CLIENT FEEDBACK
“I was skeptical, as I always am, but when you have a super-smart, experienced and intuitive person like Joanne leading the process, you’ll derive far more benefit than simply trying to garner the nuggets yourself. I was so impressed with how Jo managed the entire process that I suggested my Group Exco embark on the same journey. They in turn were so impressed, they each engaged Jo in working with the Mancos of their operating companies.
Across the board we have seen hugely positive results and the feedback has been truly outstanding. Beyond that, Jo has helped certain individuals enormously in their personal growth journeys outside of “strict” agency life. She has helped them get onto a constructive path of positive growth, where their challenges may have been beyond the realm of the formal workplace or their careers. But naturally their work productivity was also dramatically enhanced through her interventions.”
MIKE ABEL
Founding Partner & Chairman | M&C Saatchi Abel
“It was a truly remarkable experience and we loved every moment. Having been through various leadership development programmes throughout my career, I can honestly say this is the best one I’ve ever had the privilege of participating in. I would recommend to anyone that they partner with Joanne in this process.”
DUSTIN CHICK
MANAGING DIRECTOR | RAZOR PR
“We have had the privilege of working with Joanne Smollan since 2012. Joanne has been instrumental in a number of global strategic projects, and one that stands out is our young leaders seminars, branded our Wealth and Investment academies. These were run internally for our employees, but also importantly, externally for the children of our High Net Worth clients, together with a strategic investment seminar for Women, to help them navigate their complex financial affairs. Joanne positioned these as a core differentiator for the business, which has subsequently won numerous awards, both for the academies, as well as the leading Private Bank on the continent.
Joanne has a unique ability to combine strategy, creativity and simplicity, to ensure the core audience feels valued and heard. She is exceptional at stakeholder management, always well prepared, good at reading an audience and her positive energy and high EQ brings people together to display whole brain thinking and find solutions to complex problems.
Joanne has an ability to connect with people from all backgrounds, and her good sense of humor and deep sense of care puts her within our beloved Madiba’s definition of true leadership.”
Margaret Nienaber
Chief Operating Officer | Standard Bank Group
M&C Saatchi Abel JHB worked with Jo both individually as a management team as well as together as a MANCO.
The feedback was unanimous – our time with Jo is the deepest and most meaningful work we have done together as a team. It enabled a much deeper and understanding of each other, our individual contexts as well as why we show up in the way we do. It’s been quite incredible to see how based on our 1 day workshop, the team dynamic has shifted and become closer, more understanding and more honest with each other.
On a personal level, I connected quite profoundly with Jo’s observations, perceptions and recommendations. She both accurately captured my high points and low points and I left our session feeling clear and confident about the journey and self work that I have ahead.
My only deep regret is that Jo is leaving us for a foreign land where she’ll be out of physical reach and will make me travel across the oceans just to have a session with her 😉
Faheem Chaudry
Managing Director | M&C Saatchi Abel Johannesburg
“Jo has been a pivotal part of my personal growth over the last year. Her gentle, accurate and empathetic teachings through the Enneagram have exposed and explained some of the deepest and scariest parts of myself. Over time, she has helped me build a better understanding of how I relate to situations, my predispositions, expressions and vices. I believe that the Enneagram is a truly effective tool in self-reflection and integration, but I know that this journey would have been far less effective and grounded without Jo’s guidance. I refer back to her teachings on a daily basis.”
CW
Computer Engineer
“I had the pleasure of being introduced to Joanne Smollan and the Enneagram in 2023 as part of my growth journey as Strategy Director at Razor PR. Suffice to say, working with Jo will be the highlight of this year, and will indeed remain a highlight of my life. Jo possesses a uniquely high level of emotional intelligence, and an abundance of wisdom, insight and value that she applies through the Enneagram to unlock personal and professional growth in individuals and in teams.
For me personally (I am a 3 on the Enneagram – the Competitive Achiever), she has created a safe space for me to grow – to try, fail, and try again – in my transition from manager to leader. After each session with Jo, I leave a little mindblown – but also calmer and incredibly motivated to win. The results of the process have been tangible in all aspects of my life: with my team, with colleagues and the broader leadership team, but with my family and friends too. Jo’s authenticity in her approach to her work encourages vulnerability: a critical ingredient for life, leadership and love. I would recommend Jo again and again.”
Vikash Gajjar
Strategy Director | Razor PR
“It is with great pleasure to write this testimonial for Joanne Smollan.
Joanne has been instrumental in enabling for development and execution of improving client experience within our short-term insurance business primarily focused on client facing areas of our business. A critical element of our business is delivering what matters to the customers in an event of a loss or damage to their assets). This requires both attention to detail and an enormous passion. Due to the increased demand, the business experienced a significant decline in levels of customer service and this resulted into complaints and a drop in the overall Net Promoter Score (NPS).
Joanne provided for a thorough review and identification of gaps across all levels of the business and developed strategic initiatives aimed at driving improved client experience targeting primarily team leaders and call centre agents. In addition, she provided an effective communication and reward interventions program to help drive the required behaviour. The execution of these tactical and long term plans have yielded positive benefits for the business in a short space of time.
In the recent interim service measurement across the Group and Nationally, the results pointed to an upward shift on the service attributes specifically around service excellence, staff responsiveness and overall on the critical elements of empathy.
I would like to commend Joanne for her immense contribution to enabling the business on this critical aspect of our differentiation. The momentum created has proven beneficial for the business in terms of retention of our customers and this creates for a sustained growth going forward.
It has been a great privilege working with Joanne across the teams and leadership levels. Her ability to engage effectively and allowing for ownership in the business is commendable. Her sense of ownership of the business challenge and finding for a lasting solution in consultative way is a greatly acknowledged. Her courteous and collaborative approach has allowed for ease of ownership and internalization by staff and leadership of the business. This is very important for continuity.
Overall it has been an extremely invaluable experience working with such an impactful and a professional service provider. I would like to extend our great appreciation to Joanne for her contribution overall.”
Nolwandle Mbalo
Managing Director | Standard Insurance Limited
“Jo was amazing. She delivered way more value and impact than expected. So in my books that’s a 9 – would have been a 10 if I didn’t have to sit on a carpet and get a cramp in my leg! In all seriousness, loved it. She was brilliant. 10!”
Jacques Burger
CEO | M&C Saatchi Abel
“My introduction to the Enneagram with Joanne was an incredibly insightful journey. She is clearly an expert in this system, and I was amazed not only at the clarity of her insights into my strengths, but also the compassion and authenticity with which she negotiated my weaknesses and blind spots. Holding a mirror to yourself in this way can be uncomfortable, but Joanne made me feel safe and able to use these results to navigate myself and my relationships in a way that can change my inner and outer life for the better.”
Prof Greg Calligaro
Respiratory Physician and Medical Lead of Heart and Lung Transplant
“When I did the Enneagram, I was not in a good place. It was immensely helpful in understanding (without condemnation) the interactions and behaviours of myself with others. It also offered a guide to personal transformation which I’ve never gotten in other tests. My experience with the Enneagram was made even more profound because of the safe space that Jo created in our sessions. Not once did I feel judged or misunderstood. With Jo’s guidance and the work I’ve put in, I am a better version of myself and I love it! I highly, highly recommend Jo to anyone embarking on this journey.”
NN
Computer Engineer
“If you are blessed to have time with Jo as a coach, you will feel like you are sitting with the best friend you ever had. Someone who sees you, sits without judgement and is the epitome of a safe space. As a coach, she asks the right questions that guide and enlighten. I am so grateful to have had this experience.”
Jannine Purkiss
Head of Operations | Razor PR
“The way Jo balances her insights with delivering you a very practical journey for a more integrated life is what makes her so effective. Mentoring and coaching skills like hers can’t just be read in a book, learned, and then practiced. Jo is different and draws from deep intuition and empathy to help you climb up into a better version of yourself.”
Chris Lazley
Partner & Executive Creative Director | Razor PR
“She read me like an open book and cracked my shell far quicker than most. To be honest – that week was the beginning of the end and the start of healing. And it really did start with Jo. She was a rock when she didn’t know me from a bar of soap and I didn’t even know I needed her.”
MD
Brand Strategist | Advertising
“I have had the great pleasure of working with Joanne Smollan. Her energy is infectious and her creativity boundless. She has the ability to assimilate what one needs assistance with, understand it and without fail delivers work that is completely in line with a business’s objectives and needs. She has added so much value to the work I am currently doing and I see her as a major stakeholder in our business. I have no doubt in her ability to add value in any project that she gets involved in.”
