There is a special and renewed energy that accompanies the start of a new year and we want to make sure that 2026 is your best yet! With this in mind, Suits & Sneakers is hosting our 8th edition of RISE where where we quiz some really smart people on the tips and tricks we can use to knock 2026 out of the park!
More than anything, we want to ignite a conversation around growth, and we also want to facilitate human connection by gathering like-minded individuals who want to grow personally and professionally. RISE will be taking place on the evening of Tuesday, 27 January 2026 at The Tryst in Kramerville. We will also be streaming the event on the night for those that aren’t based in Joburg or South Africa.
For our 2026 edition, we wanted to bring people to the stage who have actually “been there and done that.” Both Rapelang and J’Something have achieved massive success through deliberate hard work, a focus on skill-building and a clear mindset. They both bring a unique angle to the RISE mentality and serve as practical examples of what it looks like to put in the work and stay the course in South Africa
To start the evening, Mark Sham will be joined on stage for an interview with Rapelang Rabana focused on the “Red Pill” of entrepreneurship. Most of us are taught to look for answers in external advice but Rapelang argues that many failures happen because we ignore our own internal logic. We will be exploring her concept of “self-mentoring” and the skill of using your own authentic motivations to find solutions that actually work. This session is about learning how to stop following generic blueprints and start trusting your own data to make better decisions in 2026.
Following the interview, J’Something will deliver his keynote. In his latest talk “One Day at a Time,” J’Something tells the story of how a life-altering moment of crisis led him to a profound realisation about the here and now. He explores the concept of “Divine Discontent,” the uncomfortable gap between where you are and where you wish to be. As you delve into his journey from Portugal to the top of the music charts, you will discover how to navigate this gap by focusing on the only real thing we have: today
