About

HaveYouHeard is South Africa’s first specialist word-of-mouth agency. Launched in November 2008 by co-founders Jason Stewart and Ryan McFadyen, HaveYouHeard has been working with some forward thinking clients that have been driving brand growth. They’ve utilised the strength of word-of-mouth and the HaveYouHeard team to build sustainable relationships with their consumers and given them enough reason to want to passionately embrace their brands and tell the world about it.

Here is a little about the two founders who enlighten you with their thoughts as often as possible.

Jason Stewart
Jason Stewart is the 29-year-old entrepreneur, co-founder and managing director of HaveYouHeard, South Africa’s first specialist Word-of-Mouth Marketing (WOMM) agency, representing brands that appeal to the adult market.Jason Stewart is the 29-year-old entrepreneur, co-founder and managing director of HaveYouHeard, South Africa’s first specialist Word-of-Mouth Marketing (WOMM) agency, representing brands that appeal to the adult market.

After matriculating from Diocesan College (Bishops) in 1997, Jason found himself working 14-hour days at his parents’ deli in Simonstown to fulfill a dream of eventually becoming a business owner, but the travel bug quickly bit. Soon he had based himself in the UK with adventures to Europe, South America, South East Asia, Australia and the Middle East.

After working and travelling for three years, Jason returned to Cape Town to pursue studies in advertising. He enrolled at the Red & Yellow School of Advertising, where he obtained a Post Graduate Higher Diploma in Marketing and Advertising Communications Management.

After graduating in 2002, Jason was invited to work on the Nigerian Breweries account based at Lowe Lintas Lagos in Nigeria. During this time he initiated an entire review of the drinks market and consumer base with the objective of identifying other growth opportunities for the brand.

Jason Stewart

Upon returning to Cape Town, he joined FCB (now Draft FCB) as a project manager in the below-the-line division. Jason successfully managed numerous road shows for brands including Van Ryn’s Brandy (Distell), Momentum (FirstRand Group), FHM Homegrown Honeys (UpperCase Media / Media24) and BioPlus (Adcock Ingram).

In 2005 Jason established Heels of Hope, a non-profit organisation that collects used shoes as a medium to train unemployed people in townships to become entrepreneurs by selling the shoes into their community. The organisation collected 30,000 pairs of shoes and donated R80,000 to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in its launch year.

That same year Jason joined Instant Grass, a youth market trends and insight agency, as a strategic writer. A year later he was promoted to business unit director of Instant Seed, the agency’s peer endorsement and brand advocacy division. Jason grew Instant Seed’s business steadily, overseeing a client portfolio that included Unilever and Microsoft.

In 2008 Jason decided to strike out on his own, developing a new way of managing and linking in people to become word-of-mouth brand advocates. These advocates, known as Influencers, generate peer recommendations for brands that appeal to a wider range of demographics.

For the past eight months Jason has been actively involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Africa (BBBSSA), a non-profit organisation that matches youth in need with trained adult mentors. Through this organisation, Jason has become a role model to a 14-year-old boy by the name of Moses.

When Jason’s not building his business or investing time in community upliftment projects, you’ll find him hiking up Table Mountain, relaxing at the beach, reading, travelling to spots off the beaten track (with his fiancé) or adventure racing.

HaveYouHeard is South Africa’s first specialist word-of-mouth agency. Launched in November 2008 by co-founders Jason Stewart and Ryan McFadyen, HaveYouHeard has been working with some forward thinking clients that have been driving brand growth. They’ve utilised the strength of word-of-mouth and the HaveYouHeard team to build sustainable relationships with their consumers and given them enough reason to want to passionately embrace their brands and tell the world about it.  

Here is a little about the two founders who enlighten you with their thoughts as often as possible.

Jason Stewart

Jason  Stewart is the 29-year-old entrepreneur, co-founder and managing director of HaveYouHeard, South Africa’s first specialist Word-of-Mouth Marketing (WOMM) agency, representing brands seeking to develop lasting and intimate relationships with their consumers.

After matriculating from Diocesan College (Bishops) in 1997, Jason found himself working 14-hour days at his parents’ deli in Simonstown to fulfill a dream of eventually becoming a business owner, but the travel bug quickly bit. Soon he had based himself in the UK with adventures to Europe, South America, South East Asia, Australia and the Middle East.

After working and travelling for three years, Jason returned to Cape Town to pursue studies in advertising. He enrolled at the Red & Yellow School of Advertising, where he obtained a Post Graduate Higher Diploma in Marketing and Advertising Communications Management.

After graduating in 2002, Jason was invited to work on the Nigerian Breweries account based at Lowe Lintas Lagos in Nigeria. During this time he initiated an entire review of the drinks market and consumer base with the objective of identifying other growth opportunities for the brand.

Upon returning to Cape Town, he joined FCB (now Draft FCB) as a project manager in the below-the-line division. Jason successfully managed numerous road shows for brands including Van Ryn’s Brandy (Distell), Momentum (FirstRand Group), FHM Homegrown Honeys (UpperCase Media / Media24) and BioPlus (Adcock Ingram).

In 2005 Jason established Heels of Hope, a non-profit organisation that collects used shoes as a medium to train unemployed people in townships to become entrepreneurs by selling the shoes into their community. The organisation collected 30,000 pairs of shoes and donated R80,000 to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in its launch year.

That same year Jason joined Instant Grass, a youth market trends and insight agency, as a strategic writer. A year later he was promoted to business unit director of Instant Seed, the agency’s peer endorsement and brand advocacy division. Jason grew Instant Seed’s business steadily, overseeing a client portfolio that included Unilever and Microsoft.

In 2008 Jason decided to strike out on his own, developing a new way of managing and linking in people to become word-of-mouth brand advocates. These advocates, known as Influencers, generate peer recommendations for brands that appeal to a wider range of demographics.

For the past eight months Jason has been actively involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Africa (BBBSSA), a non-profit organisation that matches youth in need with trained adult mentors. Through this organisation, Jason has become a role model to a 14-year-old boy by the name of Moses.

When Jason’s not building his business or investing time in community upliftment projects, you’ll find him hiking up Table Mountain, relaxing at the beach, reading, travelling to spots off the beaten track (with his wife) or adventure racing.

 

 

Ryan McFadyen

Ryan McFadyen is the 28 year-old co-founder of HaveYouHeard, South Africa’s first specialist Word-of-Mouth Agency.

After Matriculating from Northwood Boys High School in Durban, Ryan obtained an undergraduate degree from the University of Stellenbosch and an Honours degree from the University of Cape town. His passion for marketing saw him start his career at adidas after which he held various senior positions within the marketing world. He was worked within companies such as Johnson and Johnson as well as Vital Health Foods. Ryan is also a part-time lecturer at the Vega school of branding communications.

In 2008 Ryan, along with, Jason saw an opportunity to develop a marketing offering that went beyond simply sending information to consumers but rather developing a marketing tool which enabled brands and consumers to develop sustainable relationships.

When Ryan is not working, he can be found surfing, diving off cliffs or any other extreme sport he can find someone to join him in.