Terry Flack

Terry Flack is the Business Success Leader of Cannect Digital, a Performance Marketing company based in Morningside, Durban. As the business enters its 11th year, Terry speaks with pride about what has been built, which is rooted in commercial success, and in the culture, longevity and shared purpose that underpin the company.

Although his formal title could easily be managing director or CEO, Terry has chosen something different. “We have been very intentional about giving ourselves meaningful titles,” he explains. “My title is Business Success Leader, because my role is about enabling success across the business, not just managing it.” This distinction reflects his leadership philosophy, one that prioritises people, clarity and collaboration over hierarchy.

EARLY LESSONS
Terry’s educational and career journey began with a defining conversation at home. His father, whom he describes as one of his greatest inspirations, offered guidance that was both humorous and profound. “He said to me, you have three choices. You can make it, you can sell it, or you can account for it. I have seen your woodwork, please do not make it. I have seen your maths, please don’t do an accounting degree. So marketing and sales is the way forward for you, my son.”

That advice set Terry on a clear path. He studied at Technikon Natal during the 1990s, spending three years studying full time and working full time in sales. Life then took him further afield. Travels through the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia led him to Australia, where a personal relationship gave him a reason to stay. “I met a girl and had to find a reason to remain in Australia,” he says with a smile. That reason became academic, as he completed a Master’s Degree in International Marketing at the University of Technology Sydney. The degree remains, the girl, not.

When asked about his first job, Terry goes back further than most. At the age of 11, as a freshly qualified Scout, he entered a flower bulb selling competition. the support from his wife, Heather. “That experience taught me two things. Do not put all your eggs in one basket, and relationships matter. On the strength of relationships, you can overcome so much adversity.” The prize was a Swiss Army knife, but the real reward was learning how to connect with people. “I walked the posh suburbs of Kloof, knocked on doors, selling f lower bulbs,” he recalls. “That experience taught me how to target my audience, engage, relate and sell. Unbeknownst, this taught me targeting, marketing and solution selling.” These early lessons in showing up, speaking to people and following through would later define his leadership style and entrepreneurial resilience.

AFRICA IMPACT
Terry is thoughtful when speaking about purpose. “I have explored purpose for many years, and I still do not have a clear definition of it,” he admits. For him, purpose is practical and local before it is grand. At Cannect Digital, this is expressed through a philosophy called Africa Impact. “The pebble in the pond starts in our little place in Morningside, then moves to Durban, to KZN, to South Africa and to Africa,” he says. “If there is a purpose for me, it is to make a meaningful difference to the growth and acceleration of businesses. Ultimately, I want to see the success of this country and I want my children to always have a profound connection to this beautiful country and continent of ours.”

One of Terry’s proudest accomplishments comes from outside the boardroom. In 2013, through what he describes as “pure Irish luck and just showing up,” (as well as a lot of training) he qualified to represent South Africa at the ITU World Championships in Triathlon in London. He commented, “Even though I didn’t place anywhere of significance, it was a phenomenal experience and something I will always treasure.” The biggest challenge of his career, however, was far more sobering. Terry once held the licence for a major automotive clothing brand, only to have it abruptly terminated. “We had six weeks to move or destroy stock worth millions,” he says. “It took me about a decade to recover financially.” What carried him through was the strength of his relationships and

LEADING THE CANNECT CREW
At Cannect Digital, Terry supports his two leaders, Carmin and Nabell (who is now a director and soon to be shareholder of Cannect). They in turn lead the team to deliver results at the highest level. Each team member has three functions, designed to keep them focused on their own path to mastery and growth. “My three core functions, are very clear: relationships (team, clients, suppliers and community), culture (nurturing our exceptional crew to fulfil their true potentiality) and strategy (for both clients and our businesses).”

Continuous learning is embedded in the business, with structured learning objectives and incentives. “We are all in it together,” Terry says. “Learning is rewarded, encouraged and shared.” Alongside this, we laugh a lot. We bring our quirks. That is why, along with creating a “Circle of Safety”, we retain such incredible people for the long term. And I am proud of that as it means we are making a difference in the lives of our crew.” Looking ahead, Terry is deeply optimistic about KwaZulu-Natal. Having lived abroad for over a decade, he chose to return because of his deep love for South Africa and his brimming optimism for the province’s potential.

My vision for the next five years is that we’re going to see exponential growth and we want to be part of enabling, supporting and driving this growth.” His personal motto captures his philosophy simply. “How do I spend each moment?!” Terry says, “The question is are we spending each moment, moments that we will never get back, by harnessing them for the greatness that is our lives? This doesn’t mean playing full out, all the time. Are we resting consciously, are we spending precious moments with our loved ones, are we nurturing our beings and are we giving our very best to our path to success?