The SA Blook

There are those who think. Those who say. Then there are those who do. Personally I just love people of action. Who create and make things happen.

Meet Darren Gorton. He's the author of OutThink! and the brain child behind the SABlook. With our country in crisis, Gorton has put together a team of top writers and thinkers to write a blook (blog book) about South Africa, the challenges it faces, it's opportunities, hopes, fears, dreams. It includes information on brand South Africa, the country's relationship with the rest of the world, doing business in the country, technology, talent, innovation, creativity, the youth in South Africa and connecting to Africa and the rest of the world.

I got in on the tail end of this project, and when I heard what Darren was doing asked him if I could please participate. He agreed and I am fortunate to have my writing included in the project alongside:

Andy Hadfield, an expert in the design and implementation of innovative Enterprise 2.0 and Web 2.0 systems, Hadfield was identified as a future South African leader by Common Purpose International and Brightest Young Minds, and represented South Africa as a Business/IT ambassador in both Hong Kong and South America.

Duncan Drennan who heads up Engineer Simplicity,  and is an entrepreneur and masters graduate from the University of Stellenbosch.

Eve Dmochowska who spends her day playing on and with the Internet, and thinks it is a rather fun way to make money. She is writing a book on Social Media in South Africa, and has two online launches in the pipeline. She also helps others solidify their web strategy.

Grant Brewer, a strategy & technology consultant from Johannesburg, South Africa. Grant has been consulting for more than thirteen years, and is a partner at Ernst & Young, one of the largest global Advisory companies in the world.

Justin Hartman is the Digital Innovation Manager of Avusa’s (formerly Johncom) new online and mobile excellence unit known as the iLab where I manage a small team of dedicated and enthusiastic Web 2.0 gurus. Before that Hartman was the New Media Strategist at The Times newspaper.

Kerry-Anne Gilowey runs August Sun Projects, a content creation consultancy that provides copy for the web. She also run the Red Balloon Craft Junction, South Africa's first online meeting place for the craft industry.

Melissa Attree a marketing and communications professional passionate about building brands using web 2.0 (social networking, blogs, wikis) and WebPR (PR on the internet, optimised releases, blogger interaction) tools.

Nic Haralambous, the business manager for mobile and recruitment at Mail & Guardian Online. A qualified journalist from Rhodes Universities School Of Journalism, Haralambous is an entrepreneur, and the brain child behind SA Rocks!

Paul Jacobson is a new media lawyer who is constantly looking at the opportunities that can emerge from the intersection of new media and the law.

Saul Kropman is  a student at Wits Business School and an entrepreneur. He is the owner of Visual Affair, a student marketing company that helps companies sell their products to University students; and FirstStep.co.za an online youth consultancy site where we give information to the lost youth of South Africa.

Tycoon's Geoff Candy and Hilton Tarrant who are both a part of MoneyWeb. Tarrant is production editor at Moneyweb, where he also project manages new website launches for the company and covers ICT issues, chiefly through his fortnightly column, Broadband. Candy is a writer and broadcast journalist for Moneyweb, with a strong focus on the financial services industry. He writes, produces radio packages, and presents the Moneyweb Power Hour and CNBC Power Lunch with Moneyweb on a regular basis.

The guest writer for the book is Siyabonga Nhlumayo (who unfortunately doesn't yet have a blog.) Nhlumayo is an associate of Medu Capital and is responsible for transaction execution and support activities. After qualifying with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Siyabonga joined the Transaction Services division of PricewaterhouseCoopers where he gained valuable experience in due diligence and valuations.

You can read more about the background to the blook here.

The blook will go live tomorrow, Monday 02 June, on the various author's sites as well as at Darren Gorton's blog OutThink!.

Comments

[Mandy de Waal]

@tobymarx: Thanks for your enthusiasm. And it was a fun project to be involved in.

[tobymarx]

Very exciting news, Mandy! This sounds like a project that could well be world-changing. Congratulations on being a part of it.

[Mandy de Waal]

@Darren: I'll be burning the midnight oil. But will have something up by tomorrow.

@Nic: Cool Nic. And thanks for spotting that typo.

[Nic]

Hi Mandy,

Great post. Only thing is the spelling of my name is "Haralambous". you've mispelled it!

[Darren]

Fantastic intro to the authors, Mandy. I should have asked you to write this ages ago!

Thanks for taking the time, and being part of the blook!