by
BrightRock
|
December 2025
As we close out another vibrant and upbeat year at BrightRock, we’re excited to turn up the volume on all the bright moments, bold new tracks, and a few unexpected remixes that pushed us to grow this year.
Speaking of turning up the volume, we asked our CEO, Suzanne Stevens, to give us the ultimate BrightRock summer hits send-off. So, grab your favourite summer refreshment, settle in, and enjoy!
When you think about this past year at BrightRock, what would you say were our “greatest hits”?
We had many fantastic achievements this year. Here are some of our greatest hits of 2025:
Celebrating our top Distribution Specialists at the National Awards Evening in March and then, just a few months later, our brightest and best BrightRockers at the Endeavour Awards in July. We would not have produced any hits this year without the exceptional and passionate BrightRockers who make everything we do possible!
The go-live of the automation of our extra cover buy-up feature. It took us many months from the project's first discussions to delivery, but boy was it worth it! It used to take us days to deliver an extra cover buy-up owner’s manual to our clients; now, on average, we do it in under 4 hours!
This year, we got our best-ever client scores across all our Client Operations team – an average of 8.77 overall.
Our needs-matched way programme was recognised by the global EFMD Excellence in Practice Awards (EiP) as one of the best internationally. Working with Abundance at Work, we delivered an impactful programme that inspires our people to find their purpose within and beyond BrightRock.
We celebrated the start of our 10th season with the DHL Stormers rugby team. Our partnership with the DHL Stormers has allowed us to reach millions of South Africans with our Love Change message. We also launched our partnership with the ground-breaking ISUZU Bulls Daisies. We’re excited to be the associate sponsor of South Africa’s first professional women’s rugby union team and champions of the Women’s Premier Division.
We launched the Change Science Institute in partnership with Henley Business School Africa, to explore, understand and share the science behind how people can better navigate change in their lives.
We spent hours thinking about and planning the next phase of innovation that BrightRock will bring to the market. And 2026 will see us building these new initiatives and getting the first of these to market. So, watch this space, here we come!
2
If you could choose a song that represents the energy you want us to carry into 2026, what would it be?
“Good feeling” by Flo Rida. Some of the lyrics I share here give you some idea why I like it so much!
“Oh, sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah, I get a feeling that I never, never, never, never had before. I get a good feeling, yeah.”
“Yeah, I got a brand-new spirit, speaking it and it’s done, woke up on the side of the bed like I won, talk like a winner, my chest to that sun.”
“I get a good feeling, yeah; Got adrenaline, never giving in; Giving up’s not an option, gotta get it in; Witness I got the heart of twenty men; No fear, go to sleep in the lion’s den; That flow, that spark, that crown; Stronger than ever, can’t hold me down.”
Going into 2026, I do have a good feeling! I love the energy and the positive can-do vibes this song brings. Next year, BrightRock turns 15 years old. This is an exciting and incredible milestone for our company. And we have used 2025 to lay the foundations we need to make 2026 an unforgettable year. We have several new initiatives we will be working on next year, and we look forward to bringing the first of those to market during the year. So, I know we will be working very hard next year, but I have a good feeling that this coming year will be one we remember for all the right reasons for many years to come.
3
If BrightRock were a genre of music, what would it be and why?
It would obviously be Alternative Rock. I mean, BrightRock must be rooted in Rock given our name, but it would never be the mainstream, traditional kind because we’re a challenger that loves to push the boundaries. To quote from the alternative rock band, The Cranberries, song, Dreams: “Oh, my life is changing every day; in every possible way.” #LoveChange
4
What is the one song that instantly makes you think “summer”, and why that specific track?
There are many happy summer songs I love, but the one that comes to mind is Island in the Sun by Weezer. It’s laid-back and conjures images of white beaches, big sun hats, and a cocktail with a little umbrella. It’s the perfect tune to have playing in the background when having a summer afternoon braai – even if you’re here on the sunny highveld.
5
How do you balance staying productive at work while still enjoying the summer season?
I love the longer, warmer summer evenings. They’re perfect for a mid-week braai when you get home from work (with some of those summer vibe tunes playing in the background). There’s always time to check those never-ending emails a little later in the evening after dinner.
6
What’s your favourite summer memory in the almost 15 years at BrightRock that still inspires you?
One of my favourite summer memories is watching male weaver birds build (and rebuild) their nests in the trees on West Street in the spring months. When I see that I know that summertime is here! I also have fond memories of our early-year-end parties when BrightRock was starting out, and one of the BrightRockers would dress up as Father Christmas, while all the guys on the Brand team would dress as elves. It would make me laugh out loud every time!
7
What’s one summer ritual that always puts you in reset and recharge mode before the new year begins?
That would be standing on the rocks looking out at the sun setting over the sea on the West Coast of South Africa, while a cold south-easterly wind is blowing onto my face. I always imagine my mind being cleared of the messy stuff from the year that has passed, so that I can start the new year with a clear mind. It’s one of my very happy spaces.
8
What’s a message you want to leave BrightRockers with as we close out the year – and head into summer?
Thank you and well done to each and every BrightRocker for your hard work and for the positive change you’ve delivered for our clients. This year was filled with bright standout moments, bold new tracks and a few unexpected remixes that pushed us to grow. As we wrap up the year, I am proud to celebrate the energy and fresh possibilities that define who we are and how we continue to embrace our love of change. We’ve done all the hard work to lay the foundations so we can achieve more in 2026 and deliver an extraordinary 15 years of loving change.