Inspiration.Motivation

Based: Johannesburg

Businesswoman, Inspiration, motivation, TV & Radio, Womens Interest

Iris is a young, confident and dynamic candidate. She has extensive Corporate Social Investment as well as BBBEE experience, having headed up the Transformation portfolio for the Bidvest McCarthy Group. Her previous positions have also exposed her to working and growing market shares of great South African brands, which include SAA, MTN, Coca Cola, SABC, amongst others.
Iris is currently the CEO: SABC Foundation and previously was managing the Internal Communications and Group CSI portfolio within the McCarthy Group (Bidvest) after a stint consulting as a Marketing Specialist for Unilever SA on various brands. Prior to that, her most recent role had been GM: Marketing & Communications for KZN Tourism. Her primary role was to grow the Tourism industry to KZN and to change tourist perceptions of the province as a holiday destination. During her tenure in Marketing, KwaZulu-Natal became the leading Domestic Tourism destination and 2nd internationally, with Cape Town being the 1st.
She was chosen by Mr. Tokyo Sexwale to be one of 16 candidates to appear on the Reality TV Series, The Apprentice SA. She was chosen from a total of over 200 000 applicants for the show, which intended to showcase South African style Leadership principles. Mr. Sexwale recognized her potential immediately and whilst she did not win the Series, he was very vocal in acknowledging her exceptional leadership qualities and that he felt she had a great future in the SA economy.
Iris is a strategic thinker and is very results-driven. She is creative with strong analytical and problems solving abilities. She has excellent written and verbal communication skills which she has developed naturally throughout her career. She is very deadline driven and is accustomed to working under pressure. She has a hands on approach to leadership and believes in leading by example. She is also a team player and has excellent interpersonal skills which contribute to the effective and efficient completion of tasks under her responsibility.
Iris previously served on the Board of SEDA (Small Enterprise Development Agency) and was also Chairperson of the HR Committee within SEDA. She is currently a Board Member of the Ethekwini Foundation.