The Monocle Banking Podcast

Hosted by Monocle Solutions

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Episodes

139

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

The Monocle Banking Podcast, in partnership with esteemed financial journalist, Michael Avery, will explore the world of banking - beyond the vaults and virtual wallets. This weekly series will play host to some of the top minds in the banking industry from around the world.

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60 recent

November 5, 2026Episode 14029 min

Ep 140: Africa’s Financial Markets Reach a Decade-High - Anthony Kiru & Jeff Gable

The 2026 Absa Africa Financial Markets Index revealed significant progress, with 21 of 29 countries improving their scores and the continental average reaching a decade-high. Michael Avery was joined by Anthony Kirui, Head of Africa Regional Global Markets at Absa CIB, and Jeff Gable, Absa CIB’s Chief Economist, to unpack the findings and explore how regulatory reforms, improved market accessibility and greater investment can unlock Africa’s economic potential.

October 29, 2026Episode 13924 min

Ep 139: Can Adversity Be an Entrepreneur's Greatest Advantage? - Vusi Thembekwayo & Michael Hinton

What separates entrepreneurs who defy the odds from those who fall victim to them? Drawing on insights from their new book, Underdogs, Vusi Thembekwayo, Entrepreneur and Venture Investor, and Michael Hinton, Business Strategist and Finance Lecturer at GIBS, joined Michael Avery to explore what sets successful entrepreneurs apart, the power of resilience and adaptability, and how limitations can become a source of competitive advantage. The conversation also examined the challenges facing South Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, from limited early-stage funding to regulatory barriers, and what needs to change to unlock the country’s innovation potential.

October 22, 2026Episode 13833 min

Ep 138: How Extraordinary Leaders Think Differently - Adrian Gore

What separates exceptional success from ordinary results? According to Discovery founder Adrian Gore, the answer lies less in talent and more in how we think, act and make decisions. Drawing on insights from his new book, The Four Principles, Gore joined Michael Avery to explore the principles behind achieving meaningful impact, the importance of challenging negative perceptions, and how South Africa can unlock its economic potential through entrepreneurship, innovation and job creation.

October 15, 2026Episode 13724 min

Ep 137: The Reality Behind South Africa’s Fiscal Outlook - Dr Azar Jammine

South Africa’s economic outlook is showing signs of improvement, but is the progress as promising as it seems? Michael Avery was joined by Dr Azar Jammine, Director and Chief Economist at Econometrix, to unpack the country’s fiscal position and broader economic outlook. From narrowing budget deficits and the impact of rising commodity prices to persistent unemployment and growing infrastructure backlogs, the conversation explored whether recent improvements reflect meaningful progress or mask deeper structural weaknesses. They also discussed the role of economic reforms, investment and sustainable growth in shaping South Africa’s financial future.

October 8, 2026Episode 13623 min

Ep 136: South Africa’s Stalling Growth: Policy vs Potential? - Neil Emerick

Is South Africa’s economy being held back by its own policies? With unemployment remaining high and economic freedom rankings declining, the need for reform is becoming increasingly urgent. In this episode of the Monocle Banking Podcast, Michael Avery spoke to Neil Emerick, Deputy Chair of the Free Market Foundation, about South Africa’s economic challenges, restrictive regulations and declining investor confidence. Drawing comparisons with Kenya and Argentina, the conversation explored the reforms needed to unlock investment, strengthen economic freedom and drive sustainable growth.

October 1, 2026Episode 13534 min

Ep 135: The Case for Cheaper, More Open Payments - Lincoln Mali

A more open, competitive payments system could reshape how South Africa transacts - but key reforms are still taking shape. Michael Avery spoke with Lincoln Mali, CEO of Lesaka Technologies, about the progress made in reshaping South Africa’s payments ecosystem and the reforms still needed to unlock greater competition. They explored the shift away from bank-led self-regulation, the potential of activity-based regulation to open the market to fintechs, and why lower costs, greater transparency and more accessible digital payment options could benefit merchants and consumers alike. The conversation also examined the potential of PayShap and a unified QR standard to accelerate digital adoption, as well as the importance of regulatory clarity in turning reform into meaningful change.

September 23, 2026Episode 13429 min

Ep 134: How CEOs Lead When the Map Keeps Moving

Geopolitical disruption is no longer an occasional shock - it is becoming a permanent feature of the business landscape. From fractured supply chains and energy insecurity to infrastructure constraints and technological concentration, leaders are being forced to rethink how they plan, invest and build resilience. In this episode of the Monocle Banking Podcast, Michael Avery spoke with Claudio Campanini, Kearney’s Middle East and Africa Regional Chair, and Prashaen Reddy, Partner at Kearney, about why traditional forecasting is giving way to scenario-based planning. They explored how geopolitical risk is reshaping capital allocation, infrastructure and supply chains, what South Africa could learn from the Middle East’s approach to resilience and diversification, and why boards need to build greater agility into their organisations to navigate an increasingly unpredictable global environment.

September 17, 2026Episode 13324 min

Ep 133: Inside Africa’s Largest Pension Fund Custody Mandate - Hazel Khumalo

Absa’s appointment as master custodian for South Africa’s Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) marks a significant development in the country’s pension landscape. Michael Avery was joined by Hazel Khumalo, Managing Executive, Pan Africa Sales, Investor Services at Absa CIB, to unpack what the mandate means and how the role of custody had evolved beyond simply safeguarding assets. They explored the growing importance of independent oversight as pension funds expanded into private and cross-border investments, as well as the role of local expertise, pension reform and emerging technology in shaping the future of custody in Africa.

September 10, 2026Episode 13224 min

Ep 132: Payments: Where the Real Value Lies - Richard de Roos

Standard Bank processed R88 trillion in payments in the first half of 2026 alone - but as payment systems become increasingly open and interconnected, where will the real competitive advantage lie? Michael Avery spoke to Richard de Roos, recently appointed Group Head of Payments at Standard Bank, about the changing payments landscape across Africa and why payment infrastructure could increasingly become a shared utility. They explored how this shift could move competition beyond the payment rails themselves towards the data, AI-driven services and broader banking solutions built around them, as well as the role of regulation in shaping more open and interoperable payment ecosystems across the continent.

September 3, 2026Episode 13127 min

Ep 131: The Intelligence Behind Reputation - Daniel Munslow

In reputation management, the real work happens before the crisis. Michael Avery spoke to Daniel Munslow, Managing Executive for Group Communications and Reputation at Absa Group, about why organisations need to rethink how they protect trust in a world of misinformation, social media scrutiny and rapidly shifting narratives. They explored the move from crisis response to early detection, and how organisations can build the trust equity they need before things go wrong. Munslow also shared how AI was changing the way teams monitored reputation and identified emerging risks - while highlighting why human judgement, decisive action and credible communication remained essential.