What do you do?
I run KoaMedia, an agency that helps clients communicate better to their clients through impact videos, animations, social media marketing, and web design and development.
Away from business, I am a tech campaigner (or activist). I’m the founder of CMS Africa; that is an organization that champions open source technologies in Africa. That is, how they are used to enhance business, education, and other areas of life.
Perhaps I should also mention that I’m a writer, a novelist. I write at oduorjagero.co.ke.
What was the driving force that made you do what you do?
That question has to be answered three different times. I love getting involved in businesses and seeing them take off, grow, and blossom. That is why I founded KoaMedia. I write because I like telling stories. I specifically love history. So when I am done with running my business, I turn to writing to tell stories that make people smile or get angry. Business in the 21st century needs tech to properly function and remain profitable, event relevant. That is why I campaign for open source softwares at CMS Africa.
What are your responsibilities?
At KoaMedia, I am responsible for leading the development of the company’s short and long term strategy. That would also involve implementing KoaMedia’s vision. The same would certainly apply at CMS Africa.
What has been your greatest accomplishment?
At KoaMedia, there are a few jobs my company has done that I am proud of, including; successfully working for Google, Central Bank of Kenya, the UN, and by extension the European Union, and currently we are outsourced on a Facebook project running across three countries in Africa.
At CMS Africa, I am proud to have held one of the biggest tech events in Africa in the last six years. We have done an event in Cape Town, South Africa; Kigali, Rwanda; Lagos, Nigeria; and Kampala, Uganda. CMS Africa is partnering with Google this year in a project that will be running in six countries.
As someone who was born in the village and from a very poor background, that is something. Really.
What is the one thing that excites you about your job?
Ohh dear! It has to be meeting people. I love meeting people. It gives me all the joy. The other thing that excites me is seeing a project done, you know. Successfully.
What skills does one need to succeed at your position?
I think that to succeed at anything, anything at all, you need passion first. I am very passionate about new tech and new ways of communication. That made me read a lot. Apart from that, my position requires people skills. And when I talk about people skills, there is one person that would say it better than me: Teri Hockett, chief executive of What’s For Work?
She says: “People skills come down to how people interact with each other, from a verbal and/or non-verbal perspective; they are non-technical in nature. When we think of people skills, words such as personality, empathy, and tonality come to mind.”
What are you investing in right now?
At KoaMedia, we are investing in equipment and new media. They involve cameras, streaming equipment, and computers
Do you have any products or services you would want to be featured and want people to purchase or invest in?
At KoaMedia, we offer several services for our clients. They are impact animations, impact explainer videos, web design, and writing consultancies. You can check the amazing work we do on our website, koamedia.co.ke.
Any career advice for the youth and people who want to embark on a new career?
There is no shortcut. It is demanding to scale the career ladder. You must aim to earn money. However, you have to satisfy the demands of your job, and by extension, your clients.