When Shift Happens

Failure teaches you more than success ever will. In this episode of When Shift Happens, Saray Khumalo speaks with Louis Carstens, psychologist, mountaineer and executive, about the lessons that come from being turned back and choosing to go again. From multiple attempts on Lhotse, the world’s fourth-highest mountain in the Himalayas, to navigating major career shifts, Louis reflects on resilience, ownership and why the most important decisions in your life cannot be outsourced. “In life, you’ve got to own your life. You’ve got to take accountability. You can’t outsource critical decisions to other people.” It’s a conversation about what it really takes to keep moving forward when things do not go to plan. New episodes drop every Monday at 5am. Listen first on jacarandafm.com under JacPod, or wherever you get your favourite podcasts including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. Saray's website

Success at the top can look certain from the outside. But the reality of leadership often involves moments that force you to rethink what success really means. In this episode of When Shift Happens, Saray Khumalo speaks with Zureida Ebrahim, Group Chief Operating Officer at Old Mutual, about the shifts that reshaped how she thinks about ambition, responsibility and leadership. It’s a thoughtful conversation about perspective, pressure and the moments that quietly change how leaders see their work and their lives. New episodes of When Shift Happens drop every Monday at 5am. Listen first on jacarandafm.com under JacPod, or wherever you get your favourite podcasts including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. Saray's website

Some leaders speak loudly about success. Others speak quietly about responsibility. Zakhele Mkhize belongs firmly in the second group. Widely respected in South African business circles, he is not someone who usually seeks the spotlight. In fact, this conversation with Saray Khumalo is the first podcast he has ever recorded. Zakhele is a Chartered Accountant, entrepreneur and founder of Entsika Consulting, a black-owned advisory firm he established in 2009. Over more than two decades he has built and led businesses across multiple sectors while advising organisations in both the public and private sectors. Born in rural KwaZulu-Natal, Zakhele worked from a young age to help support his family. He credits education with changing the trajectory of his life and today holds a BCom, BCom Honours, MBA from GIBS and a Master of Divinity, and is currently completing a Doctorate in Business Administration. In this episode of When Shift Happens, Zakhele reflects on responsibility, humility and what leadership really asks of us. It is a thoughtful conversation about stepping up when the moment calls for it, and about the kind of leadership that grows from character rather than recognition. When Shift Happens explores how people respond when life shifts beneath their feet and what those moments reveal about resilience, purpose and leadership. Listen first on jacarandafm.com under JacPod, or wherever you get your favourite podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. Follow or subscribe so you do not miss an episode. Saray's website

What does real leadership look like when your identity, purpose and certainty are shaken? In this episode of When Shift Happens, Saray Khumalo speaks with Khensani Nobanda, Group Chief Marketing Officer at Nedbank, about the deeply personal shifts that reshaped how she leads, lives and defines success. Behind one of Africa’s most respected executives is a story of profound loss, difficult decisions and the courage to rebuild from within. Khensani shares how stepping away from her career after her brother’s death, and later navigating further personal tragedy, forced her to confront who she was beyond her title and what kind of leader she wanted to become. This conversation offers powerful lessons for leaders navigating uncertainty, pressure and change. In this episode, you’ll hear: • Why authentic leadership begins with self-awareness • How personal adversity can reshape your leadership style • Why vulnerability builds stronger, more trusted teams • How to separate your identity from your job title • What it means to lead with purpose, not position Khensani’s story is a reminder that leadership is not defined in moments of control, but in how you respond when everything shifts. More about Episode 1 · Saray's website

Before she could ask others how they navigated change, Saray Khumalo had to live it herself. In this opening episode of When Shift Happens, Saray shares her personal story in her own words and reflects on the moments that shaped her leadership, her resilience and her purpose. This is the foundation of the podcast and why it exists. From next week, Saray sits down with leaders, professionals and change-makers to explore what happens when life shifts and what it takes to rise. When Shift Happens is a JacPod Original podcast, co-produced by Jacaranda FM. New episodes every Monday. Saray's website

Three times, Mount Everest turned Saray Khumalo back. Avalanche. Earthquake. Injury. On her fourth attempt, she reached the summit and became the first Black African woman to do so. When Shift Happens is a new podcast about navigating change, resilience and rising under pressure. Hosted by Saray Khumalo, the series explores what to do when life shifts unexpectedly and how leaders respond when the stakes are high. Launching 23 February 2026. Follow or subscribe now so you do not miss Episode 1. Saray's website