Stand Against Bland by Sylvester Chauke is out now from BlackBird Books!

‘The book is written for those at the intersection of high school, university and early career. Words gushed out as I embarked on my chapter as an author and in many ways, the process was a reminder of the urgent mental emancipation of black people that is needed in order to claim our own spaces with pride.’ – Sylvester Chauke

Multi-award-winning Sylvester Chauke is a self-confessed Madonna-crazy entrepreneur and founder of DNA Brand Architects.

After an illustrious career as the national marketing manager for Nando’s South Africa, Sylvester joined broadcasting giant MTV Networks Africa as its director of marketing and communication. In 2012, Sylvester established DNA Brand Architects, a marketing and brand consultancy that works with some of the most revered brands on the continent including Vodacom, Pernod Ricard, SABMiller, Boardmans and Steers.

Being a change leader, Chauke has a unique approach, ‘stand against bland’, which has allowed him to stand out as a powerful creative and marketing force. His track record is undeniable and his reign as the country’s number one marketing maverick keeps teaching the rest of us why we must choose to Stand Against Bland.

This book illustrates the colourful career of a man often referred to as ‘the dancing CEO’ – due to his tradition of bringing dancing into the office – and also takes readers inside the mind of a man who has stood out, brilliantly and consistently, from the rest.

Chauke says:

‘The book is a slice of what I do and how I do it and a reflection of my journey and the lessons so far. I have by no means “arrived”, but I am a product of a generation that shared so much and has given me so much and now it’s my turn to share.

‘Every black graduate should have this book. It reminds us that we all want to make our time here significant and there is a way to do that.’

About the author

Sylvester Chauke is the founder of the marketing and brand consulting company DNA Brand Architects. But he is not just an advertising maverick. Three years ago, at age 31, Chauke was selected as one of five young people to represent Africa at the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. There is a lot more to this young leader than just marketing-speak.

Categories Non-fiction South Africa

Tags BlackBird Books Jacana Media New books New releases Stand Against Bland Sylvester Chauke