Build the room you want to be in
A reflection by Themba Hadebe
Photograph by Armand Hough
There’s something interesting that happens when you spend years moving between rooms in music, media, tech, events and culture. You start realising how many people are sitting on ideas, talent and ambition but genuinely don’t know where to start or who to ask. And even worse, a lot of people feel like they’re waiting for permission to begin.
That’s honestly why I did the workshop.
Photograph by Shelton Forbez
Not because I think I have all the answers. I definitely don’t. I’m still figuring things out in real time too. But I’ve learnt a lot through building Juggernaut Entertainment, managing artists, hosting events, working across different industries and honestly just failing at enough things to understand what actually matters.
The workshop was really about demystifying creative entrepreneurship. Pulling back the curtain a little bit. Showing people that building a career in creative industries isn’t always this glamorous, overnight thing people make it seem like online. Most of it is consistency, relationships, showing up, following up, starting before you feel ready and learning publicly while everyone watches you figure it out.
Photograph by Vuyo Polson
A big part of the conversation was around execution over perfection. Because I think perfection has become one of the biggest killers of young creatives. People spend so much time waiting for the perfect camera, perfect logo, perfect team, perfect investor, perfect timing. Meanwhile someone else just starts. And usually the people who start messy end up building momentum.
I also wanted people to understand that your network genuinely changes your life. But networking isn’t this fake corporate thing where you collect contacts like Pokémon cards. It’s contributing to spaces, adding value, being intentional about the rooms you enter and building actual relationships over time. A lot of opportunities in my own life didn’t come from cold emails or luck. They came from conversations. From people remembering how I showed up.
Photograph by Shelton Forbez
What surprised me most was probably the reception afterwards. People stayed behind for long conversations. Some spoke about wanting to start podcasts, brands, agencies, events, fashion labels, music careers. Others just needed reassurance that they weren’t crazy for wanting more out of their lives creatively. And I think that reminded me how necessary these spaces are.
Cape Town and honestly South Africa in general, needs more spaces like this. Not just parties, not just panels where people speak in buzzwords for an hour and leave but real conversations. Honest ones. Especially for young black creatives trying to navigate industries that often feel gatekept or inaccessible unless you already know someone.
We need more rooms where people can ask the “small” questions without feeling embarrassed. More rooms where information is shared openly. More rooms where people leave with practical perspective instead of just inspiration.
Because the truth is, talent has never really been our issue. Access, guidance and proximity usually are.
And I think if more of us start building the rooms we wish existed earlier in our journeys, the entire ecosystem changes.
Photograph by Shelton Forbez
