Bridgette Ramuluvhana, marketing manager for kulula.com chats to us about the ins and outs of her role.
What is a marketing manager and what are the duties?
The role of a marketing manager varies depending on the industry and the size of the organisation. Some of the main responsibilities are to set the marketing strategy, manage supplier and agency relationships, evaluate customer and market research and look at opportunities to maximise your product/service portfolios for growth. In addition to this, you are also entrusted to oversee a team of brand managers.
What did you study to occupy your current position?
I have a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Marketing Management from the Institute of Marketing Management (IMM).
Is your industry more experience or education-orientated?
My personal view is that you need both education and experience. Education gets the potential employer to consider your CV if you apply for an entry level marketing job. The more years of experience you have, the better the chance of landing your dream job.
What other companies have you worked for?
I started my career at Revlon SA. Before joining kulula.com, I spent a few years at Nike SA.
What more do you aspire to do in the marketing industry?
Long term, I would like to be a commercial director – this is more than working on marketing campaigns.
Is there opportunity for growth in terms of entrepreneurship in your industry?
There is definitely room for growth. I have dealt with companies that specialise in promotional items, signage, activations, etc. I believe that the challenge for an entrepreneur is to always be at the peak of their game and service clients with care. In my opinion, you are as good as your last proposal.
What is the expected standard salary for a marketing manager?
Your salary depends on your years of experience. You can earn anything from R32 000 to over 65 000 per month, cost to company.
What challenges do you face in your career?
Nothing comes to mind with regards to challenges. For me, the trick is to always do what you love and everything else will follow.
What advice do you have for anyone starting out in the industry? Studying, graduating or looking into marketing as a career?
If you are still at university, you need to work on your grades – be the best in your class. In your final year, make it a point to go out and look for an internship position.
