My name is Arye, which means lion in Hebrew. When I was born, my parents say I came into the world roaring, and that is why they gave me this name. I have always tried to live up to it by approaching life with courage, by facing challenges head-on, and by striving to lead with strength and purpose. It is how I approach my business, my role as an entrepreneur, and now my journey as a father.
When I founded TILT at 27, influencer marketing was still untested in South Africa. Many dismissed it as a fad, a fleeting trend. I saw something different. I recognised a massive shift in how people connect, how they trust, and how they choose the brands and ideas they let into their lives. Where others saw noise, I saw opportunity. Influence, I believed, could be more than likes and clicks. It could be a force for culture, for connection, and for change in the marketing landscape. I like to believe that I walked into that uncertainty like a lion, convinced there was something bigger waiting to be built.
Today, TILT is one of the most established influencer agencies in the country. We partner with some of the largest and most influential companies across sectors, from finance to healthcare, consumer goods to lifestyle and luxury. These are brands that touch millions of South Africans every day, and they continue to trust us year after year.
The future excites me even more. We are moving from managing campaigns to creating products with influencers, where creators become entrepreneurs in their own right. We are also expanding our production capabilities into new markets, showcasing South African creativity on a global stage.
What gives me the deepest pride is our social impact. Through the Youth Content Collective, we open doors for young South Africans to build sustainable careers in the creative economy.
This year, I became a father to our daughter, Koa. She has given me new fire and a deeper understanding of my name. Being a lion is about protection, resilience, and the strength to lead in service of others. These are the lessons I want her to inherit, and the values I want TILT to embody.
Winning this award would not just recognise TILT’s journey. It would affirm that bold vision and brave leadership can create real impact for business, for people, and for our country.
My vision for the future begins with courage. For myself, I want to keep growing as a leader who serves with purpose, balancing the fire of entrepreneurship with the responsibility of fatherhood. I want my daughter to believe that resilience, hard work, and heart can carry her through anything.
For TILT, my vision is expansion and reinvention. We will go beyond campaigns to create products with influencers, building partnerships that turn creators into entrepreneurs. We will expand our production capabilities into new markets, showcasing South African creativity on the world stage. And we will continue to grow as a trusted partner to brands that shape culture and touch millions of lives every day.
For South Africa, my vision is a thriving creator economy that opens doors for young people. Through the Youth Content Collective and beyond, I want to empower the next generation of content creators to see their work not as a side hustle but as a sustainable career. By equipping more young people to earn, to create, and to lead, we can unlock a future where creativity drives opportunity.
My hope is simple. To live up to my name. To be lion hearted in the way I lead, in the way I build, and in the way I contribute to the future of my country.