Who Is Bruce Whitfield
Host of the Money Show on 702 and Cape Talk, Whitfield has won more awards for financial journalism than any other working South African media professional. A celebrated broadcaster, author and TV presenter, he is also a contributing editor at the Financial Mail and Whitfield has a Bachelor of Journalism from Rhodes University.
A sought-after business speaker and facilitator, Whitfield removes the jargon from financial speak, makes complex concepts accessible and kickstarts the conversations that’ll help move South Africa forward.
His latest venture The Upside of Down is a bestselling book that is already selling out its 2nd edition and has evolved into a punchy 45 minute presentation. The book and talk delve into the inspiring stories of individuals who are doing remarkable things to solve South Africa’s collective challenges. Those who create opportunity amid chaos.
Pithy, empathetic and always honest, he is an insightful commentator on the political economy and has been accused of being an optimist… but a cautious, realistic one. An observer of humanity, he is first and foremost a storyteller.
As a renowned speaker locally and internationally, Whitfield’s extensive knowledge and connectedness informs a unique perspective. He tells compelling stories about the political economy in a creative, engaging way that connects with the audience at a deeper level.
Adept at reading a room, his wit and honesty allow for spirited conversations around sometimes diffcult topics.
Whitfeld has spoken to boards, excos and leadership teams at Standard Bank, PWC, Deloitte, RMB, Nedbank, Absa, PSG, Old Mutual, Sanlam, Discovery, Anglo American, DeBeers, JP Morgan South Africa, Telkom, Vodacom, MTN, BCX, Suretravel and countless industry associations including SAPOA and The Insurance Industry Association of South Africa.
A master-facilitator, he’s also chaired myriad panel debates. Additionally, he’s a sought-after MC and conference facilitator.
Most popular talks
1. The Upside of Down
The Upside of Down demonstrates to audiences just how important it is to have a growth mindset in a deeply complex environment where we are often paralyzed into inaction through fear and indecision. Facts matter more than ever. You cannot make good long-term decisions if you are overwhelmed by fear. This deeply empowering, fact-rich, multi-layered talk challenges our in-built biases and encourages audiences to confront widespread, but often inaccurate beliefs.
2. Thriving on the edge of chaos
Thriving on the edge of chaos is all about how great businesses are built in difficult times. Whitfield weaves a compelling tale featuring some of South Africa’s greatest entrepreneurs explaining how opportunity always exists in times of uncertainty.
3. Rebels Renegades and Problem Solvers
Rebels Renegades and Problem Solvers paints a stark, realistic picture of the multiplicity of issues South Africa faces and how a new generation of problem solvers are going about building businesses that offer solutions to everything from food, water and energy security to creating jobs and training young people to be entrepreneurial themselves.
Books


The Upside of Down
In a world shaped by Covid-19 and characterised by fake news, manipulated feeds of information and divisive social-media agendas, it's easy to believe that our time is the most challenging in human history. It's just not true.
It is a time of extraordinary opportunity. But only if you have the right mindset and attitude. Fear of the future breeds inaction and leads to strategic paralysis. Problem-solvers thrive in chaotic and uncertain times because they act to change their future. Winners recognise that in a world of growing uncertainty, you need to resort to actions on things you can control.
A robust mindset is the one common characteristic Bruce Whitfield has identified in two decades of interrogating how South Africa's billionaires and start-up mavericks think differently. They don't ignore risk or hope that problems will go away. They constantly measure, manage, consider and weigh up opportunities in a tumultuous sea of uncertainty and find ways around obstacles.
If, as Nobel Prize-winning economist Robert Shiller suggests, the stories we tell affect economic outcomes, then we need to tell different stories amidst the noise and haste of a rapidly evolving world.
Media Room
Accolades
'A brief note to thank you for taking the time to present at our SSA Senior Leaders Conference on Wednesday. The insights you shared into the world of those South African companies and business leaders who successfully globalized their firms was extremely interesting and inspiring. We need more of this to shine a light on the opportunities and potential that exist here in South Africa."
- Marc Hussey, JP Morgan MD Sub Saharan Africa -
"Knowledgeable, entertaining, positive, professional. Bruce is thoroughly prepared, with the ability to apply his profile, journalism skills and natural inquisitiveness to the client event – the result is a MC and facilitator who has always lifted the quality of our events with his personality and excellence."
- Hylton Kallner, CEO Discovery South Africa -
"A brief note to thank you for taking the time to present at our SSA Senior Leaders Conference on Wednesday. The insights you shared into the world of those South African companies and business leaders who successfully globalized their firms was extremely interesting and inspiring. We need more of this to shine a light on the opportunities and potential that exist here in South Africa."
- Marc Hussey, JP Morgan MD Sub Saharan Africa -