Erica Terblanche of Cape Town, South Africa on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Erica Terblanche. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Erica, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I am quietly writing my next book – Quest/ Pilgrim… or some other name… I will know when the time comes.
It is my second book. The first one RUN for the Love of Life was a bestseller and an inspiring and easy book.
This next book is more difficult and on the journey I am coming up against a lot of inner questions about belief/ faith/ truth/ what makes life worth living.

I am quietly inbetween a crazy busy coaching and motivational speaking and teaching schedule finding cracks of hours here and there to keep at it, to pick up the thread where I left it, and sopmetimes just that takes three days to get back in.

I have already written 120 000 words, a book and a half, and I know it will be another 40 000 words before I am ready to cut the whole epic back to a lean, essential 80 000 words. I am terrified. I am excited. I am trepidated. I am in flow. I am stuck, I am inspired and so I swing all alone by myself from extreme to extreme in getting this story to write itself through me in as much truth as possible.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Erica Terblanche and in interest of time I will share with you how my booking agent described me in a recent pitch for an award as Positive Female Role Model in Africa.

Erica is a seasoned business strategist, elite endurance athlete, and transformational coach. Erica’s life story is one of exceptional achievement and deep personal commitment to uplifting others.
BUSINESS
With over 20 years of experience in corporate strategy and organisational change, Erica has worked at senior levels in South Africa and abroad. Being purpose-driven she tilted her career in strategy and spearheaded her FTSE 100 company’s ambition to become a global leader in sustainable financial services, showing how profitability and purpose can be aligned.
PEOPLE
During her long corporate career Erica noticed growing levels of burnout and mental distress in the corporate world. True to form, she acted, not just for herself, but for others. She returned to study, earning a degree in psychology and a Master’s in positive psychology. These academic pursuits became the foundation for a new calling: helping individuals unlock their full potential and live flourishing lives.
BUSINESS FOUNDER
Drawing on her own experiences of transformation through challenge, Erica founded Teach a Girl to Fish, a Greece-based adventure and personal development company. Through this initiative, she takes small groups, and especially women on carefully curated outdoor journeys—combining movement, nature, reflection, and growth—to help them grow and reconnect with their strength, agency, and clarity.
She also founded Thrive Guru, a well-being and team development company that brings her coaching and positive psychology expertise to organisations and individuals alike. In addition she launched her popular YouTube channel Thrive_guru which brings people the robust and reliable science of what it takes to live a happy, healthy and fulfilling life.
ENDURANCE ATHLETE
What makes Erica’s work even more powerful is the credibility and inspiration she brings through her achievements in endurance sports. Over the past 15 years, Erica has competed—and often won—some of the world’s most gruelling multi-day ultra-distance races. In the ultra-racing community, she is seen as a legend of perseverance and grit.
Erica’s achievements are multiple, but some include:
• Winner of the 2009 Sahara Race, a 270 km footrace across the desert over 7 days
• Completed over 2,200 km of ultra-endurance races across the globe, including the Atacama, Namib, and Gobi deserts, as well as ultra-trails in the Drakensberg, the Grand Canyon, and Reunion Island
• Finished the legendary La Diagonale des Fous (181km with 12,000+ metres elevation) in over 51 hours, showcasing her grit and tenacity
• Podium finisher in numerous extreme races where competitors endure blistering heat, sandstorms, rugged terrain, and complete physical exhaustion
• And closer to home several Comrades Marathons, Iron Man Challenges, Thirteen Peaks and a recent Robben Island swim.
These are not simply athletic feats—they are testaments to Erica’s mental discipline, emotional intelligence, and unshakable belief in the human spirit. Her ability to dig deep, stay focused, and persevere through adversity feeds directly into her work with others. She teaches not only through her words but by living what she teaches.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Erica is academically accomplished, with:
• A B.Sc. in Surveying
• A Master’s in Business
• A B.Sc. in Psychology
• A Master’s in Positive Psychology
• Certifications in ORSC systems coaching, CTI personal coaching, Barrett’s Values work, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
SERVICE
She has also served as a Youth Leader for the UK National Trust, educating young people on environmental conservation. She is a trustee of the Human Values Foundation, which brings values-based education into schools across the UK, South Africa, and India.
BESTSELLING AUTHOR
Erica’s first book RUN for the Love of Life continue to inspire people, has been an Exclusive Book Top Recommended Title since early on after its launch and has reached bestseller status in South Africa.
PASSION, PURPOSE AND LEADING BY EXAMPLE
Erica Terblanche is more than a speaker; she is a modern champion of heart, body and soul fulfilment, and has been recognised for her impact in being nominated for the 2025 Positive Role Model of Africa Award. Her unique blend of academic excellence, elite athleticism, emotional intelligence, and compassionate leadership makes her a beacon for anyone seeking to live with purpose and impact. She empowers women, nurtures the next generation, and in her inspirational talks reminds us all that growth happens when we step outside our comfort zones. Whether she’s crossing the finish line of a 200 km race or helping someone find the courage to begin again, Erica leads by example—with grit, grace, and generosity.
“Erica is a beacon of courage, resilience, and purpose-driven leadership.”
Andre du Toit, founder Good News South Africa

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My afrikaans teacher one day read an essay of mine to the class and looked me dead in the eye and said, “writers are tthe conscience of the nation.” and in that moment I knew in every sinew in my body that I was going to one day be a writer.

I have always written in some form or another and have recently published Run for the love of life which has become a bestseller.

The other essential part of me is that I am a nature child and remains so at 54. I love and need to spend the majority of my time outside and have become a sort of modern day pied piper reminding our urbanised civilisation of the need to be nature connected to be truly healthy and whole.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
That I dont have to fight it out alone. That I can ask for help. That I dont have to be brave and courageous and take the world on my shoulders. I would say, kid, ask for help!

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
That we are not our accomplishments. That we are not our wealth. That we are good enough just as we are. And so is everyone else. The chase after status/ power/ fame/ wealth…. it is truly a mirage – waste of time at the end of which people will realise when they do achieve tatus/ power/ fame/ wealth that it does not necessarily bring happiness. People nod yes when I say this, but look how we choose to live… how many people get off the treadmill? The majority stay in the race with the Joneses.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Stop worrying about finances and stop one to one coaching and just do motivational talks and just write write write…
and I would spend my pension to hire a marketing manager and publicist fulltime to drive my brand, books and message so I could elevate my platforms for speaking, teaching and so my books could become international bestsellers.

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