Who is buntu. And why does what we do matter now?
buntu means people.
It’s a derivative of the South African word ‘ubuntu’, which means I see you, I recognise you, and I appreciate you. It’s about community.
The buntu. team are your contemporary ‘human to human’ communication and connection specialists for business.
Our role is to help you resonate with creative, collaborative, and contemporary response-worthy comms, both offline and online.
While ‘everybody’ is zigging into AI, communication automation, transactional efficiency, and doing ever more with less, the buntu. team focused on providing a counterbalance, a connection with intention, and recognition of our humanity in business.
Surprise and delight does not need an algorithm. None of us will have ‘I made budget’ or ‘She mastered AI’ as an epitaph.
Our intention is to keep a focus on ‘real’ and ensure that our clients uncover who they really are and help them express the essence of what it is that they are up to and why that matters now.
Our focus is on being unreasonably creative and as refreshingly possible for YOU.
YOUR buntu. The YOU newsletter has been designed to offer insights, learnings, creativity, and storytelling.
Good energy, resonance, and the occasional dad joke are our jam.
It is not until we stop looking for things that we begin to see, so come and sit under our tree without distraction to uncover buntu. YOU.
Embrace the Mismatch
For a significant portion of my career, hanging around, literally, high off the ground in the trees was a regular activity.
Facilitating low and high rope elements does not work when the steel cable between the trees is slack.
Tension is required for a humans to traverse successfully from tree to tree.
One of my lessons in business is, ‘no tension – no/limited progress’.
On this planet, it’s the dichotomies that facilitate growth.
Night/Day. Close/Far, Wet/Dry, Fast/Slow…. You get the idea.
It stands to reason that when there seems to be a mismatch with a team member, a client or family member, the best may be yet to come.
Of course emotions, assumptions and our prejudices can get in the way. Embrace them and yourself respectfully and know that when the truth is spoken with love, the mismatch can be productive, exciting and unexpected.
How do you embrace the mismatch?
Greg Smith – CEO
Why Human-to-Human Connection Matters More Than Ever
How many times have you reached out for assistance from a customer service agent, only to get stuck with a chatbot? It’s frustrating when all you want are real answers, but all you get are automated replies that don’t quite hit the mark.
In today’s tech-filled world, it’s becoming more and more obvious: nothing beats the warmth of a real human connection. Sure, tech gives us amazing tools to make life easier, but when it comes down to it, there’s something about genuine human conversation that technology just can’t match.
Think about it: remote work, chatbots, and all our digital shortcuts are great, but they’re no substitute for that feeling you get when someone actually listens, understands, and responds with empathy. Real human interaction builds trust and shows that someone genuinely cares—it helps people feel valued in a way a screen never could.
As buntu. heads into 2025, we’re doubling down on this idea, even as we continue connecting virtually. We believe that trust and real connections come from human-to-human moments, and that’s a belief we carry into everything we do. I love tech, it’s a fantastic tool, but at buntu., we know it’s the people behind it who truly make the difference.
LinkedIn Profile Optimisation Tips 💡, brought to you by Steve Dart — LinkedIn Specialist.
1. Profile Completeness
There are multiple sections in your LinkedIn profile. Your LinkedIn profile talks about you and the company that you represent. Hence, it is important to have all sections in your profile captured to help you optimise your LinkedIn profile.
Some of the sections that you need to take care of are:
- Your full name
- Your Current Contact Details
- Your Current Organisation
- Your Previous Positions (minimum two to three)
- Your Educational Background
- Minimum 50 connections (preferably in the relevant field)
- A clear photo (in professional attire, preferably)
2. Custom URL
A default URL of your profile is a series of alpha-numeric codes, which does not go well.
Hence, it is important to have your custom URL. To put it in simple terms, instead of having a profile URL with thousands of characters or numbers, it is advisable to have your own name, such as https://www.linkedin.com/in/[yourname]/
3. Recommendations
This is a highly recommended section. Written recommendations from your peers, seniors, clients, partners, etc. establish the strong credibility of your profile.
A written recommendation will also capture the name of the person who is recommending and his or her relationship with you in the organisation with his or her picture.
A No Bull Story
What does the Dakar Rally and buntu. have in common?
Well, it all begins with the phrase “I need you to help me sell some artwork.”
So began a drive west of Brisbane, and as our car turned slowly through the gates, the cloud of red dust that had been following us finally settled. . .
We had arrived at the isolated rural studio of artist BENZIE.
Immediately we were greeted by a very boisterous PIG, who acted as the studio ‘Maitre D’ and, I should point out, was very protective of both the artwork and the artist.
The artwork in question, and as YOU may have noticed by now in the image above, is that of ‘Toby Price’, a 6 x time podium finisher of the Dakar Rally. It truly is an amazing piece and the sheer size of it left us gobsmacked.
However, immediately, I saw there was a problem.
The piece was covered in logos and branding of Toby’s major sponsor RED BULL !
And to someone who has sold artwork for over 30 years I had to get straight to the point with the client.
“Ummm, did you get permission to paint the RED BULL logo?”
“Ahhh . . No.”
“Mmmm, well I cannot help you sell it.
However . . . We might have an OPPORTUNITY now instead.”
(My mind began doing the spinning thing that I was getting quite used to)
Let’s see if we can SELL YOU as the resident artist for RED BULL for next year and use the artwork to ‘pattern interrupt’ and get the attention of the RED BULL executives.”
Need I say BENZIE was in.
So that is exactly what we did, and goodness me did we get close to lining up all the ducks.
You see what truly gets attention is something that peaks interest, something creative, something tangible, something of significance and something that challenges at same time.
The strategy : send 36 executives at RED BULL a card at exactly the same time.
But not just any card. The artwork would feature on the front, BENZIE and the PIG would be on the back, and the artwork again would be the design for the envelope, of course sealed with wax.
How do we get a card for each executive at the same time?
Send within a box to the head office, and task the gatekeeper at reception prior via phone to ensure each individually addressed card was given out to all at the same time.
The message in the card was simple, but IT WAS THE KEY.
“Hey (Name),
By now as you look around, you are no doubt wondering why everyone in the office has the same card as YOU?
First to call me finds out why.”
Andy.
0418 – – – – – –
Need I say the phone began promptly buzzing, and after 5 weeks of meetings back and forth, we were all set.
Until . .
At the 11 hr when the international faction pulled the pin.
Was it a success?
Attention, Connection, Intention – Recognition were all achieved. So yes. And it was fun.
The humble greeting card.
You know how it works … the selection process, the decision making, that rushed feeling. Forehead now beading with sweat, that overwhelming feeling crawling all over your back. The absolute pressure to get it right.
Is the sentiment there? Have I captured their personality, have I captured mine? Is it funny enough, is it too funny?
Is it totally NAFF !
AND . . . Why are they so expensive??
Birthday’s, Christmas, Condolences, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day . . . Get Well and Congratulations.
All standard.
But why do we need a ‘DAY’ to communicate a message?
buntu. Is BIG on the personalised handwritten communication piece. A creative card, matching envelope and embossed wax seal.
It is part of the ecosystem here.
So here are TEN reasons why YOU should, could and possibly would send a card in 2025.
The unexpected matters.
We call it surprise and delight. Doing something nice for someone when they least expect it. Creating real impact, something of significance to remember, something to talk about.
Yeah nah.
Thanks but no thanks.
Turn others down with grace, humour and personality.
More than peanut butter.
Love baby love. It’s always about love.
And when you love someone ‘more than peanut butter’ say it whenever you can.
Sorry not sorry.
No apology required.
Just letting you know how great I am doing. Think of it as your own personal testimonial. Just don’t overdo it on the ego.
Warm intro.
Not a cold call, a warm intro.
May the sun be smiling on you, may this note find you well. And if ok, please allow me to introduce myself.
Hello, Bonjour, Ola . . .
Do we need a reason to say hi? It’s like capturing smiles.
Say G’day the old fashioned way.
On YOUR mind.
To them we know, handwritten with care simply says more.
Our friends, loved ones, even people within our networks and community pop in and out of our thoughts.
The F U card.
Express yourself creatively. One card says it all.
We all want to express our true feelings to that ‘someone’ at some times during the year.
From me to YOU and YOU to WHO?
A creative card to pay it forward, working together to say nice things.
This card turns from greeting card to post card with a simple separation at the perforated edge.
Designed to be nice twice.
Take the top panel of the card, tear it from the bottom, write YOUR niceness, and post.
So here it is.
When you have news, and it needs to be said with IMPACT.
Where YOU are OUR focus – Come and take a peek at what we are up to.
From all of us here at buntu. I’d like to say thank YOU for showing an interest in what we are up to. If you would like to understand a little more the importance of the ‘human to human’ connection, happy to chat. Greg Smith.
Greg’s Calendar. 📅
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