Hallo, my name is Madi Hanekom!

I am the founder and sole proprietor of a business consultancy, The ME Corporation, which I started 11 years ago, based in Pretoria/Tshwane, South Africa, and specializing in: 1. Project Management              2. Mentoring and     Coaching   3. Creative Writing

Madi Hanekom

I have a proven track record of over 25 years in project management and business-related mentoring and coaching and have added creative writing to my portfolio about 1.5 years ago. I operate anywhere in South Africa and the neighbouring countries.

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After having worked in the corporate sector for many years, I decided in 2001 to resign and to start up my own consultancy.  This was driven by my need to aspire to a new life style where I would have a greater say in my own life journey and which would provide me with the wonderful freedom to pursue several job-type activities (without being limited to a one career path), whilst at the same time being able to devote significant time and energy to other non-work related interests.  I have since come to realize that many people have this dream of a greater freedom of choice and wanting a strong say in creating a work / life balance tailor made for their specific needs.  In fact, there is a specific term for this preferred type of lifestyle, it is defined as “a Portfolio Life”.  This concept was coined by the business guru Professor Charles Handy in his book The Age of Unreason in 1989 who explained this approach as follows: “If, rather than think of life as work and leisure, we think of it as a portfolio of activities - some of which we do for money, some for interest, some for pleasure, some for a cause - that way, we do not have to look for the occupation that miraculously combines job satisfaction, financial reward and pleasant friends all in one package. As with any portfolio we get different returns from different parts and if one fails the whole is not ruined.”  This makes wonderful sense to me!

Running my consultancy affords me the great opportunity to have a very interesting job mix whilst also providing me with the independence and flexibility to participate in other interests such as creative writing, photography, researching my family tree and to give something back to the community through outreach work.  In other words, I'm living my own portfolio life!

• Project Management

I have had a successful and rewarding career in the development finance and infrastructure development sectors, undertaking the project management of projects and programmes in various economic and social development sectors of developing economies (both within South Africa and the SADC countries). I work with governments at all levels, private sector companies, international development agencies as well as the non government sector to conclude complex project finance transactions and leading multi-disciplinary teams towards the successful execution of projects (including public private partnership - PPP - projects).  My project portfolio in the “Project Management section of the website provides information on these projects and programmes. 

• Mentoring and Coaching

My experience in mentoring and coaching includes acting as mentor and coach within the organizations I worked for through inter alia participating in the structuring and execution of induction programmes for new staff members as well as mentoring high performance staff members being groomed for more senior positions within the organization. I also mentored junior and middle management level staff members in specific job related skills, including focusing on developing the project management skills and knowledge of junior project managers. As an independent project management consultant, I concentrate on capacity building of key client staff members to empower them to understand all the phases of the project cycle and to take full ownership of projects and programmes once the consultants’ work on these projects have been concluded. I furthermore undertake mentoring and coaching of individuals (either within an organisation or private individuals)who want to re-assess certain areas of their business and/or private situation and who are ready to engage in a constructive partnership between a client and a mentor/coach where both are focused on the development of the client in a manner that is customized for the client's needs and goals. 

I plan to specifically grow the mentoring and coaching side of my consulting practice as I thoroughly enjoy working with individuals who are at a point in their lives where they want to get clarity on where they are NOW, clarity on where they want to be in the FUTURE, and then co-creating the plan of how to get from HERE to THERE!  Please refer the “Mentoring and Coaching” section of the website for more detail.

• Creative Writing

My recent publishing credits include various articles featured in inter alias the cover article in the i Magazine of City Press (Bravehearts, 23rd October 2011), cover article on the town of Kakamas in Country Life (Golden Oldie, Modern-day Boldie, October 2011) Sunday Times (Restaurant reviews), Beeld, and the Design Magazine, as well as a short story, The Doll Maker (fiction) published by Momaya Press (USA) in the Momaya Annual Review, December 2010.

• Personal Outreach Programme

As part of my personal outreach programme to make a contribution towards society in general, I have also for many years been actively involved in supporting the work of non government organizations (NGOs) at various levels, including serving at Exco level, as well as providing strategic and operational advice to these NGOs, such as the Reach for a Dream Foundation (RFAD), a South African NGO whose objective is to fulfill the dreams of children who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. I have also served on the boards of various other NGOs, for example the Boards of the National Association of Women Business Owners (now Business Women's Association) and Ikwezi Lamakozikasi, both initiatives focusing on the advancement of women entrepreneurs. I am also currently a volunteer at the Wetnose organisation which looks after abandoned animals.

Honesty, integrity, professionalism, client responsiveness, and a passion and commitment to deliver optimal project outcomes and make a positive difference in people’s lives.

I in general believe in a “Live and let live!” approach towards life.

I work in association with a network of specialist consultants, all experts in their respective fields and structures the involvement of these experts based on the requirements of a specific project or programme.  

This network includes experts in transaction advice, strategic management, feasibility studies, financial assessment and the structuring of computer based financial models, process facilitation, economic analysis, business engineering, legal advice, environmental and heritage assessments, construction design and engineering, transport sector, education and training, coaching and mentoring, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, creative industries, etc.  

I also obtained a Higher Diploma in Library Science (University of Pretoria), as well as a B. Comm Degree and Secondary Education Diploma (University of Stellenbosch). I also obtained a certificate (with distinction) from the South African Writers' College (SAWC) in Magazine Journalism. I am fully computer literate including command of MS-Project, MS-Word, MS-Excel, MS-PowerPoint, MS-Outlook, and MS-Internet Explorer. 

Full Member of Project Management South Africa (PMSA)

Practitioner Member of Coaches and Mentors South Africa (COMENSA)

Full Member of Southern African Freelancers'Association (SAFREA)

Member of the Business Women’s Association (BWA)

Please refer the "Project Management" and "Mentoring and Coaching" sections of the website for client references.

Please contact me to discuss your specific requirements in respect project management services, mentoring and coaching services, as well as creative writing projects.