Simba Rushwaya
JOHANNESBURG – BONNKE Shipalana, the chief executive officer of The Communications Firm (TCF), is a man of many talents and inspiration to many, as well as being an entrepreneur par excellence.

Shipalana is also an accomplished businessman, the CEO of a Johannesburg based Communication firm, a radio presenter, motivational speaker.

Gauteng Guardian News Editor Simba Rushwaya (GG), sat down with the business executive Shipalana (BS) to shed more light about his life in a one-on-one interview in Johannesburg recently.

GG: You seem to be a multi-talented man. How do you juggle your time since you are the CEO for a top public relations company The Communications Firm (TCF), a radio presenter at Capricorn FM, a motivational speaker, as well as an entrepreneur?

BS: I learnt early in life, that all I had to do was focus on discovering my purpose and connecting everything to my purpose. All areas where I am involved or leading have one common element, and that is COMMUNICATION. This allows me to get a higher and a broader ROI when performing a particular task. For example, what I share as a speaker is the same content that I would share on radio.

GG: How would you describe your experience in the marketing industry in particular as a black businessman making headway in a previously white-dominated industry?

BS: My belief in life is that if something is easy, everyone would be doing it. If everyone is doing it, then the profit or joy from that particular task or business venture will be low (as it will be thinly spread). Getting into the Public Relations space was challenging, and the only way to become relevant and prosperous is to find your unique selling proposition. My focus then became being better than my competitors (white-dominated industry) by discovering what I am good at, rather than being better at what they are good at.

GG: How many companies does TCF represent as a corporate relations agency and what are your projections for the company in the 10 years?

BS: We currently represent 15 companies as an Event, Branding & Designing and Corporate Relations Agency. The next few years for TCF will be about preparing internal staff for leadership position. The communications space will be moving from away from just reporting to advicing/guiding space. We project that in the next 10 years, our work will be more boardroom based rather than execution based.

GG: Tell us about your experience as an motivational speaker and the response that you have been getting from the local African audience from the issues you talk about in particular about entrepreneurship?

BS: If information is king, then wisdom is the emperor. My narrative regarding entrepreneurship is different from other business seminars. I focus on the man in businessman, I focus on the jockey and not the horse. My approach emphasises that the most important asset that one needs in order to be a successful entrepreneur is WITHIN HIM/HER. The reception has been amazing, as individuals learn that they have been searching in the wrong areas (banks, NFD’s etc.), while the business foundation is actually within them.

GG: Tell us more about Biblical Business Seminar for Entrepreneurs and its objectives?

BS: The objective of the seminar is to remind entrepreneurs of the power that already exists within them, and the power that can be sourced from their purpose of being on earth. We strongly believe that before one decides to get into business, one needs to first discover their purpose of being on earth. Purpose becomes the seed for any business. Once you have discovered your seed (purpose), then the next step is to search for a complementing fertile soil in order to plant it.

GG: The Biblical Business Seminar for Entrepreneurs launched in early 2016, what has the response been like and how do you intend to consolidate such initiatives?

BS: We have been blown away by the response and support from all those who attended the last four sessions. The most common feedback from attendees was that they never realised how self knowledge is more important than business knowledge. They also commented that the biggest mistake that they are currently making in their own business, is to focus on SPEED over DIRECTION.

GG: How did your childhood experience shape what you are today, as it appears that your mother played a key part?

BS: I was blessed to have parents who focused on teaching me that everything in life can come easy, once you discover your purpose. This simply meant that for the early part of my life, my parents encouraged me to think as an individual and work hard in order to discover my strength and weaknesses. My parents are hard workers and generous people. Through their actions I learnt that life is about giving to the world, and receiving from God.

GG: What is your message to the South African youth, particularly those that are engaged in dangerous drugs such as Nyaope?

BS: As early as possible in your life, start focusing 80% of your energy on activities which your grandchildren (even though you might not have children or grandchildren yet) can inherit. This is what we call generational blessings. Lack of focus in this area will lead one to spend their life working, only to see their returns being enjoyed by another family.

So the question should be, do you want your grandchildren to inherit your drugs?

GG: How has been the journey of a black entrepreneur in your own experience in independent South Africa been and what is the way forward to enhance mass participation especially from the previously marginalised communities?

BS: The journey has been tough, as most of us were never exposed to entrepreneurship early in life. Similar to children of Israel children who were born in slavery (Egypt under the leadership of Pharoah), most of us were born into poverty under apartheid system.

This generation has not been released from Egypt, and we are now in the desert. Going back to Egypt is not an option, and yet we are not sure how far the Promised Land is. All we can do is keep on working, and working very hard. Our grandchildren are watching us from heaven, and we can’t give up and disappoint them.

GG: How do you want to transform South Africa and the world?

BS: First by proving that it’s possible, which means I have to do before I talk. Secondly, by sharing my success story and how I did it.

GG: Who is Bonnke Shipalana? Are you married, children?

BS: I am married to a beautiful and supportive wife, Vika Shipalana. We have been married for nine years and are blessed with two daughters, Ntsako (8) and Jodie (5).
-_simba.rushwaya@gautengguardian.co.za Twitter@SimbaRushwaya