Ahead of the event, we interviewed one of the TENT 2012 speakers, Idiare Atimomo. He is a marketing professional who currently works at Etisalat Nigeria as Manager, Youth Segment. He has a BSc in Psychology from University of Ibadan, Certificate (Strategic Marketing Management) from Lagos Business School, Pan African University, and Certificate (Digital Marketing Strategy) from Columbia Business School, New York. He is a marketing professional interested in brand planning, marketing planning and marketing communication. Below is what he has to say:
OTEKBITS (O): Can we meet you and what do you do?
Idiare Atimomo (Idiare): I am a marketing professional. I work at Etisalat Nigeria as Manager, Youth Segment. I am passionate about learning and creating value. I love my country, and I want to see it rise as a united people not bogged down by ethnicity, but always promoting merit. This is my life philosophy.
O: What will you be talking about at TENT?
Idiare: My brief is to share my career journey and learning experiences with the students of OAU Ife. I want to help prepare them mentally for some of the things they will experience on their journey through life. You know how it is, when you want to buy a certain type of car you will suddenly seem to see it everywhere. Expectation and attraction. You attract what you expect, and the earlier you start expecting something the faster it comes to you.
I have had successes and failures, and I am going to be an open book for the students, so they can avoid some pitfalls and race forward with tools for winning in their entrepreneurial endeavors.
O: Why did you agree to speak at TENT?
Idiare: I am passionate about entrepreneurship, young people and sharing knowledge. These three things are in play for TENT. Also I have massive respect for Gbenga Sesan. He’s a solid guy and I’ll follow him into battle any day.
One of the greatest disasters we have in Nigeria is the great disconnect between our private sector and the academic community. In places like the U.S., academics consult actively for private companies, students launch businesses from campus and receive venture capital funding. Sadly,this seems to be lacking as a general rule in our institutions. I think TENT can help us begin to move towards that ideal state of the university community being a hotbed of entrepreneurial incubation and a launch pad especially in the tech space.
Without a doubt the advent of mobile phone technology in Nigeria helped push our economy in the right direction. There is so much young and bright students who understand risk can do to create value for themselves and ultimately our GDP by innovating through a well designed and run tech startup. I think there are some things I can say to help bring this to reality. That’s why I’m speaking at TENT
O: TENT is focusing on student startups. Have you worked on/with any before? If Yes:
- What is your experience with working with students?
- In your field, can you tell us what students will gain from you?
- What can you say about student startups?
Idiare: I have worked with one particular startup but the guys had graduated when we crossed paths, though they started while in school. I helped them clarify what their value proposition should be and how to explain their service.
My job in marketing is to tell product and brand stories in a way that gets people to buy in – either by management buying the ideas I have to drive my brand, or painting the picture of what using my brand can do for potential consumers.
I found out many people describe what they do from their own view point, not based on the view point of who they are talking to. Half of success is knowing how to describe what you can do. I hope I can help the students understand communications both on a personal and corporate level.
O: What are your expectations from the TENT program?
Idiare: I hope we can look back in 2/3 years time and point to a Nigerian Google or Facebook and say “that was one of our TENT guys”. That would make my day every day. I’m also looking forward to hearing from all the other guys speaking as well, it’s a stellar line up of speakers and I’m excited.
