Meet Kofi Baah Boakye, the man behind the strategic
curtain of Business Development at Stratcomm Africa for over 3 years.
In the inaugural episode of Humans of Stratcomm
Africa, we delve into the journey of the man affectionately called "Diego
Boadi" by his peers.
Join us as he unfolds the intriguing chapters of his
educational and career choices that brought him to Stratcomm Africa.
What
has motivated you and what have you achieved in your over 10 years at Stratcomm
Africa?
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I have been motivated mostly by
our corporate philosophy which is to be a “faithful steward of all that God has
entrusted to us”
How
did your academic background at Syracuse University shape your journey,
particularly in your roles in business development and marketing?
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At Syracuse University, I majored
in Communication and Rhetorical Studies as well as a bit of Psychology. I never
imagined that I would find myself in this role, however what I learnt has
contributed to my understanding of human behavior, relationship building and
management. I have found these very useful in my role.
As
the Executive Director of Business Development, what strategies have you
employed to ensure a healthy client base and manage client contract life
cycles?
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Stratcomm Africa has been in
existence for almost 30 years. Over the years the organization has built a
strong reputation locally and internationally due to the hard work put in by
the teams that have worked with Stratcomm Africa over the years to continuously
raise the bar keeping the mind that the sky is the limit. That being said,
strategies employed have usually been focused on CREATING UNIQUE SUSTAINABLE
SOLUTIONS FOR CLIENTS AND DELIVERING WITH EXCELLENCE- This is what keeps
clients coming TO US.
You've
been a part of various roles, from Market Research Analyst to Assistant Communication Strategist ETC. How have these
experiences shaped your approach to your current role?
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Working in these various roles
has affirmed to me that pressure makes diamonds. From cutting media clippings
from newspapers, to gathering data for strategy development etc. I now find
myself comfortable in a role that oversees all the things that I have done
before. Had I not gone through the mill, I would not be as confident as I am in
delivering on my mandate in this role.
What
drew you to the role of a Market Research Analyst at The Conti Group back in
2011?
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I love information and learning
new things. The Conti Group is an infrastructure development company, and I
knew nothing about construction or engineering at the time. Engineers are very
intelligent people in my opinion and it was a new challenge for me fresh out of
the university. I remember having to
make two presentations to the CEO, Kurt Conti at the time and it made me
realize how important it is to collect data for strategic decision making. I
will never forget these experiences.
In
your time at Stratcomm Africa, what achievements are you most proud of,
especially in terms of developing business and marketing strategies for the
company?
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Quite honestly, I never really
sit down and think about achievements I am proud of. Balotelli once said that
he doesn’t celebrate when he scores because it is his job, just as the postman
delivers the mail and does not celebrate, I have that mentality built inside
me. What I can say I am most proud of is my personal growth over the years and
I am looking forward to learning and growing more.
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Tell
us about a challenging project or situation you've encountered in your career
and how you navigated through it.
o One
challenging situation I can remember involved the submission of a proposal and
we were behind time. Looking at the time
constraints, I had to take the lead and wait at the institution for the final
proposal to be packaged and brought to me. I recall the driver at the time
speeding towards the institution and doing a U-turn at top speed with one of my
colleagues in the passenger seat sticking his hand out holding the proposal. I
quickly ran to pick up the proposal from him as the driver was turning. It was
like a money transaction being done or something. We barely met the deadline. It was quite
dramatic; I remember it was like a movie, however we won that bid so it was
worth it.
As
someone deeply involved in communication, what advice do you have for
individuals aspiring to thrive in the field, especially in the dynamic
landscape of today's digital age?
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I would just advise individuals
aspiring to thrive in the field to never stop learning. Over the years, I have
realized that just like every profession, passion is required to be successful.
The basics of communication have remained the same since ancient history, all
that has changed is the environment. One
must understand the root of what they're doing before they can bear good fruit
and that is what Stratcomm Africa has been doing since 1994- blending the
science and art of communication irrespective of the context.
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