The Monocle Banking Podcast

Monocle Solutions

The Monocle Banking Podcast, in partnership with esteemed financial journalist, Michael Avery, will explore the world of banking - beyond the vaults and virtual wallets. This weekly series will play host to some of the top minds in the banking industry from around the world.

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24 episodes
weekly
Avg 30 min
English

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#131
Thursday · 27 min
Ep 131: The Intelligence Behind Reputation - Daniel Munslow
In reputation management, the real work happens before the crisis. Michael Avery spoke to Daniel Munslow, Managing Executive for Group Communications and Reputation at Absa Group, about why organisations need to rethink how they protect trust in a world of misinformation, social media scrutiny and rapidly shifting narratives. They explored the move from crisis response to early detection, and how organisations can build the trust equity they need before things go wrong. Munslow also shared how AI was changing the way teams monitored reputation and identified emerging risks - while highlighting why human judgement, decisive action and credible communication remained essential.
#130
August 27 · 32 min
Ep 130: From AI Pilots to AI-Powered Banks - Ravi Bhat
South Africa is leading Africa in generative AI adoption, but the real opportunity lies not in using AI for everyday tasks, but in fundamentally changing how work gets done. Michael Avery spoke to Ravi Bhat, Microsoft’s Commercial Solutions and AI Officer, about the rapid evolution of AI in banking and the shift towards an increasingly agentic workforce. They explored how banks, such as Investec, can move from AI pilots to meaningful, organisation-wide adoption, the role of AI in transforming customer experiences and legacy systems, and what the rise of AI means for junior professionals and the future of work.
#129
August 20 · 35 min
Ep 129: Entrepreneurial Spirit vs. Systemic Barriers - Angus Bowmaker-Falconer & Prof Natanya Meyer
South Africa has no shortage of entrepreneurial ambition - so why are so many businesses struggling to survive and scale? Michael Avery was joined by Angus Bowmaker-Falconer, research fellow at Stellenbosch Business School and co-author of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report, and Prof Natanya Meyer, acting SARChI Chair in Entrepreneurship Education at the University of Johannesburg. They explored SA’s entrepreneurship crisis, unpacking the systemic barriers holding businesses back - from red tape and fragmented government support to access to finance, markets and infrastructure - and discussed what needs to change to create a stronger environment for entrepreneurs to start, survive and grow.
#128
August 13 · 23 min
Ep 128: AI, Equities and the Q3 Investment Outlook - Peter Armitage & Nolan Wapenaar
To understand the investment opportunities shaping the third quarter, Michael Avery spoke to Anchor Capital Chief Investment Officers Peter Armitage and Nolan Wapenaar. They unpacked whether the scale of AI investment represented sustainable growth or signs of a bubble, where value could still be found in South African equities and bonds, and how investors could navigate geopolitical uncertainty, shifting interest-rate expectations and improving local reform momentum.
#127
August 6 · 27 min
Ep 127: A Mid-Year Look at South Africa’s Insurance Landscape - Cedric Masondo
South Africa’s risk landscape has changed - but has insurance kept pace? Michael Avery spoke to Cedric Masondo, CEO of PSG Insure, about the mounting pressures on South Africa’s insurance sector, from increasingly severe weather events to deteriorating municipal infrastructure. They unpacked how insurers are adapting the way they assess and price risk, the growing protection gap, and emerging threats such as AI-driven fraud.
#126
July 30 · 30 min
Ep 126: SA's Venture Capital Story: From Local Startups to Global Exits
South Africa's venture capital ecosystem has quietly come of age. The question is: who's paying attention? Michael Avery was joined by Alison Collier, MD of Endeavor South Africa; Antonia Bothner, Capital Markets Lead at Endeavor South Africa; Lumka Mlambo, Fund Principal at the SA SME Fund; and Anusha Naidu, CEO of SAVCA, to explore why South Africa's venture capital market is gaining global credibility. The conversation unpacked the country's growing track record of successful exits, the unique market conditions driving innovation, and why local startups are increasingly attracting international acquirers.
#125
July 23 · 29 min
Ep 125: A New Blueprint for Affordable Housing Finance - Alessandro Scalco
Can finance help solve South Africa's housing crisis? Michael Avery was joined by Alessandro Scalco, Sustainable Finance Transactor at RMB, to explore how innovative funding models are unlocking affordable rental housing while expanding access to finance for underserved property entrepreneurs. The conversation unpacked RMB's partnership with property fintech Indlu, the power of blended finance and data-driven lending, and why sustainable finance is creating new opportunities for both investors and communities.
#124
July 16 · 34 min
Ep 124: Johannesburg: Too Important to Fail - Roy Havemann & Nomvuyo Guma
Johannesburg is at a crossroads - and its future could shape South Africa's economic outlook. Michael Avery was joined by Roy Havemann, who heads the Impumelelo Economic Growth Lab at the Bureau for Economic Research at Stellenbosch University, and Nomvuyo Guma, author of the Lab's latest urban-risk briefing on Johannesburg, to unpack the city's growing challenges. The conversation explored the impact of deteriorating infrastructure, financial pressure and political instability, why Johannesburg remains too important to fail, and what it will take to restore confidence and drive long-term growth.
#123
July 9 · 43 min
Ep: 123 Analysing the Effectiveness of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment
To examine one of South Africa's most contentious economic policy debates - the effectiveness of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) - Michael Avery is joined by Dr. Daan Steenkamp, CEO of Codera Analytics, and Donald Mackay, Director at XA Global Trade Advisors. Drawing on new research into the costs and outcomes of B-BBEE compliance, the discussion explores whether the policy is achieving its intended objectives of transformation or creating unintended consequences for investment, employment and economic growth. They unpack the distinction between transformation as a national imperative and B-BBEE as a policy tool, while considering what the data reveals about South Africa's current approach and the need for evidence-based policy reform.
#122
July 2 · 31 min
Ep 122: Untapping the Business Potential of SA's Academic Research
To explore the journey of building one of South Africa's leading university-focused investment platforms Michael Avery was joined by Wayne Stocks, Managing Partner at Stocks & Strauss. Their conversation unpacked the challenges and opportunities of commercialising academic research, the structural barriers facing South Africa's venture capital ecosystem, and what it takes to turn breakthrough innovation into globally scalable businesses.
#121
June 18 · 24 min
Ep 121: Building a Leaner, Smarter Telecoms Business - Jorge Mendes
What does it take for a business to reinvent itself after facing repeated setbacks? Michael Avery sat down with Jorge Mendes, the CEO of Cell C, to unpack the company's remarkable transformation and its vision for a new era of telecommunications in South Africa. The conversation explored how Cell C has reimagined its operating model, embraced strategic partnerships and built a leaner, more agile business designed for long-term sustainability. They also discussed the importance of disciplined execution and the evolving role of collaboration in the telecoms sector.
#120
June 11 · 37 min
Ep 120: The AI Question: Governance, Trust, and Societal Impact - Nic Andrew
Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, markets, and societies - but what does it reveal about us? Michael Avery sat down with Nic Andrew, Managing Director at Nedgroup Investments, to explore the intersection of AI, human behaviour, and decision-making. Their conversation unpacked how AI is influencing investment strategies, transforming the future of work, and reshaping traditional approaches to learning and career development. They also examined the growing importance of trust, governance, and critical thinking as AI becomes increasingly embedded in everyday life.
#119
June 4 · 25 min
Ep 119: Cracking the Pistachio Opportunity - David Muller
What does it take to build a world-class agricultural export industry from the heart of the Karoo? This week Michael Avery was joined by David Muller, CEO of Prieska Pistachio Company, to explore how a once-abandoned pistachio farming venture is being transformed into a premium South African success story. Their conversation unpacked the persistence required to overcome complex farming challenges, and why South African farmers continue to compete on the global stage through innovation and resilience. David also shared insights into the growing global demand for pistachios, South Africa's unique competitive advantages in the sector, and what it takes to attract the patient capital needed to build a world-class agricultural venture.
#118
May 28 · 30 min
Ep 118: Inside South Africa’s Tax Freedom Day - Dr Richard Grant
For a thought-provoking conversation unpacking South Africa’s 2026 Tax Freedom Day, Michael Avery was joined by Dr Richard Grant, Professor of Finance & Economics at Cumberland University and Senior Consultant for the Free Market Foundation. The discussion explored the relationship between taxation, government spending, and economic growth in South Africa, while examining how policy choices, public investment, and trust in institutions shape the country’s long-term fiscal and economic future. The conversation also considered what conditions are needed to support productivity, expand opportunity, and create sustainable growth.
#117
May 21 · 30 min
Ep 117: Regulating the Rise of AI in Financial Services - Fundi Tshazibana
As AI rapidly reshapes the financial sector, the question is no longer whether regulators should respond - but whether they can keep pace. Michael Avery was joined by Fundi Tshazibana, Deputy Governor of the South African Reserve Bank and CEO of the Prudential Authority, for a timely conversation examining how the industry is navigating the accelerating rise of generative AI. The discussion explored the growing complexity AI introduces to financial supervision, the risks posed by increasingly powerful frontier models, and the vulnerabilities they could expose across banking systems and critical infrastructure. It also offered a clear look at how South Africa is approaching oversight, innovation, and risk in an AI-driven future.
#116
May 14 · 25 min
Ep 116: The Financial Realities of Farming - Eric Enslin
As the agricultural sector gathers at NAMPO this week, Michael Avery was joined by Eric Enslin, CEO of FNB Private Bank, for a conversation exploring the growing complexity of modern agriculture. They unpacked the financial, structural, and generational challenges facing South African farming families today. The discussion also highlighted the increasingly important role of integrated banking and advisory support in helping farming businesses navigate uncertainty, protect legacy, and build sustainable futures for generations to come.
#115
May 7 · 32 min
Ep 115: Stablecoins and the Battle for Financial Control - Ashlin Perumall
As stablecoins move from crypto curiosity to financial infrastructure, South Africa is being forced to answer a much bigger question: who will control the future of digital money? Michael Avery was joined by Ashlin Perumall, Partner in M&A & Head of IPTech at Baker McKenzie SA, to unpack South Africa’s evolving regulatory approach to stablecoins and what it could mean for banks, fintechs, investors, and the broader financial ecosystem. Their conversation explored the shift toward a bespoke regulatory framework, the growing role of stablecoins in payments and financial infrastructure, and how regulatory certainty could reshape competition, partnerships, and M&A activity in the digital assets space.
#114
April 30 · 32 min
Ep 114: The Shift in Global Capital Flows & South Africa’s Precarious Position - Theo Sibiya & Terence Toland
Capital is still moving, but far more selectively. Michael Avery was joined by Theo Sibiya (Partner at Kearney) and Terence Toland (Principal, Global Business Policy Council at Kearney) to unpack insights from Kearney 2026 FDI Confidence Index, exploring how geopolitics, industrial policy, and innovation are reshaping global investment flows. They discussed why capital is increasingly favouring technology and infrastructure plays over traditional growth drivers, and what this means for South Africa’s positioning. The conversation highlighted South Africa’s mix of progress and pressure, with improving stability offset by structural challenges.
#113
April 23 · 28 min
Ep 113: Building PayFast: Entrepreneurial Lessons in Building & Scaling - Jonathan Smit
If you think fintech is all about slick apps and digital wallets, this conversation might change your perspective… Michael Avery was joined by Jonathan Smit, co-founder of PayFast, to unpack his entrepreneurial journey and the evolution of payments in South Africa. From identifying payments as a critical gap in the early internet economy to exploring how fintech has shifted from standalone products to embedded features within broader financial ecosystems. The discussion also touched on Smith’s move toward infrastructure through his acquisition of iVeri, and why the real scarcity in the ecosystem isn’t capital - but founders with the grit and ability to execute.
#112
April 16 · 24 min
Ep 112: Rethinking Restructuring: From Crisis to Strategy - Michael Dorn
Restructuring is often seen as a last resort - but what if that thinking is costing companies their survival? Michael Avery was joined by CEO of RTgroup, Michael Dorn, to unpack the critical evolution of business restructuring, highlighting how companies typically engage restructuring officers far too late to preserve value. From identifying early warning signs like deteriorating cash flow and C-suite denial, to reframing turnaround strategies as compelling investment cases, the conversation offered practical insights for leaders navigating uncertainty - while challenging the stigma around restructuring as a proactive tool for resilience rather than a last resort.

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