1 min. with a superhero: Emiley from Ev-olution Media
by Fred Roed on 11/04/07 at 11:16 am
8 comments
Ideate is introducing a new item on its menu of Small Business fare. ‘1 min. with a superhero’ aims to be a regular segment where we talk to entrepreneurs / artists / self-employed individuals fighting the good fight. Tell us what you think, and let us know if there’s anyone who you think should be interviewed…
Our first interview is with Emiley of Ev-olution Media, a full-service advertising agency stirring up things in a lily-white Cape Town communications industry.
What makes your business different?
We are not the superficial, 5 minute-makeover, new improved, back by popular demand and slightly different this time, kind. We’ve taken every structure of the typical ad agency and turfed it out the back door somewhere near the recycling bin. We’ve realised that ideas don’t cost huge money. Sure, it takes a lot of time and a small amount of coffee to come up with them but for every big budget, blockbuster concept there’s a smarter, hard working idea.
How did you get into this industry?
At the age of 12, i was working in a Internet Cafe and at the same time holding up a half job at Coca Cola, to pay for my school and accommodation fees. I worked for a year in the Bank, where i use to fold up cash money as flower buckets whenever i was bored to death. I decided to explore my talent further and went to Germany to study Creative Art and Graphic design. I remained in this industry ever since.
What about your job makes you lie awake at night?
In the early days of running my own business, I try to do as much as possible all by myself. which is the most cost-effective, comfortable, sensible way to do things in the beginning. But as I’m growing I start realizing I can’t do all things by myself. I also lie awake at night, thinking of ways to get new clients.
Tell us something that no one knows about you.
I was born in Nyango Zambia, at 1 day old was literally left on the doorstep of the village priest. I became one of the more or less 125 or so Namibian Kindergarten children abandoned by their parents in the village. Due to the war between South Africa and Namibia which was fought in Angola and Zambia, the children were moved en masse to East Germany. I returned from foraging to find all my friends had disappeared.The next day I was on my way to Russia. After a modern odyssey I found myself for the first time in my native Namibia and at the age of 12 gainfully employed in a prototype internet cafe to pay for my school fees.
Contact: Emiley Vollper 021 4348474
Web Address: www.ev-olutionmedia.com
Fred Roed is the marketing guy in the Ideate crew. Fred is the CEO of web marketing company World Wide Creative and the co-founder of online learning portal Heavy Chef. Fred loves writing about people out there doing marketing right. Follow Fred on Twitter here. View more articles by Fred Roed.
Vaughn
Apr 11th, 2007
Hats off to Emiley! It’s a trait of many hugely successful entrepreneurs that they started off living a tough life, and that gives them the perseverance they need to succeed later in life. Most of us have it too easy, so remember Emiley’s story next time you’re complaining that life’s not fair.
Fred
Apr 11th, 2007
Emiley certainly is something else… Would you believe she speaks 9 languages fluently? Russian, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Polish, English,Herero, Ovambo and now she is busy learning Afrikaans.
Sophia
Apr 12th, 2007
I have had the privilege of working with this “Super Hero”, and I can only agree with both Vaughn and Fred – this tough and successful lady had a difficult start, and you’d never say so! She is inspiring, creative, positive, and she sure gets the job done! Well done, Emiley!
And, well done to the guys – what a good idea to focus on a few ’super heroes’!
Lisa
Apr 12th, 2007
Damn fine idea…and an equally fine place to start.
Adii
Apr 17th, 2007
Great stuff guys! I love this feature. If this was the only feature on your blog, I’d still be a fan!
adii
Apr 17th, 2007
I’m the creator of trends
Call me Mr TrendMaster… Nah, only fooling about. Maybe I should at least pretend to be more modest – people might not be liking me too much for it. For the record – I’m not that arrogant…
Anyway, I’m referring to the trend of d…
Fred
Apr 17th, 2007
Adii – sorry to be the bearer of bad news bud – but I don’t read your blog.
Glad we’re on the same page though.
The idea of interviewing people came out of a discussion / meeting / chat with the other Ideaters from some time ago.
Shane
Apr 17th, 2007
Nice try Adii.
http://www.ideate.co.za/2007/01/15/topics-for-2007/