We are in the third week of the Business Acumen for Artists programme. One of the most critical leverage points for Business which has emerged from this process is the way in which multiple forms of artistic expression can help to invigorate organisational thinking. We ran a process last week at the UCT GSB called the Think Indaba where we used visual process facilitation to help delegates to visualise Africa in 2012. The findings were profoundly positive not only because … →

I am suddenly inspired by the idea of a group multi-media exhibition at the end of our programme. The complete project I am working on is HUGE and will only be realised in 2010, but a slice, a snippet could well be part of a Sharp Artists exhibition (We’ll have to think of a sexier title – “Business Acumen” isn’t very sticky.) At tea time tonight I went scouting for a site for my performance art piece for the exhhibition(shot … →

Firstly, thanks to Elspeth Donovan for providing a practical approach to what many find a daunting exercise. What I found heartening was that many of you could start relating the business case to the business plan – realising that making a plan for your efforts is not an otherwordly exercise but one which can be cracked open with ease if one has the right attitude and a model from which to work. Remember that if you don’t have a coherent … →

It was a real delight for me to be part of Monday evening, and our time together on Monday has stayed with me through the course of this week, with resonances of it popping up at unexpected times. I have been particularly struck once again by the re-confirmation that at the heart of all that we do, the work on ourselves remains fundamental to our well being and our success. Knowing who we are, what we need, what gives the … →

So Monday was hard for me. i am used to being in a space where I design processes and programmes. Monday was about stepping up to the plate – delivering with my design partner whom I have closed mulit-million rand deals with on actually running a process. monday for me was about integrity and self trust – being able to integrate the Flash with the Fear and Fundamentals. A model for real business practise/ Yes. Thank you to you all … →

Robert Poynton | rob@oyf.com | oyf.com | IP: 196.14.132.5 Hola. This is Rob. He of the loud T shirt. Monday night may well not have been what you were expecting from a business course. Which is perhaps a learning in itself. Personally, as someone that straddles business and creative worlds I think Fletcher was right – its not ‘us’ and ‘them’, which I think implies not so much learning a new language, but learning to find a way to use … →

I am programme directing the Business Acumen for Artists thirteen week process as part of UCT Graduate School’s Corporate Social Investment. I have created this blog as a space to share ideas around the learning that comes out of this journey – insights for business and creatives. We kick off tomorrow night with Robert Poynton of On your Feet fame . We have brought him to South Africa to run the process underpinning the Executive Leadership Programme  at UCT GSB … →