Ian (left) is a family man with two daughters, whose entrepreneurial spirit and 17 years of business experience have helped him modernise and grow the family publishing business off and online.
James (right) is an artist who brings his creativity and flair to the business. He offers 15 years tourism marketing experience and has even built a cultural village from the ground up.
Portfolio Travel Blog (PTB) Editor Joy-Anne had an informal chat with Ian and James to find out more about the men behind Moja.
Interview with Ian Solomon and James Delaney
PTB: What place do you call home and why do you choose to live there?
IS: Kommetjie. I love the beach, the mountains, the smell of the ocean and the big night skies.
JD: I live in Johannesburg with a view to the Magaliesberg Mountains on the horizon and miles of Joburg’s forest stretched between, backed on to a nature reserve. I choose to live here (although I love Cape Town and spend loads of time there) because this is where I’ve spent most of my adult life and I love the energy of the city.
PTB: What is your favourite place to have breakfast near where you live / work?
IS: Harry Goeman’s nursery near Kommetjie has a great spot called Easy Dig Café, where they serve organic coffee and breakfasts fit for a king.
JD: I enjoy the pavement café culture of Parkhurst, Melrose, 44 Stanley and now Braamfontein. A favourite coffee hangout place is Post which is downtown – I enjoy the arty urban vibe. And Arts on Main is great for breakfast on Sundays.
PTB: Tell us briefly about a typical day in your lives.
IS: Chi Gung at dawn, followed by a cappuccino while making my girls breakfast before dropping them at school. I think creatively as I drive over Ou Kaapse Weg, then spend the day with my team trying to work out and execute how Moja Media can do everything more efficiently and with more “edge”.
JD: I like to wake up and have breakfast enjoying the view before heading for the office round the corner. I check emails and return phone calls and then head for a morning coffee at Post. After lunch I paint, then head for gym before spending an evening with friends.
PTB: How do you feel about the future of travel in South Africa and what keeps you excited about it?
IS: I don’t believe any other country can touch SA for accommodation product, diversity and natural beauty – with more flights, realistic pricing strategies offering value and a stabilised Rand at closer to R10/$, the sky is the limit….
JD: I believe we’ve just scratched the surface of tourism in SA – we’re mainly still marketing the Big 5 and Cape Town but there is so much more – visitors can come back each year and have a totally different experience – the Karoo, the Cedarberg, the Waterberg – you couldn’t experience all we have in 100 years! There are so many takes on South Africa and we have to explore all the angles.
PTB: What inspires you - in work, in life?
IS: My children, my wife, my wider family, generosity of spirit, the mountains and the ocean, people with energy and zest and young entrepreneurs.
JD: Stuff around me. People watching. Something I read in a magazine. Landscape and light. Every day things – big and small – they all inspire me.
PTB: How do you relax?
IS: Spending time in nature, surfing or taking beach walks at sunset. I also love to relax in the hammock with a good book or the Mail & Guardian.
JD: To relax I travel, I get on a plane. I hate driving! I also love to spend time in the bush. Friends of mine have a lodge in Madikwe and I’m going to be heading there soon. I also enjoy relaxing at Joburg’s city cafes.
PTB: What are your top holiday destinations in South Africa?
IS: The Drakensberg escarpment, Churchhaven, Cedarberg and a small farm in the Karoo, near Anysberg
JD: Cape Town, the Eastern Cape, the Waterberg, Northern KZN
PTB: When you travel abroad what do you miss most about SA?
IS: The vibe of the people – we have an energy that is unmatched
JD: The prices! We have such great quality at half the price of other places. Dinner out in Australia recently set us back R900 a head – and not at a top restaurant either, just a decent place to have a meal with friends. I also miss the people. They’re what make this home.
Find out more about the rest of the Portfolio Collection team here - you''ll recognise many of the faces.