Page 61 - KZN Top Business Woman 2025 - eBook

Stacey Norman

Drive Host on East Coast Radio in these women, and I think they see themselves in me. want to do it, but I thought, if I’m scared, then there
It feels like I’ve come home.” must be others who are too. Let’s do it together,” she

tacey Norman, a drive host on East Coast Her approach to radio is anything but traditional. Stacey says, recounting how she included listeners in the
S Radio, KZN’s number one hit music station, has managed to break the mould of the stereotypical process. “We had women join me on the journey, and
has been captivating audiences for over 20 radio host, offering a space for real, unfiltered interaction they also passed their driver’s tests with me. It was all
years. With a career that began in her teenage years, she about showing that vulnerability and connecting with
with her listeners. Rather than adopting the usual formal
has grown into a figure that embodies the essence of tone of a presenter, Stacey created an experience where my listeners on a real level.”
KwaZulu-Natal.
the audience felt like co-hosts in the conversation. “I WORDS OF WISDOM
Stacey’s entry into the world of radio is one of those want to make sure they feel like they’re part of the show,
Stacey offers valuable advice for young women looking
serendipitous moments that shaped her career. She not just passive listeners. I want the audience to feel like
to follow in her footsteps. “It’s difficult, and you have
recalls, “I won a talent competition at KFM when I was they’re talking to me, not at me,” she says. “When you
to accept that,” she says. “It’s not all glitz and glam. It
15, but I didn’t want to participate. My mother did it see me in the street or at Woolworths, I want you to feel
takes a lot of work, and you have to dig deep every
behind my back, so she is single-handedly responsible like you can walk up to me and say, ‘Hey, girl!’ and I’ll be
day. You can’t just show up; you have to be present and
for everything that I’ve done and reminds me every right there with you, ‘Hey, girl!’”
deliver.” She encourages women to push through the
chance she gets.” She added, “I was raised to be on
Over the years, Stacey has not only carved a successful insecurities and challenges that will inevitably come
stage. There’s nothing that I’ve ever done where my dad
career but also navigated the challenges that come their way and importantly to surround themselves with
hasn’t been right there with a video camera.”
with being a woman in the male-dominated radio people that support them.
Starting off with weekend overnight shifts, Stacey industry. She acknowledges the obstacles, explaining,
“The most important thing is to stay true to yourself,”
quickly climbed the ranks at KFM. “I did weekend “Female presenters have historically been sidelined to
Stacey advises. “Find your signature, and don’t try to
overnights for two weeks, then weekend evenings, sidekick roles, giggling in the background. It wasn’t
be someone you’re not. Because if you start with a fake
and eventually daytime,” she explains. “I was the common for women to host prime time slots, let alone
accent or a fake personality, you might have to keep that
youngest person they ever had on daytime radio.” a drive show.”
going for 20 to 30 years. Radio is an incredibly beautiful
With years spent honing her craft, Stacey’s presence
Yet, against these odds, Stacey has found her place at the medium, but it takes time and respect. If you’re looking
soon extended beyond Cape Town when Primedia
forefront of the industry. She has spent her life chasing for fame, go somewhere else. But if you want to make an
simulcasted her show to 94.7 in Johannesburg. Her
excellence, as such her journey has been marked by impact and create something meaningful, this is where
journey took her across the country, from the streets
of Cape Town to Johannesburg, where she expanded determination and a refusal to be put in a box. “The fact you belong.”
her media footprint with television appearances and that I’m still here is remarkable,” she reflects. Stacey’s dream is clear: to be the best at what she does.
hosting gigs. But despite her achievements, Stacey’s
However, Stacey’s success wasn’t without its personal “For me, the pinnacle of a radio presenter’s career is
biggest career pivot came when East Coast Radio
challenges. “Navigating who Stacey is versus who to host a breakfast show, and that’s where I want to
reached out, offering her the chance to return to radio.
Stacey Norman is has been a huge transition,” she be,” she says. “I’ve done it all, but I want to continue
She became the first female drive host at East Coast
admits. “I created this persona, this perfect version of to grow and challenge myself. It’s about finding the
Radio in 2020.
myself who was always on and never had a bad day. balance between ambition and presence.”
A UNIQUE VOICE But behind the scenes, I struggled with insecurities like Away from the microphone, she finds solace in running.
everyone else.”
Stacey quickly discovered a unique connection with her “I’m deeply introverted, so quiet time is important and
audience. “I feel like KZN was waiting for me,” she shares. In a bid to be more relatable to her audience, Stacey that’s what running is for me. It’s my sacred time. I
“There are so many women in this province who are took on challenges that exposed her true self. One of don’t want a running buddy. I just want to listen to
loud, vivacious, and unapologetically themselves. And the most notable moments was when she publicly some Taylor Swift or a podcast, mind my business and
they needed some kind of representation. I see myself attempted to get her driver’s license live on air. “I didn’t carry on.”

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