Stephen McGown | Meet the Speaker

  • Author: Speakers Inc
  • Sandton, South Africa
Read the news article

Meet the Speaker Stephen McGown is from Johannesburg, South Africa. He obtained his degree in Finance and worked in some of the large South African banks. In order to expand his career, Stephen went across to the UK and worked in London for 7 years.

While in London, Stephen met his wife, Catherine, who shared the same desire to return to South Africa; start a family and manage his family’s farming business.

It was this farming business that inspired a passion for the outdoors and planted the seed in Stephen for adventure from a young age. At the age of 11 he learnt to ride a small motorcycle on the farm. The freedom he felt from riding in the eastern Free State, near Lesotho, ignited his desire to ride a motorcycle through Africa, with home being the final destination.

An unexpected turn of events crushed his life long dream. En route home, Stephen was abducted by Al Qaeda and held hostage in Mali for almost 6 years.

Meet the Speaker – Stephen McGown was kidnapped from Timbuktu, along with a Dutch and Swedish national on 25 November 2011.

He was 36 at the time of the kidnapping.

Stephen McGown | Meet the Speaker


  • Who inspired you to pursue professional speaking?

My friends and family who said I had a story that needed to be told.

  • What do you like most about professional speaking?

I enjoy interacting with people, I like the honesty of it and seeing emotion on people’s faces, from tears to their eyes being shiny with life. I like the “realness” of the interaction.

  • What do you dislike most about professional speaking?

Pre-speaking jitters

Why have you succeeded in a field where many have failed? (public speaking)

I find it fascinating that through my experience I have become one of the most sought after public speakers in South Africa in my genre.

  • Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Johannesburg in South Africa although I did spend much of my childhood on our farm knee deep in mud.

  • Where did you study?

I studied my degree and post grad through UNISA

  • What did you study?

Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Marketing, Finance and Risk

  • Who is your celebrity crush?

It was Meg Ryan

  • What do you watch on TV?

I enjoy series’s, comedies, and movies based on actual events

  • How did you get started?

I began working in investment banking before deciding to move into farming.

  • What are your career goals?

I would like to impact as many people as possible with my story, I enjoy the feeling of touching peoples lives. I have done over 200 talks in South Africa and abroad in the past three years. I would like to get a greater hold on the international audience.

  • What are your personal goals?

I want to keep a balanced life and spend time doing what I enjoy.

  • What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?

Go for a walk with my wife and our dogs.

  • Any hobbies?

birdwatching, fishing, mountain biking, running, motorcycling.

  • Do you have hidden talents?

Speaking rubbish

  • Your biggest pet peeve and why?

When people say “I can’t help it”. If we aren’t in control of our own lives, who is? “I can’t help it” is taking the easy way out.

  • If you could invite any three people in the world (alive or dead) for dinner, who would they be and why?

Dr David Livingstone (what an incredible life he must have had exploring Africa, he must have some amazing stories), Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu (he was an amazing man and involved in trying to get me out the desert. I wanted to reach out to him and regret that I did not before he passed away). My mom (She passed away while I was in the desert. I would just love to have a chat with her).

Tell us three things about you that nobody would guess.

I stutter, I was kidnapped, I like milkshakes

  • If you were a crayon, what colour would you be?

Blue

  • Chocolate or vanilla?

Vanilla

  •  See the movie or Read the book?

Band of Brothers

  • If you could tell your younger self anything, what would that be?

Saturate yourself in what you enjoy.

  • If there is one message that the world NEEDS to hear from you, what is it?

You have everything you need to overcome every challenge, right inside you.

Contact us at Speakers Inc and view WeSpeak Global

Further articles you may enjoy:

  • (3)

Unveiling the Hottest Trends in Event Entertainment: Elevate Your Corporate Event with Speakers Inc In the ever-evolving landscape of event planning and entertainment, staying ahead of the curve is essential to delivering memorable and impactful experiences for attendees. From corporate conferences to gala dinners, the demand for innovative and engaging entertainment options continues to grow. […]

  • March 15, 2024
  • (41)

How much could your team accomplish if they felt safe they couldn’t fail with a SAFETY NET? In San Francisco on January 5th 1933 construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge. The chief engineer assigned to the project was Joseph Strauss. Bridge building was extremely dangerous back then and the industry norm was one construction […]

  • January 15, 2023
  • (33)

In an era where customer expectations are higher than ever, many Retail Businesses Are Failing at Customer Service and experience. Despite technological advancements and increased competition, the quality of customer interactions has seen a noticeable decline.​ The Failing at Customer Service Quality Recent studies highlight a troubling trend: customer satisfaction is at a decade low. […]

  • April 22, 2025
  • (3)

Last month, something happened to me at an event that hasn’t happened in well over a decade and How to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking.  I wish it were something cool like audience members throwing money and candy at me as they cheered “Bravo!” and “Encore!”  But that’s never happened, and probably never will.  […]

  • January 12, 2023
  • (30)

You’ve seen it before where Celebrity Speakers Are a Waste of Money. A big conference rolls out the red carpet for some A-list celebrity, hyped as the highlight of the event. But when they hit the stage, all you get is a generic, uninspired speech that could’ve been ripped from a self-help book. 💰 Thousands […]

  • January 30, 2025
  • (2)

Authentic Leadership Building Trust, Connection and Productivity in Corporate Culture Authentic leadership is more than a buzzword; it’s a powerful approach to building trust, enhancing communication, and fostering a culture where people feel safe, valued, and genuinely engaged. At its core, authentic leadership is about leading with integrity, self-awareness, and transparency. It doesn’t mean being […]

  • October 28, 2024
  • (18)

Getting absolutely clear about HOW TO UNCOVER YOUR PASSION is critical to your success as an entrepreneur. You want a passion that you are willing to shout from the rooftops—that you’ll share with everyone, even strangers at a cocktail party. Why is identifying your unique passion so important? Because to UNCOVER YOUR PASSION is fundamental to your […]

  • January 23, 2023
  • (4)

Michelle Curran: A Beacon of Leadership, Motivation, and Teamwork In the dynamic landscape of leadership and motivation, certain individuals emerge as beacons, guiding others through the intricacies of teamwork and motivation. Among these luminaries stands Michelle “Mace” Curran, a name synonymous with excellence in leadership, motivation, and teamwork. With a background steeped in military expertise […]

  • April 26, 2024

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with Brevo's Privacy Policy.

Our Mission:

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025.  Designed using Voxel

Speakers Inc Logo 2024
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.