Dave Duarte

Izimvo would like to introduce Dave Duarte.

Dave, at only 27, is an Internet and mobile marketing specialist holding several senior positions in the academic, commercial and non-profit sectors. He is the founder of two Executive courses at UCT, lectures on their Executive MBA programme and is MD and Partner at Huddlemind Labs.

Dave is also the co-owner of Muti.co.za, Africa’s most popular online social bookmarking application, Public Lead for Creative Commons (CC) South Africa, Dean of Digital Dream Faculty at The Maharishi Institute of Management and the co-founder of 27dinners.

Web: http://www.huddlemind.net
Blog: http://daveduarte.co.za
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/daveduarte

Dave was kind enough to answer the following questions:

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: Meet Dave Duarte,  27, who regards himself as a bit of a “marketing geek”.  He’s actively involved in something like 11 different ventures, most of which are going along decently. He plays in the Academic, Commercial and Non-Profit space.

Dave enjoys hiking, basketball, tennis and squash – though he rarely beats any of his opponents.

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

A: I started a coffeeshop/bistro in Hout Bay, called Redemption Cafe with Max Kaizen – which we sold in 2004. I still spend an inordinate amount of time in coffee shops, and have around 3-5 cups of the best coffee I can find every day.

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

A: To work intensely, I need to relax properly, so I take holidays seriously. My girlfriend and I try get away to a different small-town every second week, and we take three longer holidays each year where we go overseas or to a resort.

Education  in South Africa

Q: In your experience, have you found that our tertiary education system is keeping up with the rapid changes of technology?

A: The formal structures at universities are not keeping up at all, but on a student level I’ve seen innovative approaches to learning – for example, some students will make their own podcasts, blogs and social-learning-networks to enhance their educational experience.

Other than that,  the pace of development in many sectors is rendering a lot of expensive printed text books practically obsolete. Online and Mobile texts are a must (IMHO).

Q: After running a couple of courses of Nomadic Marketing at UCT, are South African corporates catching onto Social Media & the Web in general?

A: They certainly are! Or, at least the ones that I deal with are.

Q: What do you think can be done to narrow the current divide between public and private schools?

A: Pay teachers more, and work on the leadership crisis in public schools in SA.

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: No-one in my family has been seriously affected by crime, besides the occasional mugging (that’s normal, right?).

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

A: I’m not keen to leave SA, but if I did I think I’d go to another African country- perhaps Tanzania.

Q: If you were South African president for just one day, what would you change?

A: One day?! I’d probably change my socks and underwear, then make a strong suggestion to the Education and Communication Ministers to be more progressive.

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

A: Robben Island, Table Mountain, and the Tsitsikamma Forrest.

Life in Cape Town

Q: What is your favorite cocktail venue to enjoy the beautiful sunsets Cape Town is famous for?

A: Llandudno Beach (bring your own virgin-cocktail ingredients).

Q: With the 2010 World cup only a matter on months away, which of Cape Town’s current sporting venues is your favorite?

A: Greenpoint Stadium (it’s the only one I’ve seen!)

Q: Where do you recommend for those looking for a cultural outing in and around Cape Town?

A: If you’re a well-off local and haven’t been to Mzoli’s for a braai, then I’d recommend that.

General

Q: What are you going to buy yourself as a 40th birthday present?

A: Haha! Perhaps a year or two of travelling, writing and thinking. Who knows?!

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

A: Long Walk to Freedom by Madiba.

Q: What was the last movie you saw on the big screen ?

A: District 9. Awesome!

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo?

A: Marlon Parker, who has set up drug counseling services via Mxit, Twitter and Blogs run by ex-gangsters from the Cape Flats.

A very big thank you to Dave for taking the time to answer our questions. Dave has certainly redefined our definition of a role model.

Please feel free to post any follow up questions you may have for Dave as a comment to this interview. We’d like to start the conversation by asking, you the reader, one of Dave’s questions. “What do you think can be done to narrow the current divide between public and private schools?”