They say age is just but a number – and it rings so true with the Founder of Nami Africa, an experiential marketing and public relations company based in Nairobi.
When Mina Reeve graduated from the University of Dundee in Scotland with a degree in biomedical sciences, she hoped to come back to Kenya and work as a medical professional. However, that would never be due lack of opportunities.
“Just like other students after my graduation I came with a lot of hope and expectations that I will get job in institution like Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) or may be Nairobi Hospital,” says Mina.
Instead of wasting her time looking for employment in medicine, she decided to look for job in a different field: media. She landed at Transcend Media Group, a corporate communication and marketing company. “Before I had never thought of working with media but I fitted in so well. Actually I enjoyed working with the firm,” says Mina.
Mina Reeve speaks during the interview: She has found lasting passion in media.
This is where she learnt about public relations and fell in love with the profession. At Transcend, she worked with major companies as partners and clients. While working at Transcend Media Group, Mina says she was in charge of several projects like Kenya Power Charity Cup.
After a year or so she started her similar outfit, Nami Africa. “After leaving them, some company wanted to hire me but I declined the offer since I wanted to start my own company,” says Mina, 24. Nami Africa deals in personal branding, events management, publicity, digital and mobile marketing.
It has not been easy, she says, adding that it has taken hard work and a lot of sacrifice. According to Ms Mina getting clients has been one of the major challenges.
“When some clients meet me they underestimate my services due to my age but I am happy that there are a couple of them who have believed in me and we are working together,” she says. “Through my personal experience and expertise, I have been able to coordinate and manage both large scale and small scale projects.”
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She registered the company in October 2014 and has served various companies including Barclays Bank, Home Afrika, and Shining Hope for Communities (Shofco). She also worked for Machakos County Government.
“We win these companies because off the innovativeness of my team,” says Ms Mina, who is quick to note that she doesn’t have permanent employees but when giving contract she looks for innovative people who will help her achieve her mission.
“We want to bring a change in the public relations in Kenya. We want our events to leave a mark in our clients mind as well as in stakeholders,” she says.
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She says she started with “very little” capital as her savings were not much. Although the business is yet to stabilize, it is making big steps. Currently Ms Mina has joined hands with a team of Nairobi City Young Entrepreneurs under 30, whose main aim is to support each another in achieving growing their businesses.
“I am one of the co-founders of this group. What we are doing for now is opening opportunity for one another. If I have a job with a certain client I can get services from a friend offering it but at a discount,” she says.
At the same time the group meets regularly to update each other on the opportunities in the market. “The good thing with the group is that we have people from different industries who have different professional backgrounds and our agenda is to empower one another,” she notes.
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