My Brilliant Career Musician finds harmony by fusing business and teaching
Barry van Zyl is a musician and an executive education facilitator, among other things, at Henley Business School
Tell me about the work you do.
I started preparing in earnest for a life outside of music — as a business academic having graduated with my MBA and now working for Henley Africa and Henley UK developing business opportunities, teaching and designing TEDx-style events. Our next event, which will be in Trinidad, has been co-designed and hosted by comedian turned Henley student and teacher John Vlismas.
I’m also the chair of Henley’s African alumni association, working to reinvigorate and align the chapters. My experiences at the business school have helped me to reorient and transition into new environments.
You were also Johnny Clegg’s drummer for many years. What was that like?
For 21 years I had the privilege to work closely with Johnny Clegg and an amazing group of musicians. The Final Journey Tour started in 2018 and covered North America, SA, the UK, Mauritius, Zimbabwe and Reunion. Unfortunately, Johnny’s health turned in January this year, and we were unable to finish the tour in France, Germany, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand. It was my honour to be his drummer. And he lives on through his music — I’m proud to have been a small part of this piece of history.
What is it like to work as a musician?
I’ve had an amazing career as a session musician and band member, which I wouldn’t trade for anything. So much built on creativity at its purest. What makes your work meaningful?
Following my inner compass and need for excitement and challenge is my priority. I’d felt I had become one-dimensional playing drums with international acts all over the world, touring all the time. I’d wanted to start exploring other things. I didn’t know what, though. My idea was to move into a more entrepreneurial space in the music industry.
Tell me about doing your MBA.
That journey had begun just before Johnny was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. A chance meeting with the dean and director of Henley Business School Africa, Jon FosterPedley, led to me being enrolled in the school’s MBA programme, fulfilling a growing need I had been experiencing for some time. With Henley’s backing and trust, I’ve been excited and inspired to forge a new, post-music identity altogether. The MBA unlocked a lot of stuff I had been doing haphazardly on my own, but thanks to the personal development process of the programme, my self-awareness and mindfulness increased and I became far more focused.
I started 2018 by physically putting pen to paper to write down what my values were, what my non-negotiables were and, indeed, what my last 24 hours had been — every day. I was astonished by the results. I realised I had achieved everything that I had set out to do in 2018. It had a profound impact. I’m still doing it today. It was yet more proof that everything I had learnt at Henley actually works.
My passion for reflective thought and its daily application have allowed me to realise that it doesn’t have to be music or business or teaching — it can be all three.