David Dickens has been appointed Executive Director of the DMASA with immediate effect. At the 5 May Board meeting David accepted the Board's appointment to take executive control of the DMASA and manage the National Office.
Biography
David describes himself as an Entrepreneur, Marketer, Database developer, Business developer, Project Manager, and Social Entrepreneur.
He started his career as an educator and a passion for computer science quickly led to him becoming head of the computer centre at Hilton. A keen interest in business and practical academic study secured him a Business Management Diploma from Damelin, followed in 2012 with an MBA (3 Distinctions).
David started his entrepreneurial business journey in 1998 as a consultant driving NGO projects for Soul City and the Australian government's Be Your Best Foundation. These provided a solid grounding in project development and management, and he subsequently delivered senior government training, educator training and youth development on a national scale.
In 2005 he founded ByteStream, servicing the Call Centre, Marketing and Sales industries with clean lists sourced through brokers and refined by their call centre. The company is now largely self sufficient, allowing him to consult to ABSA Bank and the City of Tshwane.
The City of Tshwane's "Project Tshepo 10 000" is developing 10 000 entrepreneurs and is the largest undertaking of its size in South Africa. The projects have helped David hone skill-sets in database analysis and development, project management, enterprise development, monitoring and risk evaluation, and the development of relationships between government and commerce.
Direct marketing has been David's passion and he has become a respected marketer to many blue-chip companies and several banks, helping grow products, brands and bottom-lines.
David is a life-long learner with a passion to use his life and talent for the betterment of all.
Education
MBA, Dip Education, Dip. Business Management
Hobbies:
Qualified Skipper (Boating), Gardening, Poultry (Egg Farming), Swimming (Midmar mile), and Spearfishing, Rock, Surf and Deep-sea fishing.
Ideal work life
David says that his passion for people has always made him gravitate towards working for their betterment and growth. His business drive makes him stretch those around him to want to achieve better. He says his work ethic and persistence makes him achieve the impossible. He sees himself marketing on a strategic and tactical level in the space of big data and direct marketing. With a passionate team he plans to bring innovation and smarter ways to reach targets.
“Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness.” - Napoleon Hill