How former Springbok Bryan Habana applies lessons from sport to business
When it was time to hang up his rugby boots, former Springbok wing Bryan Habana faced a challenge familiar to many professional athletes: life after the game.
Bryan Habana is one of South Africa's most celebrated rugby icons.
For over a decade, the former Springbok wing was known for his speed, tries and elite athletic performance.
Bryan has played 124 Test matches for the Springboks, scored 67 international tries - only the second-highest in rugby history - and 15 Rugby World Cup tries, sharing the all-time tournament record with fellow rugby legend Jonah Lomu.
And who could forget his instrumental role in South Africa's 2007 World Cup victory, which earned him the IRB Player of the Year award?
However, when it was time to hang up his boots, Bryan faced a challenge familiar to many professional athletes: life after the game.
'It's like dying a mini death'
"The transition period in any athlete’s career is probably one of the most stressful periods; it’s like dying a mini death," Habana said in a podcast interview with Sage.
"Nothing can prepare you for leaving something you've known for 15 to 20 years and stepping into something completely different."
Pivoting into the corporate world, Habana launched a fintech company, applying lessons from the sports world to executive strategy, which helped his business become one of the fastest-growing companies in South Africa.
Redefining success
For Bryan, success in the business world isn’t measured by a final whistle or a final destination.
"Success looks like me continually growing. And I don’t think success, in my opinion, is something that has an end destination.
I think success is a continual journey that one goes on, and you almost have to do a daily success rate.
Applying sports strategy to business logic
Likening a boardroom meeting with "the best of the best" to walking into the changing room after facing the All Blacks, Habana says relying on your team is the key to success
"Going into the change room at halftime against the All Blacks and being around 14 other male CEOs who are the best of the best in their positions… I just have to worry about my skillset that I was blessed with… and go out there and do the best of my ability," Habana told podcast host Don Girnun
"In the business world, I have to become reliant on the team around me... you need to unlearn to be able to learn new things," he said.
Join Bryan Habana alongside an elite lineup of speakers, including businesswoman and media personality Basetsana Kumalo, founder and speaker Pavlo Phitidis and CEO and founder of Loop Kimberly Taylor at the MANCOSA Jacaranda FM Business Breakfast.
- Date: Monday, 17 August 2026
- Venue: Vodacom Dome, Vodacom World, Midrand
- Time: 08:00 – 11:30
- Registration: From 06:30
Ticket Pricing
- Single seat: R600
- Table of 10: R5 500
Seats are limited. Book your seat or table now and be part of the room where Legacy Speaks.
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