CAREER PROFILE: No dream is ever beyond a self-made supervisor

Irene Kiwia is the managing director of public relations agency Frontline Porter Novelli in Dar es Salaam. She is currently pursuing an MBA in Marketing and Finance after obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Public Administration from the University of Dar es Salaam. Irene has experience working with private companies, government authorities and UN agencies. She serves as chair and founder of The Tanzania Women of Achievement committee which aims to bring recognition and socio-economic empowerment to women. Here she shares her work experience with Success:

What are your duties as a managing director?

My duties include ensuring that overall the company delivers appropriate service to our clients. Our business is service-based; we therefore must deliver beyond our clients’ expectations! Also strategically steer the company in a direction that would yield growth to the business. This includes innovating new products and services, and/or tapping into new markets and industries. My third main role is that of public relations for the company. I am responsible for building and fostering strategic relations with key stakeholders. A company’s image is enhanced by the leader of the organisation.

How did you become the managing director for Frontline?

 I founded Frontline, and by default became its managing director.

 Did you have prior experience before becoming Frontline’s managing director?

I did have sufficient work experience in the communications field because it’s what I do. Our clients are more interested in how to meet their communication needs through us.

What do you anticipate will be the biggest challenge as a managing director?

 The biggest challenge for me, moving forward, is making sure that our business stays relevant in today’s fast-changing scenery! We must adopt the necessary innovation, have the right people in place and be able to serve where the demand is and of course create demand where we see opportunities! Am sure these are the challenges of most leaders in different business categories.

What goals have you set for your agency?

 My goal is to become the go-to agency for PR and communication services in Africa. I want to influence change beyond the Tanzanian borders, across Africa. That is where we are heading.

What job did you want to have as a child?

As a child I wanted to own a global organisation that worked with big corporations across Africa. I didn’t specifically imagine it to be a communications company, but it had something to do with bringing a positive change to people.

How does your current occupation compare to your childhood dream job?

My current occupation is so similar to my childhood dream job in so many ways! My company is now part of the global PR giant Porter Novelli, which has physical presence in more than 85 countries in the world! We currently serve local and international companies across Africa and our clients’ businesses are definitely focused on bringing positive change to the societies they engage with.

What attracted you to this job and how did you hear about Frontline?

I founded the company. I wanted to venture into my own business and create opportunities for others.

What do you like most about this career?

What I love about this career is its diversity! In a day I could be talking about energy early in the morning, come mid morning am talking about beverages, in the afternoon the talk is about telecommunication and mid after noon about tourism! This keeps me alive and on my toes all the time!

Describe your normal day at work?

 I hardly have a “normal” day, but my work involves a lot of strategic planning for clients, monitoring and evaluation of the executed strategies, meetings with my team and clients, interactions with the media, conference calls with global teams, loads of proposal writing and/approving etc. It goes from very glamorous to very sweaty and hands on in a matter of seconds!

What does it take to become a successful managing director?

I genuinely think one has to first love what they are doing, lead by example and be able to mentor and inspire the people behind them!

 Is this something that you learn from any university?

No, you don’t learn any of this from a university! Leadership is synonymous with virtue! Leadership is intrinsically linked to virtue. First, because virtue creates trust — Second, because virtue, which comes from the Latin virtues, meaning “strength” or “power,” is a dynamic force that enhances the leader’s capacity to act. Virtue allows the leader to do what people expect of him.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

In 5 years time I see myself as a key influencer across Africa, whether it be in PR and communication or development issues!

Email: [email protected]