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Stand againSt

Bland at the

Mall of africa

Founder of multi‐award‐winning marketing and brand

consultancy, DNA Brand Architects, Sylvester Chauke,

takes a Stand Against Bland in his recently published book.

a Mahlape adds: “Blackbird Books is It was therefore inevitable that he
CNBC All Africa Business
put pen to paper to try and answer
a platform that concerns itself with
Young Leader of the
Year, SA Premier Business
Entrepreneur of the Year, BBQ black talent that is claiming space these questions – to share his
boldly, and this book is exactly
insights and hopefully add value to
Young Leader of the Year, and named it. I hope you enjoy reading it as countless young people who want to
in the Top 100 South Africans, amongst much as we enjoyed making it.” make a difference for their start‐ups,
other accolades, Sylvester Chauke the companies they work for, their
is positioned as one of the most Having made a mark during his time families and their communities.
noteworthy leaders of our generation. as the national marketing manager
for Nando’s South Africa, then later Stand Against Bland is a book that looks
He pays it forward with his highly at MTV Networks Africa as director into the art of doing things differently.
anticipated book, Stand Against of marketing and communication, It takes readers inside the mind of
Bland. More than just a sentence, Sylvester Chauke has over 20 years a man who stands out, brilliantly
‘stand against bland’ is a call to of experience using the ‘stand and consistently, from the rest.
action, a way of life, and a unique against bland’ approach ‐ it’s the
approach that has allowed Sylvester cornerstone of his success which “The book is a slice of what I do
Chauke to stand out as a powerful has led his consultancy to work on and how I do it - and a reflection
creative and marketing force. some of the most revered brands of my journey and the lessons so
on the continent, and make history far. I have by no means ‘arrived’,
“The first time I walked into DNA, I as the first black‐owned agency but I am a product of a generation
had no idea who Sylvester was or to win a PRISM Campaign of the that shared so much and has given
what the company did. I remember Year in PRISM’s 22‐year history. me so much and now it’s my turn
very vividly, though, the goosebumps to share,” expresses Chauke.
I had walking into an office space Sylvester Chauke receives hundreds
that screamed both success and of messages on a weekly basis “Every black graduate should have this
freedom. What I have discovered from many people, especially book. It reminds us that we ALL want
and learnt about the man since young people, asking him: to make our time here significant and
then has convinced me that there “How do you do it?” there is a way to do that,” he says.
is a whole world waiting for all of “How have you managed
us to break moulds, ‘stand against to stand out?” The book and its author will be
bland’ and claim what is due to us,” “What makes it work?” celebrated at the Mall of Africa on
shares Thabiso Mahlape, founder “What can you share?” 26 March 2020 - it will be an incredible
and publisher of Blackbird Books. “What drives you?” night of discussion and book signing.

Waterfall Issue 3 2020 13