Ten (More) Young South African Digital Citizens To Watch
In March 2007 (jeez, that long ago??) I wrote a post titled Ten Young South African Digital Citizens To Watch. In it I highlighted the guys and girls I believed would make a big, meaningful impact over the next few months in the South African digital space.
I’m pleased to report that many of them have done so and in most cases exceeded my hopes and expectations for them. The likes of Tyler Reed, Mark Forrester and Nic Haralambous have forged formidable reputations for themselves in the industry.
It’s over a year since that post though, and it’s time to highlight some fresh new faces that have popped onto my radar. Please understand if I don’t mention you on this list it’s because I’m human. It’s also in no particular order, unlike the Nerdy Awards :) Here are my Ten More Young South African Digital Citizens To Watch:
- David Perel
- Palesa Sibeko
- Vincent Hofmann
- Saul Kropman
- Nick Jackson
- Heidi Schneigansz
- Jason Bagley
- Christopher Mills
- Charl Norman
- Adriaan (Adii) Pienaar
I don’t know David as well as I’d like but I love what he and his brother Marc are doing with their stylish video podcast (which they smartly call a video show) From The Couch. They describe it as “an Online Video show, hosted by brothers Marc and David Perel, which covers everything web orientated. We show you CSS tips, how to create websites from nothing and also chat about news in the web world. Don’t miss our daily shows right here!”
Once upon a time a hundred years ago I tried publishing a podcast once a week and found it damn near impossible. These guys are doing a great job of their show and deserve your attention.
I make some good business decisions. I make more bad ones though. Hiring Palesa Sibeko was probably the best I’ve ever made though. Not only is Palesa phenomenally good at her job of community and content manager for sites like the Samsung Blog and our Toyota blogs, but she is pretty sharp on development and brilliant with clients. On top of all that she is a scary-good gamer and a gifted musician – one of the better bassists I’ve met (and I’ve met a few). Catch her on Twitter.
Ignore the Hof at your peril. Vincent is damn smart, very resourceful and highly connected. He understands the business and technical sides of the Web and has a track record of excellent work to boot. He runs the Moral Fibre Network (which also does super cool T-shirts, incidentally), listens to metal and plays a mean round of golf. In 2008 Vincent stirred the pot a little with co-conspirator Saul Kropman with Beat Magazine, a much-needed satirical look at the SA technorati. It was a super idea that was ended before it’s time :)
Another dude I don’t know well enough, other than in reference to his contribution to the afore-mentioned Beat Magazine skandaal, Saul comes across sharp, well-written and full of promise. His blog always makes for excellent reading, and I keep an eye on both his entrepreneurial ventures – Visual Affair, a student marketing company and FirstStep.co.za, an “online youth consultancy site where (he) give(s) information to the lost youth of South Africa.”
In my limited interactions with Nick, usually over a Jack at the 27dinners, he has come across as mature and insightful way beyond his years. Nick is one of the brains behind Firewater Interactive and likes pretty cars and fast girls. Or is that fast cars and pretty girls? He’s well worth a lunch bill, either way.
I have oooodles of respect for Heidi. From being a graphic designer in Standard Bank’s corporate cubefarm, clueless about social media a year ago, she has learned, climbed, fought and forged her way to not only being recognised as a significant personality in the SA social media space but shouldering the responsibility of representing the bank at the same time. A classic example being the sterling work she does for the bank in Twitter. She is unashamedly proud of the bank, and it’s damn contagious (“but I don’t want to love a bank – aaaargh!”). Find her at her blog and of course, on Twitter.
The Bagley, from all my interactions with him, is as solid and as nice a guy as you could hope to meet. As far as I know he’s currently doing work with Tyler at Younique and Fred and the gang at World Wide Creative. He’s clued up in the ways of WordPress, PHP, and all them other geeky things.
I hope Chris would not be offended when I call him an opportunist. It’s not meant negatively at all – this guy knows how to spot an opportunity, see a gap, fill a need, and capitalise on it all. He’s formidable. He runs one of South Africa’s most widely read and popular blogs, and is one of those people that is probably too smart for this planet. He’s clearly looking forward to space travel, so that he can find others like him in the galaxy. Good luck with that Chris, I have no doubt you’ll be off to register MilkyWayTalent.com in a mo…
Charl Norman is not just a promising young talent, he’s already proven what he can do. Climbing on the social networking explosion of 2007 and 2008, Charl realised he could use his Web savvy and business instincts to bring niche social networks (like BlueWorld and ZoopedUp) to the South African internet. And he did it so well a big-ass media company paid him lost of money for it – and rightly deserved. Charl has, despite his admirable succes, remained a pleasant, humble and trustworthy dude that I sincerely enjoy meeting up with. The only downside is that I have to have four Red Bulls laced with acid to keep up with the conversation…
I think I’ve said it on this blog once before, but one of my all time biggest blunders was underestimating Adii the first time I met him. One minute he was a nice guy helping out with a WordPress site for a conference I was attending, the next minute Barack Obama was phoning him for relationship advice. I’ve asked Adii to employ me but since my pet iguana has more coding aptitude than I it ain’t gonna happen. Want to know how to make money online? Look no further than Adii, WordPress Rockstar, and his WooThemes project.
Here’s to seeing you all move from strength to strength, flying the flag of SA digital talent high :)
Wow Mike! I am truly honoured and suprised to be included on this list. To be in the company of people like Christopher Mills, Charl Norman and Adii- heck, all of them!- is too inspirational for words to adequately describe! You rock dude!
Stoked to get a mention Mike. Listen, I’m looking for an intern down here in the Cape – you interested? :)
Cool list man. Not as cool as the 1st though :P :P
Mike…dude…I’m more than flattered.
If I find myself believing what you said about me I promise to start blogging even :)
I’m with Stefano – great list! But the first one… nothing beats a first!! :) Jokes. Great list Mike and very glad that you decided to continue this thread, think it’s an interesting thing to keep an eye on – those who come and go, thrive and make moves.
VERY nice list. I think we can all learn a lot from everybody on your list. I love the way these guys stay so humble and down to earth despite their success.
Wow Mike thanks so much for the mention and the flattering words. That’s very cool – let’s hope this year moral fibre will grow and make me even more proud.
Thank you so much again, and to be on the list with my peers really rocks. I clearly have profound respect for Saul and Palesa as their online and offline work and integrity is to be admired!
Hi Mike,
Thank you for the mention, you’ve got a fantastic reputation and to know what I was on your mind for this article is a most wonderful feeling.
I do agree with what you said and am not offended at all. I think a lot of it has to do with maturity and self discovery, but I’ve come up with a plan for 2009, just one idea which I’m going to focus my free time on, so here’s to hoping that in a year from now, your next article will feature it.
Great list and great people!
Christopher
Cheers for the kudo’s Mike. And I’d like to believe that Obama would’ve been happily married even without my advice… :)
Inspirational list man.
i nominate Damien du Toit coda.co.za, for your 2009 list watch him
Ummm, wow. Totally unexpected to be featured in this list.
Thanks for the props Mike. This is a great list dude, and spot on if you are ask me. Charl, Chris M and Adii are titans in the web world. Massive respect for those three!
Wow Mike, I’m so honoured to make the list! Incidentally, joining Cerebra was probably the best decision I’ve ever made…along with deciding to fulfil my life’s dream to attend Music school. Oh and I’m not THAT good at gaming but I beat you at Guitar Hero and that’s good enough for me :)
Much appreciated :D
BTW well done 4 getting 2 num 3 on google.co.za 4 the keyword mike. Shows how effective bloging can b.
Also: subscribe to “From The Couch” from my Samsung Omnia. Good Job Guys!
Good list!
I think that you hit the ChrisM comments on the head. His natural stubborn for success is his greatest asset and being the opportunist that he is consistent.
He needs one lucky break though, cos I can vouch for his hard work!
Hi Mike
Can I edit my write up? I want to include more stuff?? Haaaa… kidding
Thanks for the mention bud, much appreciated
Well done to everyone on Mike’s list.
ps: guess I’ll have to try harder this year – i still consider myself a young south african digital citizen
LOL all the comments are by people mentioned… anyone use private email to pat a back anymore?
Nice post Mike. The level of South African talent is really inspiring to see, it’s nice to know that we some awesome creative minds and they they are doing us proud.
Another great post, well done to the people mentioned and rightly so!
Awww poey
I didnt make it to the it list…ah well…next time
Well done to all especially my son Chris (Imod)
*blush*
Thanks Dad!
Awwwww look at that, Alberkoikoi got a shout out from his pops! Cuuuute!
Well done on the list this year Mike, I agree with most of the dudes here. Maybe its biasm from twitter though. :P
This is one of the coolest lists Mike. Congrats to all the guys mentioned. Christopher Mills, Saul Kropman and David Perel are already on my speed dial, now to make sure I get to know the rest of you! Can’t wait to see how you guys will make SA proud in 2009.
Good list and good for inspiration for the rest of us!
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Congrats to all the guys mentioned. Christopher Mills, Saul Kropman and David Perel are already on my speed dial, now to make sure I get to know the rest of you!
your next article will feature it.
Cool article Mike but young up and comers are nice to know but what is really interesting is your opinion on who are the real digital guys in your country that have formidable businesses and have accomplished profits and sustainable businesses already
I live in New York City and when I investigate who to approach for opportunities in new countries I always hit the local blogosphere first.
There is nothing available in South Africa like what I am asking above.
Why not write a post about who, in your opinion, are the ten most formidable business people in the digital space in SA and why …
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