TSHEPO JEANS partnership with The Singleton Whisky
Continue readingTHE SINGLETON AND TSHEPO JOIN FORCES IN A LUXURY PARTNERSHIP
Brilliant minds Lead The Pat on Brands Dialogues Youth Edition
The Pat on Brands (POB) Dialogues closed off Youth Month with a series of exhilarating Dialogues led by some of South Africa’s most esteemed entrepreneurs and thought leaders.
The POB Youth Edition 2021 which was made possible through a partnership between Unlocked.Me by Nedbank, took place on 30 June. It served as a platform to commemorate the youth of 1976 while elevating the leadership of today’s youth who are excelling in their respective industries.
As Youth Month de Pat on Brands commemorated young people who are changing the game in their respective fields in a curated dialogue that discussed pertinent issues that young people face today.
In partnership with Unlocked.Me by Nedbank ] and Lerato Agency, the online event took place on Wednesday, 30 June 2021 the Dialogues featured some of the most brilliant minds of our generation.
The Expressive Visionaries
The conversation was opened by a panel of Expressive Visionaries and ed by Katlego Ditlhokwe who is the Lead Strategist at Brave Group. The panel took us through a thought provoking conversations as Spokenpriestess, an Afrobeats DJ shared insights about her creative expression. The panel filled our screens with vibrancy and deep conversation – further reiterating why we chose the name – Expressive Visionaries for the segment. Spokenpriestess, an Afrobeats DJ with an infectious personality, describes herself as an over-all creative. She and Lerato Walaza, hail from Pretoria “the crux of creativity” – Spokenpriestess says.
Lerato Walaza is an actor and aspiring producer. Her career was sparked by a passion for the arts. Lerato related the story of how watching a film with her mother for the first time led her into the world of acting. a story about how her first time watching a film with her mother – needless to say, that was the beginning of a long love life with acting.
The powerful lesson that came through from Lerato’s journey is that, education plays a crucial role in the development of young talent. Unfortunately, most people in creative fields like acting seem to believe that talent on its own is sufficient. Lerato emphasises that “studying enhances the natural talent that you have. There are things that you learn at school that will help you understand the power of the characters you are playing. That is why I advocate for school – it separates the great from the exceptional”.
seriously. Especially in the acting space, many people believe that talent will take you far, however, Lerato believes that “that studying enhances the natural talent that you have – there are things that you learn at school that will help you understand the power of the characters you playing. That is why I advocate for school – it separates the great from the exceptional”.
While the ladies on the panel are at the forefront of the arts industry – Cyril Zuma is behind the lens, making waves in the photography industry as the founder of Color Space – a stock image platform that caters to black people.
WatchThe Expressive Visionaries here.
The Mavens
The maze runners. That is how to describe the Mavens panel – led by Nompumelelo Satsha. She was joined by Sandra Harris, Stanely Malematja and Mirriam Mathebula.
“The corporate space is a maze. They often describe it as a ladder that one has to climb, however I have not found the ladder yet. I concur it is a maze”, opens Mirriam. This sentiment was common among the panellists, each one explaining that their journey was full of twists and turns.
The biggest take-away from this insightful session was the corporate space is about the connections you make with people and leveraging those connections to achieve your dreams. . It is not always going to be easy but with authenticity and hard work you can be successful. if you continueauthentic and make sure you do your best you will succeed.
The Mavens covered topics about on corporate culture. Panellists reflected on how to find your feet in a corporate setting while setting healthy boundaries for yourself. This part of the conversation focused on mental wellbeing and the importance of selfcare. The emphasis was that our wellbeing impacts our level of productivity. organisation you are in and setting boundaries that work for you specifically in that organisation and your life. This part of the discission took light to mental awareness and also taking care of one’s well-being beyond the office. Making note of the fact that everyone has to sustain different aspects of their lives so that they can work productively.
What did Sandra and Stanley had to say? Please include some quotes from them.
Watch here.
The Legacy Builders
You might have read a ton of tips from entrepreneurs, experts and influencers. But today, the Legacy Builders who have graced our screens, Tshepo Mohlala, Ntiski Mkhize and Mfiso Matlhou are undoubtedly moguls in the making. As legacy builders, their stories are about resilience and passion. Their narratives are about doing something that will inspire other people who are embarking in their own journeys.
Tshepo- who is known in the country as “The Jean Maker”, is passionate about his legacy. Quoting his grandmother who told him that “the best thing you can do in life is leave a legacy for your children”.
Agreeing with his sentiments, Ntsiki Mkhize’s journey started at a young age – having seen the gaps for young black women to be empowered and being the change she wanted to see. Her story is too, of resilience and passion.
Mfiso on the other hand is breaking boundaries as a farmer. A less traditional career for many young black people, while others chose to be lawyers and teachers- Mfiso’s love for sustainable farming led him to start his empire.
Watch The Legacy Builders here.
We might look at The Expressive Visionaries, The Mavens, and The Legacy Builders and only glance at the success and the achievements, but if you look closer you will unveil a strategic and courageousjourney. You will see that those accomplishments are the result of years of learning, exploring, and challenges. To get to where they are today, they had to go through immense growth, both personal and professional.
POB Presents The Dialogues 2021 Youth Edition in Partnership with Unlocked.Me by Nedbank
In conjunction with the Pat on Brands Top 16 Brands by the Youth, Pat on Brands will engage in a panel discussion under the Pat on Brands Dialogues, which will be held on the last day of youth month. This year we are partnering with Nedbank to make this insightful conversation possible.
Continue readingTop brands founded and run by the youth in South Africa
Have you wondered which brands in South Africa are founded and run by the youth? This article aims to fulfill that curiosity.
Benjamin Disraeli once said, “almost everything that is great has been done by youth”. It is true, the youth are creators and innovators. They are able to spot opportunities where many see problems and challenge the status-quo. Above all they are resilient and they stop at nothing to build something that will have a positive impact and be valuable to the societies in which they live.
The African Youth Charter defines the youth as any person between the ages of 18 and 35. In no particular order, these are some of the most notable brands that were founded by the youth of South Africa.
Bathu (Founder: Theo Baloyi, 30)
If you have never heard of the brand Bathu, where have you been? This is a brand that has been enabling South Africans and the world to walk their journeys since 2015. The name Bathu is a colloquial term for a shoe in the township. According to Theo Baloyi, the brand was founded with the purpose of telling the authentic township story. Bathu is growing rapidly and they now have seven stores across the country, and produce their own branded shoe care products.
The Lazy Makoti (Founder: Mogau Seshoene, 28)
The Lazy Makoti brand has become a household name in many kitchens thanks to Mogau Seshoene. The Lazy Makoti offers intimate and informative cooking lessons for the modern Afropolitian who wants to know how to prepare authentic South African dishes. The Lazy Makoti signature apron is also available on sale. Mogau recently published a book called “THE LAZY MAKOTI’S GUIDE TO THE KITCHEN which has won international awards and is the best-selling cook-book in South Africa. The book is available at all major bookstores.
Skinny Sbu Socks (Sibusiso Ngwenya, 28)
Skinny Sbu Socks is one brand that most people are familiar with because of its founder Sibusiso Ngwenya aka Skinny Sbu, who possesses a larger than life personality. As the name suggests, Skinny Sbu Socks designs and manufactures premium socks for men. Many male celebrities have been spotted wearing Skinny Sbu Socks. In 2019, the brand broke the internet when Skinny Sbu handed a pair of Skinny Sbu Socks to President Cyril Ramaphosa. Skinny Sbu is never shy to speak his mind and he understands the power of using PR in building your brand. In actual fact, the entire Skinny Sbu Socks brand was built on the back of PR. Skinny Sbu Socks are now available in selected Markham stores and via their online store.
Inga Atalier (Founder: Inga Gubeka, 33)
Inga Gubeka is well underway in building one of Africa’s luxury brands. According to Forbes, Inga is one of Africa’s most promising young entrepreneurs. He is the first African to have a single malt whiskey named after him by Glenfiddich. Inga Atelier makes wooden and leather bags. Their collection includes backpacks, clutches, tote, and laptop bags. Inga Atelier manufactures all its products locally and come with a customised scent. Inga Atelier has a store in one of the most premium malls in South Africa, Hyde Park Corner.
Dipalesa Flowas (Founder: Mahlatse Mashao, 32)
This is a remarkable story of a brand that was conceived from a hospital bed. Mahlatse Mashao was in hospital when she came with the idea of selling flowers, which is something that she was passionate about from when she still a little girl. When she was discharged, she tweeted that she has started selling flowers and the tweet viral and people placed orders. That’s how she landed her first order. Dipalesa Flowas are available via their online store and they now also sell gifting products.
Natural Aura (Founder Dr Charlene Makita, 31)
Not only does Dr Charlen Makita posses academic prowess. She is also a brand builder of note. Natural Aura was born after, Dr Makita completed her masters and her Phd from the University of Witwatersrand (Wits), when she spotted a gap in the market for a Moringa-based organic hair care line. Using her scientific background in analytical chemistry, she began creating various concoctions until she arrived at the perfect formula and in 2016 Natural Aura was born. Natural Auroa is available online.
Tshepo Jeans (Founder: Tshepo Mohlala, 29)
This is a classic example of an entrepreneur who was told that the name of his brand wasn’t going to sell and he proved all the naysayers wrong. What most people don’t know is that the Tshepo Jeans’ logo – a three-pronged crown – is inspired by the three women to have played a role in the upbringing of Tshepo: His mother, grandmother, and trendy aunt Takalani who brought the fashion one used to see on TV to reality. You can order Tshepo Jeans online or visit their store at Victoria Yards, Lorentzville, Johannesburg.
A huge Pat on all the youth out there that are creating great brands. If you know of other brands, please free to leave a comment below.