SECOND ACT
Trusted by 2500+ leaders over 40 years at companies like…
THE PROBLEM
One day you are leading divisions, flying across Africa, running boardrooms, managing crises, carrying responsibility that affects hundreds or thousands of people.
People listen when you speak.
Your role gives structure to your days. Your title gives shape to your identity. Your expertise gives you certainty about where you belong in the room.
And then something shifts.
THE TRIGGERS
The company restructures. The merger happens. The posting ends. The burnout arrives before retirement does. The children leave. The contract quietly isn’t renewed. The industry changes. Or you simply realise you cannot keep tying your entire identity to institutional life.
And suddenly a question appears that nobody ever taught you how to answer:
Emotional Reality:
I’ve watched this happen to senior people for decades.
Extraordinary people. People who built careers, companies, reputations and authority over forty years — and then suddenly find themselves standing in unfamiliar territory.
Too experienced to start from scratch. Too intelligent for motivational nonsense. Too accomplished to want somebody “fixing” them. And often too proud to admit how disorientating this phase can feel.
Because this is not really about work.
It’s about identity. Visibility. Relevance. Confidence. Voice. Authority.
And figuring out how to carry everything you’ve built into the next chapter of your life without shrinking, apologising, or disappearing.
Janine Lazarus has trained executives leaders and teams at companies like:
IMPORTANT: JANINE IS OFTEN FULLY BOOKED 2-3 MONTHS IN ADVANCE – SECURE YOUR SESSION EARLY
“What sets Janine apart is her ability to think on her feet and prepare candidates for worst-case media scenarios. She meticulously simulates difficult interviews, providing feedback that empowers individuals to handle pressure with grace and professionalism. Her contribution to our spokespeople’s success has been instrumental.”
Renette Human
Project Director: Communications – SAICA
“Janine doesn’t just teach media skills; she transforms how you show up in public. She is bold, honest, and pushes you out of your comfort zone. Always with the aim of helping you grow in clarity, confidence, and authenticity. She is a game changer.”
Debbie Bester
Group Chief Executive Officer – Senwes
“Janine’s media training has had a profound effect on my career. Over eight years across FMCG, Industrial, and Education sectors, she’s helped me find my voice. One that is heard, trusted, and respected. My biggest takeaway: ‘Never say no comment.'”
Thapelo Phukuje
Marketing and Communications Department – Rustenburg Girls’ Junior School
“The competencies Janine imparted had a great impact in my appointment as General Manager of Jwaneng Mine. Her training empowered me with skills to read between the lines during questioning and respond in a manner consistent with my intended outcome.”
Koolatotse Koolatotse
General Manager – Jwaneng Mine
“The results have been evident in the personal career successes of employees Janine has coached over the years. She acts as a trusted advisor, providing context-specific and pragmatic advice that empowers both our organisation and our people to independently deal with business-related matters in future.”
Marilyn Govender
Managing Director Sub Saharan Africa – Atlas Copco Industrial SA
“Participants reported increased confidence, enhanced communication skills, and a deeper understanding of media dynamics. The benefits of Janine’s training have been clearly evident in our team’s improved media engagement capabilities.”
Kanya Ndaki
Senior Marketing & Communication Director – The Aurum Institute
“Our team didn’t just leave better equipped. They felt energised with renewed confidence. Janine keeps her audience engaged with interactive, real-life scenario training. Her material is relevant, current, and to the point.”
Leon van Wyk
Unknown – Lesedi
“Janine’s facilitation is direct, incisive, and professional. Her ability to challenge participants while creating a safe and developmental space was particularly appreciated. Our staff gained practical skills in message development, media working, crisis communications, and managing difficult interviews.”
Isaac Dhludhlu
Director: Media Relations – National Prosecuting Authority
IMPORTANT: JANINE IS OFTEN FULLY BOOKED 2-3 MONTHS IN ADVANCE – SECURE YOUR SESSION EARLY
Not career coaching. Not CV writing. Not executive motivation.
Strategic repositioning for people who have already lived a serious professional life — and know they still have more in them.
Who this is for:
Accomplished. Capable. Experienced. Often highly respected.
But standing at a point in life where the old definitions no longer fit comfortably.
The people who come here are not "lost." They are standing between what they were known for and what they are becoming. That requires a different kind of conversation.
WHAT MAKES THIS DIFFERENT:
I do not teach manifestation. I do not sell reinvention fantasies. And I am not interested in turning senior professionals into LinkedIn clichés.
What I do understand — and deeply — is authority.
I understand how people are perceived in rooms. I understand communication. I understand executive presence. I understand visibility. I understand confidence under pressure. And I understand what happens psychologically when highly capable people lose the structures that once defined them.
“Janine’s training transcends traditional coaching—it’s a true calling. She doesn’t just teach communication; she empowers people to radiate their unique brilliance. In two days, she ignited confidence in my team of tech professionals and drew out vibrant personalities.”
Kume Luvhani
Executive Director – Vaxowave
“Janine’s expertise in media training, strategic communication, and public relations elevated our communications to a new level of professionalism. Her workshops are highly interactive, practical, and insightful, providing real-world tools that have had an immediate and positive impact.”
Jan Vermaak
CEO – Winfield United South Africa
“Janine took the time to understand the sensitivities involved in our work with vulnerable populations and complex medical emergencies. She has a remarkable ability to break down complex concepts into easily digestible content, making training engaging and accessible for all participants.”
Zoya Naidoo
Baobab Leadership Accelerator Coordinator – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
“Janine tailored training to align with our strategy, values, and communication needs. The standout aspect was the practical mock interviews and immediate feedback. She proved her skills as a seasoned journalist, guiding discussions seamlessly both in the room and online.”
Mr L Tyabashe
Group Chief Executive Officer – Necsa (South African Nuclear Energy Corporation)
“GGDA engaged Janine for executive training in media and communications. Her expertise in media strategy, executive training, and communication skills development has positively contributed to the success of our initiatives. Her training workshops are practical, insightful, and tailored to meet client needs.”
Adv Pieter Holl
Group Executive: Legal Services and Company Secretariat – Gauteng Growth and Development Agency
IMPORTANT: JANINE IS OFTEN FULLY BOOKED 2-3 MONTHS IN ADVANCE – SECURE YOUR SESSION EARLY
Whether you need an in-person or virtual experience, Janine has helped teams and brands from all corners of the earth.
who is janine lazarus:
Janine Lazarus has spent decades working with senior leaders across corporate South Africa and the African continent.
An award-winning journalist, television presenter, radio host and executive communication specialist, she has worked with political leaders, multinational organisations, listed companies and some of the country’s most senior executives across sectors ranging from banking and mining to FMCG, healthcare, telecommunications and public affairs.
Her work has always centred around one thing: helping people find clarity, confidence and authority in rooms that matter.
She is known for her sharp strategic instincts, direct communication style and unusual ability to read what is really happening underneath the words.
At 62, she is also living her own Second Act. Still building. Still evolving. Still repositioning. Still relevant.
"This work is not theoretical. It is lived."
THE OFFERINGS:
Second Act is available in three formats — designed for different circumstances, budgets and levels of engagement.
This is my most personal and high-level offering.
A confidential 90-day engagement designed around one person only: their transition, their identity, their uncertainty, their ambitions and the next version of themselves they are trying to build.
There is no fixed curriculum. No generic framework. No mass-market formula.
This is not a webinar. Not a networking club. And not a room full of people trying to “pivot.”
It is a carefully selected group of experienced professionals navigating similar territory at a similar level of life.
The conversations are intelligent. Honest. Thoughtful. Sometimes confronting.
Because there is something deeply powerful about sitting in a room with people who understand exactly what this stage of life feels like.
Option One: A four-week live virtual experience
Option Two: A full-day in-person immersive retreat in a carefully chosen environment designed for reflection, conversation and strategic thinking
Applications are required. Spaces are limited.
Organisations spend years developing senior leaders. Very few know how to help them transition well.
And yet executive exits, succession shifts, restructures and late-career transitions have enormous impact — not only on the individual, but on morale, culture and organisational reputation.
Second Act for Organisations supports senior professionals navigating transition with dignity, clarity and strategic positioning.
This work is especially relevant for banks, consultancies, law firms, mining houses, multinationals and leadership teams navigating visible organisational change.
For many high-level professionals, it comes quietly:
“I cannot keep introducing myself through a title alone.”
That moment can feel frightening. But it can also become the beginning of something far more honest, intelligent and meaningful.
Second Act exists to help you navigate that transition with clarity, confidence and authority intact.
Because the goal is not to become somebody else.
The goal is to become fully yourself — beyond the institution that once defined you.
Complete the form below, and Janine will be in touch to discuss what could work best for you or your team:
All enquiries are handled with complete confidentiality. We’d welcome the opportunity to work together…
