Effective digital leadership

Mike is the CEO of Second Rodeo, an independent, founder-led specialist performance marketing agency based in Cape Town, South Africa. He is a serial entrepreneur, sought-after international speaker, facilitator, and business author passionate about helping clients achieve their marketing and leadership goals.

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Transform your event

Over two decades and more than 400 events, dozens of major brands have trusted Mike to wow their audiences and motivate their teams with engaging, entertaining talks on digital leadership, marketing, and innovation. Contact Mike to tailor a solution to your requirements.

Inspire your team

"Use it to rethink. Use it to reframe. Use it to lead better." - Bruce Whitfield.

Get your copy of 52 Big Questions For Business Leaders, or package a keynote presentation or facilitation with copies for your team.

Second Rodeo

Discover how Mike’s specialist agency is redefining value and marketing effectiveness for clients like Capitec, Pick n Pay, Starbucks, Virgin Active, Heineken, and more.

Listen in

Subscribe to the One-Eyed Man podcast to hear Mike on the mic as he hosts conversations with leading thinkers and operators, unpacking real experiences, challenges, and lessons shaping the future of business and society.

Partner up

Discover how Mike’s specialist performance marketing agency, Second Rodeo, is redefining client value and marketing effectiveness for clients like Capitec, Pick n Pay, Starbucks, Virgin Active, Heineken, and more.

Subscribe and get a FREE eBook

Subscribe to Elegant Disruption, Mike’s monthly newsletter packed full of insight, announcements, and giveaways, and receive a digital copy of Clarity, a 50+page digital content strategy eBook.

Subscribe and get a FREE eBook

A short monthly update packed full of insight, announcements and receive the first two chapters of Clarity, my new content strategy eBook, for free.

What clients say

The proof is in the pudding. Mike has spoken to tens of thousands of delegates across hundreds of events over two decades. This is what some of those clients had to say…

I heard Mike speak for the first time at an event I attended. I was immediately drawn to his energy and the effortless way in which he conveyed his message. Taking topics that are complicated for many and delivering it with so much passion and conviction in a way that is easy for anyone to understand and follow. It was a no-brainer that Mike had to speak at our events. We have now had Mike speak at two of our events. Once as a panelist and once as a keynote speaker. He knocked the brief out of the park both times. The feedback from attendees echo this too. We look forward to working more with Mike into the future as we continue to grow.

Francois du Toit

PROpulsion Learning and Technology

I have had the distinct privilege of sharing a stage with Mike on many occasions. What sets Mike apart is his ability to package content so perfectly that not only do you enjoy listening to him, but you remember what he said months later.

Richard Mulholland

Missing Link

Mike’s keen interest in understanding our market, combined with his enthusiasm for his areas of expertise, made for an engaging, entertaining, and highly relevant presentation. His energy was positively infectious and his talk received huge compliments from our audience.

Leigh de Jamaer

Korbitec

Thank you for a great presentation at our recent Leadership Conference at Sun City. Your insight into the very complex topic of social media was obvious and your easy-going style delivered a tough message which has caused a suitable amount of discomfort among the team!Thank you for a great presentation at our recent Leadership Conference at Sun City. Your insight into the very complex topic of social media was obvious and your easy-going style delivered a tough message which has caused a suitable amount of discomfort among the team!

Carol Jackson

Tiger Brands

Mike did an outstanding presentation to the Discovery team on social media and its powerful and pervasive impact on society today. He provided a framework for companies like ours to think about social media as well as providing some practical tips and tools. Mike’s conversational style and humour went down brilliantly!

Gidon Novick

Discovery

Accenture had to opportunity to collaborate with Mike on an engaging panel discussion on Digital Disruption as part of the inaugural Social Media Week. Mike’s expert opinion on Social Media / Digital and its implications for businesses and government as they seek to remain relevant in this digital era was extremely well received!

Lee Naik

Accenture / TransUnion

Mike is a knowledgeable, authentic, and truly dynamic speaker. It was a privilege inviting Mike to share at a think! session on the impact of social media on business. His conversational style and humorous repertoire were thoroughly enjoyed and we walked away with great insights and even more thought-provoking questions. Much food for thought!

Natasha Pillay

RMB

Mike was the keynote speaker at a Discovery IT Conference. Without exception, the delegates were highly complimentary of his presentation style and his insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with the era of social business and digital transformation.

Joe van Niekerk

Discovery

In a world filled with clutter and BS, it’s challenging to find authentic speakers who have walked the talk – Mike is funny, inspiring, controversial yet authentic and our audience absolutely loved him. One of the best speakers in SA.

Marnus Broodryk

sme.africa

Mike is an incredible storyteller. He has the ability to take out the complexities of the digital world and make it palatable for everyone to understand. Entrepreneurship runs through his DNA – Mike will open up your mind and make you look at things completely differently. Refreshing!

Aki Anastasiou

Radio 702 and CNBC Africa

Mike is a true expert in his field and he is a supremely talented speaker. He consistently ranks as the top speaker at conferences for good reason – he is knowledgeable, entertaining, and always gives the audience deep insight into social media, marketing, entrepreneurship, and digital disruption trends. If you want a world-class speaker for your conference, book Mike Stopforth.

Rudolph Muller

Mike was the highlight at our summit for our 1 500 attendees. His relatable style makes it easy for everyone to grasp the complex content he is covering. He has the rare gift of giving his audience the comfort and clarity that technology shouldn’t be scary, it should be embraced and celebrated.

Gabi Bricker

Amrod

Mike Stopforth is a member of a small tribe of leadership experts who know how to balance power and compassion. He has the unique ability to lead people to places they never knew they could go.

Louise van Rhyn

PfP4SA and Symphonia

Mike Stopforth is an unconventional thinker who has a wealth of knowledge in the areas of digital, business management, organisational change and leadership. His track record demonstrates how his innovative approach to problem-solving has delivered unique and innovative solutions. It was an absolute pleasure to host him as a speaker at the 2020 UJ MarketingFit Online event, where he spoke on the topic “Stop talking about Digital Transformation” – a topic title which again demonstrates the creative manner in which he views the world.

Dr Beate Stiehler-Mulder

University of Johannesburg

Mike brought his usual mix of measured insights and decidedly uncommon common sense to our Marketing Masterclass. Our clients were highly impressed with his frank and generous business advice on how to navigate the minefield that is marketing in the new dark age of digital connectivity and social separation. In an industry where obfuscation and mystery-making are a source of competitive advantage it’s a rare treat to find someone who is prepared to lift the veil and tell the simple, useful truth.

Bronwyn Williams

Flux Trends

Unlock a new dimension in leadership by asking better questions.

Answers are overrated. In an unpredictable world, the ability to ask the right questions is far more powerful than relying on outdated answers. What worked yesterday will not always get you where you need to go. Great leaders stand apart because they know how to ask questions that spark insight, challenge assumptions, and drive meaningful action.

52 Big Questions for Business Leaders is a practical guide to sharper, more intentional thinking. Drawing on decades of experience, Mike Stopforth blends insight, wit, and real-world perspective to help leaders pause, reflect, and lead with clarity. It is not a book to read once and set aside, but a tool to return to whenever you need fresh perspective, focus, or inspiration.

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Forget brand vs performance. You shouldn’t have to choose.

Second Rodeo is an independent, founder-led, specialist performance creative agency headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa.

We get our client’s customers over the line by bridging the gap between brand creative and performance marketing. We put the brand back into performance, and the performance back into brand.

PARTNER WITH RODEO

"A speaker who combines insight, energy, and real-world experience."

After 20 years refining his craft on the stage and in the boardroom, Mike is perfectly positioned to deliver engaging, thought-provoking, and inspiring keynotes on a range of topics including Digital Transformation, AI and Decision-Making, Digital Innovation, Branding and Marketing, and Leadership.

Each talk is tailored to your audience and designed not just to inspire, but to challenge outmoded thinking and spark meaningful change. Expect clear frameworks, practical tools, and relevant examples drawn from building and leading digital businesses.

Book Mike to speak at your event

Practical insight from conversations with people who are figuring things out in real time.

Through The One-Eyed Man, Mike explores what it takes to lead and build in a complex, fast-changing world. Each episode features candid conversations with thinkers, operators, and leaders across business, technology, and philosophy.

Listen to the podcast

Big questions for business leaders

Book launch – Cape Town

37:42

Why we need good leaders

Charlotte Otter

42:51

Marketing is business

Dale Hefer

40:00

Don’t miss practical insights on digital leadership and innovation

Subscribe to Elegant Disruption,

A short monthly update packed full of insight, announcements and receive the first two chapters of Clarity, my new content strategy eBook, for free.

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