THE 2022/23
BETTER
REPORT

A STORY OF GRIT, GROWTH AND PURPOSE

2022/23 was a watershed year for TPA.

In 2020/21, our focus was on building back from the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic.

2021/22 constituted a period of stabilisation and reconsolidation.

This year, with a resilient and highly motivated leadership team in place, we embarked on an aggressive beyond-borders growth strategy.

In the process, we tackled a number of foundational questions:

Who do we want to be in the world?

For ourselves, our people and our partners.

How do we live fully into our purpose?

Leaving our world better than we found it?

And how do we purposefully grow and scale?

Honouring the legacy of our original story, whilst writing an exciting new chapter?

IN FEBRUARY 2022, WE GOT TO WORK ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS.

Over a two-day strategy session, our extended leadership team, apprentice leaders-in-training and selected senior tribe members dared to dream big.

AND DREAM BIG WE DID.

By the end of a two-day working session, which became known as our Dream Factory,
we had polished our purpose, articulated a new set of strategic priorities
and laid the foundations for a robust and ambitious five-year growth strategy.

Then we got to work.

WE ARE COMMITTED.
WE ARE READY. WE ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGING OUR WORLD FOR THE BETTER.

NATALIE MAROUN

MD | FOUNDER | STRATEGIST | DISRUPTOR | VISIONARY

When we encounter talent, we snatch it up, and create the context for it to thrive. We start the new financial year with an investment in young talent, maturing Tatiana Simshaeuser’s fixed-term contract into a permanent position, in recognition of her exceptional performance and abundant talent.

Absa Learning Is Transformation | #LitforLife

TPA devises and co-creates Learning Week 5, the fifth chapter in Absa's ongoing commitment to empowering its people to thrive through change, disruption and reinvention.

Know your worth.

In March 2022, TPA is approached by South African technology giant, the Gijima Group. Blown away by TPA’s expertise, footprint and potential, Gijima initiates acquisition talks.

We listen, and showcase our work, our client base and our pipeline. In the end, they propose an equity swop.

We respectfully decline.

MULTIPLIER INDUCTION

Our leadership table has no fixed number of seats.

When leaders emerge, we extend our table to create space.

In March 2022, we inducted three new Multipliers.

Duke LEAD WITH HER presentation.

On 31 March, Natalie joins an elite group of international speakers, including acclaimed US astronaut and space pioneer Dr Mae Jamison, to be a panelist at the 2022 #LeadWithHer Global Conference.

Duke and its partners are blown away by Natalie's powerful message, and passionate delivery.

“It was such a pleasure to partner with the TPA team. They listened to our marketing needs and developed high-impact creative, including an event launch video and very thoughtful social media content. The video is so powerful that people continue to talk about its emotional impact long after the event. Thank you again for your partnership with us.”

- Christine Robers, Chief Marketing Officer, Duke University, US

Our Design Studio continues to grow and evolve. As part of this evolution, including an enhanced digital capability, experienced graphic designer Tshepo Lethoko joins our creative team.

CLICK HERE

Our first #BusinessForBetter initiative sees TPA tribe members report to the Rivers Foundation to make sandwiches for school children in Johannesburg. This is the start of a purposeful journey of giving back and being the change that we want to see in our world.

TPA celebrates a remarkable workaversary, when Hanlie Theunissen marks 20 years of building, growing, learning, co-creating and becoming.

African Bank | Show me your SHIFT

Building on the excellent relationships we have matured at African Bank, we start a new project that challenges 350 African Bank sales consultants and their leaders to undergo a journey of learning, stretching and shifting.

Deloitte South Africa initiates synergy and, ultimately, acquisition discussions with TPA’s senior partners.

After several meetings and a comprehensive value report, Deloitte make an offer amounting to R100m.

After careful consideration, TPA decides to back itself, confident that the offer falls significantly short of our true value.

Absa | Africa Day

An activation campaign of talent, culture and connection that inspires 35,000 hearts across our continent to celebrate our unifying African heritage. We even wrote a song!

We deliver the first Absa Life Apprentice Exco Masterclass

I’ve been blown away, from the very first launch experience. (With TPA) you can pick up this ethos of “We are always trying to be better”. It makes me and the team feel like we’re part of something special.”

– Eugene Strauss, CEO Absa Life Insurance

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In another #BusinessForBetter initiative, TPA joins the Midrand Presbyterian Church in their garden, IsivandeSethu, to plant seedlings which our tribe members have been nurturing for the past month. It was a #handsdirtyheartsfull initiative, with the harvest going to two orphanages: Bathabaleng, and Olievenhoutbosch.

TPA achieves full independence from previous shareholders LRMG.

TPA engages strategic partners Richard Lamb-Hughes and Tag8 for what would prove to be a six-month journey to help us evolve our strategy and refresh the TPA brand for a new digitally powered landscape.

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JLRSA Modern Luxury journey begins.

TPA hosts the first of six immersive #ModernLuxury experieces for Jaguar Land Rover South Africa to help them prepare their sales ambassadors for the experience economy.

The first two sessions take place in Johannesburg, followed by two sessions each in Cape Town and Durban.

TPA's research, insights and execution on this project sets a new standard - one which would prove to be unrivalled.

WINTER BREAK

18-29 July

TPA welcomes its newest, youngest tribe member when baby Letlotlo Tshilo, son of Jackson and Mojaki Kekana, makes his appearance at 15:36pm on 2 August 2022.

TPA bids a fond farewell to rising stars Princess Sealetsa and Zaakir Choonara, who leverage their TPA training and immersive experience to step into bright new careers in the financial sector.

TPA MD NATALIE MAROUN delivers the closeout lecture to GIBS business school MBA students.

"Natalie is the Jedi Master of Consultancy. My students benefitted incredible from her brilliance, and the powerful way she ewas able to share her insights with them."

- Jefferson Yu-Jen Chen, Gibs Business School Faculty

Absa | Cyber Security

A a holistic behaviour change engine layered with support, relatability, and reinforcement.

Here we grow again! We welcome dynamic young recruits Rhulani Risiba to strengthen our Business Development team and Tumi Shongwe as a copywriter and editor.

Another special workaversary.

We celebrate Senior Managing Partner Graham Gould’s 17th anniversary as a pivotal and much-loved member of our tribe.

After five years with TPA, Noah Masha's exceptional growth and development in the consultancy and business development space allow him to step out to establish his own consultancy.

TPA welcomes new joiners Kelly Strydom (Business Development) and Keke Mogale (Design Studio)

Absa | #EvenMe Cyber Security Project

Our long-term partnership with Absa produces yet another spin-off project, as we are entrusted with helping the bank mature its response to cyber threats by creating a culture of cyber security vigilance.

#PurposefulPartnerships is one of TPA’s strategic pillars, and the cornerstone of what makes us the leaders in our field. We are delighted to embark on another such meeting of the minds, with dynamic South African business leader Nene Molefe, with whom we are forging an exciting partnership.

After coming through TPA’s apprentice leadership programme, Keshi Naidoo is promoted from Senior Consultant to Executive Consultant, and asked to join the Multiplier Table by special invitation.

An eight-year partnership with the Office of the Auditor-General South Africa culminates in TPA being asked to assit the Capacity Building Committee of the International Congress of Supreme Audit Institution, as they prepare for their 24th International Congress in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

African Bank Leadership Compact Launch

TPA presents a spectacular and transformative event to launch the African Bank Leadership Compact. A visibly moved Group CEO Kennedy Bungane is brought to tears - and a new raving fan is born.

STATIC >> LIVE

After extensive consultation and input from our senior leadership team, and with the invaluable guidance of our external partner, we adopt a refreshed Strategy and Value Proposition, and unveil our Static >> Live brand articulation.

TPA year-end celebration

Hands dirty, hearts full, glasses raised! We down tools and to celebrate a hectic but rewarding year of believing, committing, showing up and getting shit done. TPAYAY!

SUMMER BREAK

15 December 2022 - 10 January 2023

Executive Consultant Seretha Slabbert-Gentles, who relocated to the UAE at the end of 2022, opens up TPA’s first African satellite office, situated in Abu Dhabi.

"In line with our unwavering commitment to global growth and innovation, our expansion into the UAE embodies our strategic intent to cultivate new horizons, forging connections that transcend borders and enabling us to deliver an unparalleled value proposition to a diverse and thriving market."

Strategy 2023!

The extended leadership team re-assemble for another exciting visioning session as we launch our updated strategy on a page, brainstorm our strategic priorities for 2023 and introduce the Refreshed Brand, Value Proposition and Social Media Strategy.

Recognising excellence

Another bright young talent, Nicole Govender, puts her hand up for promotion by living purposefully into our Multiplier philosophy and being deliberate about cultivating multiplier behaviours. We start the formal process to promote her, and to extend a special invitation for her to join our extended leadership table.