PSASA KZN Chapter Meeting – 7 October 2025
Speakers: Dr Phiwa Zondi & Vanessa Miller
Emcee: Trevor Clark
The October PSASA KZN Chapter meeting was an evening filled with reflection, learning, and inspiration. Under the lively guidance of Trevor Clark, our emcee for the night, members and guests enjoyed an engaging programme that blended humour, insight, and personal stories. Trevor, ever the wordsmith, entertained the audience with quotes from renowned speakers, including the memorable reminder from John F. Kennedy that “the only reason to give a speech is to change the world.”
Vanessa Miller – The Power of a Piece of Paper
Vanessa Miller is the Managing Director and founder of VM Consulting, having established the company in 1998. She leads a team specialised in intelligent business solutions, focusing on document management, business process automation, and digital transformation across various sectors in South Africa and Africa. Vanessa is known for her passion for reducing paper dependency, streamlining operations, and helping organizations adapt to the digital age. She is also an engaging public speaker and thought leader in the tech and document management space.
The evening began with Vanessa Miller, founder and owner of VM Consulting, who delivered a captivating talk titled The Power of a Piece of Paper. Vanessa’s presentation reflected her lifelong relationship with paper both personal and professional and explored the emotional and historical value it continues to hold in our increasingly digital world.
She traced paper’s origins in China, its pivotal role in preserving history, and its continued relevance across generations. A touching story about her daughter’s birth certificate where her name was initially spelt incorrectly underscored how paper still carries enormous personal and legal significance.
Vanessa reminded us that paper remains a cornerstone in education, creativity, and record keeping, sharing the powerful reflection that “the pen is mightier than the sword, but paper gives the pen its voice.”
She also took the audience back to 1998, when she founded VM Consulting amid the Y2K concerns about digital data loss. Drawing from her early work at the Department of Water, she discussed how her drive to optimise efficiencies and reduce paper use eventually positioned her company as a leader in paperless document management.
Vanessa concluded with an important perspective: paper is not disappearing it is evolving. Its future lies not in what it was, but in what it can still become.
Dr Phiwa Zondi – The Heart Model: A Path to Self-Mastery
Dr Phiwa Zondi is a speaker and leadership development practitioner focusing on self-mastery, emotional intelligence, and authentic leadership. Her HEART Model framework emphasises the role of honesty, empathy, accountability, resilience, and tenacity in cultivating inner strength and influence.
Dr Phiwa Zondi captivated the audience with her insightful talk on Self-Mastery through the Heart Model a framework that places the human heart at the centre of authentic leadership and personal growth. She explained that before one can lead others effectively, one must first learn to lead oneself. The Heart Model serves as a practical guide for doing just that, encouraging individuals to align their values, emotions, and actions to live and lead with integrity.
Each letter of HEART represents a core principle:
H – Honesty: Self-mastery begins with brutal honesty. Dr Zondi emphasised that leaders must first face their own truths recognising both their strengths and weaknesses. Honesty builds self-awareness, the foundation for meaningful change and growth.
E – Empathy: True connection stems from understanding others. Empathy allows leaders to listen deeply, appreciate diverse perspectives, and build trust transforming communication into genuine connection.
A – Accountability: Leadership requires ownership, not blame. Accountability involves acting with integrity, honouring commitments, and learning from mistakes.
R – Resilience: Life and leadership come with challenges. Resilience is the ability to adapt and recover from setbacks, growing stronger through adversity.
T – Tenacity (or Trust): Tenacity embodies persistence and faith the determination to stay true to one’s purpose while maintaining trust in oneself and others.
Dr Zondi concluded that self-mastery is a lifelong journey. By practising honesty, empathy, accountability, resilience, and tenacity, individuals can lead with both heart and head.
Closing Thoughts
The October meeting offered a perfect blend of reflection and growth from Vanessa Miller’s exploration of paper’s enduring power to Dr Phiwa Zondi’s reminder that true leadership starts within. Guided by Trevor Clark’s wit and warmth, the PSASA KZN Chapter once again proved why it remains a space where speakers come together to learn, connect, and inspire.
Upcoming Events
Join us for the next PSASA KZN Chapter meeting in November details will be shared soon. Expect more opportunities to network, learn, and grow alongside fellow professional speakers and thought leaders.
Do not forget to follow our chapter’s updates on the PSASA website and social platforms to stay informed about future events, speaker line ups, and member initiatives.
Written and compiled by Briony Bosse, PSASA KZN Chapter Member.
