Destiny

"If we don't tell our stories, no one will do it on our behalf. We need to take our seat at the table." DESTINY is such a learning curve for me. Our editorial board introduces me to people I would otherwise not have known about. And that makes me happy, because sometimes it feels like the same people and personalities are featured everywhere, and we don’t get to hear about the people who are literally changing the world without making a big hoo-ha about it. If we look at all the skills we have on the continent, I sometimes wonder why our governments do not make use of these powerhouses to drive change faster than what is happening. It’s also on this continent [Africa] that innovation happens because we face…

Dear Ingrid, Let me begin with a big congratulations to you and the entire DESTINY team. I am an avid reader of the publication from its early days, and it is still a delight to read. The invitation for suggestions is welcome and really a great way to reconnect with readers. The magazine continues to be a source of knowledge, exposure, empowerment and inspiration for women in the Southern Africa region where it is circulated. I believe that further action to be more diverse and inclusive may reinforce the publication’s unique position. My suggestion is for DESTINY to explore the possibility of featuring stories with women from SADC countries or across the expanse of your current distribution, and see how the market responds. In addition, hosting DESTINY events was a…

What gets watch collectors excited? Stories. Artistry. Complicated mechanics. You get all three in a métiers d’art timepiece, realised by master craftsmen and-women, in very limited quantities. In watchmaking, they are an elite group who specialise in enamelling, engraving, miniature enamel painting, gem setting, fabric and featherworking – spending many years perfecting often age-old crafts. The Lunar New Year provides the opportunity to reveal the depths of their artistic talents as they honour the relevant animal from the Chinese zodiac in the decoration of some of the most sought-after annual watch releases. 2022 is the Year of the Tiger. People born under this sign, in the years 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 and 2022, are thought to be kind, quick-witted, versatile and resourceful. Piaget extends the list to include…

There is a joyous video of Bonang Mohale dancing at a family friend’s wedding. His knees dip, his fingers click, and his shoulders sway slightly. His temples are grey and beneath his glasses, his eyes creased. Mohale’s eyes are always watching, constantly observing. His observations of South African society and aspects of business were chronicled in his books, Lift As You Rise and Behold the Turtle. First published in 2018, Lift as You Rise is a compilation of some of the spoken and written observations that Mohale has made throughout his illustrious career. In his written forward, media and advertising industry veteran Peter Vundla describes Behold the Turtle as a “treatise on leadership”. Beyond his work as the author of two bestselling books, Mohale has served South African society for…

Marcus, the oldest of three boys, spent the first 10 years of his life in Germany and moved to Ghana when his father, a paediatrician, relocated them back home. Growing up on the medical campus, Marcus had one of the best childhoods where he had over 60 friends and played until the streetlights came on. “I had an amazing childhood, but one of the most formative things for me was watching what my father did. He was brought in with about five other German-trained doctors to build the paediatric ward at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. I watched the hospital grow from a fledgling school to become one of the best medical schools in West Africa. To this day, everywhere I go I meet people that my father has trained,…

“When it comes to entrepreneurship, it’s definitely not rainbows and unicorns,” says Nigel Jacobs, Co-founder of Jacobs Jam Company. “We are under severe pressure and it’s the most difficult thing we’ve ever done in our lives. Unless you’re prepared to lose your house, your car, and the nice things you’ve acquired, don’t do it. But, we’ve got a family business in mind that’s going to last generations and we want the hard work we’re doing now to lay the foundation, so that our future generations can reap the benefits and work to grow it even further. We didn’t have the opportunity to work in family businesses, but we would like to give our child that choice.” Nigel and Christynn Jacobs have collectively over 25 years of experience from local and…