PBHSOB ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
Dear Old Boy
Mandla Holomisa (2005), one of the country’s youngest brand managers speaks about branding, confidence and how he stays one step ahead.
In Mandla Holomisa’s world, there’s no such thing as black and white, or even grey for that matter. Everything has to have colour and great words to accompany it.
A Glenlivet brand manager, Mandla spends the bulk of his time drafting and implementing creative strategies to take the whisky brand forward. It’s a challenging role that sees him spearhead engaging campaigns in the extremely competitive alcoholic beverage industry.
Yet the 26-year-old, who was appointed to his position at just 23 – one of the youngest brand managers in the country – takes it all in his stride.
Born in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, Mandla matriculated from Pretoria Boys High School in Pretoria. From there he moved to Cape Town to complete his tertiary education at Vega, the brand communications school.
Having studied creative brand communications, Mandla became a qualified copywriter. On how his qualification geared him up for his role, he says it provided a practical experience he still draws on today.
“My qualification shaped me well as a lot of what I did is in what I do today- from having to utilise creativity for solutions, client agency relationships, and the articulation of strategy.
“From being immersed in full-scale agency thinking at varsity I was immediately consumed in the concept space. I like to understand people, and marketing needs you to see them in the heart of it all. The pace is exciting, is always changing and needs a lot of adaptation.”
Understanding that overcoming challenges is of the essence, Mandla admits that he found things challenging at first. He had just assumed his role as brand manager and was one of the youngest members of staff.
“I’ll be honest and say there were times I felt out of my depth. However with time I gained confidence and got to grips with the brand and made it a success.”
Other challenges Mandla has dealt with are those of actively differentiating the brand. Glenlivet competes in a category where almost all the competitors share a similar-sounding name – Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie, Glen Grand, Glenfarclas. Some consumers can’t tell the difference between them and subsequently assume the various brands are all of the same quality and stand for the same thing.
To combat this perception, Mandla’s team has worked on a single-minded message that can be attributed uniquely to their brand.
“I want to have a purpose that people reach out to for knowledge, inspiration or advice”
“First of all, the consumer of Glenlivet is at the heart of the brand’s positioning. The Glenlivet brand celebrates inspiring legacies. Looking up to people who have left legacies and those who are well on their way to doing so today is inspiring to me as a young man in the world of business.
“I in turn want to leave my own legacy. I want to have a purpose that people reach out to for knowledge, inspiration or advice. That is the most pertinent point of the Glenlivet brand,” remarks Mandla.
So how does one keep focused in such a fast-paced industry? For one, Mandla is intent on winning. Seeing the brand grow from strength to strength is a motivator as well as seeing projects come together. From a personal perspective, he says that his father, UDM leader Bantu Holomisa, is his biggest inspiration.
“My mentor is and always will be my father. His tenacity and will to consistently be an honest and credible voice for the voiceless makes me see what my potential could possibly reach one day. The philosophy he has always guided me to live by is that it’s crucial to find extreme happiness in the areas that you channel your potential towards.”
PRETORIA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL NEWS
Laron Profit is an assistant coach and player development coach for the NBA side Orlando Magic. He played in the NBA himself for, amongst other teams, the LA Lakers with Kobe Bryant.
He visited Boys High while he was on holiday in South Africa. He shared his knowledge and love for basketball with the boys and they were inspired by his positive and sincere words on dedication, hard work and the importance of faith.
PRETORIA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL FIXTURES & EVENTS
- 14 October 2014
Form V Valediction - 14 – 15 October 2014
Inter-House Archery - 14 – 17 October 2014
Inter-House Squash (J) - 15 October 2014
Form V Final Assembly - 16 – 19 October
Tennis: Grey College Tournament - 18 October
Athletics: Clover Athletics Meeting (Bloemfontein) - 20 – 24 October
Inter-House Debating - 21 – 24 October 2014
Inter-House Squash (S)
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SCHOOLBOY
7 a.m. – Wakened by Mum.
7.10 a.m. – Fast asleep.
7.15 a.m. – Wakened by Dad.
7.16 a.m. – Fast asleep.
7.30 a.m. – Wakened by a clout.
7.35 a.m. – Go to bathroom for a wash.
7.36 a.m. – Leave bathroom.
7.40 a.m. – Eat breakfast.
7.45 a.m. – Eat Dad’s breakfast.
8.00 a.m. – Leave for school.
10.00 a.m. – Arrive at school.
10.01 a.m. – Forge note for cadets.
10.15 – 11.15 – Watch cadets.
11.30 a.m. – Lessons begin.
11.31 a.m. – Playing noughts and crosses.
12 – 1.30 p.m. – Have a short nap.
1.30 p.m. – Go home.
1.35 p.m. – Eat lunch.
1.40 p.m. – Eat Dad’s lunch.
– J. DOWNES, Form 5E – Pretorian 1964
UPCOMING OLD BOY EVENTS
- 24 & 25 October 2014
40 YEAR ON 2014 - 8 November 2014
20 YEAR ON 2014 - 22 November 2014
10 YEAR ON 2014