From the small West Rand town of Westonaria to boardrooms, stages and thought-provoking conversations, Riaan AG Beeslaar is building a career around one powerful idea: we may all be fighting battles others cannot see, but none of us have to face them alone.
Born on 18 August 1992, Riaan AG Beeslaar grew up in Westonaria, a small mining town on South Africa’s West Rand. Today, he is a marketing specialist, entrepreneur, published young-adult fiction author, podcast host, motivational speaker and keynote speaker, but his journey toward the stage began with something far more personal: becoming a father.
The birth of his son, August, became a significant turning point in Riaan’s life.
It was through fatherhood that he began discovering a deeper passion for motivating, encouraging and challenging people. What started as personal reflection gradually developed into a desire to share ideas and experiences with others.
For Riaan, motivational speaking isn’t about standing on a stage and simply telling people to “work harder.”
It is about reminding people that life is complicated, that everyone carries something, and that struggles do not make us weak.
“We’re all battling our own battles in life. Sometimes we simply need someone to remind us that we’re not alone.”
That philosophy has become central to Riaan’s approach to speaking.
A Speaker Who Combines Philosophy With Storytelling. Riaan’s speaking style is distinctive because he doesn’t separate motivation from deeper thought.
His presentations combine philosophy, storytelling, business experience and real-life lessons, encouraging audiences not only to feel inspired but to think differently.
He has had the opportunity to address audiences at organisations and events including Master Drilling, Botshelo Health and Safety Solutions, Infinity Group SA, Royal International Pageants, as well as numerous corporate, community and leadership events.
Whether speaking to executives, employees, entrepreneurs or emerging leaders, Riaan focuses on practical ideas that audiences can take beyond the room.
His message centres around purposeful leadership, resilience, personal growth, innovative thinking and the ability to turn challenges into opportunities.
Rather than simply providing answers, Riaan often asks questions. Questions that make people stop. Questions that make people reconsider the way they see themselves, their circumstances and the people around them.
The Entrepreneur Behind the Speaker. Away from the stage, Riaan is the Owner and Founder of Blue Monkey Media, a marketing agency specialising in strategic marketing, branding and digital growth.
His experience in business and marketing has given him a practical perspective that complements his motivational work.
For Riaan, inspiration and strategy belong together. An audience may leave a presentation feeling motivated, but true impact happens when that motivation translates into action.
His business experience allows him to connect big ideas with real-world challenges, particularly when discussing leadership, entrepreneurship, marketing, personal development and organisational growth.
Riaan is also a published author of young-adult fiction, adding another dimension to his creative journey.
Writing has always provided him with another way to explore ideas, emotions, human behaviour and the experiences that shape us.
While speaking allows Riaan to connect directly with an audience, writing gives him the opportunity to create worlds, characters and stories that allow readers to experience ideas from a different perspective.
It is another expression of the same philosophy that runs through his work: sometimes a story can change the way we see ourselves.
Riaan’s passion for deeper conversations also led to the creation of his podcast, Filosofies. The concept is simple but ambitious: explore philosophical ideas, human behaviour, life, society and the questions that often sit beneath everyday experiences.
Filosofies isn’t necessarily about having the “right” answer. It is about asking better questions.
Riaan uses the platform to explore thought-provoking topics and encourage listeners to look beyond surface-level thinking.
In many ways, the podcast reflects Riaan himself, curious, analytical and interested in understanding not only what people think, but why they think it.
Did You Know? Riaan Loves Chess
There is another side to Riaan that perhaps explains his fascination with strategy, philosophy and human behaviour:
He has a huge love for chess. Chess is more than a game of pieces and squares. It is a game of patience, strategy, anticipation and consequence.
It is easy to see why chess appeals to someone who spends much of his time thinking about strategy, leadership, business and human behaviour.
Whether he is standing in front of a corporate audience, speaking to entrepreneurs, sharing ideas on Filosofies, writing a story or sitting across a chessboard, Riaan AG Beeslaar continues to explore the same fundamental question:
What are we capable of becoming when we choose to think differently? And perhaps that is the real message behind his work.
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