BLUEPRINT OF AN AFRICAN PERSONAL BRAND

An authentic African personal brand is one built on resilience. At
different points in time most African countries have experienced
poverty as a result of droughts, floods and other natural disasters;
epidemic diseases and civil wars etc but despite these challenges it
is amazing how the African people have displayed their resilience.
They have always risen above their dire circumstances; collected each
other and came to a resolve to rebuild their communities. As a result
Africa has produced some of worlds greatest personal brands.
Individuals whose persuasions convinced us that as a people we can
overcome our challenges. The likes of Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah,
Julius Nyerere, Patrice Lumumba, Shaka Zulu to mention a few. Their
legacies became blueprints of how authentic African personal brands
can impact society.

As young Africans we are living in one of the most interesting eras.
Traditional African history has taught us that young people played an
inferior and subservient role. Our parents, grandparents, society and
even religion made decisions on our behalf; they use to decide what we
wear, where we go, what we think and even who we dated. In
contemporary Africa young people have been given platforms to voice
themselves with socio-economic settings. We have youth parliaments,
we have our own political organisations, we choose what we want to
wear, where we want to go and essentially how we want to be perceived.
The way you talk, how you behave, what you wear and what you promise
all contribute to how your personal brand is perceived. If you want to
be successful, your personal brand must project success. People will
not take you seriously if you do not take yourself seriously. Your
personal brand should be complemented by even the small details. Your
facebook status, profile and even your profile picture creates an
impression of how others will perceive you.

Our personal brand process began the moment the umbilical cord was
cut. We where given a name - each name embedded with a particular
value or sentiment. Parents developed a certain expectation which the
child had to deliver upon from saying your pleases and thank yous to
passing at school. The process of building a strong brand revolves
around living out your values and meeting your expectations. A brand
is a promise and the extent to which you meet those promises indicates
the success of you brand. The secret of establishing a successful
brand lies in the adage 'act what you preach'. This little act can
make you stand out from your peers.

As a young African with dreams and ambitions differentiating your
brand from others will prove whether you succeed or not. There are
small things you can do to create a positive personal brand. Let me
share with you 5 things to establish and differentiate your brand from
other:
1. Always under-promise and over-deliver. Do not promise on what you
cannot deliver.
2. Live and believe in your brand. No one will believe in it more than you.
3. Be consistent in all your dealings. Inconsistency destroys your credibility.
4. Image is key. How you are perceived is how you will be treated.
5. Go to bed having met the above 4 steps.

For the fact that you have been living since you were born means you
are an achiever. Having overcome challenges along your way means you
are a stronger and bolder brand. Each time you are resilient in the
face of tribulations understand that you are staying true to your
authentic African brand.

Leave it to us to tell you ABOUT MPHO MATEE

“ … he conducted himself in a very efficient and professional manner. Mpho Matee mastered the art of captivating the audience and has an easy and natural way of interacting with them”
- Dr. B.L. Geldenhuys –
South African Ambassador to Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan


“I am so happy to work with people of your caliber and hoping for the long term relationship”
Clr. Ntombi Mekgwe
Executive Mayor of Ekurhuleni


“Mpho Matee is going to be one of the greatest investments to come out of Ekurhuleni”
Mr. Nick Mosikidi
CEO of Bonngoe Holdings, Founder of LeGents Mens Hair & Grooming Lounge and Editorial Director of Blaque Lifestyle Magazine.


“…I believe in you and your brand and you have a lot to offer this world. A lot of people can learn a lot from you”
Ms. Dineo Lengane
CSE Executive: Gordon Institute of Business Sciences


“I’ve been impressed by Mpho Matee, I believe he is a great speaker”
Mr. Jabulani ‘Xcellence’ Xhasa
Presenter, Senior Producer and Music Coordinator at Kasie Fm 97.1


“Mpho’s work was definitely well planned prior the presentation…
he is able to connect with the target audience; he is well groomed and presentable.”
Ms. Thulisile Mvelase
Student and Facilitator of Pearls (a young women’s leadership program at the University of Johannesburg)

My personal Profile

Mpho Matee is known as the “Advocate of Personal Development” and has been a public speaker for more than 6 years. He is the Managing Director of Gladstone Consulting which is a wholly black owned company which offers INSPIRATIONAL organizational and personal development solutions for organizations and individuals.

Mpho Matee is a very passionate and highly confident public speaker as this is reflected in his numerous achievements over the years. Some of his professional achievements include being chosen as 1 of 10 young South Africans to take part in an international entrepreneurship program where he was even awarded the Best Public Speaker Award. Some of his personal highlights include the honor and privilege of having met former president Mr. Nelson Mandela and Princess Sumaya of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

He has been featured on television shows such as Africa Awakes on DStv and radio shows such as The Dj Sbu Breakfast Show and the Dlala Ngeringas show on Soweto TV on DSTV Channel 150. He also hosts a weekly Inspirational Talk slot every Wednesday on Kasie Fm 97.1. Mpho has inspired audiences locally and internationally with some of his satisfied clients including Al Ahly Holdings, LoveLife, Miss Soweto Teen, Basic Jonathan, Gauteng City Region Academy, Soweto Festival and the NYDA

There is order in the way the universe was created. In this universal order humanity also has a place in which it fits into.