When was the last time you laughed so hard that it reduced you to tears? Marketers were on Friday reduced to tears and endless laughter delivered with powerful words of wisdom that echoed through the Nile Hall of Hotel Africana.
The night set in an exquisite and colourful atmosphere of networking and learning that attracted marketing executives, but more important recognised the 10 year milestone that Marketing Africa had achieved. It started with a mix and mingle session where the executives were treated to cocktails and engaged in rigorous and insightful skills building session before moving inside for the keynote speech on the intricacies of developing winning strategies at the global stage.
Organised by Marketing Africa in partnership with Tusker Malt lager, the marketers were served with a sumptuous dinner and music played by guitar maestro Myko Ouma and his band.
The emcee of the day, Dr Mich Egwang warmed the crowed with jokes and simple questions that caught the respondents off guard. Mich with his great sense of humour set the stage for which Dr Wale Akinyemi the keynote speaker rattled the executives with his own life story of being “Mumu” (dense person) and how he has been able to see the light.
Akinyemi, the Chief Transformation officer, Power Talks Consultants shared all important tips of growing and maintaining brands through winning strategies. The speech delivered with a great dose of laughter had a lot to do with Dr Akinyemi’s persona, whose ever captivating voice, great sense of humour and genuine personality gave serious lessons to marketers.
In his speech, he drew his examples from different generations of life and paused questions to the marketers, like “What is the age of your thinking?” He also further delved into “the life expectancy of the brain” and pointed out things that fail strategies. These include, among others, misplaced objectives, ability of who defines the objectives, deception of strategy lookalikes, reacting and responding, the disparity among strategists and alliance of conveniences, among others.
For effective strategies to be achieved, the speaker said the plans should always translate into goals. Dr Akinyemi also challenged the marketers in a powerful parting quote that goes, “In life the right to be remembered does not come with existence, it comes with achievement.” It was partying after that and guests left at will.
editorial@ug.nationmedia.com
