mission 06:00 - Defining “Expansion through Connection” 07:30 - Is the self-made man a myth? 09:30 - A pivotal moment: reshaping a business from scratch 13:50 - The origin story of the Lekker Network 17:30 - Building intentional, impactful networks 20:50 - The importance of helping without agenda 23:30 - Living abroad but loving South Africa 27:00 - What it means to be South African 30:00 - Fixing South Africa: Right person, right seat 34:00 - South African talent and the Springboks metaphor 36:00 - Challenges in government and business alignment 39:00 - How small business owners can make change 41:00 - What gives Guy hope for the country 44:00 - South Africans abroad: Not traitors, just dispersed impact 46:00 - The uniquely South African spirit of friendliness and resilience 49:00 - The cultural magic of meeting South Africans abroad 51:30 - Emotional connection and nostalgia for home 54:00 - The role of adversity in creating grit and talent 56:00 - Overcoming scarcity mindsets 58:00 - Celebrating informal connections and spontaneous chats 1:00:00 - Picking South Africa’s “one thing” to rally around 1:02:00 - The challenge of focus in national strategy 1:04:00 - Harnessing the power of South Africans globally 1:07:00 - Reclaiming civic agency: citizens should direct the government 1:10:00 - Breaking free from limiting narratives and perceived disloyalty 1:13:00 - Creating the bridge from now to a brighter future 1:16:00 - Humility vs. self-deprecation among South Africans 1:18:00 - Closing thoughts: freedom, connection, and what comes next

  --------  

  1:37:24

  --------

  1:37:24
• Ep 10/12: On Equality, code, and rugby with Justinus Adriaanse

   In this deeply personal and visionary episode, Pierre speaks with Justinus, a passionate entrepreneur and co-founder of WeThinkCode_, about building a more equitable South Africa. They dive into Justinus’s background, his love for rugby, and the transformative power of access to education and opportunity. From developing world-class coders from underserved communities to launching a bold new initiative inspired by South Africa’s Rugby World Cup victories, Justinus shares a blueprint for national renewal rooted in inclusivity and grit. Justinus is a serial entrepreneur, having been co-founder at Private Property Holdings and WeThinkCode_ in South Africa, Entabeni Systems and Umgundi Holdings in Canada. He has been in the Entrepreneurs' Organization for 14 years, and has been part of 5 chapters over that period.Today Justinus and his wife are building a business focussed on optimizing for impact not just value. An avid sports fan and traveller he loves visiting live sports events all over the world with his family and spends many hours next to sport fields supporting his two teenage kids.When you meet him, be sure to ask if he enjoys Nando’s. Links and books: Hidden Potential by Adam Grant 👉 https://exclusivebooks.co.za/products/9780753560051 Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth 👉 https://exclusivebooks.co.za/products/9781785040207 Time to Think by Nancy Kline 👉 https://exclusivebooks.co.za/products/9780706377453 The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander & Benjamin Zander 👉 https://www.penguinrandomhouse.co.za/book/art-possibility-practices-leadership-relationship-and-passion/9780142001103 https://wethinkcode.co.za/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinusadriaanse Timestamps: [00:01:00] Justinus on Lowveld living and escaping Cape Town winters. [00:03:44] Pretoria roots, rugby dreams, and school memories. [00:06:39] The spark for WeThinkCode_: bridging access and building coders. [00:08:01] From 50,000 applicants to 500 students: creating a scalable tech pipeline. [00:09:54] Gender parity and diversity in tech education. [00:10:54] Graduation day: joy, family pride, and life-changing milestones. [00:12:00] A new mission: Project 95 and the dream of five more World Cup wins. [00:15:43] Rugby development lessons from Ireland and South Africa’s Eastern Cape. [00:17:00] Sunday rugby in small towns: discovering forgotten fields and fanatical culture. [00:20:05] The impact of malnutrition on athletic potential. [00:24:24] Why “95” is more than a number—it’s a national memory. [00:26:00] Access vs. outcomes: the quota question and educational inequality. [00:30:50] Screening for grit and agency at WeThinkCode_. [00:33:00] Holding standards high while removing financial barriers. [00:36:44] Why success requires stability over decades—not just talent. [00:39:12] Comparing school funding models in the US and Canada. [00:42:00] Recreating high-performing public schools across the nation. [00:43:29] Why rugby is more than a game: a symbol of belonging and memory. [00:45:51] Settling in Ontario, Canada: skiing, seasons, and new routines. [00:46:58] How skiing became a lifelong passion—and the excuse to move abroad. [00:49:40] Life lessons from the slopes: discomfort, growth, and persistence. [00:52:00] Teaching kids courage, taking calculated risks, and embracing adventure. [00:56:00] The rhythm of family life, travel, and the search for balance. [01:00:00] The link between nostalgia, passion, and purpose. [01:05:00] Building identity through shared rituals and cultural storytelling. [01:10:00] Creating community in diaspora—keeping South Africa close while living abroad. [01:15:00] Future plans: nomadic living, giving back, and staying connected. [01:20:00] Justinus’s vision for legacy, leadership, and long-term impact. [01:25:00] Final reflections: leaning into the discomfort and doing the hard things.

  --------  

  1:34:37

  --------

  1:34:37
• Ep 9/12: Surviving the AI Apocalypse, the future of work and true value with Bronwyn Williams

  In this engaging and thought-provoking episode, Pierre sits down with futurist and economist Bronwyn Williams. Together, they dive deep into what it means to live purposefully in a chaotic world, the future of work in an age of AI, and how to retain agency in a society leaning towards automation and comfort. Bronwyn discusses the value of being a professional outsider, the illusion of goals for the hyper-intelligent, and her unconventional approach to decision-making and success. It’s a conversation that challenges norms and offers rich insights into how we think about work, value, and freedom. Timestamps: [00:01:10] – Where are you right now? Bronwyn on the liminal, nomadic millennial state. 00:02:11] – Why goals don’t work for really smart people. [00:04:34] – A day in Bronwyn’s life: reading, writing, and speaking. [00:06:30] – How Bronwyn uses AI to aid in the creative process, not replace it. [00:09:50] – Her mission as a professional observer and outsider. [00:13:29] – From spy dreams to futurist: Bronwyn’s unconventional career path. [00:14:52] – Is studying still worthwhile? Bronwyn breaks it down. [00:18:39] – What gives Bronwyn hope? People who plant trees. [00:19:34] – What makes her angry? The myth of no agency. [00:25:49] – Why we can’t have liberty, equality, and fraternity all at once. [00:32:53] – How Bronwyn makes decisions and navigates life. [00:37:35] – Embracing unemployability and escaping the “soggy middle”. [00:41:55] – The delusion of value in middle-class salary jobs. [00:44:00] – The psychological impact of overpaid roles and perceived entitlement. [00:46:15] – Technological progress and the risk to the squishy middle. [00:48:45] – How Bronwyn defines value and agency in a world of automation. [00:50:20] – Why most people crave direction over freedom. [00:53:00] – The outsider’s role in leadership, foresight, and change. [00:56:15] – The myth of the benign dictator and the desire to escape responsibility. [00:59:00] – What Jesus, Voltaire, and Mary Poppins have in common with futurists. [01:01:30] – Final thoughts on belief, free will, and the agency to shape the future. LINKS More about Pierre: https://thisispierre.co Find Bronwyn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bronwynwilliams/ More about Bronwyn's work: https://fluxtrends.co.za Get her latest book: Survive the AI Apocalypse: https://www.takealot.com/survive-the-ai-apocalypse/PLID98648877

  --------  

  1:11:55

  --------

  1:11:55
• Ep 8/12: Finding Identity Beyond the Game – Flip van der Merwe on Rugby, Expat Life, and Meaning

  In this episode of Through the Fog, we sit down with Flip van der Merwe, former Springbok rugby player turned French-resident strategist. Flip shares his remarkable journey from growing up on a farm in the Kalahari, to playing international rugby, to raising a bilingual family abroad. We explore the interplay between tradition and modernity, the challenges of choosing where to raise children, the search for meaning beyond sport, and how language, faith, and culture weave into identity. 00:00 Introduction and Background 08:27 Navigating Language and Cultural Identity 19:02 Religion and Family Traditions 27:03 Childhood Dreams and Rugby Journey 32:54 Blessings and Curses of Talent 38:36 Education and Career Pathways 45:44 The Impact of Choices on Identity 54:40 Legacy and Masculinity in Modern Society 01:00:52 Legacy and Lessons from the Past 01:07:01 Navigating Difficult Conversations 01:13:05 Finding Joy in Parenthood and Fitness 01:19:34 Future Aspirations and Impact

  --------  

  1:26:22

  --------

  1:26:22
• Ep 7/12: From PR to Presence, a conversation about culture, founders and addiction with Sarah Rice

  In this episode of Through the Fog, I sit down with Sarah Rice, an organizational culture strategist and coach who has spent over two decades helping founders and leaders navigate the complex, often contradictory expectations of modern leadership. We explore the hidden pressures on entrepreneurs to become both “priests and parents” to their teams, how culture shapes behavior, and the power of being honest about your motives, even if they’re not pretty. Sarah also shares her personal journey through recovery, the lessons she’s learned about over identification with work, and why embodied leadership matters more than ever. This candid, warm, and occasionally irreverent conversation is a must-listen for anyone steering a business, and themselves, through uncertainty. Chapters 00:00 Navigating Transitions and Personal Growth 02:57 The Venn Diagram of Identity 05:41 The Role of Business in Community 08:47 Mental Health and Leadership Responsibilities 11:51 The Pressure on Leaders 14:31 Learning from Other Organizational Structures 17:40 The Importance of Values in Business 20:44 Defining Authentic Values 23:33 The Role of Storytelling in Values 26:29 The Complexity of Truth and Oversharing 29:26 The Importance of Community and Relationships 32:20 Lessons from Personal Connections 35:10 Embracing Uncertainty and Surrendering Control 42:42 The Role of Spirituality in the Workplace 49:42 Decision-Making and Intuition 01:00:50 The Power of the 12-Step Program 01:05:14 Navigating Paradox and Duality 01:09:07 Future Aspirations and Coaching Goals Find Sarah here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahelizabethrice/ More about me and the show here: https://thisispierre.co/podcast

  --------  

  1:25:56

  --------

  1:25:56

More Education podcasts

Trending Education podcasts

About Through the Fog

Through the Fog: Podcasts in Family