From humble beginnings to advertising powerhouse... Meet Pepe Marais
From newspaper delivery boy to advertising whizz and founder of Joe Public United, Pepe Marais sits down with Clement Manyathela.
Pepe Marais
702's Clement Manyathela is joined by Joe Public founder Dr Pepe Marais.
Listen below:
Pepe Marais is an advertising pioneer whose company, Joe Public United, has been a dominant force in the industry for over a decade.
As an entrepreneur and author, Marais brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to his work.
Holding a doctoral degree in Business Management, he is a firm believer in the power of creativity to transform lives.
His significant contributions to the industry were recognised in 2022 when he was inducted into the Loeries Hall of Fame, an honour that celebrates his lasting impact on the creative world.
Despite his success, he says his background is a humble one.
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"I'm always very conscious of my privileges, but in that old South African society, I grew up with little means."
- Pepe Marais, Founder - Joe Public United
"So I had to start delivering newspapers at the age of 12 to create income to help my mother feed the family."
- Pepe Marais, Founder - Joe Public United
But Marais had far greater ambitions than simply delivering newspapers.
Although the creative and marketing whizz didn't immediately land on a future in ads and brand building.
"I wanted to become a civil engineer, because one of my friends had a rich father who was an engineer, and they lived up on the hill, I lived next to the railroad... So, I aspired to that."
- Pepe Marais, Founder - Joe Public United
In hindsight, Marais admits it's not a career he would have been happy with.
"I would have fallen into something I didn't love."
- Pepe Marais, Founder - Joe Public United
Marais says that, while flying home from his time in the army, he met a graphic designer.
That meeting would change the course of his life and be the first step to his hugely successful career in advertising.
"This guy had a portfolio, and he showed me, and I was like, 'Jeez, what is this?' And he said, 'Graphic design'. And instantly, I changed what I wanted to become."
- Pepe Marais, Founder - Joe Public United
"So I'm not one of those people who aspired to advertising my whole life."
- Pepe Marais, Founder - Joe Public United
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full interview.