CUSTOMER SERVICE
"Overall I am impressed and grateful to have been a part of the course. It was so relevant for my daily events management at work and for the communication that I have with both internal & external stakeholders."
Sadecca Kgaka
Provincial Coordinator
Khula Enterprise Finance: Sawen
"Was impressed. He is not boring. Straight to the point."
Slindile Qwabe
Admin Assistant
Khula Enterprise Finance: Sawen
"All the aspects of the course were interesting and relevant."
Phumzile Kunene
Provincial Coordinator
Khula Enterprise Finance: Sawen
"The course was presented in utmost professional manner, and the interaction was good. I did enjoy everything equally, because sometimes we think we know everything."
Tsholofelo Moelas
Marketing, Communications and Events Officer
Khula Enterprise Finance: Sawen
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
"I don't see the necessity of improving this course, because it is very good and accurate. I have enjoyed this course from start to finish."
John Mnisi
Reginal Sales Manager
Foodcorp: Sunbake
"It was based on actual experience and not text book jargon."
Hans Schwab
Transport Manager
Foodcorp: Sunbake
"Every aspect was informative and beneficial."
Lindie Williams
Admin Manager: Sales
Foodcorp: Sunbake
"No suggestions - excellent. Overall very good!"
Jan Cronjé
Transport Manager
Foodcorp: Sunbake
"No need for improvement as this course is more than satisfying."
Marita Botha
Financial Controller
Foodcorp: Sunbake
"The whole course was very insightful and will help a lot in my work place."
Morné Kotzé
Sales Manager
Foodcorp: Sunbake
"What aspect of the course did I enjoy the most? All of it!"
Peter Matlala
Sales Coordinater
Foodcorp: Sunbake
"I enjoyed the course and wouldn't change anything."
Wayne Delport
Maintenance Manager
Foodcorp: Sunbake
"Enjoyed all of it. The course also helps with dealing with life in general."
Ezekiel Molatedi
Shift Miller / Production
Foodcorp: Sunbake
"The Leadership course had excellent course content and the workshop was properly presented."
Vee Moodley
Provincial Manager
PSA
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, PRESENTATION AND NEGOTIATION
"What did I enjoy the most? Listening to Elmarie, she is really animated and enlivens the material."
Louise Liddell
Software Developer
Grintek Ewation
“This workshop has been the best of workshops I have ever experienced”
Larry Alaad
Customer Support Engineer
Dimension Data
“Het verskriklik baie geleer, dit gaan baie help in my werksomgewing”
Melanie Marais
ATKV
"Thank you for your passion, energy and enthusiasm and sharing sound business communication and listening skills with us. The workshop was presented in a professional manner, yet with humor and relevant practical examples throughout the workshop. I’m confident that every employee was truly challenged. We all realize that it is time to throw out the old rulebook and to embrace a new game plan. Your address has a very powerful message and certainly jolted our personnel into positive action with a greater awareness of attitudes, believe systems, the words we speak and our habits. I have personally experienced the inspiration, the creative action to which it leads and the results I expected."
Tinus Oelofse
Managing Director
Optilog (Pty) Ltd
"A word of thanks for a most inspiring course.
Every course I have been has said the same things over and over; I never walked away and put it into practice. Everyday, since the Communication and listening course, something comes to mind and amazingly I put it into practice."
Jessica Papenfus
Sasol SA
ADVANCED SECRETARY AND PA
"I enjoyed everything and every moment of it."
Robin van Rensburg
MBS Transport
"I loved everything."
Maxine Ballakistan
MBS Transport
"Everyting was perfect, it is going to help me in the future."
Carina Putter
I-Com Services
SPECTRUM VALUES WORKSHOP
"Informative and entertaining!"
Lavania Pather
Junior Bookkeeper
Spectrum
"Really enjoyed, very interactive."
Colleen Henry
CFO
Spectrum
"The course was great. I learned a lot and understand more about my company and would love to continue learning."
Esther Nyanbiyo
Cleaner
Spectrum
ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING
"Thank you for a great and mind refreshing training! I really learned some great lessons and are looking forward to attending more of your training."
Sandile Masina
Manager
Ernst & Young
CHANGE & DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT
“Good humor. Excellent teambuilding. Elmarie is full of energy!!!”
Ilunke Burger
Saab EDS
“Elmarie has got great experience in the working life and give great examples that are applicable in our everyday life and hassles. That’s more rewarding than notes can give. I will remember this 5 years from now.”
Yolandi Willemse
Production Engineer
Saab EDS
“Absolutely stunning.”
Bianca Breytenbach
Quality Administrator
Saab EDS
“I think this course is very applicable & interesting. What I enjoyed the most was the active participation and the practical examples. The role play also makes it easy to understand.”
Morien Nel
Saab EDS
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
"I would like to say thank you very much for everything. That was more mind opening by far from all of the training I had from my previous employers. You have given me tools for life to apply professionally and mostly personally. For the 1st time in my life, last night I was able to have a discussion with my wife in an adult mode and it works like a charm. Things that bothered me for years I was able to lay them down without sparking any conflict. And my 4 year old monster couldn’t get away with anything last night and I intend to keep it that way. Thank you very much, you’re a star."
Solly Mangue
Reservation House
SAIMAS 20TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
"Dear Elmarie, the following are comments (unaltered) given by the delegates on the evaluation forms, in terms of your presentation":
- Interesting Topic
- A nice hands-on presentation
- I’ve enjoyed the presentation “Big Time”, very motivating – Well done!
- It was an eye opener, very motivating. She’s confident
- That was a good motivational speech whereby one learned not to feel sympathy for other (unaltered!)
- The speaker is very excellent, she knows the subject well. I think she should also be invited in future for other topics
- Excellent, truly motivating
Ria Loubser
Vice Executive President & Conference Organiser
SAIMAS
"Ek wil net graag my waardering en dank uitspreek vir die insiggewende kursus wat jy aangebied het vir ons in Delmas hierdie week. Ek het dit baie waardevol gevind, en glo dat almal wat dit saam met my bygewoon het voel dieselfde. Groot groete!"
Jan Coetzer
Pannar Seed (Pty) Ltd
"I hope all the course facilitators are like Elmarie Pretorius. She is the best presenter ever!"
Maureen Narib
De Beers Marine Namibia
“Elmarie is a great, positive and inspirational person. Thank you, you were here at the right time, saying the right things”.
Irma Myburgh
Secretary
NWU Vaal Campus
“A fruitful course indeed particularly for eager and young people like us. I am going to implement everything I have learned as soon as I get to the office”
Lebo Maekela
NWU Vaal Campus
“Elmarie is such a great presenter, her knowledge and willingness to share has made this course worthwhile.”
Pranitha Reddy
FNB
TEAMBUILDING WORKSHOP
"It has been a few days now since we had our teambuilding workshop; obviously giving us some time to digest our experiences of last Monday and Tuesday. On Thursday we had our regular Mechanical Team meeting where we all had a chance to briefly reflect on our experiences from the workshop. The comments were all overwhelmingly positive, more so than any other team exercise that I’ve experienced so far with this bunch.
If we try hard enough, sometimes we will get lucky, and this is such a case of bringing all this together; me, you, the team, the venue… You have mentioned a few times, “thank you for trusting me…” but there must have been a trust the other way as well.
You blindly accepted the challenge to face this team in a foreign environment…woman alone. In my book, that’s courageous."
Paul Dornbrack
Sasol Technology Fuels Research
"The teambuilding session you facilitated at Optilog was a great success. I believe there was a message/ lesson for each of us."
Amanda Burger
Training Manager
Optilog
“Elmarie has been excellent . She has a lot of experience and has given me context on the questions I had regarding leadership and management.”
Michael Kloeck
Head: Africa Expansion FNB
"It was an absolute pleasure receiving training from Elmarie, it gave me great insight into effective communication tools and handling difficult conversations."
Mbali Myeni
Sales Coordinator
Optron Geomatrix
"This was a very, very interesting, informative and useful course. We can all benefit from it – highly recommended”
T. Wehrle
Sales Administrator
Optron Geomatrix
"Merging two small enterprises into one business while increasing the services and products business offer at the same time, leads to bewildered reactions from management and staffers. Gone is the stable environment where everyone knew exactly what, where, when and how to make their unique contribution to mutual success. Optilog turned to the Mindspa Institute at just this stage, and just in time! Elmarie workshopped management and staff through a difficult session to rid people of preoccupations with the old ways, while establishing sound guidelines for interpersonal as well as business communication and conduct. Practical workplace examples and fielding of questions from the floor promoted understanding and acceptance of the value of the day long session. By adding a basic overview of the change management process, an almost tangible mood of supportive behaviour and renewed commitment became evident at the social gathering held to conclude the day. The success of the event can be judged by the numerous requests for a follow up session, and the many new inputs from all concerned to meet our profit targets!"
Johan Slabbert
Chairman of the Board
Optilog
"I wanted to use this opportunity to thank you for the excellent management workshop that you facilitated for our executive team. I think it was 100% on target and that we all have a better focus."
Perie Franken
Operational Manager
ProjectLink Consulting (Pty) Ltd
"Elmarie, WELL done on the excellent feedback I received. You were a winner in the training intervention – exactly what I suspected. Thank you for continuing to make a difference to our colleagues’ lives."
Wilma van Heerden
HRD Specialist Sasol
Learning and Development Centre
"I have never been to a course that was presented like this. Elmarie had the whole group involved for the two days. There was so much interaction and not just the ususal reading from a manual or looking at a presentation. Even shy people participated. The examples and “games” was well chosen. I will recommend her to everyone and so many people that I am going to tell about this course.
Well done to the person who chose her to train for Sasol."
Lorna van Schalkwyk
Work Management
Practitioner Sasol SA
"The presentation was excellent and Elmarie displayed thorough knowledge of the subject."
Meshack Teffo
Senior Manager
Armscor
"Elmarie, this is just to say "Thank you" I really learned so much and already start to practice some of the many things we have learned last week. Your presentation style is so comfortable and relaxing. One feel so important and you make me feel that I am not the only one with this "simple" problem. Your feedback made me realise that we are so different and all issues can be resolved."
Cristal Muisoor
Executive Secretary
Namibia Water Corporation
"Relevant content and an exciting workshop which should be spread to all."
Elliot Makuzo
Provincial Manager
PSA
"We all need to be reminded of the things we know, but often forget to implement in our daily busy schedule. This course is so valuable, it should be run over or 3 or even 4 days."
Andre van Schalkwyk
Provincial Manager
PSA
"Everything I have learnt in these two days have been very helpful and very informative. It has been an excellent course."
Ntombi Mathabela
Flight Crew Training Co-ordinator
SAA
"Elmarie, thank you for a great and wonderful presentation. Your presentation made a great impression on my colleagues and I received excellent feedback. Lake International is proud of our association and are happy to recommend your services to any organisation."
Ilse Channer
Lake International Technologies
"The session on the 1st, although opportunistic on my behalf, was very refreshing. I was a visitor to Lake for two days and I appreciate management including me in your presentation.
I have completed a host of similar sessions over the years but must admit that your style and content fits exceptionally well with your business name. I find that Australian businesses (in general) pay lip service to and generally lack the fundamentals when it comes to delivering tangible results on people management. I found your content was stimulating and relevant with something there for all participants. And needless to say it was very well delivered."
Neil Mulcahy
General Manager
Seed Solutions (Australia)
"Elmarie Pretorius was a very good facilitator and made the two days interesting and fun."
Shamina Dhoda
Nedbank Limited
"She knows what she is talking about, I am now looking forward to improving myself in many ways."
Bongie Mathema
Thrive Learning Facilitation
"It was a great experience."
Helga Lombard
Nedbank Limited
"I have known Elmarie Pretorius since 1987 in a business capacity. She has always impressed me with her exceptional competence, professionalism and thorough business practice. However, over and above this, she has an effervescently positive approach to an integrated life that delivers in all areas.
I have no doubt that Elmarie will contribute significantly to the lives of those she is given the opportunity to influence through business, presentations, or training engagements. She inspires hope and joy based on sound business insights and professionalism."
Dr Mark Manley
International Leadership and Strategy Consultant
"I wish to share the following experiences with the reader of this letter in light of my personal as well as our company’s dealings with Mrs. Elmarie Pretorius.
First and foremost, I will start with the end in mind stating that I would recommend her services to any company. Why? She’s not your typical outsourced consultant. She has a good understanding of how to manage business risk, knowledge of where to place key people and to implement processes to protect the business. She has extensive experience and knowledge when it comes to strategy development as well as the implementation of the strategy to the point of realising the strategic objectives. In addition to this, her intentions are true and not empty sales talk.
Based on the fact that she has personal experience as an executive leader, this in-depth understanding of the business dynamics including the vital role of human capital development, enables her to formulate influence strategies i.e. drive exceptional levels of motivation. She communicates with impact and in a compelling manner to both individual and group situations, easily adjusting language to capture and keep the attention of the audience. She uses open-ended question style presentations to explore and clarify operational and strategic information, checks for understanding and uses appropriate techniques to move others to action or to gain agreement. She has a great ability to summarise outcomes of discussions and to establish the next step, if needed. She is comfortable with herself, establishing trust easily with an individual or team. Once this trust is solid, motivation becomes natural from within the team.
I would personally recommend any business to make use the skills of Elmarie Pretorius."
Jacques Breytenbach
CEO
Primedia Publishing
"We had the pleasure of having Elmarie for a full day workshop to enlighten and assist our female staff members with the pressures of everyday life, work stresses and basic coping skills. The course material was relevant to all levels of employees, informative, entertaining and simple enough to have a strong impact. The ladies were encouraged to join in with discussions and even our most introverted staff members ended up laughing, sharing and learning. All my staff commented that they felt liberated, uplifted and energized.
This is made all the more meaningful by having the workshop presented by Elmarie herself. She has tremendous life and work experience but she also lives her life as she teaches it and this radiates from within her and inspires all those around her to want to do the same."
Colleen Henry
Spectrum Visual Networks
CFO
"It was fantastic, she is an excellent speaker and the session was very informative, we all felt special after that and the gifts was a nice touch and surprise. From my side I wish to thank you and Management for arranging this event."
Francis Fisher
Sales & Marketing Assistant
"It was fantastic, she is an excellent speaker and the session was very informative, we all felt special after that and the gifts was a nice touch and surprise. From my side I wish to thank you and Management for arranging this event."
Hetitia Fouche
Divisional Secretary
"Thank you for the opportunity to have something like that. It was very informative and fun. And we understand age differences and cultures better."
Salome Filmater
Procurement Manager
"As you can see, the feedback was extremely positive and we would be delighted to have you back for similar presentations."
Denelle Morais
Public Relations
Powertech IST