Bouncing Forward with Purpose: A Recap of the PSASA KZN Chapter April 2025 Meeting
The PSASA KZN Chapter ushered in a new quarter with a vibrant and inspiring April Chapter Meeting at our new home, the Gateway Hotel. With energetic networking, a powerful guest speaker, exciting leadership announcements and post-convention reflections still fresh in our minds, this gathering delivered a potent blend of strategy, celebration and connection.
Presidential Welcome & Fresh Momentum
Colleen Wilson, newly inaugurated Chapter President, opened the meeting with the grace and command of a seasoned leader. Her address set the tone for 2025, emphasizing a vision of collaborative growth, creative energy, and deeper community engagement. Her facilitation throughout the meeting kept energy levels high and flow seamless, a testament to her leadership presence.
She introduced the new leadership team, including Raksha Mahabeer as Deputy President, Kavesan Pillay continuing as Marketing & Communications Executive, and the addition of Briony Bosse, Kerry Jones, and Zonke Ngcobo as part of the growing subcommittee. This team is ready to take the KZN Chapter to new heights.
Guest Speaker Spotlight: Joni Peddie on the CAN DO Mindset
Our featured guest speaker, Joni Peddie CSP, delivered an electrifying keynote titled: “The CAN DO Trifecta: Mental Clarity, Emotional Agility and Physical Vitality.”
With the room buzzing from her interactive style and body-invigorating prompts, Joni unpacked the real dangers of stress, overwhelm, and fatigue—what she called the “silent killers” in both business and personal life.
Her trademarked CAN DO Model introduced 9 integrated capabilities for sustainable leadership and well-being:
- Mental Clarity:Narrative Power, Decision Mastery, Purpose & Foresight
- Emotional Agility:Relationships & Trust, Emotional Wisdom, Inclusive Leadership
- Physical Vitality:Stress Resilience, Mindful Presence, Energy & Vitality
These culminate in Strategic Action, Compelling Vision, and People Engagement.
Joni challenged us to identify which of the 9 capabilities we were actively cultivating this year. Her key insight: “Mindset trumps skill.” In a world powered by AI and rapid change, emotional intelligence is the real secret weapon behind every top-performing skill in 2025. From leadership to digital marketing, EQ is the invisible force that builds trust, resilience and adaptability.
Her call to action? Nourish your brain, your body, and your boundaries and bounce forward, not just back.
Speaker Factor Rewind: From Convention to Chapter
Kavesan Pillay, our Chapter’s proud Speaker Factor Finalist, performed his 5-minute speech “Chase the Dream, Not the Competition” for the KZN audience. With appearances from Yoda, Bugs Bunny, and even Nelson Mandela, Kavesan delivered a heart-centered, entertaining and insightful message on finding your unique path.
He also shared behind-the-scenes reflections from the national finals in Johannesburg, where a live mic failure forced him to project unaided to a crowd of over 80 professionals. Drawing from his theatre training and years of voice work, he turned the moment into a win, showing grace under pressure and the power of preparation. His lessons:
- Nerves mean you care. Channel them.
- Speak from your heart. Not just your head.
- When tech fails, your voice and story won’t.
Convention Highlights: A National Gathering of Purpose
Members who attended the 2025 PSASA Annual Convention in Johannesburg shared powerful reflections. With over 30 speakers, sessions ranged from leadership, branding, and resilience to AI, podcasting, and anxiety as a strength.
Some standout messages included:
- Joey Evansreminded us of the strength of the human spirit with his Dakar Rally comeback.
- Caroline Cavanaghhelped us reframe anxiety as a tool for performance.
- Helen Nicholsonempowered us to build authentic brands and networks.
- Bruce Whitfieldchallenged our thinking on navigating chaos.
- Zanele Njaphabrought her bold brilliance in redefining success and career transformation.
Attendees returned with global perspectives, deeper friendships, and renewed energy for the PSASA mission. It was a weekend of deep hugs, real talk, and game-changing ideas.
A New Era: Raksha Mahabeer on Conscious Leadership
As incoming Deputy President, Raksha Mahabeer shared powerful thoughts on connection and conscious leadership:
“The power of networks is truly extraordinary. As we navigate an era where purpose, mindfulness, and authenticity take centre stage, our connections become the catalyst for meaningful change.”
Her address reminded us that growth is both individual and collective, and the PSASA is a space where both can thrive.
Guest Intros & New Energy
New guests took the floor to share who they are, what they specialise in, and where they see themselves in the speaking world. From aspiring keynote speakers to coaches, MCs and facilitators, it was heartening to see such passion and purpose in the room. Many remarked on the warmth, support and professionalism of the KZN chapter community and how excited they were to find a home with such a welcoming and supportive group of professionals.
Networking That Matters
As always, we closed off with snacks, laughter and deep conversations. New collaborations were sparked, new members signed up, and old friends reconnected. The Gateway Hotel proved to be the perfect venue with top-tier service and a welcoming atmosphere.
Final Word
The April 2025 PSASA KZN Chapter meeting was a testament to what happens when vision, voice and values align. With new leadership, national inspiration and actionable insights from Joni Peddie, the KZN Chapter continues to be a hub of transformation.
We invite you to join us next month for even more learning, laughter, and leadership. Stay connected. Stay inspired. And always remember: you CAN DO it.
