One More Stroke
Ideas worth turning over.
Thought leadership on resilience, reinvention and the mindset that keeps you moving when the finish is still out of sight. The answer was never in the entire crossing - it was always in one more stroke.
I Built a Technology Platform Without Learning to Code
For several years I ran a technology business without really understanding technology. Then the platform needed rebuilding - and AI changed who could do it.
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When Expertise Becomes the Ceiling
I was winning competitions and being recognised as one of the finest classical flautists South Africa had produced. Then I heard Santana's guitar - and nothing I knew was enough.
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One More Stroke
The biggest challenge in marathon swimming is not the distance. It is what happens when the exhaustion, the cold and the self-doubt all arrive at the same time.
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Gigster Relaunches: The Technology I Wish the Events Industry Had
My events marketplace, Gigster, has relaunched — rebuilt from the ground up to connect organisers with vetted suppliers and give those suppliers the business infrastructure they've been missing.
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Building With AI: What Creating a Tech Platform Taught Me About Possibility — and Resilience
I spent the past year building a software platform in a space usually occupied by full development teams. AI made it possible — but not in the way most people think. Here's what it really taught me.
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Motivational Speaker vs Keynote Speaker: What's the Difference?
The two terms get used interchangeably, but choosing the right one for your event changes everything. Here's how to tell them apart — and pick well.
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Returning to False Bay: A 33km Crossing, Twenty Years On
Twenty years after my first crossing of False Bay, I went back to swim it again — 33km, two-metre swells, and a reminder that the ocean always sets the terms.
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How to Choose a Conference Theme That Actually Lands
A strong conference theme does real work — it focuses the programme, the speakers and the takeaways. Here's how to choose one that resonates.
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Resilience Is Built, Not Born: What Endurance Taught Me About Bouncing Back
Resilience isn't a personality trait you either have or don't. It's a practice — and it's built in the moments no one sees.
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Planning a Year-End Function? Why the Right Speaker Makes or Breaks It
A year-end function is your chance to close the year with meaning, not just music and a meal. The right speaker is what makes it land.
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Podcast: Overcoming Fear & Building Resilience
Carina joins Sam Church on The Transformation Code Podcast for a reflective conversation about fear, resilience and transformation, in the water and in life.
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Keynote Speaker and MC at Broll's Beyond the Working Woman
Carina was keynote speaker and MC at Broll Property Management's inaugural Beyond the Working Women event in Johannesburg.
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Performing Under Pressure
What extreme endurance and musical performance teach us about resilience, adaptability and leadership under pressure.
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Keynote Speaker, Event Host & Moderator at Festival of Eventing
Carina delivered the opening keynote, hosted as MC, and moderated a plenary at South Africa's Festival of Eventing.
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Swimming the English Channel: 20 Years On
Twenty years on from her English Channel crossing, Carina reflects on the tide that turned, and the growth found when the plan disintegrates.
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What Music and Sport Taught Me About Collaboration
Lessons on real collaboration drawn from life on stage with Sterling EQ and in the water as a marathon swimmer.
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Set Your Goal, But Be Ready to Change It: Why the Journey Matters More Than the Finish Line
Why bold goals matter, but holding them lightly enough to adapt is what builds lasting success.
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The Hidden Cost of Playing Small in Leadership
Why playing safe is the biggest risk in leadership, and how daring to take up space transforms individuals, teams and organisations.
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How to Choose the Right Motivational Speaker for Your Event
A practical guide to selecting a motivational speaker who will truly move your audience and elevate your event.
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Raising the Bar: Insights from a Gathering of Game-Changers
Carina reflects on speaking at The Wykeham Collegiate's Sports Conference alongside a lineup of high-performance coaches and athletes.
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Women of Change, this August in Gqeberha!
Carina will speak at DO4SA's 'Celebrating a Decade of Impact' event in Gqeberha on 15 August, alongside Everest summiteer Saray Khumalo.
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Why Inspirational Speaking Needs More Women
A reflection on why women remain underrepresented on the keynote stage, and why more balanced lineups make events truly transformative.
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What to Expect From a High-Impact Keynote at Your Next Conference
What 'high-impact' really means in keynote speaking, and how to ensure your next event features a speaker who moves the needle.
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Published! The Resilience Required to Build and Grow as a Woman Entrepreneur
Carina's article on resilience as a woman entrepreneur is published on Standard Bank Top Women.
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How to Brief Your Keynote Speaker for Maximum Impact
The difference between a good keynote and an unforgettable one often comes down to the brief. Here's how to set your speaker up to land.
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Motivational Keynote at ABSA Technology SNG in Johannesburg
Carina delivered the keynote at ABSA Technology SNG's event at Melrose Arch, sharing the stage with fighter pilot Mandisa Mfeka.
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Virtual, Hybrid or In-Person: Choosing the Right Keynote Format
Each keynote format has its strengths. Here's how to choose the one that fits your audience, your budget and the outcome you're after.
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What Does a Keynote Speaker Cost? A Straight Answer for Event Planners
Speaker fees vary wildly — and almost nobody explains why. Here's an honest breakdown of what drives the cost of a keynote speaker, and how to get the most from your budget.
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The ROI of a Great Keynote Speaker: Why the Right One Pays for Itself
A keynote speaker can feel like a big line item — until you weigh it against what a flat, forgettable event costs you. Here's how to think about the return.
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How to Choose a Keynote Speaker for Your Conference
The keynote sets the tone for your entire event — and the wrong choice is expensive in more ways than one. A practical guide for event planners: what to look for, what to ask, and the red flags to avoid.
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Booking a Speaker for Women's Day & Leadership Events
Women's Day and women's leadership events deserve more than a token talk. Here's how to choose a speaker who genuinely moves the room.
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How Far in Advance Should You Book a Keynote Speaker?
Leave it too late and the speaker you want is already taken. Book too early and you're planning in the dark. Here's how to time it right.
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What to Include in a Keynote Speaker Contract
A handshake and a calendar invite is not a booking. Here's what a proper speaker agreement should cover — and why it protects both sides.
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How to Introduce a Keynote Speaker (Without Killing the Momentum)
A bad introduction can deflate a room before the speaker opens their mouth. Here's how to write and deliver one that builds the right energy.
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Positive Role Model Winner, Gender Mainstreaming Awards
Carina won the Positive Role Model award in the Cape region at the Gender Mainstreaming Awards, presented by Business Engage.
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