Personal Branding



Thembe Khumalo mentors ZWJ mentees

A month ago, I got the privilege to attend a WJMP mentoring session facilitated by Thembe Khumalo, Alpha Media Holdings Columnist. The topic for the day was ‘Branding’; branding being the total experience of the product and as human beings we are our own Personal Brands. What we do, say, defines who we are, we are our own marketers, and therefore one should be able to package ourselves distinctively,  we have to brand ourselves.

The way we brand ourselves determines how the world will know us and there lies our reputation- how others view you ultimately shapes your career and your life. A brand should be purpose powered, should leave a legacy and should be values driven. Have a choice that will determine what legacy you want to leave behind, your habits will be your character.

ZWJ mentees listening to Thembe Sachikonye



ZWJ mentees listening to Thembe Sachikonye

A values driven brand is important as values help you remain consistent; consistency is the bedrock of brand building. This will ultimately enable you to build winning relationships. Utilise opportunities, we usually never believe in taking risks but sometimes plunging in the crocodile pool, maybe the door way. Hence grab the opportunity, always be vigilant and alert, so you can see it coming.

“Do not be afraid to make mistakes- Set out to act recover quickly move on, Don’t make the same mistake again.

Acting empowers you, reacting empowers others.”- Thembe Khumalo

(pictures courtesy of  US Embassy Harare PAS)



Zimbabwean Women Journalists graduate

 

From caterpillar cocoons 14 women have metamorphosed to brilliant butterflies that are now ready to fly. After a yearlong Women Journalist Mentoring Programme, the ladies were on Friday graduated at the prestigious Deputy Ambassador’s residence in Highlands. This might be the end of the program but it is definitely the beginning of a new chapter, hoping that whatever they took from this will be useful to them and will be able to channel them into more opportunities.
 
The 14 mentees were chosen from a field of 45 applicants, from different media fields across the country in September 2011 and has ended after a full year of travelling, battling mentoring classes and work.

The graduation was adorned by media specialist from across the media fraternity, such as Shehnilla Mohamed of HIVOS, Virginia Muwanigwa director of HIFC, Thembe Sachikonye columnist from Alpha Media Holdings, Nhlanhla Ngwenya, from MISA-Zim and a whole lot of other media personnel, some who were also part of the program as mentors.


Shehnilla Mohamed of HIVOS

 The Zimbabwe Women’s Mentoring Programme is an initiative by the United States Embassy Public Affairs Section Harare and  Humanitarian Information Facilitation Centre(HIFC ) to promote female journalist in Zimbabwe. To the 14 graduated mentees, Well done, Congratulations and continue to be prosperous!

(In top pics, Sharon hands out certificates to mentees- pictures courtesy of US Embassy PAS Harare)