Meet the Team Behind Our Gap Year Programs in South Africa

Rudi’s studies are ranged from Spirituality, Metaphysics, Hypnosis, NLP, EFT and Performance Coaching. His belief is that we control our own destinies through the knowledge that we are able to conquer our fears and reach our true potential through understanding our limitless potential and ourselves. Rudi guides the Warriors through a journey of self-discovery, safely allowing them to see who they really are and how wonderful each individual truly is.

• Masters completed in Ontological and Performance Coaching
• Event Co-ordinator for various sport and charity events
• NAUI Scuba Instructor Trainer
• First Aid & DAN Oxygen Provider Instructor
• Ocean Skipper with night racing
• Private Pilot’s License
• Abseiling Supervisor
• Survival Instructor
• Past Chairman & Honorary member of Round Table
• Past President of Letaba Rotary Club
• Past Chairman of Youth Development (Rotary District 9400)
• Paragliding & Skydiving
• Business Management
• Coaching Facilitator
• Warriors Academy Safety Co-ordinator

Rowena has been part of this extraordinary team since 2007 and is the Warriors Academy Program Director. She is extremely passionate about the growth and development of young adults and thrives on coaching and supporting them to be the best versions of themselves, mentally, physically and emotionally. Rowena takes on this role with pride and has made it her mission to ensure that the Warriors Academy Gap Year Program is not only run with precision and compassion but is the best gap year program available globally. She is a profound leader who enjoys sharing her love of the outdoors and adventure with others.

• First Aid and CPR Level 3
• Spinning Instructor
• Master Scuba Diver
• Rotarian
• Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Chairperson for District 9400
• Outdoor Adventure Facilitator
• Fitness Instructor
• Health and Wellness Counsellor
• Rebounding and Lymphology Instructor
• Blood Work Analysis and Nutrition Advisor
• TRE Facilitator
• Psych-K Practitioner
• Coaching Facilitator
• Yoga
• Scheduling Logistics 
• Northern Mountain Club Member
• Hiking
• Mountain Biking  

Ruan is a natural leader that loves a challenge. He always strives for excellence and believes that anything worth doing is worth doing well. He motivates and develops leaders, teaching powerful life principles and producing highly focused and energetic young adults using adventure and extreme sports as a channel. Ruan is the extreme Warrior, there is no challenge that he won't take on and conquer. He is safety driven in all the challenges that he takes the Warriors on, he guides them to overcome fear in a safe and secure manner, giving them the freedom to achieve what they never thought possible, building confidence and developing self-esteem which takes them to the next level. Ruan believes that leading by example in all aspects of life is his greatest strength.  

• Generic Adventure Site Guide (Hiking Unlimited)
• Warriors MAI trainer
• Advanced First Aid
• MDT Walking Group Leader
• MDT Abseil Supervisor
• Trail runner
• Mountain biking
• Outdoor Adventure Facilitator
• River Guide
• Master of Yachts 200 GT Unlimited
• Scuba Diving Instructor [Specialty and Nitrox] (NAUI and PADI)
• AEC
• STCW, PDSD, Eng 1
• RYA Powerboat Level 2 - VHF Radio - Diesel Engine - Radar - PWC
• Super Yacht Deckhand
• SAMSA Skipper (With surf launch and SCUBA diver endorsement)
• PDP Code 14 Driving License (Unlimited size with public transport)

Renske’s energy will get you moving! She joined the Warriors Family in 2013 and her passion for life is contagious. She has a thirst for adventure and believes that “Being out there is where you grow”. Her deep and respectful love for nature makes her a reliable leader in the field. She is a mover and a shaker and will turn any ordeal into an unforgettable adventure. As part of the Warriors team, Renske is always researching, upgrading and developing behind the scenes.

• Generic Adventure Site Guide (Hiking Unlimited)
• Warriors MAI trainer
• Advanced First Aid 
• MDT Walking Group Leader
• MDT Abseil Supervisor
• Trail runner
• Mountain biking
• Outdoor Adventure Facilitator
• River Guide assistant
• Master Of Yachts 200 Gross Tons Unlimited
• STCW 95
• PDSD
• RYA Power Boat level 2
• RYA VHF Radio
• Crowd control management
• Stewardess Course
• Photography
• Code 8 Drivers License with PDP
• Diploma in Therapeutic Massage and Diploma in Aromatherapy

Francois is a truly an energizer bunny! A man on a journey to his dreams; who on his adventures stops to help anyone that needs it. Francois is a joker that has the spirit of a kid. He is a nature lover and even a bigger animal lover. Everyone around Francois understands and sees his passion for the outdoors! He is definitely one of the guys.

• Open Water 20 Raid Scuba Diver
• Driving License and PDP
• Rebound Instructor
• Survival
• Cooking Skills
• Off and On Road Motor Biking
• Entrepreneur

I’m passionate about the outdoors and love exploring through hiking, abseiling, rafting, rock climbing, and mountain biking. Safety is always a priority for me, which is why I’m a qualified first aider with a wilderness first aid certification. I’m also currently working toward becoming a first aid instructor, so I can help others stay safe and prepared during their adventures.

Qualifications:

• SAMDT Walking Group Leader Award (WGLA)
• Abseil Supervisor Award (ASA)
• Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI)
• Generic Adventure Site Guide
• Advanced Facilitation and Presentation Course

Results-driven business administrator with years of experience in project, finance, procurement and assets management and events planning.

Coaching Philosophy and Approach

Truly effective coaching cannot be applied using one discipline or approach. The fact is that most individuals are exactly that, individual. This means the Arpeggio approach is truthful transparency for everyone's mandate and their goals. The Arpeggio coaching style is holistic, values-based and emphasizes a person holistically. Marie is dynamic, energetic and a focused listener with a natural ability to guide clients using a safe and thought-provoking approach whilst offering professionalism and honesty as standard. While the Arpeggio approach focuses on a variety of offerings, Marie's speciality area is in working with thought patterns and interpersonal behaviour, understanding that behavioural change comes about as a result of a synthesis of insight, understanding, choices and self-discovery.

Areas of Expertise

• Perception Management
• Emotional Intelligence
• Group Coaching/ Facilitation
• Team engagement
• Performance coaching

Previous Work Background

In the early years she worked as a trainer and coach in the public sector. Then in 2002 she joined The Foschini Retail Group as senior training facilitator for the Sports Division Northern Region. Marie founded Arpeggio Consulting in 2004, with the focus on delivering high impact L&D programmes to multiple sectors. As her consultancy’s client base has grown Marie’s experience has broadened to providing facilitation, coaching and counselling equipping clients with the insight to deal with a variety of situations.

Educational Background

• BA Degree in Education and Communication
• Diploma in Psychology
• Diploma in Human Resource Management
• Certificate in Strategic Management
• Occupational Directed Education Training and Development
• Practitioner level 6 (OD ETDP)
• Neethling Brain Instrument Practitioner
• Leading and Coaching for Superior results – GIBS
• Professional Business Coaching – GIBS
• Integrative Enneagram practitioner (IEQ9)
• Registered ACC coach: International Coach Federation
• Mental Performance coach – EQUIP SPORTS
• Science of Well Being – YALE University

Professional Memberships

• International Coach Federation – ACC
• IMCGA accreditation -Mental Performance coach

Mia loves being a coach as she assists and partners with her clients in a thought provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximise their personal and professional potential.

By creating a safe space, Mia supports her clients to become more aware of what is happening in their thoughts, emotions, and body. She assists them to get to know what is or isn't working for them and where they want to go.

Mia has learned through observing herself, others, and the world since she started studying the Ontological Coaching and Leadership Graduate Diploma. She discovered that the words she uses are not innocent .. they impact the results she has. It is not just the words Mia uses; it is the stories she tells herself about what she can do and cannot do. She learned that the way she observes herself and others in the world can either serve her or stand in her way of reaching her full potential.

Mia is happily married, has two beautiful daughters and life has taught her about balance and stimulated her fascination with the intricate weave of communication between all forms of life. She plays separate roles as a spouse, mother, daughter-in-law, sister, cousin, and friend, which makes life altogether more interesting.

• Degree in Law (B. Procurationis)
• Management Certificate (Retail Spar Group)
• Graduate Diploma Ontological Coaching and Leadership (Newfield Institute)
• Practitioner’s Certificate in NLP (Natural Language Processing)
• Member of COMENSA (Coaching and Mentor’s Institute South Africa)

Dirk is a proud Dutchman and father of 3 Warriors and has participated and assisted at multiple Warriors activities. That experience was so very positive for him that he has regularly shares it with everyone willing to listen. He is a real Warriors ambassador. 

Dirk’s work as a business coach focusses on empowering people from all walks of life to develop into the best version of themselves, whether that is in business, in sport or in their personal life. With a loving smile he challenges and confronts while listening very carefully to your story. 

Dirk has been an international rugby referee (talking about managing people …) and enjoys cooking a good French cuisine with a glass of wine on the side. His love for SA finds its origin in 1997 when honeymooning the country. Ever since, he has made multiple trips to SA. These trips always included rugby, braai, hippo’s and beers. 

All this puts him in a perfect position to be Warriors’ first ambassador in Europe. He is based in The Netherlands.

• Master of Science in Business Administration from the Erasmus University in Rotterdam
• Master in Coaching from the Johan Cruyff Institute in Amsterdam
• DISC certified trainer and coach
• World Rugby Trainer of Educators
• World Rugby Coach of Match Officials
• Referee Coaching & Development manager for Dutch Rugby Union
• Author of the first Dutch book on business development for lawyers and notaries