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WHEN IT ALL STARTED AND WHY:
So growing up, I actually wanted to be a veterinarian doctor because I love animals (people find it weird I like cats in particular) but I got a B in O& #39;level Maths which the headmaster to the school I wanted to transfer to didn& #39;t like (I know right?)
So growing up, I actually wanted to be a veterinarian doctor because I love animals (people find it weird I like cats in particular) but I got a B in O& #39;level Maths which the headmaster to the school I wanted to transfer to didn& #39;t like (I know right?)
So instead, guy decided to chuck me into the commercials class. He didn& #39;t know me or where I came from and this high school is really particular about who they let in and what they should enroll for.
I was a little disheartened but heck, I& #39;m in the school I wanted to go to so yay
I was a little disheartened but heck, I& #39;m in the school I wanted to go to so yay
As I was introduced to the A& #39;level class, I skimmed through all my textbooks to see what I& #39;d like.
Economics? Seemed boring with all the figures and stats.
Accounting? Jeez, debit and credit sides NEVER balanced
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit Freudentränen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit Freudentränen">
Business Studies? I really looked at the the marketing part like:
Economics? Seemed boring with all the figures and stats.
Accounting? Jeez, debit and credit sides NEVER balanced
Business Studies? I really looked at the the marketing part like:
And when we did that particular section, I was KILLING it. I don& #39;t know if my classmate @chengewangu remembers this https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit Freudentränen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit Freudentränen">
Long story short, I passed to enroll at @nustzim for an honors degree in Marketing. Things are going well, but it didn& #39;t come easy...
Long story short, I passed to enroll at @nustzim for an honors degree in Marketing. Things are going well, but it didn& #39;t come easy...
I was actually offered a bursary by a relative to study Finance. If I took that up, my tuition was on him. This would have been a financial relief for my single mum but then would I be happy doing something I don& #39;t want to do?
As the loving mum she is, she said she& #39;s got thishttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔥" title="Feuer" aria-label="Emoji: Feuer">
As the loving mum she is, she said she& #39;s got this
Fast forward to attachment/internship year, after much effort I landed a spot at MASCA where I worked for both branches in Bulawayo and Harare. This was my introduction to the professional world of marketing and to say I was excited is an understatement https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😅" title="Lächelndes Gesicht mit offenem Mund und Angstschweiß" aria-label="Emoji: Lächelndes Gesicht mit offenem Mund und Angstschweiß">
" title="Fast forward to attachment/internship year, after much effort I landed a spot at MASCA where I worked for both branches in Bulawayo and Harare. This was my introduction to the professional world of marketing and to say I was excited is an understatement https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😅" title="Lächelndes Gesicht mit offenem Mund und Angstschweiß" aria-label="Emoji: Lächelndes Gesicht mit offenem Mund und Angstschweiß">" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
After a successful attachment and clocking the final year of varsity, I really had to think deep about which aspect of marketing I& #39;d like to run with.
MASCA was great but it was a little limiting in that I only got to professionally work with ONE brand. How do I diversify?
MASCA was great but it was a little limiting in that I only got to professionally work with ONE brand. How do I diversify?
Remember the bursary guy? He kept in touch & found out I completed my degree. As a business man, he was impressed even though I didn& #39;t take up his offer https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit Freudentränen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit Freudentränen">
So he said he& #39;d introduce me to a colleague who he knew dealt somewhere in marketing. And that& #39;s how I found my first mentor
So he said he& #39;d introduce me to a colleague who he knew dealt somewhere in marketing. And that& #39;s how I found my first mentor
He was the founder of a successful advertising agency in SA and that chat at the @RadissonBlu hotel in Sandton changed my life forever.
He spoke of his work with so many big brands as well as the perks and that& #39;s when I knew what I wanted to do. Advertising!
He spoke of his work with so many big brands as well as the perks and that& #39;s when I knew what I wanted to do. Advertising!
However, finding an agency in Bulawayo was difficult (which was weird when I look at it in hindsight because MASCA was indirectly affiliated to one) so made the executive decision to move to Harare.
I hate to admit this but there was a female motivating that decision as wellhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit Freudentränen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit Freudentränen">
I hate to admit this but there was a female motivating that decision as well
After failed attempts at various other jobs unrelated to advertising, I decided to just look up the best agency in Zim and legit walk through the door with my limited CV. Fortunately for me, the CEO of that agency I applied to liked that kind of tenacity and hired me on the spot
After a few glorious months (everyone who& #39;s worked at that agency KNOWS a few months is enough), I had gone through the crucible of advertising. I was sharpened like no other and I knew I could do anything. I had also enrolled for my MBA so I was like:
However, because I had worked for the best agency and had higher education coming through, I was over qualified for most places I applied to. I was unemployed for quite a while and that& #39;s when tragedies struck:
I lost everything, my car, my apartment, heck even my girlhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💀" title="Schädel" aria-label="Emoji: Schädel">
I lost everything, my car, my apartment, heck even my girl
2018 into 2019 was when I went through what I would call a rebirth:
I started to pursue other passions (acting), stayed with my mum for a bit and finished off my MBA. I kept in touch with marketing and that& #39;s when I discovered digital marketing.
Another light bulb moment
I started to pursue other passions (acting), stayed with my mum for a bit and finished off my MBA. I kept in touch with marketing and that& #39;s when I discovered digital marketing.
Another light bulb moment
I would honestly consider this as opportunity meeting my preparation (or "luck") and God& #39;s grace when I got the call from one of my mentors @RMakuchete to join his agency (after an interview, of course) and also accompany him on a project in SA.
Now THIS is where it all changed
Now THIS is where it all changed
To say this was the best move of my career, again, is an understatement. Not only did I get to sit at the feet of one of my mentors and learn from him daily, but I got to also do it in SA where marketing is on steroids.
I have been sharpened before but this was something else!
I have been sharpened before but this was something else!
To cut the long story short:
I& #39;m currently the digital officer for @_vpcg_ and run successful campaigns for some of Zimbabwe& #39;s biggest brands.
My passion has always been the creative execution of brand stories and now I get to do it in a digital way.
I& #39;m currently the digital officer for @_vpcg_ and run successful campaigns for some of Zimbabwe& #39;s biggest brands.
My passion has always been the creative execution of brand stories and now I get to do it in a digital way.
Of course, there& #39;s still many challenges and obstacles as nothing worth doing is ever smooth-sailing. But with the way things are going, I can safely say that the future is hella bright and I might need me some polarized shades for all this glare. Yikeshttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit Freudentränen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit Freudentränen">
So the points of this thread on this platform is this:
- Mentors are REALLY important for your career progression. Find one (or more) and stay close.
- Doing what you love is more important than doing what you can. It may suck & take forever to get there but be intentionalhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔥" title="Feuer" aria-label="Emoji: Feuer">
- Mentors are REALLY important for your career progression. Find one (or more) and stay close.
- Doing what you love is more important than doing what you can. It may suck & take forever to get there but be intentional
There& #39;s a lot I left out due to time so obviously follow me on my personal handle @allistarvolo on all platforms for this and more (I& #39;m a wild one on Twitter though, you& #39;ve been warnedhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit Freudentränen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit Freudentränen">)
Stay tuned to the rest of the day for more! Consider this your ice breaker!
Good morning!
Stay tuned to the rest of the day for more! Consider this your ice breaker!
Good morning!
)Stay tuned to the rest of the day for more! Consider this your ice breaker!Good morning!" title="There& #39;s a lot I left out due to time so obviously follow me on my personal handle @allistarvolo on all platforms for this and more (I& #39;m a wild one on Twitter though, you& #39;ve been warnedhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit Freudentränen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit Freudentränen">)Stay tuned to the rest of the day for more! Consider this your ice breaker!Good morning!" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
