BRAAIVELD BRAND STRATEGY AND DESIGN
At BraaiVeld, we craft authentic, purpose-driven brands that reflect the soul of your hospitality business. Through our in-depth Brand Workshops, we define your Brand DNA and strategy, then bring it to life with cohesive identity guides, logos, templates, and social media design, ensuring every touchpoint feels beautifully consistent and uniquely you.
Team Leaders in Brand Strategy and Design
Maria Ryder - Brand & CX Strategist
Maria is a brand builder, experience architect, and sustainability advocate who believes that the most powerful connections are created through purposeful interactions and the creation of meaningful moments. With an MBA (cum laude) in Sustainability Management and an Honours degree in Corporate Communications and Marketing, she brings together strategic insight, creative execution, and deep operational expertise.
Over the past two decades, Maria has founded and led a live marketing and events agency and held senior roles including Head of Experiential Marketing Europe for General Motors and Cadillac that has delivered over 4,500 high-impact hospitality experiences across Europe, North America, and Africa. She has been vendor for more than 188 corporate clients.
From London to Ngorongoro Crater, and Stockholm to the Serengeti, she has shaped brand narratives and guest experiences that leave lasting impressions. Maria is known for her meticulous attention to detail, from the smallest touchpoint to the overarching vision. Her passion lies in creating “campfire conversations” authentic, human-centred encounters that build brand love, loyalty, and memories.
A skilled communicator and natural connector, she combines business acumen with a deep love for conservation, community development, and ethical brand storytelling.
She is a respected leader and culture ambassador who brings warmth, integrity, and purpose to every project. Friendly and down-to-earth, Maria is always in search of the optimal balance between sustainability, humanity, and progress.
Roxanne Hawker - Visual Designer
Roxanne brings a rare blend of creativity and analytical precision to every project she leads.
A certified make-up artist with a natural eye for design, she has an exceptional ability to create cohesion and visual harmony - skills that shine through in BraaiVeld’s development of Style Guides and SOPs.
Her creative sensibility ensures that each guide not only delivers operational clarity but also captures the essence of a brand’s DNA, bringing it beautifully to life across every touchpoint.
Not only does Roxanne have extensive design experience, but she is also a Chartered Accountant CA(SA) with years of financial leadership across dynamic, multi-branch environments.
She has a proven track record in process automation, strategic reporting, and cross-functional collaboration. In her most recent role as Financial Manager, she led a multidisciplinary team and partnered with IT developers to automate core workflows — improving accuracy, strengthening internal controls, and reducing turnaround times.
Known for her calm, methodical, and solutions-driven approach, Roxanne combines creative flair with structured precision. Her leadership style emphasizes continuous improvement, operational efficiency, and data-driven decision-making - all grounded in the calm focus she finds in the bushveld, particularly the Lowveld, where her love for wildlife continues to inspire her thoughtful approach to both business and design.
