Phenomenal Woman: Julie Coetzee

Julie Coetzee is the managing director of Fly Piggy Fly (the Eastern Cape's biggest media company) which specializes in television, print media and web. Julie keeps the company rolling over new and more challenging projects in all spheres of media production as the company progresses. She is indeed a phenomenal woman who has managed to elevate a small company into Eastern Cape's biggest media company!

1)   How were you as a child? Were you always as adventurous? Did you ever imagine that you would add value to South Africa’s media industry?

I was a crazy kid full of imagination and ideas. I drove my parents a little nuts with all my business ideas and little businesses I ran. I was always on the go building tree houses, looking after my pet ducks or putting on plays in any spare time I wasn’t selling silkworms or doing a paper-route in my neighbourhood.

2)    What influenced your decision to study Media/Journalism at Rhodes?

I hate injustice, and I feel that journalism done right can snuff out injustice. I wanted to tell peoples stories, everyday stories, historic stories and stories that count and those that don’t but should.

3)    How did the name Fly Piggy Fly come about?

As a kid I always had big ideas and would tell the adults in my life with great enthusiasm. I truly believed the things I said were possible, or I wouldn’t have had the idea, right? But often the adults or friends I told were not as sure and would give me a big fat reality check by saying things like: “Oh right Julie, that will happen when pigs fly.” Now that just inspired me more, because I liked impossible challenges. So I had to call my first adult business venture: Fly Piggy Fly, as I felt like everything was possible, and so our tagline: Impossibly Good Media, was born.

4)   What does Fly Piggy Fly specialize in?

We make a lot of TV content for South Africa and abroad, and we produce animated adverts and web content for businesses, lately we have been asked to make some cool music videos for some good bands. But what I would like to be recognised for is excellent story telling that keep an audience engaged. So I would say we specialise in telling stories whether the story is: I have an awesome new song here it is, or come and visit our city we have fun stuff to do, or something broke my heart and this is what it was; those are the stories we want to tell well.

5)   Was this something that you always wanted to get into?

Yes definitely. In some ways I feel like I was never quite understood, I guess we all do. So I wanted to do something that did that. I believe life is beautiful as hard as it is. I also believe that all people are good and some are just scared. I believe that the world is one big family who doesn’t really know each other well enough to appreciate one another. I have always been motivated by a longing to draw these beliefs together and make things work together. Media is the most powerful way of doing this.

6)   Fly Piggy Fly has produced the FlyMag, several teen awards, inserts for various TV shows and also Garbage Gallery, what else can we expect from Fly Piggy Fly?

We are currently producing a documentary for the American market with celebrity auctioneer Karen Sorbo about street children. In June we begin production on a UK documentary on persons living with disabilities. We have been blessed with some amazing projects which really have been powerful and inspiring in their content, and we are honoured to tell those stories.You will also see some new music videos and TV inserts coming from us on national TV stations.

7)    What has been the highlight of your career or company?

Bringing the first fully produced SABC 3 TV series to a second season was a huge highlight.

8)  Your company is regarded as the biggest media company in the Eastern Cape, why is that so? Is there a special ingredient that sets Fly Piggy Fly apart from other media companies?

Haha, are we? I think it is that we take risks and are unashamedly a young small business. We take creative and financial risks all in the name of our passion for our craft.

9)   I have been fortunate to have been groomed by you through your internship opportunities, how can other people get the same opportunity?

I get so many emails every day asking for internship opportunities by students. What impressed me with your email was your professional email manner and up to date CV and purposeful tone. You were clear on what you needed in way of experience as well as what you could offer. You made a big commitment by saying you would work until the job is done well, I liked that. It is how I am wired. I suppose people can access similar opportunities by being professional, this includes a lot of research before you approach someone via email or phone. Thank to Google there is never an excuse for you to call anyone unprepared.

10)  People are always in awe of your work ethic, what makes you a great leader?

I never give anyone a piece of work that I would not do myself, and have probably already done a hundred times. People who work with me know that, so I am not leading from a place of far removed power, but from part of the team. And my favourite part of leading is seeing people grow and develop in their careers, so I guess I like what I do, so perhaps that makes me good at it.

Check out Fly Piggy Fly's website here