TESTIMONIALS
I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the impact you’ve had on my journey. Today marks a significant milestone for me – I’ve just received my final results from Wits Business School, and I’m proud to share that I’ve successfully completed my MBA.
As I reflect on the path that has brought me here, I often go back to the early days when I was still trying to find my feet in the corporate world. One of the most formative experiences I had was being part of the Jump Start leadership programme in 2006 under your guidance. It was more than just a course – it was a spark. It ignited something in me that has continued to burn through my academic and professional journey.
I still smile thinking back to that time. As crazy as it may sound now, I remember drawing inspiration from everything around me – even from Donald Trump’s bold persona in The Apprentice and Lance Armstrong’s yellow “LiveStrong” band that I wore on my wrist as a symbol of perseverance and drive. In hindsight, those were reflections of my hunger to grow, and the Jump Start programme gave that energy direction.
What you created through Jump Start was powerful. You created a space where young professionals like myself could dream bigger, lead boldly, and begin to understand the kind of contribution we could make – not just in business, but in the world.
Thank you for your passion, your belief in me, and the role you played in shaping my foundation. Your influence has stayed with me, and I carry many of those lessons forward in the way I lead and live today.
I find Erik an absolute pleasure to work with as MC. He is a master at blending in with the culture of the event and reads what is important for the audience as well as for the organisers. He absolutely goes the extra mile as MC and his innate charm makes the whole process feel seamless. His experience and knowledge ensure a well-heeled presenter.
Erik has unmatched insight into corporate culture and human behaviour, which, combined with his strategic competency and high energy, translates to massive value for his clients. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Erik over the past few years.
I got to know Erik when attending one of his seminars at the trade fair Meetings Africa in Johannesburg. Erik is an excellent speaker who knows how to keep the attention of the public without being bored. He inspires and motivates and moves you to think. The subject of the seminar I attended was "Behaviour driven corporate culture and getting out of recessionary thinking", that turns out to be a recommendation for many of us. After his speech I had the opportunity to speak with Erik and got to know him as a pleasant, positive and enthusiastic person.
Erik did an excellent job as Lead Facilitator and Discussion Leader for TEDx Pretoria 2009. His creative and ingenious approach to his work and his dynamic presentation style kept the audience captivated and played a pivotal role in the success of the event.
“My expedition to the South Pole brought home just how we take our minds for granted.
Day after day, for more than two months, sometimes as long as 11 hours a day, I did nothing but think. And it was exhausting! Ahead of me loomed a journey that was interminable and more often than not, seemingly impossible. On many occasions I would recognise that my thinking was leading me down a dead-end, one-track path to failure.
I would have to stop, reorder my thoughts, and break things down into smaller, manageable chunks. My mind developed little ‘tricks’ to deal with the enormity of it all. Sometimes I felt like I was ‘cheating’, but you see, that’s what an efficient mind does…it cheats. But in a good way! It simply takes the enormous task of everyday life and breaks it down into a process that is manageable.
I guess it feels like cheating because, so few people do it. It feels like you suddenly have the competitive edge. Without it I would have never made it to the South Pole, and similarly,
without it, we will never get to a point in our lives where we are thriving!”
“Erik can help you do exactly that, thrive! His experience and research are widespread, detailed and varied. His insight is sharp and his manner easy going. More than anything, his style makes you really believe that this is something you can do, that it’s attainable, that’s its intriguing, and ultimately, that’s its necessary.
This book will take you on a journey that is every bit as illuminating as it is interesting. You will want to learn more, not just about yourself and your mind, but about Erik and those whose stories he shares. And, as Erik hints at, there is very little chance this will become another ‘shelf-help’ book! Indeed, it is more likely to end up firmly on your sled!”
Having worked with Erik since 2007, he is one of the best facilitators around. Where you have challenges within teams and need to optimise the working relationships, strategy formulation and implementation and effective change management, Erik uses his insights to creatively advance teams into greater effectiveness. The repeat business over the past 5 years speaks for itself.
Erik and I worked together on a project for a major telecommunications company in Kenya. The process required 300 workshops for 3500 staff across the country in 4 months. To meet the clients’ objectives we were forced to work quickly, be innovative in our solutions and provide laser like focus.
Erik proved to be invaluable in the process. The level of energy he brings to an engagement is unsurpassed. Erik was able to "roll with the punches" and adapt to changing requirements. Furthermore, his ability to understand the client and be sensitive to their needs was very helpful.
I would happily work with Erik in the future and highly recommend him
As someone who has organised large public events for the sales profession, I can recommend Erik as a top notch sales trainer and motivational speaker who will appeal to audiences at all levels. He is professional, has excellent original content and has the in-depth training that goes with the 1-hour keynote presentation sessions - highly recommended.