Entrepreneurial Thinking:
A Life & Work Skill for a Changing World.
Helping Employers, Schools, and Universities Use Entrepreneurial Thinking as a Life and Work Skill to Turn Complexity, Uncertainty and Change Into Opportunity And Success Through Practical, Repeatable Tools That Drive Action And Results.
Speaker | Trainer | Facilitator | Author | Mentor | Consultant
Understand Entrepreneurial Thinking in 7 Minutes
Navigating Complexity and Change Using Entrepreneurial Thinking as a Life and Work Skill
Award Winning Expert Speaker
Master’s degree from the University of Liverpool. Practical frameworks that shift how people think and work in the real world.
- Winner Startup Mentor of the Year 2023 (finalist 2022)
- Finalist Startup Coach of the Year 2025
- Top Global Thought Leader in Lean Startup (2022, 23 and 25)
- Top Global Thought Leader in Careers (2025)
- Certified FIrewalking Instructor
What it’s like working with Willem
“Willem’s advice is practical, and my team implemented it immediately. The feedback was spectacular; new advisers and veterans alike found value. If you need a speaker who delivers real impact, Willem is the guy to call.”
— Mano Appasamy, Business Manager, Sanlam
I’ve come to appreciate the value of integrating both work and life experiences to navigate complex scenarios more effectively. Going forward, I’ll be applying the Entrepreneurial Thinking Compass in my day-to-day role. In sales, we often encounter high-pressure situations that demand swift, thoughtful solutions, and this mindset equips me to respond with greater confidence and agility.
— Karabo Moremi - Internal Sales -
"This empowering entrepreneurial thinking framework provides essential skills for stress management, resilience building, and solution-focused thinking and action taking that benefits students, workplace teams, and anyone navigating uncertainty and change”
- Ronel Mentz, Clinical Psychologist
Virtual & In Person
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, available worldwide
Available for:
- Keynotes
- Deep-dive sessions
- Interactive workshops for corporate teams, universities, and schools.
- Formats include 45-minute keynotes, 90-minute deep dives, and 3-hour workshops.
Formats Include:
- 45-minute keynotes
- 90-minute deep dives
- 3 to 4-hour workshops and masterclasses.
Some of my Previous Clients
Outlearn and Out-Earn Your Competitors:
How to Build Employees and Teams That Respond Faster and Perform Stronger
In fast-changing markets, standing still means falling behind. This keynote shows how entrepreneurial thinking can become a daily skill, helping staff stay resilient under pressure, adapt quickly to change, and solve problems in practical ways.
The result: teams that move faster, perform better, and strengthen your competitive edge.
- Gain the ability to adapt faster than the competition and stay ahead.
- Build stronger, more resilient teams that solve problems quickly and effectively.
- Create daily habits that drive better performance and lasting success.
Audience:
- C-suite and executive board members
- HR directors and L&D professionals
- Change and transformation teams
- General staff development
Find Your Rhythm of Success:
A Practical Guide To Building Steady Momentum And Achieving Results
Success rarely comes in a single leap; it is built through daily actions. This keynote helps teams focus on what matters most, stay consistent, and remove the obstacles that hold them back from reaching their best performance.
- Learn how to build success step by step through consistent daily actions.
- Find ways to stay focused and remove obstacles that hold you back.
- Develop the rhythm needed to achieve steady progress and long-term results.
Audience:
- Accelerating productivity through high performance and consistency.
- General staff, teams, division meetings, conferences.
Student Success Toolkit:
Five Essential Skills To Navigate Future Uncertainty With Confidence And Drive Academic Success
Practical life and work skills that enhance academic performance and build real-world resilience and employability. Students gain the clarity to find solutions in any situation while developing the confidence to navigate change with less stress, leading to better mental well-being.
- Discover five life skills to stay calm, think clearly, and act effectively even when the future is unclear.
- Build resilience to bounce back from setbacks and reduce stress, anxiety, and burnout.
- Gain practical tools to improve academic success, employability, and overall well-being.
Custom Keynotes & Workshops
Let me design something specific for your needs and goals
I can create a customer keynote or workshop for your business using entrepreneurial thinking as a life skill. Set up a meeting with me and discuss your goals.
Why Willem?
Inspirational, empowering, relatable, insightful: motivating leaders, teams, and students
Willem’s speaking isn’t theory. His work is proven in some of the toughest, most unpredictable environments imaginable. He has taken people with little more than determination and shown them how to build profitable businesses in just five weeks, without outside funding, support, or safety nets.
If his frameworks can deliver results under those conditions, imagine what they can do for you, your team, or your organisation with all the resources at your disposal.
This is what makes Willem unique: his tools are field-tested under pressure. They are not academic models that only work on paper. They are practical, repeatable processes that anyone — from executives to students — can use to stay calm under pressure, think clearly in uncertainty, and turn disruption into opportunity.
Audiences around the world call Willem’s talks “energising,” “mind-shifting,” and “extraordinary value.” He does not just inspire, he equips people to act — the reason companies and institutions keep bringing him back.
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What People Say
“The Innovation Session was a turning point in how I approach challenges. In sales, we encounter high-pressure situations that demand swift solutions… The Entrepreneurial Thinking Compass equips me to handle high-pressure sales situations with greater confidence and agility.”
Karabo Moremi, Internal Sales
"Willem brings professionalism, charisma, and strategic insight to every engagement. He has a proven ability to connect with diverse audiences and an intuitive sense for what resonates. His adaptability and dedication to excellence make him an ideal partner for any organisation."
Aneesa Sardinus, Human Resources, Hiconnex
"Willem’s ability to connect with diverse audiences, inspire confidence, and deliver tangible, results-driven strategies makes him an exceptional choice for any entrepreneurship or business development event. I highly recommend him for his expertise, passion, and impact."
Dr Jabulani Nkosi
Office of the Dean: Economic and Management Sciences - The University of the Free State
"Willem’s human-centred, action-driven approach aligns with our vision to equip students with the mindset and tools to thrive in today’s economy. The impact on our students has been tangible, unlocking confidence, creativity, and sustainable business thinking."
Shaaista Hassan Ally
Employability Manager
"Willem’s advice is practical, and my team implemented it immediately. The feedback was spectacular—new advisers and veterans alike found value. If you need a speaker who delivers real impact, Willem is the guy to call."
Mano Appasamy
Business Manager, Sanlam
"Willem brought energy and thought-provoking insights to our conference. This was the third time we invited him, and it won’t be the last!"
Craig Blignaut, Founder
Business of Business South Africa Group
What Makes Willem Different?
Proven frameworks. Real results. Practical transformation.
Most speakers talk about ideas. Willem delivers tools that have already been tested where the stakes are highest, in environments where failure is not an option. His Entrepreneurial Thinking Compass is not just motivational; it is a structured, five-part framework that reprogrammes how people approach uncertainty, challenges, and opportunity.
Willem’s combination of global thought leadership (Top 50 Global Thought Leader, Startup Mentor of the Year) and hands-on success stories means audiences don’t just hear about resilience and adaptability, they learn how to do it for themselves.
When you choose Willem, you’re not getting a motivational talk that fades after the applause. You’re bringing in a transformation catalyst who equips people with practical, repeatable processes they can use the next day. That’s why he is the speaker that companies, universities, and communities invite back time and again.
My Community Work
Willem’s frameworks aren’t just spoken about, they’re lived. Through partnerships with private funders and corporates, he runs a 5-week entrepreneurship programme in impoverished South African communities that helps unemployed people start profitable businesses without external funding. The programme also works with existing businesses.
The results are tangible: individuals become economically self-sustainable, families escape poverty, and local economies begin to grow. This work aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those focused on ending poverty, promoting decent work, and driving economic growth.
For businesses, partnering with Willem on these projects means more than sponsorship. It’s a chance to make a measurable social impact, strengthen communities, and contribute to long-term stability, all while demonstrating leadership in sustainability and innovation.
This is what sets Willem apart. He doesn’t just speak about transformation; he delivers it, on stage, in boardrooms, and in communities.
Accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals
5 Weeks to Create a Job
We reduced the time to create a job through entrepreneurship and self-employment to 5 weeks.
20 Times More Cost-Effective
We reduced the cost of creating a job by 20 times compared to the World Bank Estimate of what it costs to create a blue-collar job.
Job Creation at Scale
We can create hundreds of these micro-businesses in a city or region every month.
3 x Author | My Latest
Are you ready to transform your dreams into reality?
This book helps you avoid common pitfalls that drain your time and resources. Whether you're unemployed, seeking a career change, or a seasoned business owner, this book is your key to unlocking a world of opportunities. Discover practical strategies, insightful tips, and a mindset shift that will inspire you to take bold action and build the life you've always envisioned.
“I have read your book and am impressed with how you use prominent concepts in the field of Entrepreneurship and simplify them to make sense for anyone wanting to start a micro business, regardless of their background and education. I like your approach very much.”
- Dr Andre van der Walt - Senior Lecturer @ Stadio Higher Education
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