Written by:
Marie Le Roux
The PSASA Pretoria Chapter July meeting was a priceless session for members and visitors. From game-changing visual and video storytelling strategies to energising laughter, attendees walked away with practical tools to elevate their speaking businesses, build their personal brands, and stand out in a noisy market.
If you missed out, here is a recap of the magic, insights, and actionable advice shared by our all-star lineup.
Setting the Stage with High Energy and Laughter
Our master of ceremonies, Diana Rodrigues, kicked off the event with an energising laughter facilitation. After a long day, she had the audience in stitches and instantly connecting.
Known as creator of the CAPA Model for overcoming trauma and The Laughter Lady, Diana is a powerful advocate for emotional resilience and human transformation. An inspiring speaker and author in her own right, Diana reminded us all that even in the serious business of speaking, joy and human connection are our greatest assets.
Session 1: Storytelling Through Pictures with Kim Vermaak
Next up was Kim Vermaak—author, book coach, publishing strategist, and 2026 Woman of Stature finalist in Coaching and Mentorship.
In a hands-on, creative, and interactive session, Kim challenged speakers to ditch tired, generic design templates in favour of visuals that actually reflect who they are. She guided the room through building an authentic visual library, exploring personal branding, and getting real about individual impact.
Key Takeaways from Kim’s Session:
- Authenticity over perfection: Your visual content should sound, look, and feel like you.
- The Power of the Selfie: Kim had everyone whipping out their phones, combing their hair, and snapping selfies to practice capturing authentic moments on the spot.
- Weaving Your Story: Kim’s hands-on writing prompts led to fascinating stories from attendees. Each one left with clear, actionable ways to weave their core brand stories into every image and picture they share online.
Session 2: Crafting a High-Impact Showreel Without Video Footage with Nikki Bush, CSP
Rounding out the masterclasses was PSASA Hall of Fame speaker and educator, five-time best-selling author, and human potential expert Nikki Bush, CSP. Known locally and globally as the “Talent Whisperer” and “Disruption Queen,” Nikki delivered a masterclass in positioning and strategic marketing.
Nikki tackled a massive pain point for emerging speakers: How do you build a professional showreel when you don’t have high-quality stage video footage?
She proved that lack of video is no barrier to authority by walking the audience through the exact “recipe” of her iconic showreel from ten years ago—which contained zero video footage!
Nikki’s Blueprint for a No-Video Showreel:
- Photographs for Positioning: Leveraging high-impact still images to establish stage presence.
- Authority Straplines & Titles: Using strong messaging and written pillars of expertise to guide the viewer’s perception.
- Music for Gravitas: Choosing audio tracks that build emotion, credibility, and weight.
- The Editor’s Asset Pack: Exactly what instructions, assets, and storyboards to hand over to a video editor to get a polished final product.
- Beyond the showreel, Nikki generously opened up her marketing vault, sharing her latest showreel, her complete suite of “sales armour,” and the strategic mindset she uses to sell to high-level corporate clients. It’s no wonder her clients talk about the lasting “Nikki Effect”!
Join Us at the Next PSASA Pretoria Event…
Whether you are an established keynote speaker or taking your very first steps on the professional stage, the PSASA is your home for growth, strategy, and community.
At the next PSASA Pretoria Chapter meeting on Thursday, 27 August, speakers will discover how to stop selling and start winning more speaking gigs. Yoke Van Dam, known as The Kinsugi Queen®, will share a workshop version of her acclaimed keynote ‘Pitch in a way that Michael Jordan would say Yes’. Marie-Thérèse Le Roux, The Holistic Communication Strategist, will reveal a secret weapon every speaker can use to elevate their profile and win opportunities.
🎙️ PSASA Pretoria Chapter Meeting
🗓️ Thursday, 27 August 2026
🕙 18h00 for 18h30 to 21h00
📍 Eduvos Pretoria Campus (details included in your registration)
☕ Coffee, tea, and a light supper are provided
Learn more and register at:
https://psasouthernafrica.glueup.com/event/pta-chapter-meeting-stop-selling-start-winning-the-secret-weapons-every-speaker-needs-to-master-189547/
