MOTIVATIONAL AND BUSINESS KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Stef speaks to audiences of all sizes. He has presented at hundreds of events, ranging from in-house meetings through to global conventions – too many to mention here.

Being invited to speak at the 2004 Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) in the USA is at the top of the list. The MDRT is the world's premier association for financial professionals with 28,000 members from 70 nations. This is arguably the world's most coveted platform for professional speakers... and what makes this more remarkable is the fact that 2004 was his second appearance there - having presented a breakout session at the 1999 meeting. Only a very select handful of speakers in the world can boast an invitation to speak at the MDRT - even fewer ever get invited back. To date, Stef is one of only three South African full-time professional speakers ever to be invited to speak here... the other being Prof. Marius Barnard who was a part of the world's first heart-transplant team, and the Everest summiteer and explorer, Ronnie Muhl. This clearly distinguishing Stef as being among the most sought after speakers in the world.

Stef du Plessis is one of the best speakers I have ever heard.
RICHARD SULLENGER, 2003 President, Million Dollar Round Table

WORKSHOP PRESENTER: SELF MASTERY AND LEADERSHIP

Stef also presents in-house workshops. Mittal Steel (then Iscor) has employed him in this capacity at their different operations over a number of years. This included him working with the Flat Steel Plant, which at the time employed around 6,000 people. Stef ran a Leadership Development Programme for their senior management team and union leadership, with the aim of creating a sense of common ground. The programme was so big a success that he was again contracted after the Mittal take-over to run a country-wide personal development programme for all management staff.

 You have helped us to close much of the gap between management and labor, making us a more effective operation. Thank you.
ADRIAAN JANSEN VAN VUUREN, HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER, ISCOR FLAT STEEL

WORKSHOP PRESENTER: TEAMWORK

Stef works with teams at all levels of the organisation to improve cooperation, efficiency and results. He worked with the Avis sales team over a period of almost a year, focusing on Teamwork and Personal Effectiveness. Avis is a leading South African car rental company.

 Stef's focus on practical ways to enhance efficiency, along with his unique approach to team-building renewed our passion for excellence, and produced great results!
WAYNE DUVENHAGE, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, AVIS

INTERVENTION LEADER

Organisations frequently engage Stef to run large-scale, long-term interventions to mobilise and engage their people.

One of his company-wide interventions for a major South Africa enterprise had such a profound impact on employees at all levels that the behavioural changes transcended the confines of the workplace itself, impacting also on the local community at large - to the extent that it ultimately caught the personal attention of former President Thabo Mbeki, who was so impressed with the "nation-building" potential of this intervention that he personally spent a day visiting the project.

This programme has nation-building potential.
THABO MBEKI, FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT

INTERVENTION LEADER: CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION

One of Stef's most significant organisational transformation successes was for Planet, over a period of three years. At the time Planet was a joint venture owned by ABSA Bank, First National Bank, NBS Bank, Nedcor Bank & Standard Bank - South Africa's five biggest banks. Planet has subsequently become Property24.

Stef made a major contribution in turning Planet around from a multi-million Rand per annum loss, to a profit, in less than three years. His programme kept staff morale high, and has built a motivated, enthusiastic and effective nation-wide team that understands and trusts each other.

CHRISTO WIID, CEO, PLANET (AT THE TIME A JOINT VENTURE BY ABSA BANK, FIRST NATIONAL BANK, NBS BANK, NEDCOR BANK AND STANDARD BANK)

When it comes to improving workplace culture, Stef works in partnership Steve Simpson, the Australian-based creator of the acclaimed Unwritten Ground Rules (or UGRs) concept.

Their biggest UGRs culture-by-design intervention to date was across the international operations of Gold Fields Limited (GFL), a global precious metals mining company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and one of the world's biggest gold producers with operations throughout Africa, Australia, and South America.

UGRs initiated a corporate 'Road to Damascus' experience, creating the foundation for our future sustainable success.
IAN COCKEREL, THEN PRESIDENT, GOLD FIELDS LIMITED

Stef has worked with many executive teams from household-name brands in crafting their strategy, including Ellerine Holdings, a SA Top 100 company, and Southern Africa's leading furniture brand, with almost 600 outlets in six countries. The test of a strategic plan lies in the results achieved from its implementation... and one year after this session, Stef received an unsolicited letter from this client. Following is a short extract...

Exactly a year has passed since the strategic session you facilitated for our directors. You were the catalyst who enabled our top echelon to identify the real issues facing our business. Your intervention was highly successful for both the company and us personally, and will continue to influence our strategies in the future. Thank you.

PETER SQUIRES, MD, ELLERINE HOLDINGS LIMITED

Another such client is the Africa Division of Barrick. Stef facilitated their annual strategic planning sessions for three years running. At that time, Barrick was the world's pre-eminent gold producer, with 27 operating mines across five continents, and they were then actively exploring for gold in more than 15 countries around the world. Barrick then had the gold mining industry's strongest balance sheet, and was listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. The Africa region then consisted of three operating mines and three projects (all of which have since become producing mines).

After years of working with you, I didn't think you could raise your game any higher... but somehow you did... again. This was by far the very best strategic session I have ever attended. You stuck to my brief in everyway. The session was focused and to the point – I couldn't have wished for a better outcome.

GARETH TAYLOR, EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER, BARRICK AFRICA

As a strategic implementation facilitator, Stef also works with clients who already have a strategic plan in place, but who are not achieving the milestones and results as planned. He then helps them to 'translate' their existing strategic plan into action by exploring the stumbling blocks and barriers that are holding them back, whilst also helping them to engage their people at all levels and by fostering a sense of shared ownership for the achievement of their strategic objectives. 

One such client is BKS Group, a leading multidisciplinary consulting engineering and management company with over 45 years of experience and 17 offices across South Africa and Africa. Stef worked with their senior team over a period of just more than a year.  

Thank you so much for the journey you have taken with BKS management over the past year. I am personally changed by your interventions, and the rest of our management team has benefitted immensely.

DANAI MAGUGUMELA, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BKS GROUP