You don’t realise who you are…until you arrive somewhere you have to learn how to belong

In Episode 25 of A Stranger, A Suitcase, and A Story, Anton and Ben are joined by Paul Hanley - a story that moves well beyond finance and into something far more human.

Born and raised in Johannesburg, Paul built his career in one of South Africa’s most dynamic financial environments before making the decision, like so many others, to start again in Australia. But this is not a simple migration story. It’s a story about resilience — or as Paul calls it, vasbyt — and what it really takes to rebuild when everything familiar falls away.

From early lessons shaped in national service, to navigating identity, leadership and belonging in a new country, Paul reflects on the realities of being “the other” — in business, in society, and in yourself. His journey takes us through unlearning deeply held assumptions, confronting new environments, and ultimately building a life and business from the ground up.

What stands out is not just the success that followed, but the honesty of the process - the uncertainty, the pressure, and the quiet determination to keep going when nothing is guaranteed.

This is a powerful conversation about migration, leadership and the internal shifts that define who we become.

🎧 Listen to Episode 25 at 3spod.com
Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

#Belonging #Identity #Migration #LeadershipLessons #HumanStories #Resilience #3SPod