Exclusive: How South Africa’s Sylvester Chauke is Crushing Africa’s Advertising Game

The CNBC All Africa Business Leader of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Oliver Empowerment Young leader of the Year – are some of the accolades Sylvester Chauke has been proud to adorn. He has been described by business leaders as a “marketing guru”, “a creative ground-breaker” and “a firestarter” who loves his continent and the creativity that drives it.

From a colourful and exciting upbringing in Soweto, South Africa, Sylvester has grown to be an entrepreneur, marketer extraordinaire and author who is obsessed with creativity as a way to build brands and drive narratives that can inspire people all over the world. He bloomed into the marketing and brand space as National Marketing Manager for Nando’s in South Africa, and quickly moved up the ranks to become the Director of Marketing and Communication for MTV Networks Africa.

In 2017, Sylvester was selected as one of the 22 young leaders from around the world to sit as the Advisory Council for the World Economic Forum Global Shapers.

He now leads one of the fastest-growing brand agencies in South Africa – DNA Brand Architects – and one that is adding a new narrative of black excellence. In 2018 DNA Brand Architects won the PRISM Agency of the year and in 2019, made history as the first black agency to win Campaign of the Year at the PRISMs in 22 years. 

Q: How did you discover your vision or what led you into this line of business/career?

A: The advertising and brand industry found me. From attending an audition for a television advert when I was 12 years old, I was shepherded to the world of brand building. This sparked my interest and left me connected to it. After high school, I did not hesitate but went straight into studying brand communication and advertising. Then I joined and worked for some of the best agencies in the world and as they say, the rest is history.

ALSO READ: Exclusive: Ex-Uber Staff, Obi Ozor is Building Africa’s Most Efficient E-Logistics Company

Q: What’s the one thing you wish you’d known before you started in business?

A: That it gets a lot more challenging years in than when it starts. At first, I had thought that the startup phase would be my most challenging but 8 years in, it gets a lot tougher and requires maturity and stillness that only comes with time and experience. When it is bigger, it’s a lot more intricate.

Q: Describe your company- name, services/ products, other information you would like to provide.

A: DNA Brand Architects is a one of a kind creative communications company that takes brands to global platforms, creating alignments that increase market penetration and growth. We are a youth-owned, blackowned and a proud Level 1 BBBEE contributor business. We are a member of the World Confederation of Businesses and current awardees for both PRISM campaign of the Year, ICCO Global Campaign Award, and Agency of the Year 2018.

Our projects have been hailed on global platforms as best in class in the areas of brand building and communication design. We are created for brands with an unstoppable hunger for greatness and are committed to a re-imagined and empowered Africa.

We are based in South Africa with a media footprint across the African continent. Many refer to us as a passionate family of brand strategists and brand architects. Our mission is to unpack brands’ DNA and create legacy projects that take African brands to global platforms.

We have a proven track record of working with some of the best brands on the continent, both in terms of building strategy and their reputation identity. We have been celebrated locally and internationally for our business approach and continue to challenge the norms in effective brand building and communication.

Read the rest of the interview in our digital magazine here: Find it on pages 32 & 33.

Editor’s Note: This interview was originally conducted by Victor Oluwole