Page 39 - KZN Top Business LEADERS-eBook

MEL CLARK

el Clark is the co-founder and executive talk to each other around the common goal for a able to adapt and understand that perspective of
director of Black Balance Projects, a project and make it workable.” people who worked in that sphere. His example
multidisciplinary consulting company allowed me to grow as a person, and to be able to
Min the built environment sector. Mel, BUILDING BRIDGES engage with people in a more empathic and honest
together with his business partner Malcolm Biggar, way.”
founded the company 16 years ago. Mel explained that his ‘why’ is building bridges and
connections between people, spaces and ideas. NEED FOR BALANCE
Mel is a product of both farm and city. His family The company’s name Black Balance is based on the
were part of the John Dunn clan, and he grew up in photographic principles of white and black balance The challenge of personally coping with failure has
an area called Mangethe, which is near the Tugela that make photos more real. A goal of Black Balance been a situation that Mel has had to overcome when
River mouth. is to bring balance between Black and White people Black Balance went through troubled times. He
in terms of economic empowerment, as well as reflected, “I was able to learn that business failure is
“My upbringing is worth mentioning,” says Mel. “It balance in ‘live, work and play’ spaces, including not personal failure. In fact, like many wise coaches
instilled the value of love for family, love for local social and environmental aspects. say, failure is there to teach you. I’m glad for that
community and a strong work ethic, as people from challenge and believe that it’s strengthened me.
the farm tend to have. At that time in the late 70s One of the life accomplishments that stands out for We have to teach our kids this type of resilience as
and early 80s, I also acquired an appreciation of Mel is his involvement with the development of the well. We cannot run away from problems or collapse
people from different walks of life. We spoke Zulu KZN Provincial Growth and Development Strategy. when we face tough situations.”
and it was a solid grounding as a young child.” He says, “In trying to develop a strategy that
incorporates the visions of the many stakeholders in Mel, as a believer in psychology, tends to dig a bit
CRITICAL THINKING our society, we spent an enormous amount of time deeper into the underlying reasons where there is
talking to people from all walks of life – business, conflict. Generally, this approach means he spends
As his high school years were quite a ‘hectic time’
in our country Mel got involved in student anti- trade union, community, government workers, time and energy in trying to understand situations
apartheid protests. That experience, he said, really unemployed, and academic and tried to knit that more clearly, which strengthens his team.
installed in him the capacity for critical thinking together into something that is workable, and that In terms of motivation, Mel enjoys helping people
that has been a cornerstone for his development people can rally around.” identify where their passion is when it’s possible to
as a person. However, organisational skills, project While the strategy has become a point of reference get the most from his team.
management, and team building were big parts for planning in the province, it is a disappointment
of his schooling and education. Mel completed a for Mel that all aspects of that strategy haven’t been Mel’s family and those closest to him inspire him to
degree at the then University of Durban, Westville implemented. achieve more. However, he explains that one should
and studied further in industrial relations and law. appreciate the need for balance between applying
Speaking of who has inspired him Mel says that in one’s skills in business and taking care of family.
His involvement in the trade union movement his early working days in the trade union movement,
led to his first job as an organiser in the Clothing he was mentored by John Zikali, a leader who had Commenting on his vision for KwaZulu-Natal, Mel
and Textile Workers Union in Durban. His role enormous stature and reputation. says he would want the province to regain and
included recruiting workers in the Jacobs Mobeni surpass its status as the warmest place with the
area, getting involved in wage negotiations, “I came in as a young university student, overzealous people with the warmest hearts in South Africa.
learning labour law, and learning from worker to beat up the bosses and make sure of workers’ “Visitors not only enjoyed our natural beauty, but
leadership. “It was not a normal first working rights, be as militant as young students can. In his also our people and we need to work at rebuilding
environment where one would learn from bosses. I wisdom, John taught me that you’ve got to develop that image of KZN as a really welcoming place to be,
had to learn from workers, which was very fulfilling the capacity and capability to see things from the to unlock the potential for investment.”
in its own way,” he reflected. other person’s perspective, even the employee’s
point of view, and why going for direct conflict is Mel concluded, “I’m very conscious about the cliché
At Black Balance, Mel’s focus is on building the not always the wisest route. ‘time is precious’. I’m a project manager at heart.
brand of the business, he also attends to project Value every moment, value all of the time that you
opportunities, town planning, architecture, quan- “When, I went into government I had to able to have because time goes by so quickly. Enjoy life,
tity surveying, and engineering. He commented, appreciate the perspective of people who worked make time for the things that matter, including that
“My role is to try to get the different disciplines to there. After that, going into the private sector, I was 10km run and that round of golf.”
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