M.E. and L&D: Exclusive interview with Talent Development Practitioner and Serial Entrepreneur Willem Maritz
'M.E. and L&D'. Giving you a glimpse into amazing people's pasts, to inspire your future.
In this edition of M.E. and L&D, we have the privilege of learning more about Willem Martiz. He is a passionate talent development practitioner and serial entrepreneur. He successfully built several business and talent development solutions, and is currently focused on solving the gap between what universities teach and what employers need. He is also an author and YouTube content creator (www.youtube.com/@wmaritz), specialising in professional development for Learning Experience Designers.
In his spare time he is a passionate outdoor enthusiast and nature conservationist. He enjoys endurance sports and can often be found exploring hidden destinations on a motorbike.
His current ventures include NoMoreCourses (www.nomorecourses.com), Habiiit (www.habiiit.com), Studium Alliance (www.studiumalliance.com) and MadBlue Marine (www.madbluemarine.com).
Let's start at the beginning. What was your very first job, and how did it shape your initial thoughts about your career?
After graduating, I couldn’t land a job right away, so I dove into entrepreneurship. My first venture, a leadership development program for school kids, didn’t take off, so I pivoted and started a car detailing business.
It was the mid-nineties in South Africa, and I was a one-man show, going from car dealer to car dealer, prepping used cars for sale. Honestly, as a university grad, I wasn’t thrilled about cleaning cars, and my attitude wasn’t great. But everything shifted when I ran into an old school friend who asked what I was up to. That simple question made me reflect deeply, and that night, I decided to clean cars with pride.
Focusing on doing my best, even in that role, changed everything. It boosted my confidence, and customers started responding differently too. That lesson stuck with me—whenever things aren’t going as planned, I ask myself if I’ve been bringing my best to the table.
Can you share a defining moment or turning point in your life that steered you towards your current career path?
My career path in Human Resources wasn’t planned. My undergraduate degree was in Theology and Philosophy, which did not really work out for me. Then I stumbled upon a post-graduate program in Human Resource Development that caught my interest and gave me credit for my previous studies.
From the very first week in that program, I knew I’d found my niche.. For the first time I could honestly say I was academically curious, and I could not wait to get into practice as a Human Resources Development professional.
Right after I graduated I secured a job as a Regional Training Officer for a large auto finance company, and I loved it!
Who were some of the key mentors or figures that inspired and guided you during the early stages of your career?
In my first role as a Regional Training Officer, I reported to Dries Coetzee, the General Manager for the region. He welcomed me into the regional management team, giving me tons of exposure and learning opportunities. His trust inspired me to take ownership of my role and experiment with new ideas.
Later, as a generalist HR Manager for a global mining company, I worked under Leon Smith, who was a phenomenal mentor. He always made time to guide me and invested in my personal development. His leadership style was always focused on growth and inspired me to do the same for others in my later roles.
I should also mention the influence of thought leaders like Elliott Masie and Professor Johannes Cronje, as well as the impact of organizations like ATD on my journey.
What were some of the biggest challenges or obstacles you faced when starting out, and how did you overcome them?
I made the leap from a corporate career to entrepreneurship in the Learning and Development space when I was 30. I didn’t come from an entrepreneurial background and knew little about running a business. In hindsight, my naivety was a blessing—if I’d known the challenges ahead, I might not have taken the plunge.
Building a business from scratch was way harder than I expected. There were plenty of challenges I wasn’t prepared for, and failure felt like it was just around the corner more than once. But a mix of stubbornness, resilience, innovation, and a fantastic team pulled us through. Over time, I built several businesses and created innovative products and solutions in the Learning and Development field.
Looking back now, it was all worth it and I’m enjoying the new ventures I’m busy building.
What’s been one accomplishment you are most proud of?
I’m really proud of building one of Africa’s pioneering eLearning solution providers. I started Kalleo Learning in 2003 as an eLearning consulting firm. Over time, we expanded to do learning technology implementations, eLearning content development, and professional development for the eLearning industry. We also became distributors for some of the world’s biggest eLearning and Learning Technology brands. It became a group of companies, Kalleo People Group, with representation across Africa and the Middle East. I successfully sold Kalleo and started new innovative ventures.
And what’s one thing you want to accomplish in the future?
I believe the combination of cultural shifts and technological advancements will radically change what we need to learn and how we will learn it. I’m excited to use my experience and keep learning new things to help shape the future of the Talent Development profession.
Looking back, is there any advice you would give to your younger self when you were just starting out in your career?
Absolutely. I’d tell my younger self to worry less about ego and focus more on leveraging the brilliance of others to achieve great things. I’ve found that leadership is most effective when our first task is to make others shine.
Want to know more? Connect with Willem Maritz on LinkedIn to explore their unique insights further and stay up-to-date with all their latest initiatives.