THE OPPORTUNITY FORMULA 2026

A 5-Hour Immersive Workshop for Young Adults (18–30) to Build Purpose, Unlock Global Opportunities & Transform Their LinkedIn.

Includes Lunch + 3 Professional Headshots.

About the Workshop

How do we make dreams happen realistically?

Hi, I’m Marlene Mostert, Cape Town local — your host.

By the age of 20, I raised three major grants that helped me build my business from zero, and received four fully-funded international trips — all with zero money spent and no degree (yet).

Not because I was the most qualified.

Not because I had connections.

But because young people have far more opportunities than they realise — they just don’t know where to find them or how to position themselves.

This workshop exists to change that.

The Opportunity Formula 2026 is a creative, high-energy, transformative 5-hour experience designed to give you the exact tools, mindset, and strategies that allowed me to build my path from scratch.

Inside The Mercantile Building, you’ll go on a guided journey from identity - digital presence - opportunity mapping - networking - action plan, all delivered through hands-on activities, storytelling, and real-world frameworks.

Lunch is included, along with 3 professionally photographed headshots from our studio room and a full digital toolkit to continue growing independently.

Only 20 seats available for personalised support and community.

PROGRAM Topics

Official times and order to be confirmed.

Identity, Purpose & The Opportunity Mindset

(Icebreakers, confidence reset, personal positioning)

The workshop opens with music, color, fun drinks, and a warm welcome.

1. Welcome & Energy Reset (10 mins)

• What this workshop will unlock
• Why young people “miss” opportunities
• Cases of youth success in South Africa - from zero to building biogas plants with no engineering degree - to changing careers after university.

2. Purpose & Opportunity Mapping (20 mins)

• Align with yourself - so we can align with the right opportunities.
• Activity to set the foundation for all the tools you will use for opportunity mapping

LinkedIn Transformation Lab

(Live optimisation + templates + headshots)

3. The LinkedIn Formula (15 mins)

• The art of using Linkedin : Opening doors to opportunity - A Practical Guide

4. Profile Overhaul (30 mins)

Live editing:

• Headline
• About section
• Experience
• Achievements
• Skills
• Keywords

5. Professional Headshots onsite in photography studio (35 mins)

• 3 portrait shots per person
• For LinkedIn + applications

Deliverables:

? 3 professional headshots

? Almost-finished LinkedIn profile

? Templates for all sections

Finding Local & Global Opportunities

6. Where Opportunities Actually Live (20 mins)

• Map of the opportunity ecosystem including local, remote, hybrid, government & international scope
• Types of opportunities and key differences Eg. funding, programs
• Where to find them with real life links, spaces and names.

7. Application Strategy (20 mins)

• Realistic expectations for applications
• Storytelling for beginners
• What selection committees look for

8. Personal Opportunity Map (20 mins)

Participants:

• Build a 3–6 month plan
• Select their top 5 opportunities
• Map deadlines

Deliverables:

Opportunity list

What to expect with applications

Personal opportunity plan

Practical Networking + Lunch Networking Simulation

(Includes lunch)

9. How Networking Works (20 mins)

• Where to find events
• What to say
• How to follow up
• Creating opportunities for yourself
• Breaking the fear of talking to people

10. Networking Simulation Lunch (40 mins)

While eating lunch:

• Participants practice networking
• You coach them in real time
• Fun cartoon business cards to make it easier and playful

Deliverables:

Real networking experience

Follow-up templates

Lunch included

Social Media as an Opportunity Engine

12. Training the Algorithm (20 mins)

How to make social media work for you - let opportunities find you first.

13. Closing + Toolkit Handout (10 mins)

• One action step from each person
• Digital toolkit via QR code:
• CV template
• LinkedIn templates
• Outreach messages
• Opportunity tracker
• Sustainability career pathways
• Recommended platforms

15. Final photos, Q&A, and goodbyes (5 mins)

WHAT YOU LEAVE WITH

• 3 professional headshots
• An optimised LinkedIn profile
• Opportunity search list
• Digital toolkit
• Networking practice
• A 3–6 month roadmap
• New connections
• Lunch included

EVENT DETAILS

Date: 10, 24, 31 Open from 08:00, Starts at 09:00 to 14:00

5 hours

The Mercantile Building, 63 Hout Street, Cape Town City Centre

Limited to 20 participants per workshop

Lunch included

3 headshots included

Digital toolkit included