Who am I, and the ever present WHY
I refer to myself as a flâneur, a flâneur is a character that emerged in Paris in the 18th Century, a wanderer of the city streets, observing, and sometimes commenting. (It also means lazy, old men sitting in cafes looking at girls, but hey.)
In short this is what I am about, I am an eternal observer, I read like a maniac, but only when I am not online. I am interested in the way the world is flowing, the movement of culture, the actions and reactions, the paradoxes.
We, as the human race, do one thing continually, since the beginning of time.
We create, we build.
Wherever we find ourselves, it is not long before we organise nature, and build something. Sometimes we create good, often we do not.
What we create, the work we create is important. I explore what it takes to create good work, and what good work is.
In a culture obsessed with consumption, I want to talk about creating. How to we create meaning, and meaningful work, that contributes, that makes space for life and doesn’t stifle?
Who do we need to become to be able to make good work, what needs to happen on the inside so that, that emerges from us is good?
I am currently the CEO HumanWrit.es, where we change the world one wee square notebook at a time. The other half of my life is in philosophy and spirituality. I lead a contemplative community, Invia, in the city of Cape Town and he is also a published author.
Originally from a design background where I have shown to critical acclaim at Fashion Week in the 2000s, created award winning campaigns as a stylist, and freelanced as an art and creative director. I am also an artist, working with socio-political themes and the tension between absence and presence.
I speak regularly at conferences and corporate sessions and I have been featured numerous times on TEDx, breakfast TV, and radio. His clients include BMW, Old Mutual, KFC, Adcock Ingram and others.
My alter ego is the love child of Gertrude Stein and Jason Bourne. I live in Cape Town, with my wife, two kids, and my iPhone.
In short this is what I am about, I am an eternal observer, I read like a maniac, but only when I am not online. I am interested in the way the world is flowing, the movement of culture, the actions and reactions, the paradoxes.
We, as the human race, do one thing continually, since the beginning of time.
We create, we build.
Wherever we find ourselves, it is not long before we organise nature, and build something. Sometimes we create good, often we do not.
What we create, the work we create is important. I explore what it takes to create good work, and what good work is.
In a culture obsessed with consumption, I want to talk about creating. How to we create meaning, and meaningful work, that contributes, that makes space for life and doesn’t stifle?
Who do we need to become to be able to make good work, what needs to happen on the inside so that, that emerges from us is good?
I am currently the CEO HumanWrit.es, where we change the world one wee square notebook at a time. The other half of my life is in philosophy and spirituality. I lead a contemplative community, Invia, in the city of Cape Town and he is also a published author.
Originally from a design background where I have shown to critical acclaim at Fashion Week in the 2000s, created award winning campaigns as a stylist, and freelanced as an art and creative director. I am also an artist, working with socio-political themes and the tension between absence and presence.
I speak regularly at conferences and corporate sessions and I have been featured numerous times on TEDx, breakfast TV, and radio. His clients include BMW, Old Mutual, KFC, Adcock Ingram and others.
My alter ego is the love child of Gertrude Stein and Jason Bourne. I live in Cape Town, with my wife, two kids, and my iPhone.
When to use me as a speaker
I speak most often on Chaos, and the gifts it brings. My talks explore what is happening in the world, who we are in it, and how we can produce good work in this, volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world.
They are good openers. I give a bird’s eye view of the world, scratch open ideas, sometimes touch nerves, that will set the tone for a day of conferencing or work-shopping.
My talks are also inspiring, helping people to reframe their purpose and existence, and them give a jump start.
I am an artist at heart, if you want to inspire creativity, innovation, I’m your guy.
They are good openers. I give a bird’s eye view of the world, scratch open ideas, sometimes touch nerves, that will set the tone for a day of conferencing or work-shopping.
My talks are also inspiring, helping people to reframe their purpose and existence, and them give a jump start.
I am an artist at heart, if you want to inspire creativity, innovation, I’m your guy.
What to expect
I have done over 600 talks. I have been a keynote speaker for companies such as BMW, KFC, Old Mutual and the SAIA. I have also been a speaker at TEDx, twice.
I am super comfortable on stage people often tell me my talks feel like a conversation more than a presentation. I keep things as interactive as possible, engaging the audience as much as they allow.
I have a metaphorical story telling style, no two talks are ever the same. I always have some new story to tell.
I have a dark, apparently, sense of humour. I get laughs, and some gasps.
My talks are packed, as in packed, with trend observations, cultural, tech, entertainment, you name it. I use these to give the audience a view of the world, the state we are in so to speak, before proposing reactions, responses, to that world, using everything from philosophy, ancient practices, mindfulness, to pop culture references; “shake it off” as the philosopher Taylor Swift once said.
I want to inspire audiences to do the work inside, and then do, or so that they can do, great work outside.
My talks are always actionable. Information is useless unless you can react to it. I give at least 2 or 3 super practical take-aways, that people can implement straight after the talk. Whether on high strategic level, or on a personal level. I like to get into the heads of everyone from the tea lady to the CEO.
My talks and style have a unique aesthetic, I have a design background after all, and can’t stand ugly things. They are filled with multimedia content, videos and images, around 45 minutes long and with question and response time after.
I am super comfortable on stage people often tell me my talks feel like a conversation more than a presentation. I keep things as interactive as possible, engaging the audience as much as they allow.
I have a metaphorical story telling style, no two talks are ever the same. I always have some new story to tell.
I have a dark, apparently, sense of humour. I get laughs, and some gasps.
My talks are packed, as in packed, with trend observations, cultural, tech, entertainment, you name it. I use these to give the audience a view of the world, the state we are in so to speak, before proposing reactions, responses, to that world, using everything from philosophy, ancient practices, mindfulness, to pop culture references; “shake it off” as the philosopher Taylor Swift once said.
I want to inspire audiences to do the work inside, and then do, or so that they can do, great work outside.
My talks are always actionable. Information is useless unless you can react to it. I give at least 2 or 3 super practical take-aways, that people can implement straight after the talk. Whether on high strategic level, or on a personal level. I like to get into the heads of everyone from the tea lady to the CEO.
My talks and style have a unique aesthetic, I have a design background after all, and can’t stand ugly things. They are filled with multimedia content, videos and images, around 45 minutes long and with question and response time after.
Some of my most popular Talks:“Prostitutes, the Andes, and Japanese Sword Makers”
A talk about the rise of narcissism and the importance of relationships, featured on TEDx Soweto “What do your hands smell like” A talk on the ever more importance of context and locality, featured on TEDx Pretoria “Pirate Ships, Krav Maga, and Doorways” A talk on what to do when chaos hits. “In Praise of Shadows” A talk on the importance of mystery and uncertainty to foster innovation and creativity. Business Talks |
Testimonials
"The true power of this talk is in how it touches on the simple yet poorly understood - or personal yet most potent - aspect of our being...managing the self"
Victor Kgomoeswana, Africa Business Specialist
“I am jaded, I have been in the industry a very long time (20 years feels like a lifetime), I have seen a lot, heard a lot, had my intelligence challenged and my mind bent, and often been bored. There are not many speakers out there that make me stop (mid running around on an event) and listen. Pierre is one of those.
He has a “je ne sais quoi” he is genuine, he is kind in nature and he is deep. What he talks about hits home and makes the neurons fire. He inspires me and makes me think. He is the 1st person I recommend when a client requests a speaker. A consummate professional, always on time and always interesting.
I mean, really who doesn’t want to be a “flâneur”?”
Kelly McGillivray - The Squad Events
"Pierre, like all good trend spotters, looks at the world with infinite curiosity and an open mind. As such, he has a knack of pinpointing a trend on the rise, but most importantly its roots and trajectory. Without these two elements you don't have context, and Pierre has the ability to provide that all important context."
Dion Chang, founder Flux Trends
"Pierre's talk dropped bombs in my head that have been exploding in my brain for weeks - love it!"
Richard Mulholland, Missing Link
Some brave clients
Flâneur
flaˈnəː,French flanœʀ/
noun
- a man who saunters around the city observing society.
header image from http://flaneursociety.org/
gallery images from Flâneur Google Image search.
gallery images from Flâneur Google Image search.
“I believe that the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity is daring to dare.”
Maya Angelou |
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