According to a press release on Bizcommunity, the Nedbank IMC 2026 conference gathered more than 3,700 delegates representing 28 countries for a single day of sessions on marketing, business and culture.
The event, staged under the theme Shift Happens™, Are You Ready?, featured over 25 speakers, including four international keynotes. Among them were Dr Gcina Mhlophe, Suhayl Limbada, Kabelo Makwane and Fran Luckin. The programme moved from storytelling and memory to a challenge to African marketers to use local culture as a strategic asset.
“We can count delegates, countries and speakers, but what matters is what people are still talking about after they leave,” said Dale Hefer, founder of the Nedbank IMC. He added that the conference reinforced the idea that “Marketing is Business™”, a reminder that marketers must understand culture, the customer and the commercial consequence of their work.
Khensani Nobanda, group executive for group marketing and corporate affairs at Nedbank, said the platform brings experienced leaders and the next generation together to learn, challenge convention and move the industry forward.
Key take-aways for marketers
Across the day, speakers repeatedly highlighted a handful of commercial realities. Technology, especially artificial intelligence, is reshaping how marketing work is produced. Culture remains central to relevance, and creativity still needs to earn attention. Finally, marketers are being asked to develop a clearer understanding of the businesses they are expected to grow.
Specific moments that resonated included Suhayl Limbada’s “Stop Making Global Work” keynote, which urged African brands to build brave ideas from local humour and language, and Roanna Williams’s comment that “constraint is a gift”. The CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) conversation led by Thebe Ikalafeng explored the evolving responsibilities of senior marketing leaders.
Students also featured prominently. More than 1 000 learners participated through the YOUTH1000 initiative run with MASA, and 60 University of Johannesburg students gained on-site experience. A youth panel, supported by Plug’d by Telkom, brought younger voices directly into the programme.
Google Cloud acted as Innovation Partner, extending the content beyond the stage via an Innovation Studio and a podcast series. Recordings of the presentations are available as a podcast series produced with Google Cloud here.
For SME owners and small-scale marketers, the conference underscored two practical points: first, the need to embed AI tools without losing the human judgment that still drives brand relevance; second, the importance of grounding campaigns in local culture to avoid generic, less effective messaging.
The Nedbank IMC will return in 2027. More information about the conference can be found on the official site IMC Conference and further analysis of the trends discussed can be explored in the SME & Entrepreneurship section.
Bizcommunity reported that the 2026 edition also hosted the first Nedbank IMC Speaker Alumni gathering, with around 60 former speakers returning to share insights from previous years. The event introduced a dedicated MASA Pavilion, giving the association and eight patron members a permanent space on the floor. Live coverage was provided by Kaya 959, while SlikourOnLife produced The Sound of the Shift track in real time using material captured throughout the day. The official white paper, now in development with dentsu and Red & Yellow academics, will compile the most useful thinking from the programme into practical guidance for marketers.
Bizcommunity reported that Google Cloud’s role as Innovation Partner went beyond the Innovation Studio, extending the conference content through a series of on-demand podcasts that capture each presentation. This partnership allowed attendees to revisit sessions after the event and reach a wider audience beyond the physical venue. The collaboration also enabled the creation of interactive digital assets that complement the live discussions, ensuring that the insights shared by speakers such as Marc de Swaan Arons and Sheldon Tatchell remain accessible for future reference.
Bizcommunity reported that the youth component was amplified by Plug’d by Telkom, which not only supported the youth panel but also ran the UJ Student Challenge, giving participants a live industry brief centred on connection and opportunity. The winning team was announced on the main stage, highlighting the practical experience gained by the 60 University of Johannesburg students who worked on-site. This initiative demonstrated how emerging talent can contribute fresh perspectives to brand strategy and how companies can scout future collaborators.
For South African business owners, a conference of this scale functions as a concentrated learning hub where the latest marketing technologies, cultural trends and leadership ideas are presented in a single day. Attending provides direct exposure to AI applications, cultural storytelling techniques and the evolving role of the CMO, all of which can inform strategic decisions in real time. Owners should monitor the post-event podcast series and the forthcoming white paper, as these resources distil actionable recommendations that can be integrated into existing campaigns without the need for additional travel.
Looking ahead to 2027, participants can expect the continued growth of the alumni network, which will foster ongoing mentorship and knowledge exchange across the continent. The development of the white paper signals a shift toward more structured, evidence-based guidance that businesses can reference throughout the year. Keeping an eye on future announcements from Nedbank IMC, especially regarding new Innovation Partners or expanded youth programmes, will help marketers stay ahead of emerging opportunities and regulatory considerations that may affect campaign planning.
