Latest news with #eatbigfish
Daily Maverick
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Daily Maverick's Marketing Masterclass Series 2 moves into Value — here's what's next
This nine-part webinar series brings together South Africa's most respected marketers, creatives and strategists to tackle what it really takes to lead in an industry that's being reshaped by AI, shrinking budgets and shifting audience expectations. Series 2 of the Daily Maverick Marketing Masterclass is now well under way, with the first three episodes under the Capability theme complete — and now we turn to our second theme, Value. Presented in partnership with eatbigfis h, the Marketing Association of South Africa (Masa) and the Association for Communication and Advertising (ACA), the series explores three essential themes: Capability, Value and Impact. A series led by bold thinkers Hosted by well-known marketing and brand strategy consultant David Blyth (Africa Partner at eatbigfish) and joined by Khaya Dlanga — award-winning marketer, bestselling author, seasoned storyteller and managing partner at eatbigfish Africa — the series aims to unpack what it really takes to stay relevant, build value and deliver impact in a world where the rules are being rewritten in real time. What's happened so far? The first three episodes of Series 2 explored Capability — what marketers bring to the table in terms of skills, creativity and adaptability. These sessions tackled the evolving capabilities needed to lead and succeed in modern marketing. What's Next? Now we focus on Value — what your work is worth. It's not enough to do good work — you have to prove it in an environment in which attention is fleeting and trust is hard earned. This track explores how brands and marketers define, create and defend their value across platforms, categories and cultures. 14 August — Building Brand Power In an age of constant noise, price sensitivity and rising distrust, growing your brand's power is crucial to sustaining business success. This session features: Stina van Rooyen, Head of Brand, Kantar South Africa, Insights Division Vilosha Soni, Chief Marketing Officer, PepsiCo They'll explore: How to use brand power to accelerate brand growth and who does this well. The relationship between brand power and profitability. Common pitfalls to avoid when managing brand power. Register to attend here 11 September — Creating Value Perceptions How do customers decide what your product or service is worth? This session unpacks the science and psychology of value perceptions, exploring how to shape them in competitive markets and why perception often outweighs reality. Speakers: Gugu Mthembu, Chief Marketing Officer, Telkom Janet Kinghorn, Independent Brand Therapist and Identity Consultant Register to attend here 25 September — Staying Locally Relevant Global thinking is important — but relevance is built locally. This session looks at how brands can stay culturally connected and contextually meaningful in South Africa's fast-changing social and economic landscape. Speakers: Bridget Harpur, Head of Marketing, Volkswagen Passenger Alex Goldberg, Creative Partner, Ogilvy South Africa Register to attend here Impact Coming soon in October and November, the final three episodes will unpack Impact — what your work leaves behind, and how creativity can connect with people, shape culture, drive results and earn its place in the world. Each session is free to attend, CPD-accredited, and designed to offer practical, real-world insight for marketers navigating complexity, career growth and creative leadership. Attendees can earn six Designated Marketer CPD points. (CMSA Level + for AMSA & MPSA Designated Members | CPD Approval Number: MA DM 25001) A partnership with purpose The Marketing Masterclass series is made possible through an innovative partnership between Daily Maverick, eatbigfish, Masa and the ACA — a collective effort to remove barriers to top-tier thought leadership and support the growth of South Africa's marketing and media community. In a landscape that's moving faster than most teams can keep up, these sessions create space to pause, reflect, and recalibrate — together. To register and join the conversation visit Daily Maverick Events. Explore the first series Revisit insightful conversations from Series 1: Daily Maverick Masterclass: Spotlight on Marketing Effectiveness Daily Maverick Masterclass: Creativity in Marketing Daily Maverick Masterclass: The Changing Expectations of Marketing Media Enquiries: Saskia Falken — [email protected] About Daily Maverick Founded in 2009, Daily Maverick is an independent national news and investigative journalism publisher. Daily Maverick covers pressing issues across politics, business and the environment, providing in-depth reporting and insightful commentary on the topics affecting the lives of South Africans. With seven million unique browsers monthly, Daily Maverick is one of South Africa's largest publishers and is available online and in a weekly print edition, DM168. Its voluntary membership community programme is designed to keep journalism free for all, and it has a community of civic-minded readers who participate actively through contributions to ensure this access continues for all. Founders: Branko Brkic, former editor-in-chief, and Styli Charalambous, CEO. About eatbigfish eatbigfish is a global strategic consultancy specialising in the challenger mindset for brands and business. About Masa A successor to the old Society of Marketers started in the 1950s, later Asom (Association of South African Marketers), and then the MFSA (Marketing Federation South Africa) up to 2005, reborn as Masa in 2006, is the member association and SAQA-recognised professional body for the South African client-side marketing community and the representative voice for organisations and individuals in the marketing industry. For more information, visit About the ACA The Association for Communication & Advertising is the official representative body of South Africa's advertising and communications profession. Ranked among the world's leaders in creativity and media innovation, our member agencies are consistently flying the creative flag locally and internationally. In fact, an inspiring number of South Africans are at the helm of some of the world's most celebrated agencies and agency groups. The Association for Communication and Advertising South Africa is a voluntary organisation formed both by, and for, the profession. Our members are committed to fostering trust between marketers and agencies and transforming the advertising and communications industry at large. The aim is clear: to positively influence and impact the professional and operational standards of all South African agencies. Through engagement, debate and collective agreement, we are united in our quest to continually build the standards of a profession we are deeply passionate about. DM
Daily Maverick
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
July 2025 round-up of Daily Maverick's #Live Journalism
At Daily Maverick, our live events and webinars bring public interest journalism and audience engagement together. We host webinars to strengthen community connections, unpack pressing topics, and bring stories to life through expert-led conversations. We hosted 6 webinars for July, all of which can be found on our dedicated webinar platform or YouTube channel. Here's a round-up of our latest live journalism webinars, the topics covered and key takeaways, just for you. Marketing Masterclass: Marketer of the Future July kicked off with episode 1 of Season 2 of the Marketing Masterclass series hosted by David Blyth and Khaya Dlanga of eatbigfish, in collaboration with The Marketing Association of South Africa (MASA) and The Association for Communication and Advertising (ACA). Guests Sechaba Motsieloa (Managing Partner and COO, Kansy Group; MASA Board Chair) and Elizabeth Mokwena (Executive Marketing Director, Unilever Home Care Southern Africa) discussed the essential skills marketers need to succeed in a rapidly changing world — leading with purpose, cultural agility, and a 'think-global' approach. It was a thoughtful session, grounded in practical experience and strategic insight. One attendee said the following: In isiZulu we say ' indlela ibuzwa kwabaphambili ', loosely translated to 'the way forward is asked to those who've travelled it'. Thank you for availing yourself as we ask you all. Watch the full recording here. Decrypting Crypto: The Utility Conversation Business Maverick journalist and Crypto Corner editor Lindsey Schutters led an insightful discussion on the real-world uses of cryptocurrency. He was joined by Larry Cooke (Legal Counsel, Binance South Africa) and Hermann Vivier (Bitcoin advocate and founder of Bitcoin Ekasi). Together, they unpacked crypto's everyday applications — from payments and long-term savings to income generation and digital asset ownership — while addressing key risks and the evolving tools shaping its future beyond speculation. Watch the full recording here. Book People: When Book Clubs Go Viral Our third July webinar took a literary turn. Hosted by Sarah Hoek, the session featured bestselling author Paige Nick as they unpacked her novel Book People, which explores the chaos that erupts when a once-quiet Facebook book club spirals into online hate, cancel culture and real-world violence. The conversation examined the fine line between fandom and frenzy, and what the story reveals about toxic digital communities and virality. The audience was captivated by Paige's reflections on the online world and her creative process. Watch the full recording here. Marketing Masterclass: Building a Career in Marketing David Blyth and Khaya Dlanga returned with episode 2 of the Marketing Masterclass series: Building a Career in Marketing. They were joined by Sharon Keith (Non-Executive Director and Chief Coach, Delta Victor Bravo; former Marketing Director at Heineken Beverages SA) and Suhana Gordhan (Founder and Chief Creative Officer, LoveSong). Together, they reflected on career journeys, the role of mentorship, creative confidence and the importance of values-driven leadership in shaping meaningful marketing careers. Watch the full recording here. What does it mean to be South African? In a conversation led by Managing Editor Zukiswa Pikoli, Professors William Gumede (Democracy Works Foundation) and Pierre de Vos (UCT) unpacked the question of South African identity. Rather than offering a single definition, the webinar explored the complexities, contradictions and multiple truths that shape our national sense of self. It was an honest and reflective discussion that embraced nuance over neat conclusions — a reminder that identity is something we continue to negotiate, both individually and collectively. . Marketing Masterclass: Nurturing Creativity David Blyth and Khaya Dlanga were joined by Gillian Rightford (MD of Adtherapy) and Carl Willoughby (Chief Creative Officer at TBWA\Hunt\ Lascaris) for a conversation on nurturing creativity — not just in individuals, but within teams and company culture. Together, they unpacked what it means to create an environment where creativity thrives, and why intentional support, leadership, and curiosity are essential to keeping the creative spark alive. DM
Daily Maverick
15-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Playing It Safe Is Killing Your Brand
In an age where attention is the new currency, playing it safe may be the most dangerous strategy of all. This is the argument made by Adam Morgan, founder of the global strategy consultancy eatbigfish and pioneer of the 'Challenger Brand' concept. In his Cannes Lions presentation, 'The Eye-Watering Cost of Dull Media', Morgan reframes mediocrity not just as a missed opportunity, but as a measurable and compounding business cost. His thinking has ignited conversations across industries and territories, and it's landed in South Africa too. 'Increasingly, we see organisations becoming paralysed by risk aversion,' says David Blyth, CEO of Delta Victor Bravo (representatives of eatbigfish in Africa). 'What Adam's work shows, is that the real risk lies in being forgettable.' The core argument is that choosing 'dull' doesn't just lead to missed opportunities, it ends up costing more. Dull Work Underperforms and Drains Resources According to Peter Field and Les Binet (IPA – Institute of Practitioners in Advertising), creative campaigns that are bold, emotionally resonant, and distinctively branded are over 11 times more efficient at driving long-term commercial success than non-awarded work. Yet, as Adam Morgan notes in an interview with Contagious (source), brands that rely on dull, forgettable campaigns often end up spending up to £10 million more in media just to match the impact of more interesting ones. Despite clear evidence in favour of creativity, the industry is regressing, with the proportion of creatively awarded campaigns dropping by nearly 50% over the past decade. Supporting this, research from Amplified shows that 60% of ads across formats in the U.S. and 75% in the U.K. aren't even looked at, while in the most 'dull' media formats, 90% of budgets are spent on ads that earn less than 2.5 seconds of active attention. The cost of dull is no longer just a creative issue, it's a business one. A Compounding Cost There is a worrying dynamic in the economics of dull work – the cost doesn't just stop at poor performance. Forgettable creative work forces brands into an expensive cycle – having to spend significantly more on media to make the same level of impact as more distinctive campaigns. This erosion of mental availability means brands are not just underperforming – they're overspending to compensate for being ignored. The Cost of Dull in South Africa In South Africa, the risk of being dull is equally pronounced. 'This is a market defined by both intense competition and resource constraints,' says Blyth. 'The brands that break through are those that make bold, strategic choices – not those that try to be all things to all people.' Across many categories, brands fall into the trap of chasing mass appeal. In doing so, they default to vague messaging and generic visuals, hoping to offend no one, but also inspiring no one. In Blyth's words, this pursuit of broad appeal leads to 'bland work that becomes wallpaper,' eroding brand memorability and impact over time. Instead, he advocates for a Challenger Mindset, a way of thinking that helps organisations reframe constraints as creative springboards, question outdated assumptions, and get closer to the customers that matter most. 'It's not about shouting louder,' he says. 'It's about having a point of view as a brand and expressing this in a sharp, meaningful way that clearly spotlights a brand's relative difference.' In South Africa's maturing consumer landscape, where consumers are increasingly values-driven and discerning, the brands that thrive will be those brave enough to pick a fight with outdated conventions and stand for something with clarity and conviction. Why Dull Starts in the Boardroom The leadership challenge sits at the heart of dullness. Safe, boring work doesn't start in the creative department. It starts in the boardroom, where risk aversion is often baked into decision-making structures. Great ideas get watered down by layers of approval or are killed because they make someone uncomfortable. But comfort and effectiveness are not the same thing. Real leadership lies in creating the conditions for bold work to flourish. That means empowering small, cross-functional teams to take calculated creative risks – individuals with the internal permission to challenge conventions for the betterment of the business. These teams aren't reckless, they are deliberate disruptors, operating within the organisation to unlock progress, create energy, and shift the culture from within. Businesses must learn to reward bravery rather than punish failure. The CMO's Role in the Cost of Dull The responsibility for dull work often lies with the Chief Marketing Officer. Not because they're uncreative, but because they haven't made interestingness a strategic imperative. Too often, creativity is treated as a garnish – something added at the end of a strategy process, rather than embedded from the start. Brands need to stop seeing creativity as a cost centre and start treating it as a growth driver. This is especially relevant in South Africa, where marketing teams are often asked to deliver results with shrinking budgets. In this context, bold work might seem like a luxury. But, the opposite is true – brave work is more efficient, more memorable, and more commercially effective. Meaningful Difference, Not Just Noise Challenger brands strive to be meaningfully different, ensuring their distinctiveness aligns with what they want to be famous for. Distinctiveness without this intent, is just noise. The best Challenger brands use creativity in service of a clear and compelling narrative. They don't try to win by mimicking the category leader. They win by making their own rules, by being relevant in unexpected ways, and by connecting emotionally with their audiences. The Call to Bravery At its core, The Eye-Watering Cost of Dull is a wake-up call to stop wasting money on work that blends in and start investing in ideas that stand out. It reminds leaders that safe choices often come at the highest price. It challenges everyone to see boldness as a strategic necessity. 'Being dull isn't neutral,' says Blyth. 'It's actively hurting your brand. In a world drowning in content, the brands that will survive and thrive are those with the courage to be interesting.' The cost of dull is real – and it's rising. Don't miss your opportunity to hear from Adam Morgan live. Join eatbigfish Africa for The Eye-Watering Cost of Dull event on 7 August at the GIBS Auditorium in Johannesburg, or attend online. DM
Daily Maverick
10-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Daily Maverick's Marketing Masterclass Series 2 is under way — here's what's next
This nine-part webinar series brings together South Africa's most respected marketers, creatives and strategists to tackle what it really takes to lead in an industry that's being reshaped by AI, shrinking budgets and shifting audience expectations. Series 2 of the Daily Maverick Marketing Masterclass is now live, with one webinar already in the archive and eight more to come. This nine-part webinar series brings together South Africa's most respected marketers, creatives and strategists to tackle what it really takes to lead in an industry that's being reshaped by AI, shrinking budgets and shifting audience expectations. Presented in partnership with eatbigfish, the Marketing Association of South Africa (Masa) and the Association for Communication and Advertising (ACA), the series explores three essential themes: Capability, Value and Impact. A series led by bold thinkers Hosted by well-known marketing and brand strategy consultant David Blyth (Africa Partner at eatbigfish) and joined by Khaya Dlanga — award-winning marketer, bestselling author, seasoned storyteller and managing partner at eatbigfish Africa — the series aims to unpack what it really takes to stay relevant, build value and deliver impact in a world where the rules are being rewritten in real time. What's happened so far? The second series launched on 3 July with The Marketer of the Future, featuring: Elizabeth Mokwena, Executive Marketing Director, HomeCare Africa at Unilever and Masa Board Member Sechaba Motsieloa, Founder of Kansy Group and Masa Board Member Missed it? Catch the replay here → The Marketer of the Future What's Next? We've set the tone — now we dig into the forces reshaping modern marketing. Over the next eight episodes, Daily Maverick's Marketing Masterclass unpacks across three themes: 1. Capability What you bring to the table Marketing today demands more than clever ideas — it takes adaptability, curiosity, and a sharp set of evolving skills. This theme explores how marketers can build the mindset, tools, and resilience needed to grow careers, strengthen teams, and lead through complexity. 17 July — Building a Career in Marketing → Register here 31 July — Nurturing Creativity → Register here 2. Value What your work is worth It's not enough to do good work — you have to prove it in an environment where attention is fleeting and trust is hard earned. This track focuses on how brands and marketers define, create, and defend their value across platforms, categories and cultures. 14 August – Building Brand Power 11 September – Creating Value Perceptions 25 September – Staying Locally Relevant 3. Impact What you leave behind Great marketing doesn't just make noise — it makes change. These sessions explore the kind of creativity that connects with people, shapes culture, drives results and earns its place in the world. 9 October – Creativity & Business Impact 23 October – Using Humour for Impact 6 November – Break Through the Clutter Each session is free to attend, CPD-accredited, and designed to offer practical, real-world insight for marketers navigating complexity, career growth and creative leadership. Attendees can earn six Designated Marketer CPD points. (CMSA Level + for AMSA & MPSA Designated Members | CPD Approval Number: MA DM 25001) A partnership with purpose The Marketing Masterclass series is made possible through an innovative partnership between Daily Maverick, eatbigfish, Masa and the ACA — a collective effort to remove barriers to top-tier thought leadership and support the growth of South Africa's marketing and media community. In a landscape that's moving faster than most teams can keep up, these sessions create space to pause, reflect, and recalibrate — together. To register and join the conversation visit Daily Maverick Events. Explore the first series Revisit insightful conversations from Series 1 Daily Maverick Masterclass: Spotlight on Marketing Effectiveness Daily Maverick Masterclass: Creativity in Marketing Daily Maverick Masterclass: The Changing Expectations of Marketing This article was first published on the Daily Maverick Blog. Media Enquiries: Saskia Falken [email protected] About Daily Maverick Founded in 2009, Daily Maverick is an independent national news and investigative journalism publisher. Daily Maverick covers pressing issues across politics, business and the environment, providing in-depth reporting and insightful commentary on the topics affecting the lives of South Africans. With seven million unique browsers monthly, Daily Maverick is one of South Africa's largest publishers and is available online and in a weekly print edition, DM168. Its voluntary membership community programme is designed to keep journalism free for all, and it has a community of civic-minded readers who participate actively through contributions to ensure this access continues for all. Founders: Branko Brkic, former editor-in-chief, and Styli Charalambous, CEO. About eatbigfish eatbigfish is a global strategic consultancy specialising in the challenger mindset for brands and business. About Masa A successor to the old Society of Marketers started in the 1950s, later Asom (Association of South African Marketers), and then the MFSA (Marketing Federation South Africa) up to 2005, reborn as Masa in 2006, is the member association and Saqa recognised professional body for the South African client-side marketing community and the representative voice for organisations and individuals in the marketing industry. For more information, visit About the ACA We are the change we want to see. We therefore support the concept of self-regulation in advertising, and abide by the Advertising Regulatory Board Code that seeks to regulate advertising in the public interest.
Daily Maverick
30-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Daily Maverick's Marketing Masterclass series returns. Do you have what it takes to compete?
This is a nine-part webinar series brought to you in association with eatbigfish, the Association for Communication and Advertising and the Marketing Association of South Africa. After a standout first season, Daily Maverick's Marketing Masterclass free-to-access webinar series returns – bigger, bolder, built for this new era of marketing and bringing together some of the sharpest minds in brand, business and strategy. Expertise that matters Hosted by well-known marketing and brand strategy consultant David Blyth (Africa Partner at eatbigfish) and joined this time by award-winning marketer, bestselling author and seasoned storyteller Khaya Dlanga (managing partner at eatbigfish Africa), the series aims to unpack what it really takes to stay relevant, build value and deliver impact in a world where the rules are being rewritten in real time. Together, they'll guide critical conversations with industry leaders and award-winning creatives about how to navigate complexity, build brand resilience and shape marketing careers that go the distance. The marketer of tomorrow starts today Series 2 kicks off on 3 July with The Marketer of the Future – a timely and insightful conversation exploring the skills, mindset and creative agility that today's marketers must master to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving landscape. Hosted by David alongside Khaya, the session brings together visionary leaders Sechaba Motsieloa, founder of the KANSY Group, Marketing Association of South Africa (Masa) board member, and Elizabeth Mokwena, executive marketing director: HomeCare Southern Africa, Unilever, and also a Masa board member. Registration is free and open to anyone via this link. Nine Webinars, one purpose: Progress Across the nine webinars in this season they will be joined by business leaders in the marketing profession as well as award-winning creative thinkers to talk about three core themes: Capability: What the marketer of the future looks like, how to build a lasting career, and how to nurture creativity in a noisy world. Value: How to build real brand power, create value perceptions that matter, and stay locally relevant. Impact: The intersection of creativity and business results, the role of humour in breakthrough work, and how to cut through the clutter with purpose. Each session is a fast-paced, engaging one-hour conversation designed for marketers, strategists, advertisers and creatives working to stay relevant in a shifting world. Credibility that counts This series isn't just about inspiration, it's about staying professionally equipped in a marketing landscape that's constantly shifting. Attendees can earn six Designated Marketer CPD points (CMSA Level + for AMSA & MPSA Designated Members | CPD Approval Number: MA DM 25001); Endorsed by both the Marketing Association of South Africa and the Association for Communication and Advertising (Acasa); and Designed to offer practical, real-world insight for marketers navigating complexity, career growth and creative leadership. Register now to join the conversation. Visit Daily Maverick Events. Explore the first series Revisit insightful conversations from Series 1: Daily Maverick Masterclass: Spotlight on Marketing Effectiveness; Daily Maverick Masterclass: Creativity in Marketing; and Daily Maverick Masterclass: The Changing Expectations of Marketing. Media enquiries: Saskia Falken – [email protected] About eatbigfish eatbigfish is a global strategic consultancy specialising in the challenger mindset for brands and business. About Masa A successor to the old Society of Marketers started in the 1950s, later ASOM (Association of South African Marketers), and then the MFSA (Marketing Federation South Africa) up to 2005, reborn as Masa in 2006, is the member association and SAQA recognised professional body for the South African client-side marketing community and the representative voice for organisations and individuals in the marketing industry. For more information visit About Acasa We are the change we want to see. We therefore support the concept of self-regulation in advertising, and abide by the Advertising Regulatory Board Code which seeks to regulate advertising in the public interest. The Association for Communication and Advertising is represented on relevant ARB committees and is actively involved in ongoing revisions to the code. About Daily Maverick Founded in 2009, Daily Maverick is an independent national news and investigative journalism publisher. Daily Maverick covers pressing issues across politics, business and the environment, providing in-depth reporting and insightful commentary on the topics affecting the lives of South Africans. With four million unique browsers monthly, Daily Maverick is one of South Africa's largest publishers and is available online and in a weekly print edition, DM168. Its voluntary membership community programme is designed to keep journalism free for all, and it has a community of civic-minded readers who participate actively through contributions to ensure this access continues for all.
