Mavens Launches to Redefine Executive Hiring and People Strategy in South Africa

Mavens, a new People Strategy Firm based in South Africa, officially launched in October with a bold mission: to reinvent the way leadership talent is hired and integrated into growing businesses. Founded by seasoned professionals Dale Verster and Lebo Hlatshwayo, Mavens delivers a strategy-first alternative to traditional executive recruitment one rooted in precision, performance, and personality.

At the heart of Mavens’ approach is a belief that great hiring starts with great strategy. The firm partners with clients to build talent pipelines, design leadership structures, and source on-point executives who make an impact from day one.

“We’re not career recruiters,” says Dale Verster, co-founder. “We’re professionals who’ve led teams, hired for business-critical roles, and know how painful and expensive a wrong hire can be. Mavens is our response to everything we wish we had when we were the client.”

“We built Mavens to be premium and personal,” adds Lebo Hlatshwayo, co-founder. “That means no keyword-matching, no cookie-cutter shortlists, and no shortcuts. Just sharp, strategic people work, the way it should be.”

More than recruitment. This is people strategy.

Unlike traditional firms, Mavens doesn’t simply recruit. It offers a full suite of people strategy services tailored to founders, managing partners, and executive teams navigating change and growth.

Core services include:

• Executive Hiring Strategy-led sourcing, in-person assessments, and culture-shift matching.

• Talent Strategy Market mapping, pipeline development, and succession planning.

• Business Services Advisory support for team design, restructuring, and founder transitions.

• Coaching Tailored support for leadership integration and performance.

Whether it’s hiring a COO, redesigning a leadership structure, or guiding a founder through transition, Mavens is built for complexity and obsessed with outcomes.

A brand that doesn’t whisper

The newly launched Mavens website makes one thing clear: this is not your typical hiring firm. The tone is bold. The messaging is unapologetic. And the brand is designed to resonate with leaders who value substance over speed, and strategy over volume.

With taglines like “We don’t recruit. We deliver outcomes.” and “Precision over paperwork.”, the firm isn’t just launching a new brand. It is leading a new category.

About Mavens

Mavens is a People Strategy Firm based in South Africa, co-founded by Dale Verster and Lebo Hlatshwayo. Built by professionals who’ve led teams and made executive hiring decisions from the inside, Mavens helps growing businesses design and execute high-impact talent strategies. From critical executive placements to strategic restructuring, Mavens delivers sharp, honest people work with zero fluff.