Mystery Speaker JHB #2: Lessons from Sbu Mpungose, editor of True Love

Last Thursday, OIL JHB held our second Mystery Speaker event, where we were lucky enough to bag ourselves the talented and infamous now editor of True Love, Sbu Mpungose.  This would be the second time that Sbu graciously offered her time and invaluable opinions to OIL, and believe you me, we recognize just how fortunate we are!
The aim of the session was really to learn just what it takes to be successful in today’s workplace, and what it takes for an individual to climb the ladder at all – let alone at the pace that Sbu did.  By the age of 23, she found herself the head editor of a magazine, and just one year later she went on to win editor of the year.  Fast forward a few years later and Sbu is still making waves in the industry.  
So, what were some of our lessons learnt?
 
1)       “You might just have to take that R8-9k to get your opportunity”:  It is a hard pill to swallow, but to make it in the world sometimes you will need to sacrifice in-the short term to benefit in the long.
2)      “Earlier on in your career, allow yourself to stay with your employer and become fine tuned”:  Sbu is an advocate for moving around in your career to better yourself while you can.  As she puts it, “she has been around the block”!  But she is also of strong opinion that you need to do the groundwork.  You need to stick it out with an employer to develop a solid base, and learn the foundations.
3)      “There is no working smart.  There is working hard and becoming smart”:  A rule that is punted around hugely in this industry, or any industry, is at all times to work smart, not hard.  It’s a great rule isn’t it?  But let’s be honest, Sbu has a point…  It takes hard, in fact, very very hard work and consistent dedication to make things happen for yourself in your career.  There is seldom an easy way out.  
4)      “Life isn’t fair.  Just eventful”:  A spoken like a true realist, Sbu knows about the challenges in life, and how to make the most of what you have been dealt.

She went on to speak about the nature of the magazine industry in SA: “the business of content & solutions, whether on newspaper/ magazine or digital platforms”.  It is an industry which can no longer get away with “localizing international content” because South Africans “want to see themselves reflected in magazines”.  We live in a nation where, finally, local really is lekka, and being ‘Proudly South African’ is not just a stamp on a logo.  The Western influence will always be there and will, realistically always have its role in popular culture, but no longer is being South African something to deny.  It is something that makes us very different from our counterparts, and finally we have learnt to love ourselves for it.  
 
In speaking about True Love, Sbu was very clear about who they are talking to: “True Love woman is young, empowered and confident.  She is not yet a powerhouse but well on her way.”  As we in advertising know too well, knowing your audience is critical, and she sure does.  She also acknowledges that one of her biggest roles is to control budgets – “Get the ever-lacking talented to take on more, while having to pay them less.”  No easy feat.Probably the most interesting of statements of the day was how Sbu described her working world and perspective: “We work three months ahead.  Right now (winter) it is summer in my world.  In two months it will be Christmas.”  Well, it’s no wonder she is so very fashion-forward and uber stylish!
 
It may be a rather strange visual, but when I visualise what I have learnt from Sbu, I default to an athletics track.  One with different sized hurdles, kinks and potholes, but also one with trays of orange wedges on the sideline, water tanks, and massage benches. Perhaps this is inspired by the pace at which she has made things happen for herself, her infallible dedication and commitment to hard work, and the way she is constantly looking forward and never looking back.  
 
Thanks Sbu!

Kathryn Aquadro, Strategic Planner, OIL JHB