Special Edition: #BizTrends2026

Welcome to BizTrends2026 | Steer the Future | Read about seismic shifts in business and society, driven by AI.

Welcome to BizTrends2026 | Steer the Future We are seeing seismic shifts in business and society, driven by AI, geopolitical and cultural factors, amongst others. This is changing the B2B environment to a new type of leadership and organisational strategies as well as how organisations work at the speed of warp. We are at the tipping point of redefining human endeavours and creativity. Helping you to make sense of this is our #BizTrends2026 Steer the Future with a showcase of thought leaders from across 19 economic sectors. The future is open for business on Bizcommunity. #BizTrends2026 is made possible by our sponsors. Thanks to our headline sponsor, RAPT Creative, which also sponsors the Digital, Media and Marketing trends; Digicape, sponsor of the Advertising trends; Medshield, sponsor of the Healthcare trends; ASUS, sponsor of the ICT trends; Herold Gie Attorneys, sponsor of the Legal trends; and Trend Group, sponsor of the Property trends. Look out for more trends over the next two weeks and the #BizTrends2026 final Special Newsletter in February. VISIT #BIZTRENDS2026 SPECIAL SECTION>> Enkosi Kakhulu, Enjoy! The BizTrends Team Inclusive digital transformation for Africa LERATO MOTHOPENG Nerdware’s Lerato Mothopeng says the critical question is not whether Africa is going digital, but who Africa’s digital future is being designed for… The year B-BBEE transformation must deliver — not just report YUNEAL PADAYACHY Yuneal Padayachy, chief support officer at The BEE Chamber, considers whether B-BBEE transformation can translate into measurable outcomes for businesses... read 7 trends that will redefine education in 2026 and beyond DUMISANI TSHABALALA Dumisani Tshabalala, head of Academics at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, reveals seven intertwined trends that will redefine education in 2026... read 3 business trends SMEs should watch MIGUEL DA SILVA Miguel da Silva, group executive: business Banking at TymeBank, discusses key trends every South African SME should watch... read Advertising trends The Renaissance is back. Leadership must catch up. GILLIAN RIGHTFORD ACA executive director Gillian Rightford says in 2026, leadership itself becomes a creative act...  A much more synthetic world JONTY FISHER Publicis Groupe’s chief strategy & integration officer, Jonty Fisher says get ready for a much more synthetic world…  Collaboration is key for Africa DANETTE BREITENBACH In the first episode of RAPT BizTrendsTV 2026, Google's country director, Kabelo Makwane, explains how Google and Africa can work together to solve real problems...  The year of industry self-regulation GAIL SCHIMMEL ARB CEO Gail Schimmel on the expected 2026 trends in advertising regulation...  Steering the future through digital architecture ISSUED BY DIGICAPE Humanity has never lacked ideas. What we’ve lacked, historically, is access. That constraint is now a thing of the past...  Digital trends 8 shifts opening new ideas, experience and growth The latest CES presents eight shifts in culture and technology that are opening up spaces for new ideas, new experiences and new growth...  Continuous learning - digital marketing’s most powerful advantage CHRIS BORAIN Chris Borain, executive director of IAB South Africa, says continuous learning is digital marketing’s most powerful advantage…  Marketing trends The influencer marketing cheat sheet MICHAEL COST Humanz' Michael Cost on communities being the latest trend for influencer marketing...  What 2026 will demand of financial services marketers ERICA BOPAPE Executive for marketing and communications at Absa Business, Erica Bopape, shares her perspective on what 2026 will demand of financial services marketers...  Brands in the new age of answering machines CHARNE MUNIEN Rogerwilco's Charné on owning the AI answer slot in 2026...  Africa will ignite what is next THABANG SKWAMBANE Nahana CEO Thabang Skwambane writes that Africa will inspire the new trends...  While marketing talks about innovation, Africa built it DAWN ROWLANDS Dawn Rowlands, CEO, dentsu sub-Saharan Africa says Africa is now at the centre of a real shift in how consumer intelligence is created and used…  Don’t fall prey to the Arrival Fallacy JACO LINTVELT Incubeta Africa MD Jaco Lintvelt warns marketers to not fall for the Arrival Fallacy...  AI, creativity and media agencies JOHANNA MCDOWELL Johanna McDowell, CEO of the Independent Agency Search & Selection Company (IAS) and partner in Scopen Africa shares some thoughts on what might occupy our minds in 2026…  Why 2026 will be the year of orchestration for marketing NICOLE DINICOLA SmartCat's Nicole DiNicola says 2026 is the year for orchestration for marketing...  Tom Kaneshige on how CMOs seized strategy in an age of chaos TOM KANESHIGE CMO Council’s chief content officer Tom Kaneshige says the CMO role is being rewritten in real time to match a world that no longer behaves predictably…  Less is more CESAR VACCHIANO Scopen president, Cesar Vacchiano, gives four shifts that together créate a single underlying mandate for 2026: relearn the consumer map…  Media trends 5 key (D)OOH / DOOH trends to watch JACQUES DU PREEZ Provantage CEO Jacques du Preez gives five key OOH / DOOH trends to watch in 2026…  How OOH is reinventing itself TOM GODDARD WOO president Tom Goddard believes OOH will reinvent itself...  Radio Trends in 2026 MPHO MOTHAPO, ISSUED BY MOTHERLAND OMNI The advent of media content on demand has evidently flipped the traditional media consumption on its head in recent years...  Designing engaging sponsorships JUDITH MUGENI Ganizani Consulting's Judith Mugeni says sponsorships need to be designed so that people choose to engage with them, without compromising brand safety…  PR & Communications trends If employees don't believe, neither will the market BRENDA KHUMALO AND ADENE VAN DER WALT Lobengula Advertising top executives write that employees are the first stop in fostering brand loyalty...  4 shifts redefining PR KEVIN WELMAN Kevin Welman, ByDesign Communications director, asks if it is time to redefine public relations…  Leading into nostalgia, a communication signal LEBO MADIBA PR Powerhouse’s Lebo Madiba says the start of 2026 has brought an unexpectedly loud soundtrack of the year 2016. What makes it interesting is what it reveals about the present…  SA youth are wearing their values SIKI MSUSENI Siki Msuseni - founder of Amplified PR - says wearing local is driving sustainable growth...  Education trends Tremors and quakes - trends shifting education MARIO LANDMAN Dr Mario Landman, executive of education technology and innovation at the IIE, looks at various trends shifting the higher education landscape in 2026 and beyond...  How AI and flexible education can unlock South Africa's potential AUNYANA MOLOISANE Aunyana Moloisane, the MD of College SA, believes the most profound impact we can have on the future is how we choose to approach education today...  Reinventing education beyond the blackboard SHAUN FUCHS Shaun Fuchs, CEO and founder of Centennial Schools, looks at seven trends that will redefine how schools will teach, learn, and lead in 2026 and beyond...  Girls are taking Stem by storm ROBYN GOUWS Robyn Gouws, coding and robotics teacher at Reddam House Waterfall, believes the next wave of Stem innovation will be shaped by girls – if schools make space for them...  How edtech can unlock the future for African youth NONKU NYATHI Nonku Nyathi, senior partnerships and ecosystem lead at Injini, says that the real potential of edtech lies not in the technology itself, but in how it is used...  Personalised learning is shifting from theory to reality MATHEW KIRKLAND Mathew Kirkland, senior educator at Reddam House, highlights personalised learning as a defining feature of the next decade, provided schools approach it with intention...  A bumper year of growth, innovation and celebration at Afda in 2025 EARLE HOLMES, ISSUED BY AFDA 2025 saw Afda announce the upcoming launch of its new Afda Hatfield campus in Tshwane, set to open in 2026...  Agriculture trends What will shape agriculture in 2026? BRENDAN JACOBS Brendan Jacobs, head of agriculture for business and commercial banking, Standard Bank SA, examines the key trends influencing South Africa’s agricultural sector...  Why agriculture is set for a strong 2026 PAUL MAKUBE Paul Makube, senior agricultural economist at FNB Commercial, outlines why South African agriculture is entering 2026 with renewed confidence...  Automotive trends Lightstone's Paul-Roux de Kock on AI automotive trends PAUL-ROUX DE KOCK Paul-Roux de Kock, chief analytics officer of Lightstone, examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping South Africa’s automotive sector...  Top 4 Chinese automotive trends HANS GREYLING Omoda and Jaecoo South Africa's Hans Greyling focuses on four key trends that stand out this year of Chinese brands in South Africa...  Top automotive trends for Chinese manufacturers GEORGE MIENIE AutoTrader CEO George Mienie unpacks trends for Chinese manufacturers in 2026...  Energy & Mining trends The digital evolution of safety across Africa’s critical industries ANTON FESTER Sedna Africa's Anton Fester on the digital evolution of safety across Africa’s critical Industries...  Top energy trends every South African business needs to know JAKES JOUBERT Red Energy’s Jakes Joubert on the top trends shaping how businesses are managing their energy needs in 2026 and beyond...  Why SA’s energy future begins at the tap MURRAY CROW Kwikot managing director Murray Crow on why the next revolution will not be digital-only...  Entrepreneurship trends New workplace culture, entrepreneurship trends LOUIS FOURIE Venture Workspace founder Louis Fourie says the future of entrepreneurship is not being shaped by one big disruption, but by several steady shifts...  What every entrepreneur’s North Star will be in 2026 ADRIAAN GROVé Adriaan Grové, CEO of MyProperty and Entegra, discusses trends entrepreneurs should take note of in 2026...  ESG & Sustainability trends Gen Z and the future of influence in an always-on world JESSICA GBEDEMAH Gen Z culture and trends analyst Jessica Gbedemah on how Gen Z is quietly steering the future of business, culture and collective decision-making...  Waste management as a cornerstone to building climate resilience JUSTIN BOTT Waste management has the power to support environmental protection, economic resilience and societal well-being, writes Interwaste's Justin Bott...  Key trends shaping South Africa’s NPO sector FERYAL DOMINGO 2026 will challenge South African NPOs to be disciplined, tech-savvy, and more collaborative than ever, writes Inyathelo's Feryal Domingo...  Finance trends SA's fight to stay competitive in a new economic frontier FRANK BLACKMORE Frank Blackmore, lead economist: KPGM, unpacks the importance of SA balancing AI-driven opportunity against structural constraints, geopolitical volatility and execution risk...  Healthcare trends Clean beauty is not a trend – it’s a responsibility MAROEFAH SMITH For #BizTrends2026, Eco Diva Natural founder and clean beauty pioneer Nicole Sherwin talks to Bizcommunity...  The trends set to shape beauty and wellness in 2026 MAROEFAH SMITH Let’s take a look at some of the key findings in Spate's latest report...  How tech is transforming chronic care JOHAN VILJOEN Bestmed's Johan Viljoen on how technology is transforming chronic care in 2026 and beyond...  What are the healthcare buzz themes of 2025 into 2026? KEVIN ARON, ISSUED BY MEDSHIELD 2026 must be about prediction, prevention, equity and innovation...  The global rise of regenerative aesthetics - DR SAUMYA GAUTAM Read more HR & Recruitment trends How HR leaders can navigate mega-trends shaping work in 2026 SAMANTHA-JANE GRAVETT Samantha-Jane Gravett, director at Robert Walters Recruitment Africa, examines macro, micro, and mega-trends shaping HR and management in 2026...  Steering corporate wellness into 2026 BOUDINE HENNINGSE Boudine Henningse, executive: operational effectiveness at Ariston Global, says organisations cannot treat wellness as a once-off activity that happens when the calendar runs out...  Steering the future through tailored employee benefits LUSHAN SUNDRAM Lushan Sundram, senior sales and business development manager at EEB, says the challenge for organisations is not simply to update staff benefits, but to rethink them entirely...  The changing face of learning and development ANTON VISSER Anton Visser, COO of SA Business School, examines the forces reshaping L&D and the effect they will have on skills development strategies and talent pipelines in the year ahead...  Navigating radical change in the working world CHRIS BLAIR Dr Chris Blair, group director at 21st Century, provides a practical roadmap for navigating the new workplace terrain...  A leadership guide to turning job huggers into culture champions BRIAN EAGAR Brian Eagar, CEO of Towerstone, explores the nature of job hugging and what leadership can do to counter this growing trend...  ICT trends Resourcefulness will shape the next era of business technology MARCE HEATH, ISSUED BY ASUS Marce Heath, marketing head: Asus Business South Africa talks about trends that will shape the era of business...  A new CIO trend is taking shape BEVERLEY KNOESEN Maven Solutions director Beverley Knoesen says leadership by design is a new CIO trend taking shape...  How AI is reshaping cyber insurance DSG member and eInsurer founder Yaron Assabi unpacks an unsurprising trend affecting cyber insurance: AI...  3 fintech trends to watch COLIN CAMPBELL Colin Campbell, director: marketing and operations at Finchoice, lists three fintech trends to take note of in the new year...  Legal trends Micro, macro and mega trends steering the future of the legal sector KEVIN DAM Kisch IP director, Kevin Dam explores trends that will shape the resilience and relevance of legal practice in the months and years ahead...  Tectonic shifts for SA’s labour laws CHLOë LOUBSER Chloë Loubser, Knowledge and Learning Lawyer: employment and data protection at Bowmans, reviews the impact of South Africa's 2025 labour law changes for organisations and the employment landscape...  AI integration in the workplace JAIMé-LEE JACOBS, ISSUED BY HEROLD GIE ATTORNEYS As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in everyday business systems, South African workplaces are grappling with a mix of excitement, uncertainty, and fear...  South Africa’s energy outlook JASON VAN DER POEL, KIERA BRACHER, SABEEHA LOONAT AND JUNAID NYKER Webber Wentzel’s Jason van der Poel, Kiera Bracher, Sabeeha Loonat and Junaid Nyker review key developments in South Africa’s energy sector, highlighting what we can expect in 2026…  The emerging architecture of African dispute resolution SVETLANA VASILEVA Svetlana Vasileva, secretary general of Afsa, examines five trends that are structurally altering the legal landscape...  Logistics & Transport trends How Africa’s logistics landscape will evolve in 2026 VENESSA DEWING Venessa Dewing, vice president of sales for SSA, DHL Express, explores the trends set to define Africa’s logistics landscape in 2026...  Property trends Why constraint breeds opportunity EVA AUGUST Eva August, CEO: Century21, talks about how financial discipline reshapes the South African property market in 2026...  Trend Group - Key office design trends to watch in 2026 ISSUED BY TREND GROUP The global workplace is entering its biggest reset in a decade. New data shows that noise is hindering productivity, while rising office attendance strains space...  Retail trends Carbon-light kitchens and climate conscience cooking TERSIA JOUBERT B-Well's Tersia Joubert asks the question, "How can businesses implement effective strategies to foster climate-conscious cooking and create carbon-light kitchens by 2026, reducing their overall environmental footprint?"...  African superfoods reshape hospitality DR. STEPHAN HELARY Dr. Stephan Helary, founder and CEO of Terre d’Afrique, says that African superfoods are being rediscovered in culinary and wellness contexts, not as trends, but as part of a lineage of knowledge that offers tried and trusted benefits for health and wellness...  Tourism trends How South Africans will travel in 2026 DORCAS DLAMINI MBELE Dorcas Dlamini Mbele, senior director, commercial for SSA, Marriott International, unpacks key travel trends shaping how South Africans will plan, spend and experience holidays...  AI and the future of holiday planning MADRI VAN DER WESTHUIZEN Madri van der Westhuizen, campaign and social media manager at ANEW Hotels & Resorts, explores how AI is reshaping holiday planning...  Lifestyle trends Amapiano crisis soundtrack became our voice ANDILE MATHOBELA Andile Mathobela, aka The Journalist DJ, takes a look at how the Amapiano crisis soundtrack became our voice...  2026 belongs to brands built on community and authenticity JASON VAN DYK Jason van Dyk, founder and CEO of the Sociable app, believes that community and authenticity will be the biggest business and marketing trends of 2026...  2026: A year of creativity and growth TAEGAN DEVAR Taegan Devar, industrial psychologist and the founder and managing director of Fineline Consulting, notes that when we make space to create, we also make space to grow, whether in art, work, or play...  FOLLOW US List company List CV List new business List portfolio showcase List profile Submit event Submit gallery Submit job ad Submit new appointment Submit news Submit noticeboard Submit op-ed contribution Home My job ads My events My company My CV Advertising: We welcome your sales enquiries! 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