"But when the dawn will come, of our emancipation, from the fear of bondage and the bondage of fear, why, that is a secret."
Alan Paton
Mark Turpin
About me and my work
Mark Turpin is an Executive Coach, Mediator, Organisational Development Consultant and Lecturer based in Johannesburg with over 30 years management experience around the world. He works with a wide range of companies, NGOs and government departments, and acts as a confidential adviser to senior people in government and the private sector.
Mark lectures on programmes at the Wits Business School, focusing on leadership, knowledge management and organisational dynamics. He brings an appreciative approach to create dynamic learning scenarios, and coaches executives and senior teams on transformational journeys.
Mark facilitates a number of communities of practice, in which groups of people come together on a regular basis to create dynamic learning communities.
Mark has an MBA (Wits Business School), an MSc (London University) and is a certified leadership coach. He is also an accredited mediator with Conflict Dynamics (Johannesburg) and the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (London).
Current passions
Fascinated by the changing 'world of work', Internet of Things, Collaborative Commons - and very stimulated in particular by Jeremy Rifkin's book 'The Zero Marginal Cost Society'.
Intrigued by the need to build ethics and integrity in the workplace, and a collaborator with Ethics Monitor (www.ethicsmonitor.co.za).
Also, a student of South African politics and society.
Supporter of the International Campaign against Nuclear Weapons (www.icanw.org) and of the UN Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
I work with the MarketPhotoWorkshop to support a bursary & mentorship programme for young photographers in Johannesburg (www.marketphotoworkshop.co.za). You can here us speaking about it here:
Cry the Beloved Country
News and blogs
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09-03-2026 / Blogs / By Kessels & Smit, The Learning CompanyBeing the work: the art and craft of holding space
As coaches, consultants, facilitators and project supporters, how we show up matters. In addition to what we do and the skills and tools we use, our presence and ability to hold space make a difference. As William Brown famously put it: "the success of any intervention depends on the interior condition of the intervener.” We took this as the central topic of our Working Days, our annual offsite with which we always mark the return to work after summer break. These retreats are always different, as are the topics. This time, we turned them into a kind of Summer School on: ‘Being the Work: The Art and Craft of Holding Space’. -
08-12-2026 / News / View in Dutch30 dagen verwonderen in de natuur
Af en toe komt er een bijzonder project op je pad! Samen met duinbeheerder PWN en Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland maakte Joeri Kabalt een postpakket vol inspiratie om in september elke dag even naar buiten te gaan en je te verwonderen over de natuur dichtbij huis. Een natuurchallenge waardoor je buiten beter leert kennen én je beter voelt in de buitenlucht. -
07-14-2026 / News / View in DutchPodcast: Spel en sensemaking met Marijne Vos
In deze aflevering van Sensemaking NL verkennen Jostein van Vliet en Ingmar Kappers spel en sensemaking met Marijne Vos. Vragen die de revue passeren: Hoe speel je zelf? Wat is het verschil tussen spel en spelen? Wat maakt dat spelen zo goed werkt in situaties waarin niemand het antwoord op een vraagstuk heeft?
Contact
Curious to learn more about Kessels & Smit?
Get in touch with Mark Turpin