Comedian Donovan Goliath Talks Comedy, Mentorship and NESTLÉ BAR•ONE’s the Next One Campaign

From growing up making his family laugh to being a part of a projects that jumpstarts people’s dream, the funnyman brings us closer to his journey.

Through NESTLÉ BAR•ONE’s ‘The Next One’ campaign the brand is on a mission to jumpstart South Africa’s dreams through a competition that will be giving away R25 000 to 25 lucky winners, along with a mentorship opportunity from 4 industry leaders. The line-up of mentors includes entrepreneurs like Sheldon Tatchel the founder of Legends Barber, Mathebe Molise the founder and CEO of Beauty on TApp, Pastry Skincare & B’air Skincare, Tshepo of Tshepo Jeans and Donovan Goliath.

Sitting down with, Donovan Goliath this is the context and insight given into his career in advertising and comedy, the work that Nestlé BarOne is doing through giving away R25 000 and why he believes in the power of mentorship through this campaign.

Question: How did you get started in comedy, and what was the inspiration to pursue comedy as a career?
Answer: Comedy has always been a big part of my life, even before I realized it could be a career. Growing up, I loved making people laugh and found myself constantly trying to find the humour in everyday situations. I studied graphic design and worked in the advertising industry initially, but I found myself drawn to comedy more and more. It wasn’t an easy decision to take the leap, but I decided to try it out on stage. The energy, the connection with the audience, and the feeling of making people laugh were all so exhilarating that I knew I had found my true passion. There were challenges along the way, but I think that’s what makes comedy so fulfilling. It’s not just about telling jokes; it’s about connecting with people and finding the funny in everything.

Question: How do you translate your humour from the stage to social media platforms? Is there a difference in the approach ?
Answer: Absolutely, there’s a different approach when it comes to social media! On stage, you have a captive audience, and you can take them on a journey with your set. You can build up a story, use body language, and interact with the crowd. On social media, though, the attention span is much shorter, so you have to be more concise and direct. The humour needs to be quick and engaging right from the start to capture attention. I also play with different formats like skits, challenges, and collaborations. Visual storytelling is a powerful tool on social media, so I try to use that to enhance the humour. It’s about adapting the same comedic essence to different mediums and finding ways to keep the engagement strong and authentic.

Question: Let’s talk about your involvement with the Nestlé BarOne campaign. What drew you to this project, and what are you most excited about in being a mentor to the lucky winners?
Answer: I’m thrilled to be part of the campaign because it’s all about encouraging people to go after their dreams and empowering them to make those dreams a reality. You have a chocolate bar, which gives you 25 Hour energy and is giving people the opportunity to unluck their dreams. Nestlé BarOne is giving away R25,000 to 25 winners, but it’s more than just the money. It’s about providing mentorship and motivation to help each winner truly make a difference in their lives. What drew me to this project is the opportunity to share my own journey and challenges, and hopefully inspire others to believe in themselves. I know what it’s like to start with a big idea and feel unsure of how to make it happen. I’m most excited about getting to know each of the winners and seeing the unique dreams they’re chasing. I believe in the power of mentorship, and I can’t wait to support them as they take the next big steps toward their goals.

Question: Mentorship can play a big role in personal and professional growth. Can you share a time when mentorship impacted your journey? Who has helped shape your career and in what way?
Answer: I’d have to say my first mentor was my standard 9 art teacher Jason Krain. He saw potential in me, made me believe I could turn a creative skill into a job and encouraged me to apply for the graphic design course at PE Technikon now Nelson Mandela University. There I had my lecturers, Mary Duker, Bruce Cadle and Inge Economou who were tough on me but for good reason. They pushed me hard to get out of first base thinking and explore multiple media including design, fine art, photography and sculpture. This really helped to broaden my thinking and appreciate storytelling and craftsmanship through various disciplines.
When I got to my advertising job I worked with arguably one of the best art director in the world. She was incredibly strict with me and would make me do countless options before she was satisfied. It annoyed me at the time but I understood that she was doing it to get me to dig deep and find the unique, original ideas.
My current partners, Jason, Kate, and Nicholas Goliath are now my mentors. I learn and keep learning so many skills from them every single day. They’re the ones I turn to for help, advice, and honest opinions to help me shape the career path I’m building now.

Question: The campaign includes a mentorship aspect where you’ll be guiding and motivating the winners. What do you hope the participants will take away from this experience with you?
Answer: I hope participants walk away feeling truly inspired and empowered to pursue their passions with confidence and resilience. The Nestlé BarOne campaign is all about celebrating those who dream big and work hard, and I’m excited to help each winner tap into their potential. I want them to understand that every dream is achievable with the right mindset, support, and a bit of laughter along the way. We’ll explore not only the importance of setting goals and staying motivated but also how to handle the inevitable challenges that come up. My goal is for participants to finish this journey with a renewed sense of purpose, practical tools to chase their dreams, and the belief that they are capable of making it happen. More than anything, I hope they feel that success is not just a destination—it’s a continuous, rewarding journey.

Question: Nestlé BarOne is all about inspiring young people to make their dreams a reality by providing them with energy to do more. What’s one big dream you still have for your own career, and how do you keep yourself motivated to achieve it?
Answer: One big dream I have is to create a platform that brings together young South African creatives from all walks of life—musicians, comedians, filmmakers, and artists—and gives them the tools, resources, and mentorship they need to showcase their talents to the world. I believe there’s so much untapped potential here, and I’d love to help amplify those voices. What keeps me motivated is knowing that every step I take, whether it’s a new show, a brand collaboration, or even a mentorship program like this with Nestlé BarOne, brings me closer to that vision. I stay inspired by surrounding myself with passionate, driven people, and I’m constantly learning from them. Every experience adds a layer to my journey, and seeing young people achieve their dreams reminds me that anything is possible with hard work and a solid support system.

South Africans are advised to keep their eyes glued to the brand’s social media pages – follow @barone on Facebook and @barone_south africa on Instagram. The terms & conditions of the campaign can be found here.

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Author: lizz w from O25 on behalf of nestlé.

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