Welcome to our very first podcast episode, where we had the privilege of engaging in a captivating conversation with Brett, the esteemed CEO and Founder of SearchKings Africa. Brett reflects on his time at BDO and the learnings that he gained from other professionals at one of the largest auditing firms in the country and around the world. If you're thinking of a career in accounting or want to become an entrepreneur, this first episode is packed with gems that are meant especially for you!

The current economic climate has posed many threats and challenges to business owners, with many of them having to make changes to their businesses to avoid insolvency. Christopher Rey, Business Restructuring Specialist within BDO Advisory, talks about how the resilient spirit of entrepreneurship can help such business owners save their businesses.

The rise in technological advancements across have given way for increased cases of cybersecurity breaches. While you may assume this is a problem reserved by large corporates, small and medium enterprises are also falling victim by not having the proper processes in place. Gilchrist Mushwana, Director at BDO Advisory and Head of Cybersecurity, discusses how these businesses can best equip themselves against cybersecurity violations.

Adapting to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risks is not new to mining. For mining companies, the need to meet new benchmarks for their ESG considerations has become crucial in the eyes of investors, the public and other key stakeholders. As a result, Boards, Senior Management, and Site Teams need to be taking these issues seriously and gain an understanding of how to address these risks.

A robust understanding of and action plan for ESG governance gives companies a competitive advantage, when it comes to complying with new and evolving legislation around their environmental impact and social licences to operate, dealing with investors and accessing debt.

In this episode, the BDO Sustainability and Audit team and Digby Wells Environmental team of experts share their knowledge and engage on this important topic.

The topic of ESG has been on every good company's agenda recently, and with that, has come the concept of Green Variability.

Joining me today to give us some clarity on this topic, is Shehnaaz Suleman, Director within BDO's Financial Services Technical sector. 

When it comes to the concept of people, planet and profit, are we putting enough focus on people and planet? 

Environmental, Social and Corporate governance, or ESG has become a large global focus in the realm of sustainability. 

Today I am joined by Carla Clamp and Richard Walker, Risk Advisory Directors within BDO’s Real-estate and construction sector, and we will be discussing the role ESG plays in the REC industry.

Having joined the global trend to move towards clean energy use, is South Africa ready to embrace renewable energy?

Nato Oosthuizen, Audit Partner within BDO's Natural Resources Sector, gives us some clarity. 

The field of Telematics has grown from strength to strength and is steadily becoming an essential part of various other industries. 

Discussing this further with me today is Carl Bosma, Director within BDO's IT Advisory and TMT Sector. 

In the period of innovation, technological progression has become a vital need for each business in order to meet the developing consumer desires and keep up with advanced change. 

Chatting to us today about the world of Insurance and InsurTech as it relates to innovation is Justin Roberts, Associate Director within BDO's Financial Services Technology Sector, and Tatenda Mapurisa, Senior Analyst within BDO's Financial Services Technology Sector. 

Welcome to a special edition of BDO’s Frankly Speaking Podcast. Today, we will be bringing you some clarity to South Africa’s 2021 budget speech, delivered on the 24th of February. We have key BDO experts and friends of BDO who have keenly painted us a picture of what the country’s fiscal future holds. They include:

Anthony Pillay, Associate Director within BDO’s Public Sector

Kevin Lings, Chief Economist at Stanlib

Marcus Botha, Tax Director at BDO

Yugen Pillay, Partner within BDO’s Public Sector

Cobie van Antwerpen, Advisory Director within BDO’s Public Sector

Chiedza Madzima, Head of South Africa Research and Operational Risk at Fitch Solutions

Professor David Warneke, Head of Technical Tax at BDO

The tug-o-war over personal data and information continues. With WhatsApp releasing its new privacy policy and causing mass global panic and boycotts. Lisa Erasmus, Senior manager within BDO’s Financial Services Technology division is here to give us some clarity.

From beach closures to increased "staycations"; what will the South African tourism industry look like over the December period, and beyond?

In this week's episode, Lee-Anne Bac and Bernadine Galliver, Advisory Directors within BDO's tourism sector, give us some clarity. 

One of the hardest hit industries by the COVID-19 pandemic is Insurance, and it seems some industries had an expectation that their insurers would foot their bills during South Africa’s lockdown.

Here to bring clarity to the situation is Marnus Fourie, Partner within BDO's Financial Sector team. 

According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), "cybercrime remains one of the greatest threats to global prosperity and is expected to cost the global economy $2.9 million every minute in 2020."

Delving into this topic with me today is Technology analyst, Christopher O’Flaherty and Kevin Moodley, Associate Director within BDO’s Financial Servivces Technology Sector.

The current landscape of cross-border transactions in Africa is complex and forever changing. Political relationships, pandemics and a variety of other matters make this one of the most complicated areas of discussion. 

Here to give us some clarity on the subject, is Associate Director, Patrick McLennan and Transfer Pricing Partner Marcus Stelloh, from BDO. 

Despite earlier hiccups and scandals, unsecured lending has grown in popularity among South Africans. 

Chatting to me today on the popularity of this type of lending and debt in South Africa is Chan-ré Pietersen, Senior Audit Manager within BDO's Financial Services sector. 

Carbon, is arguably one of the biggest contributors to the changing face of our planet. We generate tonnes of it daily, as individuals, as well as organisations. 

Chatting to me today on how individuals and organisations can reduce their carbon footprint is Dineo Mokono, Manager and Geologist within BDO's Natural Resources Sector. 

The currency landscape is in flux, and the value of different currencies is changing. 

Chatting to me today about the factors that contribute to the value of currencies and investments is Zakhele Nyandeni, Senior Audit Manager in within BDO’s Financial Services sector.

Covid-19 has not only lead to a massive loss of life, but has also led a lot of organisations and businesses to their demise. 

In this episode, I chat to Nadine Rix, National Risk Officer at BDO South Africa, on Organisational Resilience and ways companies can salvage their businesses. 

The biggest mainstream conversation that we are having when it comes to robots is if they are here to take our jobs. But it might be worth looking at the bigger picture, and hoping that we are still in it in the next century. 

Chatting to me today on robots and the future of tech, is Nevellan Moodley, Head of BDO Financial Services Technology.