12 Aug Pragmattica: Delivering Practical Intelligence for Real-World Business Growth

In this Member Spotlight, we’re talking to Amanda Bester, founder of Pragmattica Digital Consulting, a consultancy born from a desire to bring clarity, objectivity, and results to a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

With over a decade of experience leading digital media operations for agencies, media companies, and tech firms, Amanda has carved out a niche in helping organisations navigate complexity with straightforward, actionable strategies. From monetisation planning to performance marketing, Pragmattica partners with businesses to unlock new revenue streams and growth opportunities, always with a focus on being a trusted collaborator rather than just another service provider.

We sat down with Amanda to talk about Pragmattica’s origin story, the consultancy’s unique approach, and some of the standout wins they’ve achieved for clients across sectors. Here’s what she had to say:

Q: How did your journey as a founder begin?

I launched Pragmattica by converting a job offer into my first retainer client during the December holidays of 2017. After more than a decade spent managing digital media operations for media companies, agencies, and tech firms, including being employee number one at two programmatic tech startups in South Africa, I’ve developed 360-degree insight into both local and international digital media ecosystems, with a niche expertise in monetization strategies for media companies.

Q: Tell us about the origin of Pragmattica

The inspiration for Pragmattica came from seeing, time and again, how businesses struggled with unbiased, practical advice as the digital landscape grew more complex. As an employee, I was often bound to promote my employer’s own solutions, which made true objectivity impossible. I was motivated to fill that gap and become a trusted partner who could offer clear direction and independent guidance. Since then, Pragmattica has built a reputation as a management consultancy that helps companies navigate the digital ecosystem, with a collaborative, hands-on approach, and a clear distinction between being a consultancy vs an agency.

Q: What does Pragmattica do best?

We’re all about delivering Practical Intelligence; clear, actionable business strategies specializing in monetization, go-to-market planning, and performance marketing, helping organizations unlock new revenue streams and reach their growth potential.

While our roots are in serving B2B clients, our expertise extends across a diverse range of industries. Our client portfolio includes, but is not limited to, financial service providers, tech and ICT companies, nonprofits, and brands in the education, travel and tourism sectors.

Ultimately what we do best is helping our partners navigate the digital media ecosystem. There are plenty of companies/service providers that will try to sell you the Rolls Royce of services and solutions, when sometimes all you need is the Toyota (no offense to Toyota ☺). Which, again, is why Pragmattica is a consultancy not an agency; we collaborate and work with agencies.

Q: What is your consulting approach grounded in?

Our methodology is practical, and results driven. Unlike your traditional corporate consulting firms, we don’t just consult and leave you with an overwhelming report and a large bill. Pragmattica is an agile consultancy servicing the SME sector.  We are actively part of the process from start to finish. Working with our clients and facilitating partnerships  to implement the strategies to make progress and deliver results. Our clients have found our approach to be a more transparent and refreshing experience. We prefer to exceed expectations rather than over promise.

Q: What are some of the standout results or wins you’re proud of?

A few actually, but these 3 are standouts for us:

1. Accelerating Growth for a Leading FSP: We were brought in as a subcontractor on a 3-month B2B marketing research project for one of the country’s largest financial service providers. The quality and impact of our work not only exceeded the client’s expectations but also led to a larger follow-up project and an ongoing consulting relationship that extended for over 18 months.
2. Transformational Consulting for an ICT Solutions Firm: An ICT company approached us for marketing and monetization advice, but our engagement quickly expanded into a full-scale management consulting partnership. We guided a complete business rebrand, developed a robust go-to-market and sales strategy, and helped the client shorten their B2B sales cycle by 50%.
3. Delivering ROI for a Non-Profit Organization: For an NPO we ran a low cost test campaign initiative as their Meta and Google ads performance had reached a plateau. We improved cost per results by 264% and 56% improvement in cost efficiency of their ad budgets which resulted in the organization being able to invest those ad spend savings into their business.

Q: What excites you most about being based at Innovation City?

I’ve been a frequent visitor of Innovation City ever since its inception, it’s been long overdue to become an official member. While Pragmattica’s operations run fully remote with regional and international partners, it’s always better to have a physical presence where we can network and conduct in-person sessions. I’d love to unlock more business partnerships and collaborate on projects together with like-minded companies within this space.  There’s something dynamic about this environment that can really help spark new opportunities and growth

Q: What’s something people often misunderstand about consulting that you’d love to clarify?

Consultants aren’t here to threaten or overshadow your team; they’re an added-value resource designed to amplify and enable growth within your organization. I’ve often mentioned to clients that it’s not necessarily a shortage of skills but a capacity issue. Your team already has full-time roles to manage, and new projects require extra time and focus that isn’t always available.

Bringing in a consultant adds much-needed capacity and a fresh, broader perspective gained from working across multiple clients and industries. These insights can be invaluable in shaping effective business solutions. Ultimately, a consultant’s role isn’t to replace anyone but to serve as a trusted extension of your team, supporting you and your company’s mission and goals.

Consultants aren’t hired just to confirm what you already believe; they’re brought in to provide honest, sometimes tough feedback about what your business really needs to hear, not just what you want to hear. Over the years, I’ve helped clients avoid pursuing countless non-starter projects, saving them millions by identifying risks and challenges early, preventing costly mistakes before they happen.

Q: Beyond business, what else drives you?

Fast cars, I like them – a lot! ☺ I’ve been known to dabble in racing and spotted on the race track. On a more personal note, I’m driven by a purpose of inspiring people to be more courageous and brave, to step out of their comfort zones and build up their confidence within themselves. Something I can only accomplish by living my life this way.

Pragmattica’s story is a reminder that the right insight, delivered with honesty and practicality, can transform a business’s trajectory. If you’re seeking clear strategy, hands-on execution, and a partner who will tell you what you need to hear, explore how Pragmattica can help your business grow.