#BehindtheSelfie with... Leigh-Anne Williams
1. Where do you live, work and play?
Live: Sea Point, Cape Town.
Work: Expresso and Good Hope FM.
Play: I would definitely have to say spending time with friends and family, catching up on series, and sleep.
2. What’s your claim to fame?
Apparently, making mornings great again!
3. Describe your career so far.
My career has been very consistent. It’s been a really good 10 years.
I’m currently a presenter on Expresso; radio presenter on my own show, ‘Lunch with Leigh-Anne’; model; actress; and motivational speaker.
4. Tell us a few of your favourite things.
I love spending time with my family and friends. It’s good to catch up with people that you love, it’s like they centre you and feed your soul in a good way. However, at the same time I love some quiet moments, just relax and re-energise.
5. What do you love about your industry?
The people I get to meet. Travelling and meeting actors, musicians, and writers. Every day, my job inspires me in a different way.
6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.
My day starts very early. I wake up at 3:30am and arrive at the studio for hair and makeup at 4:30am. Expresso starts at 6am and ends at 9am. During this time, I’m on set doing my best to cheer up our viewers’ mornings.
As soon as the show is wrapped up, I head to my gym session at 10am. At this point my mind is craving a workout – well, sometimes. My radio show starts from noon to 3pm, so that’s where I am for the afternoon.
I use my evenings for meetings, voice-overs, MC gigs and events.
7. What are the tools of your trade?
My voice, charisma and authenticity. I normally call them my ‘magic three’.
8. Who is getting it right in your industry?
Nomzamo Mbatha!
9. List a few pain points the industry can improve on.
Our industry can improve on the inclusion of women in every aspect of our industry – both behind the scenes and at the top tier management sections.10. What are you working on right now?
11. Tell us some of the buzzwords floating around in your industry at the moment, and some of the catchphrases you utter yourself.
Lol, definitely Ku’Lit!
12. Where and when do you have your best ideas?
They come to me when I’ve taken some relaxation time. That’s also just the best time for me to think and reflect.
13. What’s your secret talent/party trick?
I take off my high heels to reveal that I'm not as gargantuanly tall as people think I am!
14. Are you a technophobe or a technophile?
I’m definitely in between. I’m a technophobe with new technology that I’ve never used before, but once I start using it, everything is fine.
15. What would we find if we scrolled through your phone?
Lots of motivational-quote screen grabs.
16. What advice would you give to newbies hoping to crack into the industry?
First seek education, before anything else. Always have something to fall back on.
Simple as that. Follow Williams on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as Expresso and Good Hope FM on Twitter.
*Interviewed by Leigh Andrews.
About Leigh Andrews
Leigh Andrews AKA the #MilkshakeQueen, is former Editor-in-Chief: Marketing & Media at Bizcommunity.com, with a passion for issues of diversity, inclusion and equality, and of course, gourmet food and drinks! She can be reached on Twitter at @Leigh_Andrews.
