Show notes
Rui Morais, CEO of Dis-Chem Pharmacies and prior to that, the youngest CFO of a listed company in South Africa, sits down with Debbie Goodman to discuss the real story behind Dis-Chem's much-misreported restructure, and why it's actually a signal of bold ambition, not downsizing. With 200 new roles being created alongside the reorganisation, Rui explains how Dis-Chem is evolving from a retail pharmacy into South Africa's healthcare authority, backed by an innovation hub, strategic partnerships, and a board deeply aligned on purpose. The conversation goes behind the scenes of one of the most publicly scrutinized CEO successions in South African corporate history, exploring the unexpected tension, identity shifts, and emotional complexity that no governance framework fully prepares you for. Throughout, Rui emerges as a leader who is deeply purposeful, refreshingly candid, and unafraid to swing for the fences.

