Table of Contents

Origins & Career Highlights

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.

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.  This was followed by various consulting roles throughout South Africa, including KZN, The Free State, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

More recently, in his capacity as a director at Tirhani Group Holdings, Vusi led the disposal of R100m worth of properties on behalf of the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID) using the online auction method.  Among the portfolio was the official residence of the Gauteng premier, which sold at 36% higher than the market value. 

Between 2018 – 2020, in his capacity as the executive director 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 during Covid. In three months, he led the implementation of 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 resumed with blended learning techniques thereafter.

As a combination of e-learning introduction, pedagogic changes, and management restructuring, 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, leading to an award by TT100 and Da Vinci Business School.

Through TT100 and DaVinci business school, Vusi contributed to a program with Isaac Bari, the world’s youngest professor, to develop a program to make maths and science more accessible to children in South Africa.

In 2022, following a personal crisis, Vusi took a sabbatical, leaving all his executive roles and embarking on a pilgrimage, cycling 3257km from Musina to Cape Town, unassisted, for 10,000 school shoes.  

Vusi consults in various capacities as project manager, board member, and confidant to business executives.  He is pursuing a master’s in Applied Ethics at Wits University and rebuilding skybookings.com from scratch.  Above all, his journey through life is lightened by his wife Victoria and brightened by their six children.

Vusi Sindane
Husband, Dad.
Software Engineer & Consultant.
Applied Philosopher in Training.

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Vusi's Personality

These results were generated via Big Five Personality Traits survey by Dr. Jordan Peterson. (2018)

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, futureoriented 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.

Clifton Top Five Strengths

This is a summary of Vusi’s top five strengths according to the Gallup CliftonStrengths finder assessment.

Vusi is inclined to engage in tough, 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.

Vusi's Skills Stack

Vusi is an autodidact (a self learner). He left formal education in Matric due to financial constraints at home and took it upon himself to start businesses and self-study to master various disciplines:

  • A+ (computer technician) through Gnosis Computer Campus 2001.
  • Matriculated 2003:  Veritas College, Springs
  • 2004 – Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) through IT Intellect: did not complete due to financial constraints, however ended up hiring the lecturer in his own business.
  • 2024:  Pursuing a Master of Arts in Applied Ethics for Professionals at Wits University.
 

Self-taught (or learned along the way) in the following skills:

  • Business Process Engineering and Optimisation
  • Enterprise Database Design and Administration (Microsoft SQL Server)
  • Data mining, warehousing and business intelligence reporting
  • Software Architecture
  • Algorithm Design
  • Enterprise Software Development
  • Web Application development (PHP, jQuery, Javascript, VueJS, Typerocket, Laravel, Git)
  • Project Management
  • Strategy Development and Management (using Balanced Scorecard Framework)
  • Business Process Automation
  • Marketing automation
  • Copywriting, business writing & academic writing
  • Speaking & story telling
  • Photography
  • Video Editing
  • Podcasting

Professional Experience

  • The Formative Years
  • 2004: (Joburg) launched a school time table making software that reduced the process from 6 weeks to 45 minutes.
  • 2005: (Joburg) consulted in SMM Telematics to design and implement internal administrative and reporting software to manage the project and produce billing data.
  • 2007: (KZN) worked as General Manager for I.T. and Project Management Office at Twilight Logistics. Twilight Logistics supported a supply chain entity that provided stationery to over 3000 schools in KZN. He participated in developing a mobile workstation (a sprinter bus with 10 workstations) to reach deep rural areas and improve demand planning processes. Also played a role in implementing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system SYSPRO to manage all the warehouses, inventory and logistics throughout the company.
  • 2007: (KZN) designed and implemented new business processes for a five-star lodge (Fairways Lodge in MT Edgecombe). Also implemented new bookings and other internal management tools and systems.
  • 2008: (Joburg) Sourced and implemented Fleet Management and Tracking technology from Paris, France, for SMM Telematics. Improved the company’s tracking reliability 60% to 90%.
  • 2010: (Free State) Contracted to design and implement logistics plan to deliver stationery to 1497 government schools in Free State.
  • 2012: (Mpumalanga) nominated to be an executive member of Ermelo Business Association.
  • 2012: (Mpumalanga) designed and implemented strategy management and KPI monitoring tools for a scholar transport company that managed over 600 buses in Mpumalanga.
 
The Corporate Years
 
  • 2015: (Mpumalanga): Launched skybookings, an events booking system. Gauteng Cricket soon adopted Skybookings to facilitate bookings at their gala dinners and VIP suites (for national and international games). Skybookings also offered its services to Joburg Fashion Week and many other high-profile events. 
  • 2016: (Johannesburg): Joined Tirhani Group Holdings (TGH) as an independent consultant. Joined the office of the group chairperson as executive assistant. Led several projects within the group, including disposing of the official residence of the Gauteng Premier through an online auction that raised R16,25 million.
  • 2017 – 2020 (Johannesburg): Became the director for Special Projects and Execution at TGH. Was appointed Group Chief of Operations, managing a portfolio of 16 companies in various sectors, including Education, Auctioneering, IT, Logistics, Funeral Brokerage and Insurance.
  • 2018 (Johannesburg): Invited to deliver keynote address to graduates of Da Vinci Business School: Topic (The difference between education and learning)
  • 2018 – 2020 (National): Contracted by Services SETA to promote the South African auction industry. Hosted the first-ever cross-sectoral and national auction conference. In response to Covid, also hosted the first online auction master class, inviting aspiring auctioneers to connect with industry leaders.
  • 2021: Invited to host 30th Business Innovation Awards for TT100
  • 2021 – Date: Worked with Prof. Sorborno Isaac Bari, the world’s youngest professor(10 years old), to create a maths and science program for African child.
  • 2021 – 2022 (Limpopo): Joined Nyukani Education Centre, an independent school in Limpopo, as the Executive Director. Increased the whole school’s academic performance by 10%. In the matric class of 2021, doubled distinctions and achieved the best quality of results since the inception of the school, 96% pass. Also, within one year, Nyukani became among the few schools in South Africa to implement e-learning successfully. Hence, the school’s academic performance was not affected by COVID.
  • 2022: Invited to host 31st Business Innovation Awards for TT100
 
Recent Activities
  • 2023: Cycled 3257km from Musina to Cape Town to raise funds for 10,000 school shoes.
  • 2024:  Studying Applied Ethics at Wits.
  • 2024:  Build skybookings.com (from scratch) and consulting in various roles as project manager, confidant to executives and facilitator.
 

Interesting Facts

  • POETRY: In 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, scooping the prestige award for senior pianists in Ekurhuleni for classical, original composition and light classical performances.
  • Husband of 11 years, Dad to Six: Vusi and Victoria have been together for 18 years and married for 11 years with 6 children. 
  • 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 3,257km, solo and unassisted, from Musina to Cape Town for 10,000 school shoes.

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