Mzolisi Witbooi is living the Destiny Man brand

By Cassy van Eeden

After having worked at Destiny Man for four years as a features editor, it would seem only natural for Witbooi to take on the role of the magazine’s editor. But it wasn’t. “For a long time, I had been more passionate about content than anything else,” says Witbooi. “So I tended to shy away from other aspects of editorial management.”

However, in November last year, after Kojo Baffoe left the publication, Witbooi offered to take the reins until a new editor was appointed. During his time as an acting editor, his confidence in his managerial abilities grew. The support he received from his colleagues as well as his passion for the Destiny Man brand made him rethink his initial doubt.

Although it was never his plan, Witbooi has now been officially appointed as the magazine’s editor.

Now that he sits in the editor’s office, Witbooi often finds himself being asked what his plans are for the magazine. “The answer is simple,” he says. “Destiny Man has its own vision, and my role is to steer it towards that vision.” This is Witbooi’s metier. He has not entered the role with a need to mark the territory as his own. Instead, he’s taking a brand that is already a market-leader and ensuring that it continues to be one. “We want to continue to be an inspiring, motivational and intellectually stimulating title.”

This is not to say that the new editor isn’t making changes, he is. But they’re not so much changes as they are constructive nudges that keeps the magazine in line with its readers.

The latest issue of the magazine – the 6^th birthday edition – is testament to this. The magazine is now a monthly publication rather than a bi-monthly release. “We’ve added more pages to our Grooming, Fashion and Tech sections as the interest of our market in these industries grows,” explains Witbooi. “And one of our features, Young & Powerful, will now focus on under 30s instead of under 35s as the entrepreneurial bug is hitting our readers at a younger age.”

Although Witbooi is technically now in a more senior position, he does not see it this way. “There’s no job too senior for any of us in my team,” he says. As a leader he relies largely on his team’s input when making decisions for the magazine, rather than making all the calls himself. “My office door is always open, literally, and I’m forever ready to discuss Destiny Man-related stuff.”

Heading up an already established editorial team might not seem like an easy feat. But Witbooi says he has taken over a brilliant team. “I feel so privileged to have the calibre of smart and enthusiastic people that we have at Destiny Man.” He adds: “Our team compliments each other’s strengths and weaknesses very well.”

There is no denying his diehard passion for the Destiny Man. When describing his leadership style he says, without hesitation, that he would put his body in the line of fire for the brand if he had to. Bolstered by this and a devoted team, Witbooi will undoubtedly see the magazine through another six success-filled years, if not longer.

Witbooi is not in the journalism industry to make money. He is in for his love of the craft. “In my case, it was passion and the realisation that I could influence the way in which people view the world,” he says. Destiny Man is about being bold, questioning the status quo and about driving change. And that’s exactly who Mzolisi Witbooi is. He is Destiny Man.

For more information about Destiny Man, visit the website. Alternatively, connect with the magazine via Facebook and Twitter.