BOOK REVIEW: Biography Book: Doing Time Author: Peter Vundla In my interactions with corporate types I was unfortunate to have met some of the smartest dumb people and fortunate to have met some very street smart businessmen. The former approach business through what they were taught at business school and the latter have tactical knowledge borne off the streets and personal experience. You decide which is the more valuable life skill: book or street smart? Thats a debate either for another day or you could argue that its possible to fuse the two. Peter Vundla (yes, he is the uounger brother of Generations Mfundi Vundla) straddles both divides with consummate ease. You can call him an educated clever from Soweto, if you like. He has devastating street cred that navigates board rooms. Peter Vundla was a reluctant writer of this book but for the urgings of one Muzi Khuzwayo, to whom we ought to be indebted in no small measure. The book is, indeed, a biography. It is full of wisdom, lessons and testaments of his stamina, personal and business staying power. My biggest take-away is that there are certain skills one needs to have to become successful in life which can only be gained through experience, and not behind the desk. Though the book does not expressly declare, it is clear that Peter Vundla has no problem letting his intuitions drive his behaviour which stood him in very good stead in his corporate battles, particularly with Ndaba Ntsele at Pamodzi. Vundla was born in Western Native Township, adjacent to the then Sophiatown, present day Triomf. One of eleven children born to Nchibudi Betty Kathleen Mashaba, a nurse, and Phillip Qiphu Vundla, a mine clerk. Vundla started his career in advertising. No one has done more Omo adverts than him. He is revered and highly regarded by individuals and institutions within and outside the advertising indudtry. In short, he is a guru. He had an on and off tenure at the University of Fort Hare where he was expelled for his politics. He was recognised a long time ago as a troublemaker and a clever Black. He rubbed shoulders at Fort Hare with the likes of Tsepo Gugushe, Sefako Seko, Roby Maroleng, Lester Peteni, Mciteka, Barney Pitjana, Justice Nkawe, Count Moloi, Nombulelo Phanyana, Sipho Sepamla and bo Sipho Magele (Mamphela Ramphelas husband after Steve Biko). He honed his skills in the white advertising industry and became immersed in downright and sometimes liberals racist corporate politics. He eventually took a leap of faith, together with Dennis Mashabela, Happy Ntshingila (current CEO of Supersport) and others to co-found Herdbuoys, the first Black adverising agency. The difficulties getting that agency off the ground are quite instructive to all with aspirations of running their own companies. The problems of cash flow, getting clients, sacrifice, internal strife, industry and market politics are all lessons to learn and not to be repeated. Most importantly to absorb the lesson that not all those you start with will still be with you in the end. Vundla’s experiences tell a story of why he has become a willing and enthusiastic mentor to students and aspirant small businessmen that he has under his wing. He has seen fierce battles on the boardroom and political fronts, is well travelled and a recipient of multiple awards and medals. Not even bothering to collect some in person. His political style is low key in public but certainly informed by his street smart in private. He has been at the centre of the political and social fabric of South Africa. He was married to Dombolo Tshabalala, daughter to the most famous mayor of Soweto ever, was immersed in the emails-spy-scandal for allegedly conspiring to halt Zumas ascent to power and shepherded the unwieldy beast called BEE with modest success. This is an honest book that does not shy away from personal controversies and adversity either. The incident surrounding the shooting of Tso Modise, a well known soccer boss, who had moved in to stay with his wife, and Vundla being detained and tortured at Proteas police cells, he does not shy away from. Overall he used his education to get employed and to lay a foundation for his own business but became successful in the way he used his street sense to traverse the corridors of power in business and in politics. The way and manner he outmanoeuvred the local arm of McCann Ericsson to effect a reverse buy was a stuff of street smart and charm not taught in college. The big honchos at McCann Ericsson, before the merger with Herdbuoys, prided themselves in knowing all the technical aspects of the products they were trying to sell. However, the street wise Vundla and Herdbuoys knew how to relate to the customer and the decision makers abroad. This is still the problem in South Africas professional services industry. In the legal, accounting, auditing and finance sectors, white firms depend on their business contacts and industry intelligence but are clueless on what is going on. The Black People who possess street intelligence have a greater sense of what goes on socially. This is a huge advantage when dealing with customers as it offers a sense of ease on their part. Vundla offers a lesson that you can learn how to be book smart in school but that even someone with a university degree can still lack common sense. Degrees open doors to better jobs, but street smarts get success once you walked through the door. Vundla and Herdbuoys recognised the irony of this situation and poked fun at it. Herdbuoys gave a middle to the white advertising industry by printing a quote by Gordon Sherman, CEO of Midas, at the back of the Herdbouys business card which read: There is still that gap between the black and white worlds, and there are certain men who seem to know their way about in both, and they are usually Black. There are some men who sometimes think that they know their way around both, and they are usually white. This irked white advertising executives to no end. Vundla offers a template of an ideal situation of how street smart thinking accompanied by a book smart approach can yield business success. Just like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Dell, Vundlas exploits in the urban world are testament that being street smart means emotional intelligence and knowing how to handle yourself and a tough situation without an emphasis on academic qualifications. All these country pumpkins and mavericks who confuse their chutzpah for street smart need to read this book to understand the soft skills and touch that gets the world to go round. A great book to see the difficult manouverings of Black business, the duplicity of white capital and how they both jumpstart the politicians.
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 23:03:40 +0000