Shows / The Monocle Banking Podcast
The Monocle Banking Podcast
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.
Episodes
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 139: Can Adversity Be an Entrepreneur's Greatest Advantage? - Vusi Thembekwayo & Michael Hinton
What separates entrepreneurs who defy the odds from those who fall victim to them? Drawing on insights from their new book, Underdogs, Vusi Thembekwayo…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 138: How Extraordinary Leaders Think Differently - Adrian Gore
What separates exceptional success from ordinary results? According to Discovery founder Adrian Gore, the answer lies less in talent and more in how we think…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 137: The Reality Behind South Africa’s Fiscal Outlook - Dr Azar Jammine
South Africa’s economic outlook is showing signs of improvement, but is the progress as promising as it seems? Michael Avery was joined by Dr Azar Jammine…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 136: South Africa’s Stalling Growth: Policy vs Potential? - Neil Emerick
Is South Africa’s economy being held back by its own policies? With unemployment remaining high and economic freedom rankings declining, the need for reform is…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 135: The Case for Cheaper, More Open Payments - Lincoln Mali
A more open, competitive payments system could reshape how South Africa transacts - but key reforms are still taking shape. Michael Avery spoke with Lincoln…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 134: How CEOs Lead When the Map Keeps Moving
Geopolitical disruption is no longer an occasional shock - it is becoming a permanent feature of the business landscape. From fractured supply chains and…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 133: Inside Africa’s Largest Pension Fund Custody Mandate - Hazel Khumalo
Absa’s appointment as master custodian for South Africa’s Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) marks a significant development in the country’s pension…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 132: Payments: Where the Real Value Lies - Richard de Roos
Standard Bank processed R88 trillion in payments in the first half of 2026 alone - but as payment systems become increasingly open and interconnected, where…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
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…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
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…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
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…
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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…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
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…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
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…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
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…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
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…
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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…
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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…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
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…
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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…
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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…
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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 &…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
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…
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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…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
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…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
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…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
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…
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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…
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Ep 111: When Finance Meets Nature - Martin Potgieter, Kalina Miller & Louise Stafford
Sustainable finance has evolved from intent to accountability - and in South Africa, that shift is becoming tangible. In a country where water scarcity is a…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 110: AI, Access, and the Future of Insurance in Africa - Pravin Kalpage
Insurance in Africa is changing fast. AI can now flag fraud in seconds, mobile platforms are reshaping access, and customer expectations are higher than ever…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 109: Unpacking the Results: What’s Driving SA Banks Forward - Costa Natsas
South Africa’s banks are delivering strong financial results - but the real story lies in what sits beneath the numbers. Michael Avery was joined by PwC…
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Ep 108: From Payments to Participation - Hema Morar
After unpacking payments modernisation over the past two episodes - from infrastructure to fintech innovation - this conversation turns to the real test…
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Ep 107: Real-Time Payments and the Merchant Opportunity - Rachel Cowan
Following last week’s conversation on the infrastructure behind South Africa’s payments modernisation, this episode shifts to the merchant frontlines as…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 106: Rewiring South Africa’s Payments System - Marin Cundall
Through the Payments Ecosystem Modernisation Programme (PEM), South Africa is moving away from legacy infrastructure toward faster, more open payment rails…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 105: The Regulatory Complexity of Bank M&A - Deborah Carmichael
Banking regulation today extends far beyond capital adequacy - fundamentally changing how shareholders, boards, and acquirers must approach transactions…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 104: When Electricity Reform Becomes Economic Reform - Peter Attard Montalto & Cathy Oxby
This week, Michael Avery set out to understand why electricity reform is becoming far more than an energy story - and what it means for investment, market…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 103: Copper Markets and Africa’s Strategic Position - Thobela Bixa
Recorded during the African Mining Indaba in Cape Town, Michael Avery spoke with Thobela Bixa, Senior Research Analyst at Nedbank CIB, about copper’s evolving…
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Ep 102: Innovation Inside Banking’s Regulatory Framework - Lerato Lamola
To understand why regulation should be seen as an enabler rather than a barrier to innovation, Michael Avery met with Lerato Lamola, Partner at Webber Wentzel…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 101: How Tech Is Rewiring Insurance in Africa - Andrew Warren
To explore how embedded insurance is reshaping the industry across South Africa and Africa, Michael Avery was joined by Deloitte Africa’s Insurance Sector…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 100: Risk, Regulation & Reinvention: The Monocle Story - David Buckham
Bringing it full circle from the very first episode, Michael Avery met with Monocle CEO David Buckham. David unpacked the moments that shaped Monocle…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 99: How Risk Is Driving Mining’s Strategic Shift - Craig Brewer
Gold prices are hitting record highs - not just because of market cycles, but because global trust is shifting. Michael Avery sat down with Craig Brewer…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 98: Offshore Oil and the Future of SA’s Energy Mix - Niall Kramer
This week, Michael Avery was joined by Niall Kramer, the newly appointed national spokesperson for the Offshore Petroleum Association of South Africa (OPASA)…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 97: Leadership Imperatives for Turbulent Times - David Bach
In this episode, Professor David Bach of IMD Business School sat down with Michael Avery to take a compelling look at the leadership capabilities CEOs need to…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 96: Beyond the Branch: How Tech Is Reshaping Banking - Mutsa Chironga
To unpack the fast-shifting world of retail banking in South Africa, Michael Avery sat down with Mutsa Chironga, Managing Executive, Personal Banking at…
- The Monocle Banking Podcast
Ep 95: Breaking the Spell: Questioning the Narratives That Shape Our World - David Buckham
Following the release of The Spell, David Buckham joined Michael Avery to unpack the book’s key themes. Drawing on examples like Saudi Arabia’s Project NEOM…
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Ep 94: Measuring Progress: How African Markets Are Maturing - Jeff Gable & Precious Dube
In this episode, Michael Avery spoke with Jeff Gable, Chief Economist at Absa, and Precious Dube, Macroeconomist for Broader Africa at RMB, about the ninth…
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Ep 93: From Insight to Impact: Data as a Strategic Force in Banking - Prashant Rijhumal
To understand what it really takes to make data a strategic asset, Michael Avery was joined by Prashant Rijhumal, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at RMB. They…
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Ep 92: Funding the Transition: Building South Africa’s Green Pipeline - Nunu Ngoasheng
In this episode, Michael Avery is joined by Nunu Ngoasheng, Lead of South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET) Funding Platform, to discuss how her team is…
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Ep 91: From Risk to Resilience: African Banks and the Climate Imperative - Yaseen Lockhat
Africa is warming faster than the rest of the world, making climate risk not only a major financial challenge but also a growing opportunity for the…
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Ep 90: The Power of a Fresh Start - Lino Ferreira
In this week’s episode, Michael Avery sat down with Lino Ferreira, who reflects on the lessons learned after selling their family business, The Fruitspot, to…
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Ep 89: The Buy Now Pay Later Blueprint: Data, Credit, and Inclusion - Mark McChlery
Since its launch in 2019, PayJustNow has processed over R11 billion in transactions, opening access to credit for millions of previously unbanked consumers…
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Ep 88: Breaking Down Barriers to Digital Payments - Ontiretse Modise
Despite the fintech hype, cash still accounts for 56% of transactions in South Africa. Michael Avery sat down with Ontiretse Modise, Standard Bank CIB’s newly…
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Ep 87: Deal-Making vs. Fundraising: The Paradox of Private Equity in SA - Graham Stokoe
To unpack what’s really happening behind the numbers in South Africa’s private equity industry, Michael Avery sat down with Graham Stokoe, EY Africa’s Private…
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Ep 86: Inside the Sanlam-Assupol Integration: Driving Value and Inclusion - Bongani Madikiza
One year after Sanlam’s landmark acquisition of Assupol, the group is entering a decisive phase of integration with big implications for South Africa’s…
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Ep 85: Beyond Party Lines: Rebuilding South Africa - Moeletsi Mbeki
Can South Africa move beyond entrenched party politics to build institutions capable of real transformation? To unpack this, Michael Avery was joined by…
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Ep 84: Beyond the Models: Reinsurance and the Future of Risk - Jane March
With the rising pressures of emerging risk, systemic risk and climate risk, Michael Avery was joined by Jane March, CEO of Guy Carpenter South Africa. They…
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Ep 83: South Africa's Reform Promises vs. Progress - Busisiwe Mavuso
South Africa’s reform agenda is full of promises - but is it moving fast enough? Michael Avery sat down with Business Leadership SA CEO, Busisiwe Mavuso, about…
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Ep 82: Weaving Ahead in SA’s Evolving FinTech Landscape - Sean Wibberley
To unpack how Weaver Fintech’s PayJustNow and PayStretch are scaling faster than peers while keeping default rates below global norms, Michael Avery was joined…
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Ep 81: Stablecoins, Blockchain, and the Bank Dilemma - Rob Downes & Brenton Naicker
Is Africa leapfrogging banks entirely? Are stablecoins the new reserve currency? And can banks innovate fast enough to avoid becoming irrelevant? To unpack the…
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Ep 80: Banking’s Next Chapter: Super Apps and Strategic Shifts - Byron Jackson-Miller
Will traditional banks remain dominant, or will they become the back-end infrastructure for a fintech-driven future? Michael Avery was joined by Byron…