The University of Pretoria (UP) has launched season two of its alumni-driven, success-focused LeadUP Podcast.

The series, produced by UP’s Alumni Relations Office and hosted by Lennox Wasara of Radio 702 and TuksFM, sees prominent UP alumni and alumni associates share their top tips for success, and the stories behind their own climb up their industry ladder.

Season two’s first episode features Nozipho Tshabalala, UP alumnus, award-winning journalist and CEO of The Conversation Strategists. Tshabalala uses the science and art of conversation to simplify strategy, and has used her skills in her work as a business reporter for CNBC Africa, at the SA Investment Conference, and as a Human Capital Advocate for the World Bank and Global Citizen. In the season-starting podcast she shares the story behind her personal journey.

“It’s a thrill to be returning to the best seat for the LeadUP Podcast’s new season,” Wasara, who’s also a UP PhD candidate, says. “The University of Pretoria’s alumni are spread all over the world, and getting to interview some of the most prominent alumni and learn about what makes them tick and the lessons they’ve learned along the way has been a career highlight. I look forward to more illuminating conversations that will help our listeners find their own key that unlocks all the secrets of their success.”

LeadUP Podcast’s first season ran for 12 episodes in 2021, and included interviews with PriceWaterhouseCoopers Africa CEO Dion Shango, BP Southern Africa CEO Taelo Mojapelo, Oscar-winning UP alum Nicol Verheem, Miss South Africa 2020 Shudufhadzo Musida, Namibian Justice Minister Yvonne Dausab, and UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Tawana Kupe. The participants shared their top tips for becoming a good leader, along with tips on what made them successful, and personal anecdotes about their lives.

“The University of Pretoria has produced more than 300,000 alumni over the course of its 114-year history,” Prof Kupe says. “We are very proud of every alumnus, and all our alumni associates and friends of UP, who are working hard in every field imaginable to create a better South Africa, Africa, and world. The LeadUP Podcast is an entertaining and valuable repository of knowledge about and advice from some of our more prominent alumni, and we are confident that every South African – and indeed any person around the world interested in maximising their level of success and leadership skills – will find great value in listening to the episodes.”

UP’s Senior Alumni Relations Manager, Samantha Castle, says the project has been a labour of love. “Our Alumni Relations team gets to interact with so many inspiring UP alums, and hear their stories and pick their brains looking for that one trait or event that turned them into such successful people. We thought a podcast focused on UP alumni who are in the public eye – or changing the world behind the scenes – would give all UP alumni, staff, students, and people everywhere the opportunity that we have, to be able to listen to these great stories of success, and hopefully use what you hear to build on your own success story – and then come back and share it with us!”

Download, listen and subscribe to the LeadUP Podcast today ­– click here to find LeadUP Podcast in your favourite podcast app, listen on YouTube, or go to https://www.up.ac.za/alumni/podcasts to listen from your browser. New episodes are out on the last Monday of the month, from 25 April.