After working for 10 years for the Home Office in London, Viv changed career direction from British Civil Servant to agency owner. Educated in London with a BA (Hons) Marketing & Advertising, and a more recent CAM Dip(CIM), Viv lifted her new advertising career in London on a few big brands, which she won on strategy prowess.

After a few years, which included a couple years in New York and San Francisco, she returned to SA and joined a communications agency to head up their new advertising and design division. Viv built up a spread of local and international accounts, and developed and implemented, global strategies for their agencies in UK, USA and India.

In 2002, Viv launched Hot Salsa Media. She is hands-on every day working on carefully-selected brands, chosen predominantly because she does her best work on brands she loves and believes in. Hot Salsa Media is also responsible for the strategy, creative and event management of their own brand, the Soweto Wine Festival, which celebrates 12 years in Soweto this year.