Johan Steyn

About Johan Steyn

Johan Steyn has been called “Africa’s foremost Artificial Intelligence thought leader.” A prolific writer, speaker, teacher and academic, he regularly helps organisations to understand and implement AI technologies. His clients include Absa, Nedbank, Investec, First National Bank, Discovery, Liberty, Samsung, Woolworths, Unitrans, Unilever, Microsoft, Salesforce and AWS. He previously worked in consulting roles with organisations like Accenture and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). In 2019, he was honoured as the Best AI & Robotics Management Consultant by Wealth & Finance magazine in the UK. He held significant positions in the field of AI, including serving as a Global AI Ambassador for Swiss Cognitive and a Research Fellow at Stellenbosch University's School of Data Science and Computational Thinking. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Woxsen University's School of Business in India. His influence in the field was further recognised when he became a finalist for the 2022 IT Personality of the Year Award, a prestigious accolade hosted by The Institute of IT Professionals South Africa, Gordon Institute of Business, and ITWeb. In addition to his speaking and academic roles, Steyn is a prolific writer. He regularly contributes thought-leadership articles to major publications such as Reuters, Business Day, the Sunday Times, Finweek, News24, ITWeb, and Brainstorm Magazine, cementing his status as a key voice in the AI community. ​He earned the distinction of being the writer behind the most widely-read article in the 2023 editions of BusinessDay newspaper. Attracting a daily readership of 70,000, his thought-provoking piece, "Why I Won't Be Sending My Child to Varsity," sparked a pivotal debate on the future of education in an age of swiftly evolving technologies. Expanding his impact on executive education and ethical technology, Johan has taken on the role of Facilitator & Course Designer at the Executive Education program of the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town. As an Expert Collaborator with the African Academy of Artificial Intelligence, Johan is at the forefront of advocating for Responsible AI & Ethics. In a significant endorsement of his expertise and influence in the tech world, Johan was appointed in 2024 by Samsung as a brand ambassador with the launch of the new Galaxy AI product range. ​He is serving as a working group member to develop recommendations toward a national AI strategy in South Africa. This is an initiative by the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the Department of Science and Innovation. He is a regular expert guest on television and radio shows, including BusinessDay TV, DSTV, Cape Talk, PowerFM, and RSG.

Key message

I help leaders move beyond AI hype to practical, ethical impact. My talks demystify AI and agentic systems, showing how to turn data into decisions, redesign work, and build responsible, human-centred solutions that drive measurable ROI. I focus on governance, risk, and compliance (incl. POPIA/GDPR), the shift from chatbots to capability, and the skills organisations need—prompting, experimentation, and change leadership. With an Afrocentric lens, I show how local context, talent development, and trusted implementation partners unlock real value. Audiences leave with clear playbooks: where to start, how to scale, and how to balance innovation with accountability.

Speaking topics and expertise

• AI Unlocked: A Strategic Blueprint for Financial Advisers
• From Wrenches to Algorithms: The Rise of AI in Asset Management
• AI in Community Scheme Management – From Burden to Breakthrough
• Navigating the Future: AI Regulation in South Africa's Financial Landscape
• An AI Guy and an Actor Walk into a Room (Comedy AI Keynote)
• Innovating Hospitality: How AI is Shaping Africa's Tourism
• Beyond the Myths: AI's Transformative Role in Clinical Practice
• "We want to use AI" - Organisations across the world are in a rush to digitally transform by utilising the new breed of smart technologies.
• The trajectory of technological innovation - How powerful is this technology - beyond the hype?
• Taking "the robot out of the human" - How to embrace technology in your workforce.
• Insurance 2030 - On the verge of a seismic
• tech-driven shift.
• The AI Tsunami in Remuneration
• Building a Resilient Cybersecurity System in the Age of AI (Panel Moderator)
• Mastering AI Prompts: Getting the Most Out of Microsoft Co-Pilot for Your Team
• From Code to Counsel: Navigating the Implications of Generative AI in Law
• AI in the Real World (for Master’s Students)
• Common Leadership Mistakes (regarding AI)
• The Promise of AI in Business
• Hyper-Personalisation (with AI)
• The Next Frontier: Quantum Computing
• Afrocentric Perspectives (on AI adoption)
• Bias and Ethics in AI
• Regulation and Responsible Use (of AI)
• "Decoding the Hype: What is Generative AI
• Really?"
• "From Science Fiction to Shopping Carts: The Future of AI in Retail"
• "Humans & Bots: Collaboration or Competition in the Retail Space?"
• "Embracing the AI Revolution: How Business Leaders Can Lead the Way"
• Compliance
• Trust and the Future of AI in South Africa

Achievements

He held significant positions in the field of AI, including serving as a Global AI Ambassador for Swiss Cognitive and a Research Fellow at Stellenbosch University's School of Data Science and Computational Thinking. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Woxsen University's School of Business in India. His influence in the field was further recognised when he became a finalist for the 2022 IT Personality of the Year Award, a prestigious accolade hosted by The Institute of IT Professionals South Africa, Gordon Institute of Business, and ITWeb. In addition to his speaking and academic roles, Steyn is a prolific writer. He regularly contributes thought-leadership articles to major publications such as Reuters, Business Day, the Sunday Times, Finweek, News24, ITWeb, and Brainstorm Magazine, cementing his status as a key voice in the AI community.

Education

Bachelor of Arts Honours

Talks and speeches

AI Unlocked: A Strategic Blueprint for Financial Advisers Event: Morningstar Investment events Date: September 2, 2025 (Johannesburg) and September 4, 2025 (Cape Town) Audience: Approximately 600 financial advisers per city Duration: 45 minutes presentation + 15 minutes Q&A AI in Community Scheme Management – From Burden to Breakthrough Event: Paddocks Industry Summit 2025 Date: July 31, 2025, 9:15 AM Format: 100% virtual, hosted on NextGen Learning’s proprietary platform Audience: Managing agents (primary), trustees and directors, service providers (legal, financial, insurance), scheme owners and other stakeholders Navigating the Future: AI Regulation in South Africa's Financial Landscape Event: Momentum Group Annual DigiFest Date: October 1, 2024 Location: Momentum in Centurion An AI Guy and an Actor Walk into a Room Event: Momentum DigiFest Date: October 16 Format: Comedy-style, interactive performance Innovating Hospitality: How AI is Shaping Africa's Tourism Event: AHIF - Africa Hospitality Investment Forum Date: June 25-27, 2024 Venue: Mövenpick Hotel, Windhoek, Namibia Duration: "TED-style" talk, approx 15-20 mins (tbc) Fee: No speaking fee, but flights, transfers, and accommodation to be covered by event organisers. "We want to use AI" / The trajectory of technological innovation / Taking "the robot out of the human" / Insurance 2030 Event: Lireas Holdings Conference Date: October 4, 2022 Venue: Irene, Centurion Duration: 45 minutes keynote, followed by Q&A The AI Tsunami in Remuneration Event: SARA - South African Reward Association Conference Theme: "Breaking Boundaries" Building a Resilient Cybersecurity System in the Age of AI Event: Vox Cyber Event Date: October 21, 2025 Venue: Ster-Kinekor, Mall of Africa (Waterval City, Midrand) Format: Keynote, "On-the-couch" panel, Q&A, Networking Mastering AI Prompts: Getting the Most Out of Microsoft Co-Pilot for Your Team Event: Rectron Summit 2024 From Code to Counsel: Navigating the Implications of Generative AI in Law Event: Werksmans Attorneys internal workshop/seminar Venue: The Central, 96 Rivonia Rd, Dennehof, Sandton AI in the Real World / Common Leadership Mistakes / The Promise of AI in Business / Hyper-Personalisation / The Next Frontier: Quantum Computing / Afrocentric Perspectives / Bias and Ethics in AI / Regulation and Responsible Use Event: Guest Lecture, University of Pretoria Date: August 29, 2025 Audience: Master’s Students "Decoding the Hype: What is Generative AI, Really?" / "From Science Fiction to Shopping Carts: The Future of AI in Retail" / "Humans & Bots: Collaboration or Competition in the Retail Space?" / "Embracing the AI Revolution: How Business Leaders Can Lead the Way" Event: Woolworths Data Conference Date: September 28, 2023 Compliance, Trust and the Future of AI in South Africa Event: Nedbank Compliance Event Date: September 30, 2025

Delivery style

Energetic, story-driven and rigorously practical. I blend clear frameworks with real South African and global case studies, live demos and audience interaction (polls, quick exercises, Q&A) to turn complex AI concepts into plain English. My tone is conversational, evidence-based and inclusive, balancing humour with substance. I pace sessions to keep attention high while giving space for reflection, ensuring executives and technical teams leave with concrete, actionable next steps.

Why audiences listen

Because AI is already reshaping markets, jobs and customer expectations, and the winners will be those who can apply it responsibly, quickly and at scale. These topics give leaders the playbook to capture ROI, cut risk, and comply with POPIA/GDPR while building trust. They also equip teams with the skills—prompting, experimentation, governance and change leadership—needed to move from pilots to production. For South African organisations, an Afrocentric approach matters: we address local data realities, talent pipelines and regulatory nuances so you can compete globally while creating inclusive growth at home.

What the talks address

My speeches cut through the hype to show exactly how organisations can use AI—especially agentic systems—to create value, safely and at speed. I cover data readiness and operating models, governance and risk (incl. POPIA/GDPR), vendor selection and procurement, and the human side: jobs, skills, and change leadership. Using South African and global case studies, I map quick wins vs scale plays, measurement (KPIs/ROI), and practical safeguards for bias, security and transparency. Audiences leave with clear roadmaps, decision frameworks and simple tools to move from pilots to production, responsibly.

What participants will learn

Participants will leave with a clear playbook for turning AI into results: how to assess data readiness and choose the right use cases; a simple operating model for pilots-to-production; practical prompting and experimentation techniques; governance and risk safeguards aligned to POPIA/GDPR; a vendor evaluation checklist; KPI/ROI measures to track value; and change-leadership tactics to upskill teams and redesign work.

What audiences take home

A clear, plain-English grasp of AI and key digital technologies—what they are, what they aren’t, and how they affect your business and everyday life. A practical “where to start” guide: priority use-cases, a 90-day action plan, and a simple pilots-to-production operating model. Guidance on Responsible AI: governance templates, risk controls, and policies aligned to POPIA/GDPR/EU AI Act. A concise explainer on AI in education: opportunities, guardrails, and how to build AI literacy (teachers, parents, learners). Upskilling checklists for core functions—HR, Finance, Compliance, Ops, Sales/Service—covering workflows, prompts, and quick wins. A bias-aware data playbook: how to spot, measure and reduce bias in datasets and models. A vendor scorecard and procurement checklist, plus a KPI/ROI tracker to evidence value. A curated reading list and take-home slide handout for easy sharing with teams.

Benefits for individuals

Clear, plain-English understanding of AI and how it affects daily work and life Practical starting points: prompts, tools and habits you can use the next day Stronger career resilience through AI literacy and experimentation skills Time saved via workflow automation and better decision support Confidence to use AI responsibly (privacy, bias awareness, fact-checking) Improved collaboration with AI—co-creating content, analysis and ideas Safer use of personal data aligned to POPIA/GDPR basics Sharper critical thinking about what to trust (and what to ignore)

Benefits for organisations

A shared vocabulary and operating model to move from pilots to production Faster ROI through prioritised use-cases and a 90-day action plan Governance templates and policies aligned to POPIA/GDPR/EU AI Act Reduced risk via Responsible AI practices and bias-mitigation steps Cross-functional upskilling (HR, Finance, Compliance, Ops) with clear playbooks Better vendor decisions using scorecards, procurement checklists and KPIs Measurable productivity gains and improved customer experience Stronger change leadership and talent pipelines with an Afrocentric lens