Fulcrum and Flexi mix it up
Posted on Sep 20, 2014
Fulcrum’s “Let’s get cooking” mixer event that was hosted at Higher Ground on 18 September was an amazing success. The mixer provided Fulcrumeers and the Flexi team an opportunity to meet and mingle with each other while getting to know each brand a little better. This was the first time both teams got to socialise with each other since the announcement of the partnership http://thefulcrumgroup.co.za/news/entry/flexibroker-and-fulcrum-announce-partnership-to-fuel-an-industry.
For a full rundown of the fun that was had, head over to http://www.thefulcrumgroup.co.za/news/entry/fulcrum-and-flexi-mix-it-up
Gabbi Brondani
Director, urban espresso
Lightstone LIVE Inspect app – a game changer
Posted on Sep 20, 2014
Every so often, a new development emerges that sets out to revolutionise a particular industry. In this instance, it is an app that is proving to be a game changer when it comes to combating fraud within the insurance industry. The LIVE Inspect app, which has been specifically tailored for insurance companies to perform a pre-inspection at policy initiation, is already winning awards for its innovation. On 14 August 2014, CustomApp, in partnership with Lightstone, walked away with two prestigious awards for the LIVE Inspect app at the MTN Business App of the Year Awards. The first award was for Best Android App – Enterprise, and the second award for App of the Year.
Techcentral.co.za recently sat down with Graham Harvey and Jasper van Heesch, the creators of the app, to find out more on their innovation.
http://www.techcentral.co.za/inside-story-of-sas-app-of-the-year/50622/
Graham Harvey (CustomApp) and Jasper van Heesch (Lightstone)
Gabbi Brondani
Director, urban espresso
Timbavati trip for a great cause
Posted on Sep 20, 2014
The pool deck at Makanyi Lodge in the Timbavati – http://makanyilodge.com
On 8 May 2014, urban espresso client, The Fulcrum Group, successfully bid on an incredible item at the Insurance Institute of Gauteng’s (IIG) annual charity auction at The Barnyard Theatre in Cresta: a three-night stay at the Makanyi Lodge in Timbavati, with the funds raised going towards the Timbavati Foundation.
I was fortunate enough to join the Fulcrum team and other incredible people when they went on their Timbavati adventure in August 2014. Everything from early morning game drives and coffee overlooking the dam, to rhino tagging and micro chipping – it was three days of breathtaking experiences.
You can read all about our adventure here http://www.thefulcrumgroup.co.za/news/entry/timbavati-trip-for-a-great-cause
Rhino tagging and micro chipping – the most mind blowing experience
Gabbi Brondani
Director, urban espresso
The accidental entrepreneur
Posted on Sep 20, 2014
2014 has been an exciting year of adventures and growth for urban espresso. When I started urban espresso, would would focus on PR, I was confident in my PR skills and expertise. Starting and managing a business – not so much. Early in 2014 I started seeing a business coach, Brent Spilkin (affectionately known as @spillly) to guide me in the principles of running a business. The extent of which urban espresso has flourished because of Brent’s guidance and expertise in business management is something that astounds me every day. The business coaching Brent runs is aptly called “Growing Pains” which aims to work alongside new (and established) business owners and entrepreneurs.
Brent recently profiled me, along with some of his other Growing Pains clients. Check it out.
The Accidental Entrepreneur | Gabriella Brondani #ProudProfile
The Accidental Entrepreneur | Gabriella Brondani #ProudProfile
Gabriella Brondani, affectionately known as “Gabbi” to her friends, colleagues and clients, never set out for a career in PR, let alone starting up and running her own business in the PR space. She landed in PR purely by accident. Her idea was to finish high school and get into advertising or law. As would happen, things don’t always go according to plan, and by chance, she landed up in public relations. As Gabbi puts it, PR is everything she never knew she ever wanted to do. Her love of writing, interacting with people, building relationships, and finding creative solutions to building brand reputation and conveying key messages, were a bonus when “landing” in the field.
When she isn’t running outdoors or running in heels, she’s running things at her boutique PR agency, Urban Espresso, which specialises in travel, lifestyle, entertainment and corporate PR. She works with well-known and high-profile brands, as well as with entrepreneurs and start-up companies, in managing their PR strategy while incorporating a dynamic approach to the traditional forms of PR. Her idea is to put a fresh spin on how PR is typically practiced, to impress the pants off of her clients (and the PR skeptics.)
Although she never thought of herself as an entrepreneur, and never imagined that she’d one day be running her own business, Gabbi can’t imagine her career having gone any other way. Being an entrepreneur (albeit “accidentally”) has challenged her in the most creative and unusual ways; has taught her many things about herself; and has up skilled her in ways she never thought possible.
Amidst embracing the adventures, stress and excitement that comes along with being an accidental entrepreneur, she enjoys taking the time to write on a topic that she is immensely passionate about: travel. She is a regular travel writer and contributor for Tripadvisor and Bizcommunity’s travel section.
According to Tripadvisor, she has travelled 125 190km’s across the globe, which equates to having seen 5% of the world. Some of her favourite memories contained in that 5% are: walking through the ruins in Pompeii, hiking to the top of Mount Vesuvius (which is what sparked her fascination with volcanos,) watching the sunset on the steps of Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence, and snowboarding in the French Alps. Gabbi travels for business, she travels for leisure, but most of all, she travels for the fun of it and for the memories that come along with it. The idea that “you should take vacations and travel the world – because you can always make money, you can’t always make memories” is something that has stuck with Gabbi.
Her typically-sounding Italian surname doesn’t allow much room for people to realise that she is also Lebanese. A belly dancing mafia, of sorts (with no connection to the actual mafia.)
CONTACT
Facebook www.facebook.com/Gabriella.Brondani & www.facebook.com/UrbanEspresso
Twitter @GabbiBrondani & @Urban_Espresso
LinkedIn http://za.linkedin.com/pub/gabriella-brondani/48/33/936
Bizcommunity http://www.bizcommunity.com/Profile/GabbiBrondani
Tripadvisor http://www.tripadvisor.co.za/members/GabriellaB287
Website www.urbanespresso.co.za
Email gabbi@urbanespresso.co.za
Contact +27 79 696 1800
Gabbi Brondani
Director, urban espresso
Arabian adventures and desert safaris in Dubai
Posted on Sep 20, 2014
During my recent business trip to Dubai (May 2014) the rockstars at Arabian Adventures organised a desert safari for me and a guest. What an incredible experience! This should definitely be on every person’s bucket list.
Arabian adventures and desert safaris in Dubai
Typically, the term “safari” had been defined as “an overland journey, usually a trip by tourists to Africa”. However, in Dubai, the word “safari” has taken on a whole new meaning, where it is now an overland journey through the desert.
Speak to anyone in South Africa who has visited Dubai, and chances are they’ll have braved a desert safari. Upon asking them how it was, they’ll more than likely narrate the experience with excitement and have the most vibrant memories of the adventure through the dunes. I’ve been to Dubai for work and leisure on a few occasions, but I had never booked a desert safari – until now.
Booking the excursion with Arabian Adventures was a breeze and we were provided with all the “need to know” details beforehand, so there were no surprises along the way.
Trusty guide and dune driver
On the day of our desert safari, we were picked up by our safari guide, Shan, from our hotel’s lobby. Shan would remain with us for the duration of the excursion and serve as our trusty guide and dune driver. From there, we set off on the drive to the Dubai Desert Conservation area in Marghem. The drive took about an hour and was filled with interesting information and commentary about Dubai, from Shan. There are vast numbers of new developments and tourist attractions being built along the route from central Dubai to Marghem. No amount of Googling can arm you with the kind of insight and first-hand knowledge that your safari guide will offer you on that drive.
On arrival at the conservation area, we grabbed a complimentary drink (water or soft drink) and sat down to watch a falcon show, which lasted about 15/20 minutes. The falcon show was hosted by a South African and was absolutely fascinating. From there, it was back into the vehicles to head off on a drive through the dunes. I use the term “drive” lightly. It was more of a rollercoaster. Each guide has a licence to drive 4x4s off-road and through the dunes in the desert. When you experience this ride, you’ll know why they need to be properly trained for it. This is definitely an incredible way to experience the adventurous side of the desert.
We stopped in the middle of the desert for about an hour to watch the sunset, which was exquisite. This provided us with beautiful photo opportunities.
As soon as the sun set, we drove to a Bedouin camp, also in the desert, where we would have an Arabian evening filled with Middle Eastern cuisine, henna, camel rides, falcon photo opportunities, shisha, drinks, and entertainment from a belly dancer. After dinner, we had a five minute “lights out” period where they turned off all of the lights in the camp and afforded you the opportunity to gaze at the stars in the night sky. Nothing beats star gazing in the heart of the desert. And so ended our evening.
Breathtaking and adventurous
A desert safari is probably the most breathtaking and adventurous seven hours you are likely to experience in Dubai. Whether you’re a frequent traveller to Dubai, or are visiting for the first time, this tour is a must. It is great value for the money and is a beautiful way to experience Middle Eastern tradition in the desert.
This was my first time experiencing a desert safari in Dubai, and recounting the experience, it definitely won’t be my last. Come to think of it, I don’t know why I hadn’t booked it sooner!
For more, go to www.definitelydubai.com
by: Gabbi Brondani
Director, urban espresso