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.

1. Identity, Purpose & The Opportunity Mindset
(Icebreakers, confidence reset, personal positioning)
– Welcome & Energy Reset (10 mins): What this workshop will unlock, why young people “miss” opportunities, cases of youth success in South Africa.

– Purpose & Opportunity Mapping (20 mins): Align with yourself to align with the right opportunities.

2. LinkedIn Transformation Lab

(Live optimisation + templates + headshots)

– The LinkedIn Formula (15 mins): The art of using LinkedIn to open doors to opportunity.

– Profile Overhaul (30 mins): Live editing of Headline, About section, Experience, Achievements, Skills, Keywords.

– Professional Headshots onsite in photography studio (35 mins):
3 portrait shots per person for LinkedIn + applications.

3. Finding Local & Global Opportunities

– Where Opportunities Actually Live (20 mins): Map of the opportunity ecosystem including local, remote, hybrid, government & international scope.
– Application Strategy (20 mins): Realistic expectations for applications, storytelling for beginners, what selection committees look for.
– Personal Opportunity Map (20 mins): Build a 3–6 month plan, select top 5 opportunities, map deadlines.

4. Practical Networking + Lunch Networking Simulation
(Includes lunch)

– How Networking Works (20 mins): Where to find events, what to say, how to follow up, creating opportunities for yourself.
– Networking Simulation Lunch (40 mins): Practice networking while eating lunch with real-time coaching.

5. Social Media as an Opportunity Engine
– Training the Algorithm (20 mins): How to make social media work for you.

6. Closing + Toolkit Handout

– One action step from each person.
– Digital toolkit via QR code: CV template, LinkedIn templates, outreach messages, opportunity tracker, sustainability career pathways, recommended platforms.

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

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