Leading figures to gather at Business to Brand Summit in Sandton
Spearheaded by Pat Mahlangu, founder of Pat on Brands, Youth Owned Brands Awards (YOBAs), and Lerato Agency, the summit is poised to become a landmark moment for South Africa's marketing and business community.
The summit is promoted as more than just a conference, with the stated goal of changing business owners' and leaders' perspectives from transactional, short-term thinking to brand-led, long-term plans.
With a focus on deep, actionable insights, the event will bring together marketers, communicators, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who understand that branding is not just about logos and slogans; it's about purpose, trust, and impact.
Headlining the event are some of South Africa's most influential characters. The dynamic lineup boasts acclaimed radio personality Sbusiso 'DJ Sbu' Leope, the innovative founder and CEO of Legends Barbershop, Sheldon Tatchell, and Bulelani Balabala, widely known as the 'Township Go-To Guy' and a celebrated entrepreneur and author.
Together, they promise to bring a wealth of experience and unique perspectives to the summit.
Mahlangu, who reveals that he started Pat on Brands nearly a decade ago as a student blog fuelled by passion, tells Saturday Star that what began as a personal project has since evolved into a multi-dimensional media platform with events, thought leadership, and recognition programs such as the Youth-Owned Brands Awards (YOBAs).
Inspired by media veteran Jeremy Maggs and his show Maggs on Media, Mahlangu says he envisioned a platform that would celebrate and critique brands, offering what he called 'Pats and Slaps' to industry players.
'I founded Pat on Brands while I was still a university student, with no access to the industry, no network, and no established credibility. At the time, I was an unknown voice in a space dominated by seasoned professionals, and many questioned whether I had the authority to comment on brands at all. Some wouldn't even give me the time of day. But that doubt never discouraged me; it fuelled me.'
Through resilience and vision, Mahlangu transformed Summit into a trusted voice in the branding space, especially among South Africa's emerging business leaders.
He further reveals that the key to his mission, he says, has been understanding the critical distinction between simply running a business and building a brand.
'There is a fundamental difference between a business and a brand. A business often operates on a transactional level, focused on immediate goals such as sales, margins, and operational efficiency. It's about offering a product or service and making it available to the market. The primary driver is short-term value exchange.'
Looking to the future, Mahlangu envisions expanding Pat on Brands, with aspirations for it to evolve into a television presence featuring its own show and documentaries that highlight inspiring stories of African brands.
'As for the Business to Brand Summit, I see it growing significantly in scale and influence, with future editions hosted in major cities across the African continent.'
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za
Saturday Star
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