Build the People

Dive into the world of leadership, culture, and people management in the South African context. Hosted by Christiaan van den Berg.

Build the People is a business podcast hosted by JOBJACK, with 8 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

JOBJACK hosts Build the People, a business show with 8 episodes published.

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  Episode #8

  From Self-Driven to People-Driven: The Leadership Transition No One Talks About (Charl de Villiers)

  Jul 22, 202530 minS1

  <p>Most leaders rise through the ranks by being self-driven. Few talk about the real challenge that comes next: learning to lead through others, not just yourself. Charl de Villiers learnt this early, and mastered it.</p><p>As CEO of Libstar, one of South Africa’s largest food manufacturers behind brands like Lancewood and Cape Herb & Spice, Charl transformed from a strong, independent achiever into a leader who united 7,000 employees across 27 previously competing business units.</p><p>In this conversation with Christiaan van den Berg, Charl shares how he evolved from a self-motivated leader into one who empowers, unites, an...

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  Episode #7

  Inside KFC Africa: Building People, Leading Boldly, and Failing Forward (Akhona Qengqe)

  Jul 7, 202531 minS1

  <p>How do you scale a leadership philosophy across 40,000+ people when your secret weapon is asking "What if we failed?"<br/><br/>In this episode, Christiaan sits down with Akona Qengqe, General Manager of KFC Africa and the brand's first Black female GM for the continent.<br/><br/>From running 1,468 restaurants across sub-Saharan Africa to creating the groundbreaking "Fail Forward Award," Akona reveals how a middle child's curiosity became the leadership philosophy behind one of Africa's most successful food empires.<br/><br/>This isn't your typical corporate success story. It's a masterclass in leading with questions instead of answers, and...

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  Episode #6

  Why Pineapple Insurance Is Winning (And What Leaders Can Learn From Their CEO, Marnus van Heerden)

  Jun 9, 202535 minS1

  <p>Most CEOs talk about building culture. Marnus van Heerden is actually doing it. As Co-Founder and CEO of Pineapple, South Africa's fastest-growing InsurTech, Marnus has scaled from startup to 140+ employees and R400+ million in funding.<br/><br/>But here's what makes this conversation different: He did it by leading with love, demanding radical responsibility, and creating what he calls "superior discontent."<br/><br/>This isn't your typical founder success story. It's a raw, honest dive into the messy reality of scaling a company without losing your humanity, or breaking your people.<br/><br/>Marnus reveals:<br/><br/></p>The...

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  Episode #5

  How McDonald’s SA Scales People-first Leadership (Greg Solomon)

  May 25, 202540 minS1

  <p>What does it take to lead 15,000 people without losing your values?<br/><br/>In this episode of Build the People, Greg Solomon reflects on his 28-year journey with McDonald’s South Africa, from starting as a project manager to becoming CEO and growing the brand into a national icon.<br/><br/>We dive into:</p>Why leadership starts with leading yourselfHow to build trust, earn respect, and scale cultureThe power of developing people from withinMaking decisions in tough times like C-19 and load sheddingBuilding relationships that last beyond the boardroom<br/><br/><p>Greg shares timeless wisdom for anyone tr...

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  Episode #4

  Culture Over Convenience: The Bootlegger Leadership Story (Ricky Ruthenberg)

  Apr 15, 202535 minS1

  <p>How do you build a brand that customers love, and a culture your people stay loyal to?<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>For South African CEOs, and people leaders building for the long haul, you'll walk aw...

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