Creative Business

Written by Sharina Ros Kamal

Born in Pretoria, South Africa, Ramotse Phalatsi, or Ramo as he is known for short, describes himself as a simple person who enjoys the simple things in life. However, his passion is by no means simple business. Coping with two growing companies, this alumnus of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology is a whiz in the designing world. Sharina Ros Kamal reports.

Ramotse Phalatsi set up Ram Studios, initially known as Ram Media Sdn. Bhd., right after his graduation from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology as a student of the university’s Advanced Diploma in Interactive Multimedia Design and Animation in 2003. Not long after, he ventured into another business based in Johannesburg in his home country, South Africa, called Tenaka’s Tribe Interactive.

“I am a 45% shareholder in Ram Studios and currently a 30% shareholder in Tenaka’s Tribe Interactive. I also serve as a director for both companies,” explained Ramotse, or Ramo as he prefers to call himself.

Although Tenaka’s Tribe Interactive is homegrown and constrained to the geographical boundaries of South Africa, Ram Studios is one of the many entrepreneurship projects in the world making full use of the opportunities provided through globalization, e-knowledge and information technology. The company successfully links professionals around the world and is based in both Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Sydney, Australia.

The decision to become an entrepreneur is not an easy one for many people. It is a decision filled with a lot of uncertainty and can only be taken if one is determined, courageous, and well-prepared, and Ramo was not an exception to the rule when he confessed that fear had almost hindered him from reaching his dream.

Describing his greatest challenge, Ramo, who is also an ardent runner, admitted that his fear of the unknown had always held him back, and he described it as the fear to progress without having any valid reasons.

I would suggest that it is primarily this fear that prevents most would-be entrepreneurs from chasing their dreams. I believe that it is the responsibility of every capable adult to find and pursue the things they love in life, relationships and work.

“I would suggest that it is primarily this fear that prevents most would-be entrepreneurs from chasing their dreams. I believe that it is the responsibility of every capable adult to find and pursue the things they love in life, relationships and work,” commented Ramo, when asked about his personal approach to facing the challenge.

Being a director is not about supremacy or the perks of being able to lord over others. For Ramo, the position translates to having more responsibilities.

As someone obsessed in design, Ramo is completely immersed in his respective companies’ web design and development. To some, his tasks may appear tedious and stressful but to Ramo, for whom working long hours in front of his computer – designing solutions that capture people’s attention and answer real world problems – gives him much enjoyment.

On top of all the time dedicated to designing, Ramo also needs to find time to do his other duties in managerial, operational and fiscal matters.

Today, both companies are heavily involved in separate projects. Ram Studios is engaged with developing a highly sophisticated web presence for an Australian-based professional audio company, whereas Tenaka’s Tribe Interactive, on the other hand, is developing several projects at the moment, one of which is an interactive online magazine for one of South Africa’s biggest software companies.

Ramo explains that his decision to study in Limkokwing University of Creative Technology was like hitting a bullet in the bull’s eye. His mind has always been bursting with imagination and ideas, and as a child he spent much of his time drawing scenes, characters and eventually comic books, which eventually led him to the study of graphic design.

Ramo was considering other institutions to study at but when a close friend recommended Limkokwing University, Ramo decided to do his own research on the university and was pleased with what he found out. Excited with his discovery, Ramo decided to take the plunge and pursue his studies in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Looking back, Ramo felt that it was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

“I can honestly say that my training at Limkokwing University put me well ahead of my peers when it came to familiarity with a wide variety of industry-standard tools and applications as well as the various disciplines within multimedia that we were exposed to,” explained Ramo. “Some of the best years of my life were spent during the time I was enrolled in the school.”

Ramo also added that the university offered him exposure to an international community and a global environment that enabled him to mingle with people from different cultures and nationalities. “I made lifelong friends among them,” said Ramo.

He also praised the university’s state-of-the-art equipment and application of modern technology. “I had the opportunity to expose myself to world-class tutors, concepts and facilities, and I did all of these while exploring a unique culture thousands of miles away from home,” said Ramo. He also praised the University for providing him with a good, solid foundation.

I had the opportunity to expose myself to world-class tutors, concepts and facilities, and I did all of these while exploring a unique culture thousands of miles away from home

The diligent young man also balances his life with his family, playing golf and, like the rest of us, enjoys spending time browsing the Internet. He can also be often spotted listening to audiobooks.

Ramo believes that the future should provide a better place for everyone. Taking cues from his education at Limkokwing University to be constantly innovative and to think beyond the box, Ramo plans to explore a design firm business model that can be modified to become more socio-economically and ecologically responsive.

Moving along with the tide of social entrepreneurship, Ramo also plans to move his business into a conceptual space where people are not just resources in business, but where businesses also exist to serve people and communities.

In closing, Ramo decides to share some words of advice for young designers who are interested in breaking into the field. “Don’t confuse style and technique with design. If you learn, understand and consistently apply the principles of good design, your work (and by extension you) will remain relevant in a world where almost anyone with a copy of Photoshop can, without much merit, claim to be a ‘designer’,” Ramo advised.

“Having said that, go for it – not many professions allow you to shape people’s experiences,” he concluded.