PR and communications queen Joanne Smith has a client list that reads like a hospitality hall of fame – COY, Marble Cape Town, the Tashas Group, and Salsify at the Roundhouse, to name a few. A consummate professional, she’s recently teamed up with content heavyweight Francois Rank to launch Echoes & Influence. It’s a sharp, insightful podcast about the media and reputation management.
As Smith puts it, the show aims to “bridge the gap for young professionals by sharing industry insights and highlighting the excellence of South African communicators”. Sure, it’s industry-facing, but we’ve been on an episode and can confirm it’s a brilliant listen, whatever your field.
What’s the best book you’ve read in the last year and why?
Call me a cliché, but one of the most insightful books I’ve read recently is Will Guidara’s Unreasonable Hospitality. It offers a unique perspective on restaurant management by focusing on the incremental improvements in every aspect of the guest experience. If you break down all the components and improve each one by just 1%, you harness the power of collective improvement when you put them all together. This really resonated with me, as it aligns with our work in hospitality and also inspires new ways to enhance our clients’ experiences.
How do you keep fit?
I keep fit for two reasons. On the one hand, it’s a bit of a reclamation project – because technically, I eat and drink for a living (which is a terrible problem to have). On the other hand, it’s about stress management. I love running, and so I do this two to three times a week, I go to the gym one to two times a week, and I walk my dog Friday, every day. I also love hiking. I exercise every day – and, most days, it’s the one hour that is all mine, before the day becomes everyone else’s. It helps me process busy thoughts, manage stress, and set the tone for whatever lies ahead.
Weeknight, lowkey restaurant go-to?
I live in Cape Town’s southern suburbs, and two of our favourite neighbourhood eateries are A Tavola, and Salushi. We generally book at the last minute, but they always seem to make a plan, and the food is consistently delicious.
What is the one artwork you’ll always love, and why?
That’s a tough one to answer, but perhaps if I had to pick one, it would probably be The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dalí. I’ve always loved the piece, and in 2022, I attended an immersive art experience called Frameless in London. In a room called “Beyond Reality ”, the Dali works were projected onto the walls, floors and ceiling – and it felt like you were sitting inside them. All the elements were animated and moved across the room, synced to music. It was quite an emotional experience.
Do you have a hobby?
Does spring cleaning count as a hobby? Probably not… I would say running, walking the dog, reading – I also love baking.
The one unusual item you can’t live without?
The people who know me are going to die when they read this. Future Life! I know it’s ridiculous, but I wake up starving every morning, and the first thing I do is have a bowl of the stuff. I have done so since discovering it in 2010. I even travel with my own bag of Future Life so that wherever I am, I can wake up and have a bowl (or smoothie) before I do anything else. It’s an absolute staple and I’m never without it.
Who was your high school celeb crush?
That’s a tough one… my tastes have changed significantly over the years. Probably Mark Harmon. A movie starring him, Summer School, was released in 1987, and it was my favourite for years. I definitely had a little crush on Mark Harmon, but he also had a dog in the movie, so now I’m not sure whether I loved the dog more.
Three songs that you’d take to a desert island?
Piano Man by Billy Joel, Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me (live) by George Michael & Elton John, and Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls.
Missed our other fab 8 Questions answers? Catch up here.
Top image: Supplied
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