Every great voice needs a platform.
A place where gifts are harnessed and voices are amplified.
The PSASA KZN Chapter is at it again in 2026.
We exist to amplify voices, and this year we do so with clarity and intention.
Together, we explored what it truly means to find your one thing—the message that connects you to your audience, brings clarity to your purpose, and sets your voice apart with confidence and differentiation.
Whether you joined us for the first time or have been part of the journey for years, this was an invitation into an exciting and impactful year with the PSASA KZN Chapter.
The theme for our first meeting asked two powerful questions:
What will be your currency, and what is the one thing that will move the mic in 2026?
It was a conversation shaped by insight, courage, and honesty, led by an incredible lineup of speakers: Sarah Swainson, Brenden Cavanagh, Colleen Wilson, Raksha Mahabeer, and Kavesan Pillay.
Each speaker brought their A-game. And if those conversations did not awaken something within you—to put in the effort, to take action, and to move closer to your dreams—then it is hard to imagine what will.
Guiding the energy of the room was our MC for the day, Briony Bosse, who truly set the house on fire. She kept the room engaged, entertained, and inspired, creating a space where learning and connection could flourish.
The Business of the Day
What will be your currency and what is the one thing that will move the mic in 2026?
Sarah Swainson
Sarah Swainson opened the evening by inviting us into a conversation about discomfort. She reminded us that, one way or another, we all find ourselves in difficult places. In those moments, panic is not the answer. Instead, she posed a powerful question: When you find yourself in a tough spot, who is the one person you can call to come to your rescue?
She spoke beautifully about high urgency, clear thinking, and ownership. High urgency, she shared, is a skill that can be learned—good news for anyone willing to grow. Drawing from insights she gains through the Modern Wisdom podcast, she encouraged us to think deeply during challenging times and to be intentional about who we lean on.
Living a life of no regrets was a recurring theme. What feels impossible today, or what you once wished you had tried, is not too late. Sarah shared her personal experience of learning to ride a bicycle later in life—an act that supported a bigger adventure. Her message was clear: try new things, even when falling is part of the process.
Action builds confidence. The more you do, the more you grow into it. Embracing 2026, she said, means learning to sit with tension and becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable. Feeling lost will happen, but what matters is who you become and how you choose to show up when things get hard.
There is no formula for life. Be authentic. Ask yourself how you want to show up in 2026. It is not about being the best—it is about being kind and never giving up.
She challenged us to reflect on what we would tell our younger selves. Instead of waiting for “someday,” why not today—even imperfectly? Choose courage when fear feels easier.
Cultivate high urgency, do the uncomfortable work, and keep going. Your presence, she reminded us, impacts others more than you may realise.
Ownership and curiosity matter. The real question is not what you want to achieve as a speaker, but who you are becoming. You cannot skip the steps, and knowing your why will always be essential.
Colleen Wilson
Colleen reminded us that while intention and aspiration are powerful, they only gain meaning when paired with action.
When you build a system, you create a map for growth. Intention is beautiful—but tension will come, and tension is part of action.
Aspiration without action is simply daydreaming. Start. Be brave. Map it out. Volunteer. Create action points and move forward intentionally.
To truly move the mic, Colleen encouraged a goal-oriented approach:
Name: What you do in one sentence
Same: Who you are like, so people can place you quickly
Fame: Proof of credibility
Aim: Your 90-day focus on profile building
Game: Your big direction.
She closed with a powerful reminder:
“We don’t rise to the level of our goals; we fall to the level of our systems.” — James Clear.
Raksha Mahabeer
Raksha spoke about the power of minimalism—not only in life, but in the mind. Being selective and intentional, she invited us to dig deeper within ourselves.
For Raksha, the one thing that moves the mic is flow. Operating from a place of flow requires slowing down and listening inwardly.
True flow begins when we connect internally and honour what feels most authentic.
She encouraged us to ask ourselves what energy we want people to feel when we speak. Alignment between who you are and what you say matters. When you compete internally, growth naturally follows.
Brenden Cavanagh
Brenden opened with a striking demonstration—a radio struggling with poor signal and overwhelming noise. The message was clear: signal versus noise.
Billions tune into radio for storytelling that informs, entertains, and empowers. A strong signal is a clear message, and clarity is currency.
To boost your currency, improve your signal and reduce your noise. Avoid spreading yourself across too many topics. Find your one thing. When you discover your message, refine it, unclutter it, and allow it to land clearly.
When your message is clear, meaningful connections and relationships naturally follow.
Kavesan Pillay
Kavesan reinforced the importance of internal work. A clear message comes from building yourself first. He challenged us to stop focusing on building a speaking business and instead begin by engaging deeply with who we are.
Noise shows up when we are outward-focused and disconnected from ourselves. Signal is felt—it emerges only after the internal work is done.
While signal is experienced externally, it is rooted internally in how you live your message.
Are you living what you are building? Find your core values, and live them out daily.
As we move forward into 2026, may these conversations continue.
May you move the mic with clarity, intention, and courage.
And may your one true message become your greatest currency.
Written by:
Zonke Ncgobo
