Nando’s Creativity
Nando’s is one of South Africa’s best-loved casual restaurant brands, known for PERi-PERi chicken and a quirky sense of humour. Founded in Johannesburg, it has become a global brand, represented in 30 countries.
Nando’s has been investing in the creative arts since 2001. The initial Nando’s Art Initiative programme has grown to become Nando’s Creativity, which focuses on nurturing and showcasing Southern African art, design and music in a way that makes a meaningful difference.
Tamara Oberholster is Editor-in-Chief at Nando’s Creativity and has been steering and creating content since 2018.
Visit the Nando’s Creativity website
St Andrew’s School for Girls
St Andrew’s is an independent school for girls in Bedfordview, Johannesburg, dedicated to the development of girls into grounded, accomplished and confident young women who leave the school well and truly ‘Skilled for Life’ and ready to lead.
In 2022, the school celebrated its 120th anniversary. To mark this milestone, the school commissioned Word Chef to author an account of the school’s recent history, picking up where a prior publication left off, around the turn of the 21st Century.
The Word Chef team of Tamara Oberholster and Lindsey Moyo endeavoured to bring together multiple voices from across the St Andrew’s community to portray a collective, representative view of the challenges, joys and accomplishments of the period from 2000 to 2022. This culminated in the publication, Become: In Our Own Words, which was officially launched on 30 September – St Andrew’s Day – in 2022.
View the digital edition of Become: In Our Own Words
Lift As You Rise and Behold The Turtle
Bonang Mohale is a highly respected South African businessman, known as much for his patriotism and his active role in seeking to advance his country’s interests as for the leading role he has played in organisations like Otis Elevators, Shell South Africa, South African Airways, Business Leadership South Africa and Business Unity South Africa, among others.
Developed over 30 years of business experience, his insights have motivated change in organisations and individuals alike.
Working alongside Bonang and publisher Tracey McDonald, Tamara Oberholster was responsible for the narrative compilation of Lift As You Rise, published in 2018. Based on the success of the first book, a second volume, titled Behold The Turtle, was written, with Tamara once again managing narrative compilation. The second book was published in 2021.
Both books were warmly received and spent several weeks on the South African bestsellers list.
More information:
– Lift As You Rise
– Behold The Turtle
Acumen Magazine
Acumen is the quarterly business journal of the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) — Africa’s premier business school. It aims to be South Africa’s most compelling long-form business read, targeting GIBS alumni and students, and senior business managers and leaders.
Tamara Oberholster has been a regular contributor to Acumen since 2017, writing on topics ranging from strategy to innovation, climate change and regulatory reform, among others. She also works alongside GIBS academics as a ghost writer, assisting them in creating appealing articles that deliver the highlights of their recent research findings.
Sample articles:
– The Science of Decision-Making
– Beyond Cool
– Gender Appeal Marketing – Does It Work?
Glory Game: The Joost van der Westhuizen Story
In 2011, the world was shocked when the news broke that Joost van der Westhuizen, formerly a celebrated Springbok Rugby captain, had been diagnosed with motor neuron disease (MND). This rare condition attacks the central nervous system, causing progressive disability. There is no known cure.
Glory Game – The Joost van der Westhuizen Story told the story of Joost’s life and his journey with the disease, using interviews and behind-the-scenes footage from the Glory Game documentary.
Working with publisher Tracey McDonald, as well as Joost van der Westhuizen and Glory Game director, Odette Schwegler, Tamara Oberholster was responsible for the narrative compilation of the book, published in 2016.
Sawubona
Sawubona is South African Airways’ official in-flight magazine. Through rich and vibrant content, covering an inspiring array of travel, business and lifestyle articles, it highlights the best of South Africa and the continent. It is a platform that supports SAA’s mission of bringing the world to Africa and taking Africa to the world.
Sunday Times Franchising
The Sunday Times Franchising publication takes a closer look at the franchising industry in South Africa, examining two important sides: the franchiser and the franchisee. Tamara Oberholster contributed various articles to the 2016 and 2017 editions of this glossy supplement, distributed to more than 50 000 subscribers of Sunday Times.
Sunday Times Rewards & Loyalty
The Sunday Times Rewards and Loyalty SA publication presents an in-depth look at the local rewards and loyalty industry. Tamara Oberholster contributed various articles to the 2016 inaugural edition of this glossy supplement, distributed to subscribers of Sunday Times.
Qhubeka
Qhubeka is an Nguni word that means “to carry on”, “to progress”, “to move forward”. Qhubeka is World Bicycle Relief’s programme in South Africa and helps people to move forward and progress by giving bicycles in return for work done to improve communities, the environment or academic results. Having a bicycle changes lives by increasing the distance people can travel, what they can carry, where they can go and how fast they can get there. Word Chef / Tamara Oberholster has been providing writing, editing and related services to Qhubeka since 2011.
Easy DIY
Easy DIY is a high quality glossy magazine published quarterly by Wag the Dog Publishers (Pty) Ltd. Tamara Oberholster, Word Chef founder, has been writing regularly for the publication for the last few years on topics ranging from DIY projects to expert interviews and home and garden features. Showcased here is one of her recent articles, titled Perfect Patios.
Celebrating Women
Celebrating Women is an annual magazine supplement published by Business Times in partnership with the Businesswomen’s Association of South Africa (BWASA). It appears in subscriber copies of The Sunday Times. For both the 2014 edition and 2015 edition, Tamara Oberholster was the editor for the BWASA portion of the publication. She also contributed to the 2017 edition.
Banker SA
Banker SA is the official quarterly publication of The Banking Association of South Africa. It seeks to give readers insight into the world of banking in the South African context through topical editorial focusing on developments in macroeconomics, banking and financial services. Tamara Oberholster (founder of Word Chef) is the former editor of Banker SA (editions 12 to 16).
Green
Green is a new annual supplement published in the Sunday Times. This is an article by Word Chef founder, Tamara Oberholster, that appeared in the inaugural edition in June 2015, on green architecture and building.
Communication that Counts
Communication that Counts is a guide produced by GrantCraft in partnership with Tshikululu. It offers practical lessons in communicating for impact based on the experiences of funders and others involved in social investment in South Africa. Tamara Oberholster was one of the guide authors and editors.
Private Life
Private Life was a magazine produced by First National Bank (FNB) for its private clients that included insights on arts, style, food, wine, sport, travel and personal finance. The Private Life editorial style focused on incisive prose, spirited writing and bold design. This is an article on Culinary Team South Africa by Tamara Oberholster.
South Africa Deluxe
South Africa Deluxe is a high-end quarterly publication. This is an article on the art and science of scent by Tamara Oberholster, written for the 2015 Autumn edition.
Private Life app
Private Life was an app created by First National Bank (FNB) for its private clients. This article by Tamara Oberholster covered South African endangered species.
DESTINY
DESTINY magazine is a high-end business and lifestyle publication for ambitious, stylish and intellectually curious women who are either actively engaged in business, or aspire to be so. DESTINY magazine is read by a wide variety of women – from young, ambitious business assistants and junior associates to well-established, affluent business owners/executives. This Executive Intelligence feature by Tamara Oberholster explored whether or not a “perfect” leadership style exists.