Liezel van der Westhuizen
Liezel van der Westhuizen has the ability to energize, inspire, be astute, as well as skillfully bring success to events, radio and television programs, and entrepreneurial trips all over the world.
It is hard to believe that it was only a few years ago when Liezel was "discovered" by the programmanager for Jacaranda FM after he heard in- store as an Announcer at Makro. At the time, Liezel was also successfully multitasking as a Music Manager for TUKSFM and studying towards her Masters Degree in Business Communication Management.
The award-winning Liezel van der Westhuizen, who became well-known after an excellent performance on MNET Idols, has enthralled audiences all around the world for years using her skills as a global Motivational Speaker and Corporate Coach and specializing in Communications, Personal Branding ; LinkedIn and Speaker Training.
Her passion for education and communication is unmistakable. To start with, her acquisition of three degrees namely: Human Resources Management (BCom), a B.Com Honours and a Master’s degree in Business Communications is impressive. These degrees have been invaluable in laying the groundwork for what can only be described as a rewarding and fulfilling career.
Levelling up on her experience, she’s also adept at reputation management as reflected in her successful work with clients like Lenny Kravitz, Atomic Kitten, Backstreet Boys ; Danny K; Watershed and Mandoza and glowing recommendations as the Public Relations Manager for Virgin Records.
Her relaxed smile, incomparable work ethic, and impeccable style have also added to making her one of the most sought-after talents, both locally and internationally.
Liezel has successfully emceed at more than 1 000events across South Africa and Internationally. These include popular eventing destinations such as Indonesia, United Kingdom, Italy; Romania;, Thailand, Hong Kong and the Seychelles.
Blue chip clients, sporting franchises, tourism boards, and even thriving financial institutions have willingly picked Liezel to Emcee at international conferences, including one in Romania recently!Her style and contagious enthusiasm are above reproach, and the events benefit as a result.
Her inspiration has ensured that she towers above the competition. Liezel is constantly sought after to do Motivational Talks and to deliver Keynote Addresses. Through these talks she successfully motivates and inspires, using topics like ‘Beating the Bully’, ‘Empowering Women’ ‘Finding your inner strength’ and ‘Personal Brand Personified’.
With a microphone in her orbit, Liezel can motivate others through dance and even fitness! She’s a history-maker as the second woman in the world to present Idols, and she has subsequently become a familiar face on the popular reality show in season five and six.
On radio she lights a fire of inspiration to get her listeners to try something new through her daily FITNESS GUIDE on 94.5KFM as well as a daily Fitness & Health Feature on Cape Talk and Talk Radio 702.
Away from the microphones and cameras, Liezel also enjoys a variety of sporting challenges and often uses them to give support to various fitness-related community programs.
Liezel was the first person to cycle a bicycle powered by social media to raise funds for Velokhaya. In line with her drive for good education for all, she’s been passionately involved with this Cape Town-based nonprofit charity, situated in Khayelitsha. Velokhaya uses a range of holistic, education-based cycling programs, to uplift local children.
Furthermore, in 2018 she became the first woman to pilot a visually impaired athlete across the Himalayas on a tandem bicycle to raise funds for Operation Smile and One Sight. Liezel also completed the Robben Island SUP crossing on a Stand-Up Paddle board - having already competed in the FREEDOM paddle around Robben Island on an S3 surf ski the previous month.
In 2022 Liezel swam from Robben Island to Bloubergstrand (7.5km) to raise funds for SEA RESCUE SA. Added to this she has completed several other tough sporting challenges namely;Ironman Triathlons, the Dusi Canoe Marathon and the Midmar mile, thereby creating an impressive list of outdoor adventures in her life time.
You want someone beloved to catapult your event, show, or business and brand, to new heights? Stop searching !! This towering personality is the perfect pick!
Liezel is a well-loved personality in the South African radio and television media space and has established herself as a macro influencer with over 155 000 social media followers across various platforms, including LINKEDIN, TIK TOK; TWITTER, FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM.
Liezel is fondly known to friends and fans alike as ‘The Giraffe’, a moniker she has worked into the name of her personal blog, Giraffe in the City. What many people may not know, is that the nickname was originally meant to be an insult. “In 2010, designer Craig Jacobs called me ‘a giraffe’ in his Sunday Times society column when - on this specific occasion - I wore a pair of killer heels, which added a few extra centimetres to my already excessive length,” Liezel explains. She embraced the name instead of letting the insult hurt her. She’s continued to use it to her advantage and now coaches and speaks about how to tower over the competition in various industries.
With so much going for her, Liezel keeps pushing herself to seize every opportunity that comes her way while at the same time she helps to improve lives and bring joy to the people she encounters each day of her life.