ABOUT US
In a business environment defined by rapid change, uncertainty, and information overload, leaders no longer struggle with a lack of data — they struggle with knowing which data to trust. Decisions are only as good as the insight behind them. At Motto Surveys, our purpose is to provide leaders with quantifiable, reliable, and validated insight into what truly matters: perception.
Perception shapes behaviour. Behaviour shapes performance. Yet perception is often treated as intangible, subjective, or difficult to measure. Our work is built on a different belief — that perception can be measured, structured, and translated into actionable intelligence. Through our survey tools, we capture the mindset of individuals, teams, leaders, and entire organisations, and convert it into clear, decision-ready insight.
Motto Surveys was born out of more than 20 years of consulting and data-collection experience. Over two decades, we have worked alongside senior leadership teams across organisations, repeatedly encountering the same challenge: leaders need honest, unbiased, and validated feedback to make the right decisions — but traditional methods are slow, inconsistent, or distorted by internal dynamics. Our survey methodology was developed to solve this problem.
Our tools are designed for the realities of today’s organisations. They go beyond surface-level engagement metrics to measure underlying beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions that drive performance, alignment, risk, and culture. The result is data that is not only statistically robust, but also deeply relevant — insight that leaders can trust when making high-stakes decisions.
Because our survey capability is grounded in consulting practice, we understand both sides of the equation: the science of measurement and the practical demands of leadership. We know how senior management teams think, what pressures they face, and how insight must be framed to drive clarity and action. This positions Motto Surveys uniquely — not as a data provider, but as a strategic partner in decision-making.
At our core, we help leaders see what is really happening inside their organisations. By packaging mindset and perception into structured, validated insight, we enable confident, informed decisions that move organisations forward.
OUR FOUNDER
Dr Mariheca Otto
Dr Mariheca Otto is the founder of Motto Surveys and the owner and managing consultant of Motto Business Consulting, a role she has held since 2005. Her work sits at the intersection of organisational development, leadership, and internal marketing — with a specific focus on creating genuine buy-in to strategy, vision, and change.
With more than 20 years of experience in consulting, coaching, and facilitating organisational development and change management processes, Dr Otto has worked with a wide range of clients across multiple industries. She partners with credible consultants and HR service providers to deliver interventions that are both theoretically sound and practically effective. This depth of exposure has shaped her belief that sustainable organisational change begins with understanding mindset, perception, and alignment at every level of the organisation.
Dr Otto holds a B.Com (Hons) in Industrial Psychology and Sociology, a Higher Education Diploma (HED), an M.Com, and a PhD in Business Management from North-West University (formerly Potchefstroom University). Her doctoral research led to the development of the Motto Model™, a framework designed to make sense of how individual and collective perceptions influence behaviour, performance, and outcomes.
Building on this academic foundation and two decades of applied consulting research, Dr Otto developed a suite of survey tools grounded in the Motto Model™. These tools are designed to move beyond generic measurement, enabling organisations to quantify perception in a meaningful way and to use validated data as the starting point for tailored development and change processes — for individuals, teams, leaders, and organisations.
In addition to her consulting and research work, Dr Otto is a published author. Her book, aimed at guiding individuals and small groups through a structured personal development journey aligned to life purpose, has proven particularly valuable in mentorship contexts. The book is available directly from Motto and through Takealot.
A dynamic and respected thought leader, Dr Otto regularly shares insights on leadership, organisational effectiveness, and personal development through video content and podcast interviews on her YouTube channel. Her work continues to bridge theory and practice, ensuring that the tools and methodologies behind Motto Surveys remain relevant, credible, and deeply impactful.
MOTTO SURVEY SUPPORT
Leo Strydom
Leo is the operational backbone of the Motto survey process — managing the backend systems and client interface that keep surveys running accurately and on schedule. Currently completing his BCom in Business Management, he combines a structured, detail-oriented approach with a genuine commitment to making the survey experience as seamless as possible for every client.
Whether you need technical assistance, have a question mid-survey, or require guidance on the process, Leo is available to help directly.
Cell: +27 63 670 7678
MOTTO EXECUTIVE COACH & CERTIFICATION HEAD
Jenny Wensing
Jenny Wensing has over 30 years experience in the field of organisational development, H.R. management, leadership development, high engagement workshops and coaching.
She is British born, a Dutch national, and after a successful career in corporate H.R., has established herself as a dynamic and much sought after change management consultant, facilitator and executive coach.
She is a practical, out of the box thinker, and has worked across multiple industries at all organisational levels in Europe, South Africa, and the UAE. She is passionate about helping organisations navigate organisational change and improve their effectiveness.
She is certified in the Motto Self-Perception Survey, the Gender Perception Tool (all surveys), The Engagement Survey and the Leadership 360 Tool.
MOTTO SENIOR CONSULTANT
Gretchen Blake
Gretchen provides specialist Human Capital consulting to large and medium sized public and private enterprises. Gretchen has played an integral role in crafting Transformation, Inclusion and diversity strategies that integrate sector, cultural and demographic dynamics within large businesses in emerging markets. With a focus on sustainable transformation in respect of Gender, Gretchen is well versed on the 2x Gender Impact strategies guiding Gender lens investments. Gretchen’s experience in developing and implementing tactical gender mainstreaming mechanisms provides a hands-on and organisational specific gender solution. She brings highly practical and grounded insights into the realities of implementing requirements of international good practices, social and labour management standards across a number of South African and Sub-Saharan African countries.
Gretchen’s recent experience as the Chief People Officer of a large ,geographically spread company in the agricultural, manufacturing and forestry sector has equipped Gretchen with the necessary skills to manage complex labour issues with specific technical expertise in large scale Organisational design processes. With more than 25 years experience, Gretchen has a B.Soc.Sci qualification from the University of Stellenbosch and has a suite of accredited qualifications including inter alia Paterson job grading assessor, Teambuilding (TM)facilitator, CCMA conciliator and IMSSA facilitator.
She is certified in the Motto Self-Perception Survey, the Gender Perception Tool (all surveys), The Engagement Survey and the Leadership 360 Tool.
INDEPENDENT MOTTO CERTIFIED CONSULTANT
Lilly Berrington
Lilley Berrington is an independent Motto certified consultant and coach, and has postgraduate qualifications in Psychology and Political Science. She specialises in one-on-one processes, such as individual coaching, personal development plans, and facilitating workshops tailored around an individual’s specific needs.
She is skilled in connecting with clients, relying on her empathetic listening skills and natural compassion for others in building strong, sustainable relationships that encourage trust.
As a disabled woman, she is especially passionate about working in the disability space, in terms of both physical and psychological disabilities. Both of her postgraduate dissertations focused on disability-related issues, and she has considerable experience in disability consulting in her personal capacity. She has also served in various leadership positions in societies and on committees that raise awareness and advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities.
Clients who trust us:
