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Lessons from 23 yrs of starting, buying, building, fixing and selling technology assets and businesses. Delivered every Sunday at 7 am.
Vusi is a software engineer (two decades), former exec and entrepreneur turned crazy cyclist. He is a husband of 10 years and a dad to six.
He was born in Mpumalanga, in a small village called Maganagobushwa. He showed early signs of industriousness in primary school where he sold sweets and sandwiches for pocket money. In high school, he sold airtime with a (then) cutting-edge SMS technology – during the time of scratch cards. In high school, he also acquired an A+ certificate, allowing him to fix computers. Later in high school, he learned to develop software.
Due to financial constraints, Vusi ventured into business straight after high school, helping schools build timetables. He consulted in the tracking industry where he played a role in importing and implementing tracking technology, which still monitors more than 10,000 government vehicles today.
More recently, in his capacity as a director at Tirhani Group Holdings, Vusi led the disposal of several properties on behalf of the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID). Among the portfolio was the official residence of the Gauteng premier, which was sold using the online auction method. The disposal achieved a price 36% higher than the market value.
Between 2018 – 2020, in his capacity as the director and project manager of the Centre for Enterprise-neurship (CfE), Vusi led the promotion and revitalisation of the South African auction industry, in partnership with the Services SETA. He delivered the first industry-wide auction conference, represented by professional bodies and leaders in every sub-sector of auctioneering. He also delivered the first industry-wide research paper (co-developed with Plus94™), and over-hauled SSETA’s auction qualifications to align with SAQA standards.
In 2021, Vusi was appointed executive director of Nyukani Education Centre, a private school in Limpopo. In three months, the school implemented e-learning across the board (from Grades R – 12), eliminating all COVID disruptions, particularly during the 3rd wave. The school seamlessly switched to remote learning during the lockdown period of June 2021 and then blended learning techniques when contact lessons resumed.
As a combination of e-learning, pedagogy, management and systems changes, the school’s performance improved by an average of 10% across all grades, with some classes achieving a 20% increase in maths and science. The Matric class of 2021 doubled their distinctions and produced the best Matric results since inception – a 96% pass rate (in a province of 66%). In the first term of 2022, the school produced the best matriculant in Limpopo and the best results in the circuit.
Through TT100 and DaVinci business school, Vusi contributed to a program with Isaac Bari, the world’s youngest professor, to develop a maths and science program for the African child.
In 2022, Vusi took a sabbatical, leaving all his executive roles. He embarked on a pilgrimage, cycling 3257km from Musina to Cape Town, unassisted, for 10,000 school shoes.
He now focuses on philanthropy, consulting and investing in small businesses.
Vusi Sindane
Entrepreneur. Dad. Husband.
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Lessons from 23 yrs of starting, buying, building, fixing and selling technology assets and businesses. Delivered every Sunday at 7 am.
While I was a corporate exec, I took the Big Five Personality Traits survey by Dr. Jordan Peterson, this was my personality profile.
01. Agreeableness: Low
Vusi is low in agreeableness (15th percentile). He is quite straightforward about what he likes and doesn’t like.
02. Conscientiousness: Typical
He is average in conscientiousness (59th percentile) and is generally reliable, decisive, neat, organised, future–oriented and reliable, but can be prone to procrastination and distraction.
03. Extraversion: Moderately Low
Vusi is moderately introverted and low in extraversion, being less extroverted than 71 out of 100 people.
04. Neuroticism: Low
He is low in neuroticism and less sensitive to negative emotions. He copes very well with stress.
05. Openness to Experience: Very High
Vusi scored high in openness to experience (91st percentile), which is linked to creativity, intelligence, art and other interests. He will likely enjoy cultural events such as movies, concerts, etc., and have a passion for writing.
As part of my reflection (4 years after taking this test), I think of myself as far more compassionate than this report says. But then again, this is a true reflection of the state of mind I was in. And this is, in part, why I left the executive world. I had become something else.
This is a summary of Vusi’s top five strengths according to the Gallup CliftonStrengths finder assessment.
Vusi frequently engages in laborious tasks. He yearns to dedicate himself to worthy causes or noble purposes.
Fortifying the bonds between himself, the people he knows, or even those he will never meet gives his life special meaning. He often finds himself entering contests simply to have fun. In the process, he often finds himself part of something much larger, such as building team spirit or raising funds for a worthy cause.
This sense of being linked to other people means more to him than finishing first or claiming an award. He values people more than things. His talents guide his decision-making, influencing what he says and does, as well as what he chooses not to say and do. He knows he is a strand in the intricate web of life, searching for ways to link with individuals who ponder concepts, theories, or philosophies.
He is driven by the notion that no one can live life without some help from others. This idea compels him to consider how his actions and words affect people he knows and those he will never meet.
The Formative Years
❖ POETRY: 2002, started a poetry club in school. Selected among the top 1000 poems in African schools and published in an anthology called the “Golden Leaf.”
❖ MULTI-AWARD WINNING PIANIST: 2001 – 2003, Competed at the Eisteddfod music festival and received multiple awards for the best pianist in Ekurhuleni for classical music, original composition and light classical performances.
❖ Husband of 10 years, Dad to Six: Vusi is married for 10 years with 6 children. “We can talk about this in person.”
❖ 2022 (Limpopo): Became part of the Fire Tribe by walking 108 times in succession on a hot bed of coal (≈2km).
❖ 2023 (South Africa): Cycled 3257km, solo and unassisted, from Musina to Cape Town for 10,000 school shoes.
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