What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou

00:21:38

Marc du Plessis on why South African s are investing...

What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou ·

2025/08/12

Marc du Plessis is the Executive Head of LookSee Platform at Standard Bank Group.Du Plessis is a business operations and revenue management veteran with over a decade of industry experience. He previously served as Spark Media CEO from 2016 until 2018 and achieved 25% annual growth for the company. This resulted in him winning the 2018 Top Media Sales Business Award. Du Plessis was then appointed Group Executive: Digital Businesses at CTP-Caxton Limited in 2019. Most recently, he joined LookSee

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00:17:12

Nobesuthu Ndlovu discusses SMEgo, funding, and...

What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou ·

2025/08/06

In this episode, we sit down with Nobesuthu Ndlovu, Director SME at Old Mutual, to explore the inspiration behind the SMEgo platform and how it’s addressing critical gaps in South Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Drawing from her own experience as an entrepreneur, Nobesuthu shares the challenges SMEs face — from accessing funding to managing time and operations — and explains how SMEgo’s all-in-one digital solution is designed to help business owners thrive. We also discuss the unique features

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00:20:38

Justin Hume discusses safety innovation and AI in...

What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou ·

2025/07/28

In this episode of What's Next, we’re live from Samsung’s Johannesburg HQ with Justin Hume, Vice President of Mobile Experience at Samsung South Africa. He introduces SOS Plus, a life-saving emergency service integrated into the Galaxy A Series, developed in partnership with Aura.Justin also dives into how Samsung is making premium AI features and design accessible to more South Africans. With devices like the A36, A56, and A26, the Galaxy A Series offers powerful performance, safety, and

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00:13:10

Fred Zhou discusses HONOR's growth and the Magic V5...

What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou ·

2025/07/24

In this What's Next episode, Aki Anastasiou speaks with Fred Zhou, CEO of HONOR South Africa, about the brand’s impressive rise—now the country’s second-largest smartphone brand—and its goal to be number one by 2028. Fred highlights HONOR’s winning strategy of innovation, trust-building, and expanding into new markets.He also introduces the ultra-thin Magic V5 foldable phone, launching in South Africa. With a large battery, premium AI features, and true water resistance, it’s designed for both

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00:15:04

Peter Kerr unpacks how S/4HANA Cloud implementations...

What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou ·

2025/07/18

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Peter Kerr discusses how retail logistics is being changed by cloud and AI technology.Kerr is the Founder and Director of Argon Supply Chain Solutions and is a 20+ year veteran in logistics and transport planning. Before founding Argon Supply Chain Solutions, Kerr worked at many other prominent companies in South Africa. This includes working as a SAP EWM Solution Architect and Consultant for Pick n Pay, a SAP EWM Consultant for Barloworld, a

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00:19:45

Claudia Swartzberg on redefining education with...

What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou ·

2025/07/17

In this inspiring episode of What's Next, we speak with Claudia Swartzberg, CEO and co-founder of CambriLearn, a globally accredited online school transforming access to education. With roots in actuarial science and data innovation, Claudia shares how her personal academic journey shaped her mission to redefine learning for modern, mobile, and underserved families. From leaving a successful corporate career to building a flexible, student-centered learning platform, Claudia opens up about her

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00:25:45

Samsung s Justin Hume unpacks the launch of the new...

What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou ·

2025/07/16

In this episode, we sit down with Justin Hume, Vice President of Mobile Experience at Samsung South Africa, to explore the groundbreaking innovations behind the all-new Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7. Justin unpacks how these latest foldables mark a major leap forward—not just in sleek design, but in blending top-tier hardware with cutting-edge AI features. With ultra-thin form factors, upgraded hinges, and 200MP cameras, these devices now deliver the full power of a flagship in a foldable format.We

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00:11:41

Face-to-face with Huawei Cloud PanGu Model CTO,...

What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou ·

2025/07/11

In this What’s Next episode, Li Yin, CTO of Huawei Cloud Pangu Model, discusses how localised AI is accelerating South Africa’s digital transformation. Li Yin highlights the practical impact of Huawei’s Pangu model across industries such as construction, agriculture, and manufacturing, and explores its potential in finance, telecoms, media, and government. The conversation covers the importance of local AI infrastructure, the role of Huawei’s Ascend platform in enabling data sovereignty, and the

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00:14:49

Muhammed Izhaar Ebrahim discusses TCL’s growth in...

What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou ·

2025/07/09

In this What’s Next with Aki interview, Muhammed Izhaar Ebrahim, Channel Sales Manager for TCL Electronics South Africa, discusses the new products TCL has launched in South Africa and how the brand has become a major player in the country. He explains why TCL has risen in popularity over the past few years and unpacks what sets TCL apart as an innovative brand. Ebrahim then focuses on TCL’s new Mini LED TVs – explaining to viewers what makes these TVs so impressive. He also unpacks TCL’s brand

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00:20:11

Achievement Awards Group’s Clint Bryce on why...

What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou ·

2025/07/08

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Clint Bryce discusses how the Achievement Awards Group is helping companies adopt rewards and loyalty programmes.Clint is the Product Director at Achievement Awards Group and a veteran of the design industry, having helped build, develop, and manage multi-disciplinary teams for many industry leaders. This has included working as the Head of Design at Luno, Head of Design at Yoco, and Chief Creative Officer at 22seven Digital. Thanks to his

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00:21:38

Angela Wamola on how AI has the potential to improve...

What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou ·

2025/07/07

In this episode of What's Next, Angela Wamola, Head of Africa at GSMA, joins the conversation to unpack Africa's digital transformation journey. She shares vital insights into mobile connectivity, the current state of 4G and 5G adoption across the continent, and the pressing issue of smartphone affordability. Despite growing infrastructure, many remain unconnected to mobile internet—Angela explains why bridging this gap requires coordinated efforts between governments, the private sector, and civil

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00:19:08

André De Wet on helping legacy retailers compete in a...

What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou ·

2025/07/07

In this interview, André de Wet, co-founder and CEO of Flood Finance, explains how the platform helps offline retailers—like spaza shops and small grocers—become discoverable through apps people already use. Instead of needing their own e-commerce site, merchants can appear on a geolocation-based marketplace that drives foot traffic, enables in-store promotions, and supports digital payments and loyalty rewards. Flood Finance is designed to bring informal and legacy retailers into the digital

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00:16:10

Itumeleng Merafe on Investec’s game-changing...

What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou ·

2025/07/03

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Itumeleng Merafe discusses the new Investec multicurrency pockets feature on the institution’s Private Bank Accounts.Merafe is the Head of Private Bank SA at Investec — a position he has held since April 2024. He has worked at Investec for over 18 years in several other impactful roles, too, including Head of Sales: Investec for Business and Head: Treasury Restructuring. Merafe is a 2017 Archbishop Tutu Fellow and holds a BCom in Economics and

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00:23:55

Aishwarya Singh unpacks NTT DATA’s powerful agentic...

What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou ·

2025/06/20

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Aishwarya Singh discusses the value that AI brings to South African organisations.Singh is the Senior Vice President and Head of Microsoft Global Practice and Digital Collaboration Services at NTT Data. In this role, she is focused on transforming employee and client experiences through Agentic AI. She believes strongly in the role NTT Data is playing in driving powerful transformations for its clients across areas like employee engagement,

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00:20:15

Altify CEO Sean Sanders on the platform’s alternative...

What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou ·

2025/05/27

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Altify Founder and CEO Sean Sanders discusses why Altify’s alternative investment offerings are a game-changer for South Africans.Sanders is a serial technology entrepreneur with over 15 years of industry experience. He started as an intern at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in 2008, before completing internships at Actis and RMB Private Bank. Sanders then built up an impressive portfolio of experience, having worked as a tech analyst at Sabvest,

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00:31:21

Standard Bank’s Timothy Matlala unpacks the...

What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou ·

2025/05/22

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Timothy Matlala discusses how Standard Bank is working with the public sector in South Africa.Matlala is the Head of Public Sector, Business, and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank and has worked in finance for over 15 years. He entered the industry as a Business Manager at Standard Bank South Africa and then briefly worked as a Relationship Manager at Nedbank before returning to Standard Bank. Matlala has remained at Standard Bank ever since,

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00:20:36

AFSUG’s Amanda Gibbs and Duke Mathebula unpack...

What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou ·

2025/05/21

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Amanda Gibbs and Duke Mathebula discuss what the SAPHILA 2025 event will cover.Gibbs is the Chief Executive Officer at the African SAP User Group (AFSUG) and boasts 28 years of industry experience. In her current role, which she has held for three years, Gibbs oversees a network of SAP customers and partners and helps them realise the full benefits of their SAP Investments while shaping the future of SAP software development. Mathebula is the

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00:18:44

Amoeba TSC COO Ashley Smith discusses the Saldanha...

What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou ·

2025/05/14

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Ashley Smith discusses the industry success of Amoeba TSC.Smith is the Chief Operations Officer at Amoeba TSC, where he leads digital transformation initiatives across fibre networks, ISPs, and field operations. With over 30 years of experience in telecommunications and technical leadership, he focuses on driving innovation, automation, and sustainable growth using locally developed, industry-proven technologies. Before joining Amoeba TSC,

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00:32:35

Discovery Health CEO Dr Ron Whelan unpacks the power...

What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou ·

2025/04/30

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Dr Ron Whelan highlights the benefits of Discovery Health’s Personal Health Pathways programme.Dr Whelan is the CEO of Discovery Health and a veteran of corporate healthcare and health systems, with almost two decades of experience across various senior executive roles. As CEO, Dr Whelan leads Discovery Health in its endeavour to help its clients become healthier while protecting and enhancing their lives. In this What’s Next interview, Dr

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00:23:59

Professor Anné Verhoef discusses the NWU AI Hub

What"s Next with Aki Anastasiou ·

2025/04/22

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, North-West University (NWU) Professor Anné Verhoef discusses the NWU AI Hub, of which he is the director.The NWU AI Hub was launched at the beginning of 2025, with Verhoef at the helm, to provide groundbreaking solutions to South Africa’s biggest AI problems. Verhoef is a professor in philosophy and the former director of the NWU School of Philosophy, which forms part of the university’s Humanities faculty. He has a strong involvement in ethics,

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