Executive Education: Open Tea Chest

Saatchi & Saatchi Cape Town has created an idea for the UCT Graduate School of Business for their Executive Education Courses, entitled ‘PossibiliTeas’. Based on the school's platform of ‘Full Colour Thinking’, the promotional idea invites you to see unexpected possibilities in the business world by opening up your mind.

Sammy-Jane Thom, Creative Director at Saatchi & Saatchi Cape Town’, says that we wanted to create something that would demonstrate the benefit of Full Colour Thinking for potential delegates, HR managers and decision-makers. The idea had to stimulate thought and it needed to be an interactive tool that would help find solutions to business challenges in meetings.

She continues, “We wanted an idea that was fresh and unconventional like the Graduate School of Business. Our idea came off the insight that it is often when we take a break that inspiration (or the A-ha moment) strikes, like when you take a moment to make a cup of tea. This lead us to the idea of developing a tea chest where every tea bag you take has an inspirational Thought Starter on the back.”

About the Tea Chest
The first interaction with the chest is when the lid is open and the words clearly indicate what it is for,‘With adventurous minds, possibilities flow. Where that journey takes us, no one knows. But if you’re stumped, simply take a break – a most satisfying cup of tea awaits. And who knows what terrific idea might strike. For this is moment, enterprising brains most like!’’

The tea chests include 5 x 9 tea variants with 45 different thought starters including: Deeply Intriguing Masala Chai Tea: Breathe deeply. The more oxygen you get, the calmer you are and the more clearly you think; Most Stimulating English Breakfast Tea: Make time to imagine impossible things; Super Uplifting Darjeeling Tea: Make a list and tackle the last thing on the list first; Rather Refreshing Peppermint Tea: Change your point of view. Imagine you are your problem.

There are also travel-size tea boxes with 1 x 9 tea variants in each.

The tea was created by one of the best tea merchants in South Africa – Mingwei Tsai. Thom continues, “In order to maintain authenticity we found someone who could hand-blend and develop the tea specifically for the tea chest. As an added dimension, each tea bag has steeping instructions and notes about the tea and each of the tea packs have been hand-made.

The UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB) is no ordinary business school. Although small by international standards, it wields a reputation for innovation and excellence that has helped it to take its place amongst the very best in the world. The use of Full Colour Thinking was developed by the agency to illustrate the approach GSB takes in growing leaders using the kind of thinking that produces agility of thought in a time when the only constant is change and social innovation is a required focus. They strongly believe that business is best approached with a curious mind and not a predefined model.

“Full Colour Thinking or the ideas of these thoughts and ideas must challenge conventional thinking, they’re about curiosity and asking questions,” says Thom. Full Colour Thinking is a fuller learning experience that encourages out-of-the-box thinking.”

“The tea pack will offer longevity as it sits on a person’s desk as a constant reminder of GSB. When delegates run out of the tea they are encouraged to call the school and ask for a refill, this will then offer an opportunity for on-going dialogue and interaction between the school and potential delegates,” concludes Thom.

For more information visit: www.gsb.uct.ac.za