Multiple award-winning Broadcast Anchor, MC, Motivational Speaker, Businesswoman and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Leanne Manas, is a renowned leader on the South African media circuit.
From Oprah Winfrey to Nelson Mandela, Leanne has interviewed an impressive range of public figures, heads of state, thought-leaders and local and international celebrities. She has also been at the forefront of bringing South Africans some of the biggest News stories over the last 2 decades.
She is instantly recognisable as the face of Morning Television as anchor of Morning Live, a hard-hitting news broadcast that she has been hosting since 2004. She has been the face of the Vast majority of Breaking news events in an ever changing South Africa, most Notably the death of Nelson Mandela, the dramatic resignation of Jacob Zuma as RSA President and the death of the Mother of the nation Winnie Madikizela Mandela. She has also anchored 4 General Elections, 3 Provincial Elections and 4 Presidential Inaugurations.
Her career has crossed international borders with Leanne broadcasting in UK, France, UAE, Mauritius, Ghana, Kenya, Gabon, Switzerland, The Netherlands and the United States of America.
Broadcasting everyday throughout a Global Pandemic has been the latest event that she has been a part of. The total shift of how media is consumed has been a fascinating…
Broadcasting everyday throughout a Global Pandemic has been the latest event that has been a part of. The total shift of how media is consumed has been a fascinating part of her journey. Leanne has been quoted as saying, “Being able to witness and tell the story of our ever changing lives is my greatest honour.”
MC/Motivational Speaking/Online Webinars & Events
Leanne has graced stages around the world hosting and speaking at Major events. Her confidence, professionalism, passion, humour, flexibility in content and ability to captivate an audience has seen her gain a reputation as one of the best in the Business.
Leanne has hosted events for South Africa’s top companies from Award ceremonies to year end result presentations to major conferences.
As the World has migrated from the stage to the web - Leanne has moved with the trend.
Her live television experience 5 days a week for over 2 decades has given Leanne all the necessary skills and knowledge to handle almost any situation. Online Webinars, presentations and Award ceremonies have become the new way to communicate and Leanne has hosted many of these and no doubt will continue to do so as this new normal continues.
Her Motivational talks Center around “Achieving your Impossible” and confidence building in individuals and corporates.
Leanne is one of the few South Africans chosen to deliver a TEDx talk that drew on all the lessons learned from her dynamic career and the people she has had the privilege to interact with and meet as well as experiences from summating the highest peak in Africa to traveling to one of the remotest Refugee Camps in the world.
Awards and Accomplishments
Her professionalism in a high-pressure environment has been rewarded repeatedly over the years. Leanne is a four-time winner of People Magazine’s “Best South African Female Television Presenter” and three-time winner of You Magazine’s “Best Overall SA TV Presenter”. She is also the recipient of the Sunday Times/Elle “Most Stylish News/Actuality/Continuity Presenter” Award and You Magazine’s “Most Stylish Television Presenter”, among others. In 2019 Leanne was also awarded a special recognition from the Lebanese Government for her career and humanitarian work.
Being handpicked by the late president, Nelson Mandela, as one of his esteemed 46664 ambassadors, Leanne has taken the great statesman’s causes to heart. On Nelson Mandela Day 2015, Leanne summited Africa’s highest peak, Mt Kilimanjaro, partnering with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and Caring for Girls. Funds raised were used to purchase sanitary towels for young girls in disadvantaged communities.
Most recently Leanne was appointed a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Goodwill Ambassador for the work that she does with displaced people around the world. She is only the second person on the African continent to be have been appointed a UNHCR Ambassador. Her work with refugees has taken her too many Refugee camps around the world including Kenya, Malawi, Lebanon and Syria.
Business Experience
An entrepreneur at heart, Leanne and a business partner opened the successful “Simply Manas Gift Emporium” in Africa’s busiest shopping centre; Sandton City. The shop thrived for five years despite a tough economic climate and was eventually closed to allow Leanne to focus on other business ventures. Using personal experience, Leanne partnered with a local production company to release the very popular book and DVD, The Antenatal Guide, as well as a follow-up postnatal DVD.