The Relebogile Mabotja Podcast #41 – Khaya Dlanga: What My Brother Said In His Suicide Note

Описание: I speak to celebrated author, marketing guru, and one of South Africa’s original digital pioneers, Khaya Dlanga.

He takes me through his incredible journey as a “YouTube Ancestor,” starting 18 years ago from a dark room with a cheap phone. Khaya reminisces about the early days of the internet and the story behind the viral #ThingsDarkiesSay hashtag that sparked a global culture clash. He reflects on how these early experiences shaped the digital landscape and his own career.

We delve into his high-stakes marketing journey, from learning global lessons at Coca-Cola and Heineken to the humbling experience of saving a failing brand. Khaya pulls back the curtain on his time as CMO at Rain, revealing the intense pressure of launching 5G in South Africa before almost anyone else in the world and navigating the bizarre conspiracy theories that followed.

In a moment of profound vulnerability, Khaya opens up about the devastating loss of his brother to suicide. He speaks with raw honesty about his brother's struggle with a gambling addiction, the painful decision to fire him, and the heavy burden of guilt that followed. He shares the heartbreaking final words his brother left behind and how his mother, in her own immense grief, made a chilling prophecy about her own life, leading Khaya to believe she ultimately died of a broken heart.

This episode is about resilience in the face of unspeakable tragedy, the courage to be vulnerable, and the complex journey of understanding grief, success, and self-worth.

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0:50 - The Original "YouTube Ancestor"
7:07 - The Fourways Twitter Mafia
8:31 - Marketing Journey & Lessons from Coca-Cola
29:17 - The Humbling Lesson I Learned at Heineken
34:33 - Launching 5G & Building A Startup at Rain
39:00 - "I Had to Fire My Brother"
43:00 - My Brother's Gambling Addiction & Suicide
46:18 - My Mother's Graceful Letter & Broken Heart
1:00:22 - The Hashtag That Broke Black Twitter
1:03:52 - Soul Card Reading: "Am I Afraid to Be Seen?"
1:08:33 - Final Thoughts & Where To Find Khaya's Books