In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, HONOR South Africa General Manager Fred Zhou explains what makes the new HONOR Magic Series smartphones disruptive in South Africa.

HONOR is a leading global provider of smart devices and was founded in 2013.

Headquartered in Shenzhen, China, HONOR has grown to become the biggest smartphone brand in the Chinese market and has quickly expanded this popularity worldwide.

With the launch of two new flagship smartphones, Honor expects to grow its popularity in South Africa’s premium segment in 2024, too.

In this episode of What's Next, Zhou unpacks HONOR’s launch of the Flagship Magic Series in South Africa and how they plan to lead foldable and AI technology in the smartphone industry.

Zhou begins this interview by unpacking HONOR as a company and discussing its history in South Africa.

He then focuses on the new HONOR Magic Series smartphones – the Magic 6 Pro and the Magic V2.

Zhou explains how HONOR’s approaches to foldable smartphones and smartphone AI differ from those of its competitors, before detailing how this manifests in the HONOR Magic series.

He unpacks the Magic Series’ target audience, before revealing the pricing and availability of these smartphones in South Africa.

Zhou ends the interview by highlighting HONOR South Africa’s key focuses in 2024.

HONOR General Manager Fred Zhou unpacks the launch of the Flagship Magic Series in South Africa

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, MediaTek’s Director of Business Development for the MEA region, Rami Osman, unpacks the key features of the Dimensity 9300 chip.

In 2006, he joined Microsoft as a Corporate Account Manager, before joining Qualcomm as the Country Manager for Business Development in GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) and Levant countries.

Osman then took on his current position at MediaTek in 2014, where he leads the team that supports the MEA region’s rising demand for technology and connectivity.

In this What’s Next interview, Osman unpacks the features of the new Dimensity 9300 chip, including the benefits of its innovative All Big Core design.

Osman then talks about the Dimensity 9300’s next-gen APU790 AI processor and its Generative AI capabilities, explaining how they significantly improve the chip’s performance.

He also discusses the graphics and photography processing improvements to the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 chip.

MediaTek’s Rami Osman on the Dimensity 9300 and its next-gen AI processor

In this What’s Next in Finance with Aki Anastasiou interview, Fedgroup’s Michael Field unpacks the biggest challenges facing local investors. 

Field is the General Manager for Investments at Fedgroup and has worked for the company since 2011. 

Before working at Fedgroup, he gained experience working for Murray and Roberts, and MegChem Engineering and Drafting Services. 

Field begins the interview by discussing which factors investors must prioritise to mitigate risk when investing in volatile markets. 

He then outlines which investment types deliver the best long-term value and stability. 

Field also explains how diversification helps build a resilient portfolio, and how financial advisors can help their clients navigate market volatility.

He concludes the interview by outlining the key factors FSPs must consider when developing investment offerings that provide stability and long-term growth

Fedgroup General Manager Michael Field on the biggest challenges facing South African investors

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Amazon Web Services (AWS) Country General Manager for South Africa, Chris Erasmus, discusses the importance of AI technology.

Erasmus is responsible for setting AWS’s local strategy and guiding its local growth.

He is well-qualified for this job, as he boasts over 15 years of strategic, commercial, and operational experience.

Erasmus begins the interview by unpacking why Amazon sees AI as an important technology.

He discusses the three technology layers Amazon uses to build its AI solutions, before expanding on generative AI and why it is one of the most transformative technologies in recent years.

Erasmus then details Amazon’s generative AI solutions and discusses the top generative AI trends he sees in South Africa.

He concludes the interview by explaining how businesses can access AI technologies from AWS.

AWS South Africa General Manager Chris Erasmus on the importance of AI technology

In South Africa, 45% of corporations are actively using GenAI. Unlock valuable insights into the use of GenAI and access recent research by World Wide Worx, Dell Technologies and Intel. To view the webcast announcement of the research results, contact marguerite@pbpr.co.za and we will send you the link.

Dell Technologies' Doug Woolley unpacks concept Luna and its progress

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Cogence CEO Jonel Matthee-Ferreira discusses Cogence’s partnership with Discovery, and how it helps Cogence build superior financial products.

Matthee-Ferreira joined Cogence in January 2024 and has assumed the roles of CEO and CIO immediately.

Before joining Cogence, Matthee-Ferreira worked at Sanlam Multi-Management and Absa Multi-Management.

In this interview, Matthee-Ferreira begins by detailing how her career has led to her current role at Cogence.

She then explains what Cogence does and how it is related to Discovery.

Matthee-Ferreira expands upon the value of working with Discovery, including how the data it receives from Discovery helps improve its investment products.

She concludes by unpacking the key trends in the investment landscape based on the Cogence 2024 Market Outlook report.

Cogence CEO Jonel Matthee-Ferreira on working with Discovery to create superior discretionary funds

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Absa CIB Managing Executive for ESG Msizi Khoza discusses how Absa CIB supports sustainability initiatives.

In his current role, Khoza provides executive leadership over the firm’s numerous ESG-related initiatives. He also works with clients to help them access local and international capital markets that meet their financing needs.

This What’s Next interview begins with Khoza discussing the pressures of his position, before unpacking the recently launched Absa CIB sustainability report.

Khoza explains why it is important for Absa to publish this information, and unpacks how Absa balances social inclusion with protecting the environment.

Another topic of interest is CIB’s approach to the fossil fuel, oil and gas sectors, which Khoza discusses in-depth, before talking about Absa’s contributions to the alternative and renewable energy industries.

The conversation then moves to debt-for-nature swaps, and Khoza expands on these and the benefits they offer to South Africans.

Khoza concludes the interview by noting how someone can engage with Absa on debt-for-nature swaps.

Absa CIB Executive Msizi Khoza provides valuable insights from Absa CIB’s sustainability report

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Head of First for Women Seugnette van Wyngaard discusses the importance of offering insurance products tailored for women.

First for Women is owned by Telesure Investment Holdings (TIH), and before taking on her current role in 2018, van Wyngaard worked in several other positions in the group.

In her lead role, Van Wyngaard is responsible for guiding First for Women’s growth by identifying market gaps and planning how to fill them.

Van Wyngaard begins the interview by explaining why it was important to create an insurance company targeted specifically at women.

She then details how First for Women sets itself apart from its competitors and unpacks the unique value the First for Women app offers South African women – in addition to its superior products and services.

She also discusses the biggest challenges insurers face in 2024, and the work she and First for Women have been doing to uplift women in the country.

Van Wyngaard concludes the interview by outlining the exciting plans First for Women has for 2024 and beyond, and offers advice to female entrepreneurs.

Head of First for Women Seugnette van Wyngaard explains why women-tailored insurance is important

In this episode of What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou, Wetility brand ambassador and Springbok rugby legend Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira discusses Wetility’s solar power products.

Mtawarira began playing for the Springboks in 2008 and retired in 2019 after winning the Rugby World Cup that same year.

In 2022, Mtawarira founded The Beast Wine Collection and is currently studying towards an MBA with Henley Business School.

Mtawarira is also the brand ambassador for Wetility, where he champions the all-in-one Beast Bundle power solution.

In the interview, Mtawarira explains how his partnership with Wetility came about and why he believes in Wetility’s mission to provide South Africans with reliable solar power solutions.

Mtawarira then discusses the Beast Bundle – a solar and battery power package – and explains how affordable it is for South Africans.

He advises South Africans considering getting solar power on how easy Wetility makes the process – even for people who don’t understand complicated solar jargon.

He also talks about the Wetility products installed at his home,his incredible experience with the backup power solution, and Wetility’s impressive customer service.

Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira details the Beast Bundle solar power package from Wetility

What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou is South Africa’s most popular technology show. The who’s who of South Africa’s technology and business world are interviewed on the show.

Absa CIB Executive Msizi Khoza provides valuable insights from Absa CIB’s sustainability report

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