I speak on Strategy

For people who need to make brave decisions in chaotic times.

My keynotes and strategy sessions help audiences cut through chaos, find language for what they’re facing, and choose what matters next.

Trusted by

Speaker. Strategist. Author. Founder of Be Brave.

The world can feel like riding a psychotic horse towards a burning stable.

And the horse is on fire.

And you’re on fire.

Most people don’t need more noise, they are already drowning in data.

What we need is a way to see clearly, tell the truth, choose what matters, and move.

I’m on a mission to help people and businesses find their way.

I build systems of thought, maps that make sense of chaos, and help people become just a little braver, so they can build things that move our world forward.

I speak about strategy, not the 100 page deck kind, not the spreadsheet kind, the courageous kind. The kind you need when the future is foggy, the risk is real, and everyone is pretending to be slightly less scared than they actually are.

What audiences walk away with

A map for the chaos

A way to think clearly, make sense of complexity, and navigate the strange terrain of change without getting lost in the noise.

A deeper sense of identity

A rediscovery of who they are, what they carry, and how to show up with more of their talent, energy and humanity in an automated world.

A better way to make decisions

Practical frameworks for choosing what matters next, especially when certainty is not available and the pressure is on.

Courage in spite of fear

A braver posture towards uncertainty, helping people face the chaos honestly and move forward without waiting to feel fearless.

Part strategist. Part modern-day philosopher. Builder of maps.

Pierre du Plessis is the founder of Be Brave, a Strategy Design Lab that helps businesses and people find clarity in the chaos.

With over two decades of experience developing people, building products and designing strategies, Pierre blends ancient wisdom, systems thinking and gut feel to create brave roadmaps for the future.

He has spoken on four TEDx stages, written four books, won the Desmond Tutu Gerrit Brand Prize for literature, and worked with global brands including Tencent, BP, Yum!, Allan Gray and HATCH.

He often says that the philosopher’s lecture hall is a hospital, not a spa. His talks help people look honestly at the world, themselves and the choices in front of them and then find the courage to move.

He lives in Cape town with his wife and two kids and when he is not reading or lifting weights enjoys a fair bit of doomscrolling.

A woman dressed in medieval armor sitting on a red cloth, looking upward with a dark background.

FLAGSHIP KEYNOTE:

Only the Brave™

A keynote about courage, clarity and choosing what matters next.

Only the Brave™ is my flagship keynote for leaders and teams navigating uncertainty, change and decision fatigue.

It explores one deceptively dangerous question:

What do you want to do with this one wild and precious life?

  • "In a time where speakers all seem to sound exactly the same. Pierre manages to sound completely different. He’s the Ernest Hemingway to their Dan Brown, the Pink Floyd to their Nickelback."

    Rich MulHolland, CEO, Global
    Speaker

  • "Pierre is so effortlessly brilliant it's scary. It took approximately 4 seconds to relax into his presence and he skilfully helped us understand how to improve decision making by better understanding who we are"

    Craig Rodney, Founder - The Agency Coach

  • "Pierre is a legendary speaker! He draws from a deep well of knowledge and understanding, and has a unique way of breaking complex content down into engaging and fun snippets - specifically tailored to his EO audience. What a power session!"

    EO Cape Town Member

  • "Pierre was great. He added a unique flavour to our Heavy Chef event, alchemising a full serving of super cerebral ingredients into a sumptuous dish of practical nuggets."

    Fred Roed, Heavy Chef

  • "The talk was absolutely brilliant and captivating. Pierre took us on an incredible journey, weaving the narrative in a way that was both engaging and thought-provoking."

    Charne - KIT Group

  • "Pierre kept everyone fully engaged with his insightful and thought-provoking talk, 'Teams to Tribes.' It really made us rethink how we approach our relationships, both at work and at home. His genuine and relatable style with the way he broke down the process, made everything click so naturally."

    Leyla - ONOMO Hotel Group

  • "Pierre has a depth of insight that is refreshing. He simplifies business approaches - that can so often be overly complex and detached - into clear, collective solutions that begin with individuals knowing they can make courageous decisions."

    Matt - SAICA

  • "This talk was amazing and exactly what you need in a VUCA world. It encourages embracing the uncertainty and chaos of the world -because that's where the good things happen."

    Linda - Skynamo

  • "Pierre was not only charismatic and humorous, but also thoughtful and provoking in his delivery."

    Justin Morby-Smith, CEO - BCE

  • "Incredible conversation this morning! Thank you Pierre! 🥳 That was a mental Ice Bath!"

    Darius Wyngaardt - Wyngaardt Brokers

More keynotes and Masterclasses

more talks for teams trying to make sense of strange times

  • A pathway through multiple red torii gates casting shadows on the ground, likely part of a shrine.

    Teams to Tribes

    Strategy fails without the right people to carry it.

    This talk unpacks how teams become tribes, aligned, committed, and able to win together.

  • A laptop with the screen open in a dark setting, displaying a sunset or sunrise scene with vibrant colors, and the keyboard illuminated faintly by the screen's glow.

    AI & I

    When AI enters the chat, where do humans stand?

    AI is making us question our place in the world. This talk explores how we stay centred, creative, and courageous in an automated world.

  • a pile of lego

    Chaos is a Gift

    What if the mess is the way forward?

    Chaotic times and liminal spaces unlock growth, creativity, and transformation. This talk shows how to embrace them.

Sometimes the keynote is the spark and sometimes the team needs to sit around a table and

do the work.

Through Be Brave, I facilitate strategy sessions for teams who need to make sense of complexity, align around what matters and design a way forward.

These sessions are practical, reflective and outcome-driven.

No corporate theatre, no 100 page decks, and definitely no ignoring the tough questions.

We name reality, clarify the future, choose the strategic moves and decide what needs to happen next.

Pierre is that intellectual heavyweight in my corner who also deeply understands matters of the heart - a rare find in a sparring partner.
— NICK MILLER, CEO, COACHBIT & TM2

Give your people a way through the chaos.

Book Pierre for a keynote or strategy session that helps your team think clearly, decide bravely and move forward with conviction.

In a time where speakers all seem to sound exactly the same. Pierre manages to sound completely different. He’s the Ernest Hemingway to their Dan Brown, the Pink Floyd to their Nickelback.
— RICHARD MULHOLLAND, CEO and EO Member
A thought provoking collection of ideas and musings, that if taken to heart will add immense depth and richness (with compounding interest) to your life
— Shane Dryden, co-founder YUPPIECHEF

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