PRESENTER · INTERVIEWER · CONTENT PRODUCER
Caley van der Kolk
Business. Media. Storytelling.
Business Science graduate, entrepreneur, presenter and content producer with 12 years of professional experience.
Raised in a rural South African village and fluent in isiXhosa, I bring a distinctive personal perspective to my work across business, media and African storytelling.
Through interviews, original content and entrepreneurial ventures, I explore the people, ideas and enterprises shaping our world.
CURRENT SERIES · HOST & PRODUCER
African Pioneers
Voices of the Renaissance
African Pioneers is an interview series exploring the entrepreneurs, innovators, creatives and changemakers shaping Africa’s future.
Hosted and produced by Caley van der Kolk, the series brings together perspectives on business, technology, culture, sustainability and economic transformation.
Rooted in a longstanding interest in African people and enterprise, African Pioneers explores the ideas and individuals contributing to the continent’s evolving story.
Featured episodes
Makafui Ayimey
Founder, The Accra Goods Market (Ghana)
What Happens to the African SME in an AI Economy?
Whether AI could help Africa’s small businesses close the gap with larger competitors, or widen it — and what African entrepreneurs actually need to scale.
Raeesa Cassim
Founder, The Rae of Sunshine · Social Impact Strategist
Who Gets Left Behind in Africa’s Digital Future?
Digital literacy, access and remote work — and whether technological progress automatically becomes inclusive progress.
Insyd Owt
Creative duo, Lesotho
Who Shapes a Nation More — Politicians or Creatives?
Creativity, identity and influence: building a creative career from Lesotho, and the economic and cultural power of Africa’s creatives.
Khiusha Uaila
CEO, Shi Basila · VP, Amigos do Bambu (Mozambique)
Climate, Construction & the Future of African Cities
What it takes to build climate-resilient cities in an African context, and the opportunity in designing the continent’s built environment.
Selected Work
From studio interviews and entrepreneurial conversations to public speaking and documentary production, my work brings together business understanding and a passion for telling meaningful stories.
Heavy Chef: Nic Haralambous on the Future of Retail
Business interview for the Heavy Chef Show with serial entrepreneur Nic Haralambous on where retail is heading.
Heavy Chef: The Story of Veldskoen
Founder conversation on how a heritage South African shoe brand went viral.
Studio Presenting
On-camera presenting and interviewing at Primedia Studios, Cape Town.
Location Presenting
Presenting on location, outside a controlled studio environment.
Event MC: Heavy Chef in Khayelitsha
Master of ceremonies for the first Heavy Chef entrepreneur event held in Khayelitsha.
Documentary: Sithaidi, the Traditional Xhosa Bead Artist
Short documentary following a bead artist’s daily journey to work in rural Transkei. Top 10 finalist, Discovery Channel “Don’t Stop Wondering” Award, Jozi Film Festival 2017.
Behind the scenes: directing and producing on set.
About Caley
Caley van der Kolk is a South African entrepreneur, presenter, interviewer and content producer with a Business Science background and 12 years of professional experience across business, media and storytelling.
Raised in a rural South African village, Caley grew up speaking isiXhosa — an experience that continues to shape her perspective on people, community and communication.
Her professional career combines commercial understanding with a longstanding interest in the people and ideas driving change. Her work has included business development, strategic communications, presenting, interviewing, documentary storytelling and content production.
As a co-founder of AYA Africa, she is actively involved in entrepreneurship and the development of opportunities for African enterprises.
She is also the host and producer of African Pioneers – Voices of the Renaissance, an interview series exploring the entrepreneurs, innovators, creatives and changemakers shaping the continent’s future.
Her background brings together business experience, media production and a personal connection to South Africa’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
Work With Caley
I work with media organisations, businesses and event partners to develop and deliver interviews, conversations and content that connect people with ideas.
My approach combines practical business experience, media production skills and the ability to engage with people across different environments.
Presenting & Interviewing
Business interviews, entrepreneur conversations, on-camera presenting and original interview formats.
Public Speaking & Moderation
Speaking engagements, panel discussions, event moderation and hosted conversations.
Content Production
Editorial development, video production, content direction and business-focused storytelling.
Media Partnerships
Commissioned interviews, original series, content collaborations and appropriate syndication opportunities.
Caley works in both English and isiXhosa, which is particularly valuable for community-based interviews, rural enterprise projects, cultural and documentary productions, and conversations with isiXhosa-speaking participants.
Let’s Connect
For presenting, interviewing, speaking, content production and media collaboration enquiries, please get in touch.
