Brent Shahim

Izimvo is honoured to introduce Managing Director of Aqua Online, Brent Shahim

As one of South Africa’s biggest new media agencies and with clients such as Avis, Southern Sun, Nokia, Standard Bank, Pick n Pay and MTN, Aqua Online are at the forefront of a digital South African.

Brent is a qualified Chartered Accountant having completing his articles at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He also holds a Bachelor of Commerce and an honours degree in Business Information Systems from Wits.

Aqua Online was recently sold to WPP and now is the official digital arm of Y&R in South Africa.

Website: http://www.aquaonline.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/brentshahim
Location: Johannesburg

Brent was kind enough to answer the following questions for us:

Personal

Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? i.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.

A: Brent, 37, Aquaonline.

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: I am an accountant of all things, but have a latent creative streak and have been a co-author of a play in my distant past. Two of my favourite movies are Jerry Maguire and Pulp Fiction.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: I am a rugby fanatic and watch at every opportunity. I love reading and enjoy eating out with close friends.

A Digital South Africa

Q: Aqua Online was founded in 1998 and was perfectly placed to take full advantage of Web 1.0. In your experience, what was the impact of the Dot Com crash on South African web development companies and what did Aqua Online do to weather the storm?

A: Aqua repositioned itself from a software development company to more of a digital marketing agency – that meant that we could tap into IT and Marketing budgets. It also meant that we were more strategic and value-add as opposed to the commoditised software development space.

Q: What are the current web trends which you believe will shape the future of the web here in South Africa?

A: I believe that increasing bandwidth and reducing costs are going to fuel an explosion in internet ecommerce opportunities and drive digital as a more mainstream marketing channel to compete with television and print.

Q: Aqua Online have been involved in a number of very large projects including BMW, Avis, SAB, Virgin Money to name a few. What projects are your personally most proud of?

A: This sounds cliché but I am really proud of all the great work we do and how we have managed to pull most of our clients into the digital age. They are seeing value from the work we do and are investing in us more and more.

Q: When it comes to the web and web development, South Africa competes in a global market place. Even with the benefit of the Rand, why do you think it is that local companies are not hired for more international projects?

A: Unfortunately, the Rand is quite strong and we struggle to compete on the off-shoring model with countries like Russia and India. That said, we are doing some significant off-shoring work and I think that off-shoring is going to continue to grow.

Q: How do you hire great talent?

A: We have a great internship program and over the years we have a designed a rigorous interview process.

Life in South Africa

Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?

A: I was held up by 6 guys in my office when I first moved in. I did start thinking about my options to immigrate. But to be honest, there are amazing opportunities here. So those plans are on hold.

Q: Have you ever considered emigration? If yes, where do you think you would emigrate to?

A: Probably Sydney Australia.

Q: If you were given the opportunity of sitting down with the president, what advice would you offer him?

A: I would ask him to invest his most money and best people in fighting crime. Once the crime abates, we can deal with all the other issues we face as a country.

Q: To which three attractions would you first take an international visitor?

A: Cape Town, A Game Lodge, Apartheid Museum.

Life in Johannesburg

Q: What is your favorite restaurant in or around Johannesburg for a quite Sunday afternoon lunch with family and friends?

A: The Inanda Club.

Q: What is your favorite destination in or near Johannesburg for a long weekend getaway?

A: De Hoek in the Magaliesburg.

Q: What are the greatest benefits of living in Johannesburg?

A: The energy, business opportunities, entertainment and the weather.

General

Q: If you were able to pick anyone as your mentor, who would it be and why?

A: I would love to pick Steve Jobs. He has had personal and professional challenges and huge successes. He is also a visionary who has managed to change the way people live.

Q: One book that you would make required reading for all matric pupils?

A: Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela; The Fountainhead by Anne Rand.

Q: Where would you like to wake up tomorrow?

Q: In Cape Town – the Ambassador Hotel.

Q: What question would you like us to ask our next interviewee?

A: What is the secret of happiness?

A massive thank you to Brent for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish him and his team at Aqua Online every success for the future.