Lerato Mbele

Since transitioning out of broadcasting into entrepreneurship, I founded a company MoonLanding Pty Ltd as a consultancy on strategic communications, risk and reputation management plus navigation of complex regulatory environments when seeking opportunities on the African continent. It’s a business that leverages my communication skills, my technical training in International Relations and Development Economics. Whilst growing this business, I have also maintained a media profile through by the daily talkshow PowerTalk on PowerFM 98.7

• Conducting compelling, informative and interesting wide-ranging topical interviews about statecraft and governance, political and corporate leadership, geopolitics and country risk management, nation branding & reputation building, macro economics and trade, social security and development. Topic related to country and continental development in the current era. Issues advancing thought leadership in general and adhere to a format philosophy.
• Participated in community events as a representative of the talk show, building brand awareness and goodwill among local audiences.
• Improved social media presence through live-tweeting during broadcasts, engaging directly with fans for real-time interaction.
• Creating strategic linkages across broad community/generational/ideological grouping throughout broadcasts to maintain viewer interest while discussing complex subjects effectively.

• Presented niche content in the area of business and economics, covering Sub Saharan Africa and other emerging markets.
• Conceptualised themes per broadcast, conducted research and the development of topics along with our team.
• Travelled extensively across 25 geographies and markets to be on the ground, in the field and in boardrooms so as to get an authentic view of the local trading environment
• Interviewed founders & entrepreneurs, Labour representatives, C-Suite executives, regulators and political leaders.
• Maintained a strong on-air presence, effectively engaging viewers and encouraging audience loyalty.
• Drafted news headlines for broadcasting to capture listeners with clear and condensed writing.
• Collected data from various sources to determine facts and opinions and fashioned into cohesive story for television or radio broadcast.

• Curated and Presented Africa focused business and market related news by researching, developing and covering field news events
• This job was data analytics driven, somewhat technical and focused on understanding macro factors affecting the investment environment and the performance of companies in a country
• Maintained a strong on-air presence, effectively engaging viewers and encouraging audience loyalty.
• Drafted news headlines for broadcasting to capture listeners with clear and condensed writing.
• Collected data from various sources to determine facts and opinions and fashioned into cohesive story for television or radio broadcast.

• Enhanced viewer engagement by incorporating compelling storytelling techniques and dynamic on-air presentation.
• Drafted news headlines for broadcasting to capture listeners with clear and condensed writing.
• Deployed to news events locales to provide on-the-ground broadcast solutions and news coverage.
• Mentored junior anchors and reporters to help them hone their skills and advance their careers within the organization.

Lead for a pro-democracy advocacy programme hosted by the SAIIA and funded by the Ford Foundation USA. In the academic and research aspect, I gathered data and collated it to study trends in political shifts in dynamic African capitals. I liaised with party headquarters across various countries undergoing vibrant multiparty and parliamentary shifts. Ultimately coordinated the hosting of a conference of opposition party leaders with electoral commission chiefs and observers to gauge how much traction there was for change in their respective countries. This was a demanding but enlightening role.