Passion for strategic marketing rewarding: Mutswiri

By The NewsDay | Jun. 27, 2015 | 6 Min read

Prosper Mutswiri is a name synonymous with marketing turnaround and branding in Zimbabwe.

He is one of the youngest managers who have managed to execute marketing in many fruitful ways. Ropafadzo Mapimhidze (ND), features editor of NewsDay, caught up with Mutswiri (PM) as he was walking along with his two beautiful daughters and had a one-on-one interview.

ND: Who is Prosper Mutswiri?

PM: I am the marketing manager for Powertel Communications, Zimbabwe’s leading licensed converged telecommunications operator. I am a passionate telecommunications marketer. I have over nine years practical experience in marketing, branding, sales and public relations.

I am a family man with two daughters, Mufarowashe Joy and Mutsawashe Hannah. My vision is to be the most sought after marketing turnaround strategist in Zimbabwe and beyond.

I am a holder of Masters Degree in Marketing Strategy with Midlands State University, B.Com Hons in Marketing Management, Data and Networking UZ, Digital Marketing IMM, Key Account Management IMM, Brand Management IMM. I qualified as a certified marketing practitioner in 2011.

I am a dedicated Christian and motivational speaker with strong beliefs in hardworking.

ND: How did you get into the field of technology/telecommunications?

Keep Reading

PM: I started my career with NetOne. Then I was still at university and developed an interest in information communication technologies (ICTs) though I also worked for some reputable marketing organisations like Gary Thompson & Associates.

I had a comeback in the telecommunications when I joined Spiritage as a brand manager. I joined Africom as the marketing manager, thus pursuing my passion in telecommunications marketing.

It is at this level where I had a tremendous growth in my career with exposure to international and today’s telecommunications trends.

I developed interest in technical knowledge on a lot of things, ending up schooling myself in other telecommunications technical areas i.e. LTE, networking etc.

ND: What is most interesting about your career in this field?

PM: What I enjoy most is the strategising part of marketing. I also have passion with branding, product development, public relations and research. I also like to follow technological trends.

Marketing is also about predicting the business direction product analysis which are areas I enjoy most in my career. Business representation is also strategic in business and it’s an area I enjoy as well.

ND: What has been your major learning curve?

PM: You see, one of my greatest mentors is Gary Thompson. He played a critical role in modelling me to have an understanding of deep marketing in the areas of branding, creativity and strategy.

Zach Wazara, the former Econet chief executive officer, also played a pivotal role in my understanding of the broad perspectives of marketing like financials, strategy, product development and research.

ND: What is the best advice anyone has ever given to you?

PM: Thompson once told me that “The greatest opportunities of life are hidden under turmoil. What turmoil does is that it creates anxiety, catalysis in decisions, but those with courage, conviction and vision will see opportunities”.

Wazara schooled me in the understanding that marketing is not only pretty pictures of adverts, but real strategy, financial understanding, business management amongst other key pillars.

ND: What has been your major career highlights?

PM: I started my career with NetOne as a graduate trainee. I then joined Gary Thompson & Associates as a junior account executive and rose through the ranks to become and account manager.

During that time, I was the public relations representative for the organisation under the training of Thompson.

I then joined Spiritage Telecoms as brand manager and rose through ranks to become the senior brand manager before joining Africom as the head marketing and public relations.

I am currently the marketing manager for Powertel Communications.

I am tasked with driving the commercial strategy, focusing on developing strong brand equity, development of products and effectively communicating compelling service offer and creating exceptional customer experience platforms. All this is to promote guaranteed revenue for the Zesa Holdings-owned telecoms wing.

I also focus on development of sustainable channel partners and business representation at various strategic levels.

ND: Which achievements are you most proud of?

PM: Formulation of successful commercial strategies for the organisations I have worked for. During my time with Thompson, I was very instrumental in the rebranding of CBZ Bank, the introduction of Money in the Box show, the introduction and running of the popular TV reality show CBZ A-Academy. These campaigns were nominated for awards.

I was instrumental in the introduction of creative telecommunications products in this nation like the introduction of Africom Over the Top technology. The rebranding of Powertel which came with other new initiatives also excites me much.

I was also chosen as Young Manager of the Year by the Zimbabwe Institute of Management for 2012/13 and the recent appointment as Young Manager of the Year by Zimbabwe Business Awards for 2014.

I have seen the organisations I have worked for experiencing growth in revenues and subscriber base.

I have also seen them being recongised with awards from local and international boards.

ND: How do you keep focused as a young professional? Or what sets you apart?

PM: I have learnt of five main things:

1. Passion

2. Integrity and principled

3. Hardworking and dedication

4. Willing to learn and adapt to changes.

5. Faith in what you do.

ND: What does success feel like?

PM: Success to me is the move from where you are to where you have not been. It is the fulfilment of one’s goals as per the calling and passion and the realisation of benefits to the intended beneficiaries.

ND: Who has had a positive impact on your career?

PM: I personally have passed through various hands that have immensely contributed to my life, both family members and non-family members.

Every company I have worked for played an instrumental role in modelling me in various ways.

I would like to thank God Almighty especially in how I ended up in marketing.

I wanted to be a medical doctor and I failed to secure a scholarship to go out of the country where I had got a place.

I applied for other business programmes like Finance, but one former Midlands State University registrar called Chinyemba just offered me marketing.

Initially, I wasn’t happy, but just after one month, I realised that it was what I really wanted in life.

Thompson played a critical role in mentoring me. He used to move with me almost everywhere where he went and would do some coaching in the car and some evaluation after the meeting.

Wazara took over and was instrumental in coaching me telecommunications and business strategy with a special focus on marketing.

He also mentored me much on how to manage key business performance indicators.

He always said marketing drives the business therefore a real marketer has a broad thinking.

ND: What is your view on mentorship?

PM: I personally believe it’s critical especially if you are in the line of the your calling. The most important thing is to realise your calling and be in the right quadrant.

Then you have senior people to give you guidance. I also strongly believe God, above all, is the best mentor of all times as there is hidden wisdom you get from Him.

ND: What are your future goals?

PM: I see myself being a business turnaround strategist in Zimbabwe and beyond. I also see myself leading business organisations and I would want to contribute to Zimbabwe in one way of the other.

I have passion for business strategy development and implementation and I would to see this taking the way.

ND: What is your power statement?

PM: My philosophy is that: “Your dreams are bigger than your circumstances and chance favours the prepared mind”.