Strathmore University hosted Mzamo Masito, the Chief Marketing Officer for Google Africa for a session on convergence between marketing with technology. Mzamo shared his career experience and lessons learnt while working at senior positions at Nike, Unilever, and Vodacom. He was accompanied by Farzana Khubchandani, the Country Marketing Manager of Google Kenya. The session was organised for Strathmore marketing students.

Information access

Mzamo’s role entails bringing life to Google’s mission to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful so that Google’s users and partners can grow in Africa. Speaking on the future of Google and its plan for Africa, he said, “We aim to make information accessible to every African, give more tools for making money now, and help people laugh.”

Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Mzamo pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Statistics at the University of Cape Town (UCT). He also has a postgraduate diploma in management and business from UCT and Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) respectively.

Masito joined Google from Vodacom where he was the head of brand and communications. He was also the brand director at Nike and the marketing director at Nike. He lectures at the AAA School of Advertising and serves on the GIBS advisory board. He founded and runs an NGO called African Men Care, which funds underprivileged children to further their studies. Mzamo is passionate about learning and the power of education as well as what it can do for the African people.

Embrace discomfort

When questions concerning the place of youth in the world of employment, Masito encouraged them to learn to evolve and adapt. He reiterated that they should embrace discomfort.

Addressing what one should do to become a successful marketer, he said, “Immerse yourself in the everyday consumer. Respect those who are invisible and make them more visible. The desk is the most dangerous place to view the world. Be curious.” He added that one must lower one’s bias and prejudice. “The more ignorant one is, the more prejudiced one is. You will make a poor marketer if you have prejudice and bias,” he said.

 

 

The article was compiled by Odhiambo Obonyo

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