Reframe for Resilience - Episode 33 Part 2: Resilience Through Curiosity and Culture with Loic Potjes

Reframe for Resilience

Part 2 of our conversation with Loic Potjes explores how leaders can harness diversity, talent, and change to build resilient organizations. From scaling businesses in South Africa to coaching CEOs today, Loic shares practical lessons on growth, leadership, and the power of human potential.

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Episode Summary:

In this continuation of our conversation with Loic Potjes, we dive deeper into his remarkable journey of scaling businesses in South Africa. Loic shares candid lessons on navigating diversity, leading teams through rapid growth, and facing ethical dilemmas in competitive markets. From embracing change to discovering the hidden power of core talents, this episode highlights how resilience is built when curiosity meets culture—and when leaders trust in people’s unique strengths.

Listeners will gain insights into how to manage transformation in diverse organizations, why talent is more powerful than competency, and how cultivating self-awareness can fuel long-term resilience in leadership and business.

Key Topics

• Building teams across cultural and language diversity in South Africa
• Scaling a business from 200 to 4,000 employees in six years
• The ethical challenge of competing in an unsustainable market
• The question: Can people really change?
• Identifying natural “change embracers” vs. reluctant adopters
• Using talent—not just competencies—as a foundation for resilience
• Practical lessons for CEOs on leadership, purpose, and growth

Timeline Summary

[00:00] – Introduction to Part 2 with Loic Potjes

[00:10] – South Africa’s cultural diversity and workplace dynamics

[01:37] – Starting from scratch: scaling operations in Johannesburg

[02:39] – Demographics of a rapidly growing workforce

[03:29] – Mission over cultural barriers: thriving through change

[05:13] – Hiring a “special breed of people” to embrace change

[06:27] – Industry challenges and the limits of adaptability

[08:19] – Can people really change? A leader’s perspective

[09:45] – Buying innovation: acquiring a small company to accelerate transformation

[10:15] – Letting entrepreneurs lead inside a larger corporation

[11:44] – Talents vs. competencies: unlocking flow and natural purpose

[12:44] – Matching talents to the right stage of company growth

Links & Resources

• Connect with Dr. Frank L. Douglas at Safe Haven Dialogues LLC
• Listen to more episodes at Reframe for Resilience Podcast
• Listen to Part 1 here: https://youtu.be/bCqFbM_rh_Q

Closing Remark

This episode is a powerful reminder that resilience is not just about weathering storms—it’s about fostering environments where people can thrive through their natural talents. As Loic Potjes shows, leaders who embrace curiosity, trust culture, and empower diverse talents can build organizations that not only survive disruption but also grow stronger from it.