Today I sign off from my role as Global Brand Director at Jibu Inc. As therapy to my soul I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey I’ve had over the past 19 months. Time truly flies when you’re chasing big dreams and trying to make a real impact!
Dancing to the Achievement Drum
- Who can forget the amazing shift to the powerful new tagline ‘A Better Life’? It was like giving our brand a new heartbeat.
- Co-writing and co-producing our multilingual theme song? Oh, it’s not just a song? Naaaah never! It’s a celebration of the African dream, with the incredible Alyn Sano lending her voice. ‘A Better Life’ has become an anthem that resonates with the Jibu vision.
- And those brand guidelines we reshaped? They now speak the language of ‘GLOCAL,’ marrying global excellence with local flair.
- From campaigns to budgets, we’ve maneuvered like maestros, making sure our marketing strategies were spot on.
- The storm of a PR Crisis from the haters in 2022! We faced it head-on and came out stronger. We elevated our game to new heights. Like my boy Christopher Mahakata loves to say “They buried us but didnt know that we were seeds”.
- We’ve turned the art of interpreting marketing research into our secret weapon for staying in sync with our consumers and franchisees.
- Stories that celebrate African excellence and uplift communities? We’ve woven those narratives with pride. And what a way to cap that with the Giants of Africa collaboration in Rwanda.
Shared Visions & Nuggets of Wisdom
All this wouldn’t be possible if I hadn’t been given the freedom to shine by the CEO. The shared journey with Jibu co-founder and CEO Galen Welsch has been nothing short of enlightening. His foresight is like a compass guiding the brand. I’m definitely carrying these insights and lessons with me as I move forward.
From Impact to Infinity
From the bustling streets of Goma to the vibrant tapestry of Rwanda, we have made waves across 8 nations and over 200 franchisees. The Jibu mission of fostering Local Owners Driving Lasting Solutions is alive and thriving! DRC, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Ghana, Uganda and my adopted home, Rwanda. Border to border and dialect to dialect. Am tongue-tied as to how time breezed so fast and so many friends were made.
The Bonds We’ve Built
To my Jibu people. You’re more than just colleagues; you’re family. From brainstorming marathons to celebrating each other’s victories, you’ve made this journey truly unforgettable.
With deep gratitude, I embark on a fresh path after nearly two transformative years as your Bishop. A name affectionately given to me by the current Jibu Rwanda Country Lead Bruno Tuyisenge after he likened my brand interpretation to spiritual wisdom and prophecy. Our journey, echoing the biblical parable of nurturing seeds (Matthew 13:8), reflects the age-old wisdom of growth.
Guided by our ethos, ‘A Better Life,’ may you please keep pressing your indelible mark in branding across Africa’s landscape. Just as a shepherd tends to their flock, we nurtured ideas together, fostering growth and sparking innovation.
As I say goodbye, let’s remember that the Jibu voyage continues. Keep telling positive stories that inspire and enrich the vastness of Africa. Good energy begets good energy.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of this journey. May our paths cross anew, and may our light shine on, illuminating new horizons. And to my Rwanda family… once again murakoze cyane, ndabakunda.
With love and light,
Mellow
