A multi-award winning writer, creative consultant, speaker and media personality, Stephen Francis is best-known - together with artist Rico Schacherl - as the creator of South Africa's most popular cartoon strip, Madam & Eve.
Stephen presents THE POWER OF CREATIVITY in two formats to South African companies: either as a 60 minute keynote, or in a half day seminar. He says, "Innovation and bold creative thinking are the cornerstones of success as we enter a new age in corporate culture, and whatever your business, whatever the problem…..the solution always begins with one thing: creative thinking".
But not everyone is creative ….Or are they?
Having spent over twenty years studying and honing the secrets of creative thinking, Stephen is now sharing those secrets with corporates to help them unlock their hidden potential.
His 1/2 day seminars aren't about art, music or writing. But rather about using a set of specialised problem-solving skills to look at any situation in a new way.
Creative thinking leads to creative business solutions. No matter where you work or what you do. It’s as simple as that.
In an entertaining and fun way, Stephen will share original techniques and methods he’s developed - such as the power of Mindsight – the ability to see things that other people can’t.
Two men take their dogs for a walk in the woods one day – and notice little ‘burrs’ sticking to the dog’s fur. One picks them off and goes home.
The other man, whose name was George Mestral, thought creatively….and invented Velcro. What did George have going for him that the other man did not? - the ability to think creatively.
We can’t promise that one of your people will invent the next ‘velcro' but we can guarantee that after Stephen’s seminar, they will have the tools to think creatively - that can make a big difference in their business and careers – but also in their personal lives!
A true South African phenomenon, Madam & Eve have become icons in the new South Africa, and their books and cartoons are sold around in the world and translated into different languages, including French, Danish and Norwegian. Their twentieth book, Madam & Eve – Unplugged has been selected for the Exclusive Publisher’s Choice list for Xmas.
Stephen has also written 30 episodes for the highly-rated Madam & Eve television series, and one episode which he penned (and appeared in as an actor)- won the award at the Rose d'Or Festival in Switzerland, for best international situation comedy – a first for South Africa.
Besides running a successful creative consulting agency for many of South Africa’s top corporations, Stephen also writes feature films, with writing partner Gus Silber. Some of their movies produced in South Africa for the international market include "Pets", starring George Hamilton, "Dazzle", which is distributed by Disney, the horror-thriller "Slash", and scripting work on two Leon Schuster comedies, There’s a Zulu On My Stoep and Mama Jack.
In addition to Madam & Eve, his many television credits include Feshy Fashions, Going Up Again, writing the first four seasons of the ground-breaking educational drama Soul City, the police thriller Zero Tolerance, and The South African Music Awards, The SAFTA Awards, and Khomanani Day, three special television events broadcast live on SABC.
For the last three years, Stephen has also written the script for the CIAK International Youth Film Festival, held in Italy and Thailand, on each occasion winning for South Africa the grand prix of the festival – “Best Film” -- with over 28 countries competing.
Stephen has also performed in or written many top corporate shows and videos, winning the highest accolade in South African advertising -- The Loerie Grand Prix for corporate communications.
A transplanted American, Stephen was born in New York City, and before settling in South Africa 20 years ago, worked for Columbia Pictures, United Artists, and for Paramount Pictures' television division, which produced, among other shows, "The Miss Universe Pageant" seen live by 600 million people around the world.