Confab challenges women in advertising on motivation for top positions

A good number of women are usually found in entry level in marketing and marketing communications positions, but up the ladder, the number seems to decline.

It was on the backdrop of this that Awesome Communications, publisher of front-line brands and marketing communications journal, conceived the idea to hold the Women in Marketing Conference and Awards, recently to discuss challenges impeding women rise in the ladder.

The speakers at the conference maintained that women need motivation, research and sound education to climb to the top position. The immediate past chairman of Zenith Bank plc,  Steve Bamidele Omojafor, who was the chairman of the occasion, noted that women should begin to take their place in leadership positions in marketing and marketing communications.

He recounted various experiences he had with female marketing communications professionals early in his career, especially at Lintas and how they immensely influenced his career.

To cap up his opening remarks, Omojafor noted that, “I am looking forward to a period that women will take over the marketing and integrated marketing communication fields. There is no better time than now, because women are go-getters and resourceful. Women have arrived and this is their time.”

In her presentation, Biola Alabi, principal partner, Biola Alabi Media, and the immediate past managing director of Mnet Africa, noted that to be on top, whether as a man or woman, the ability to research and sound education were critical. She also emphasised the need to have good network, which she called support team or personal board of directors, opining that these sets of persons were resources to rely on for information and advice besides providing some mentorship directly or indirectly.

Going further, she also noted that “women should always build a support team to get to the next level. It should be a support team you trust so that they could guide and support you. Women should also do more in telling their own stories, and do better at managing their personal brands.”

The second presentation of the day was given by quintessential marketing expert, and managing director of L’Oreal West Africa, Idorenyen Enang. In his usual no holds barred approach, Enang maintained that if a person was not motivated, whether such is a man or a woman, there would be no headway or opportunities for career excellence. He also gave various instances where he had opportunities to work directly at various points in his careers, and noted that if given the right opportunities, women will no doubt excel in their various chosen fields.

Daniel Obi