The journey begins…
It was one of those lazy afternoons and while browsing through my Facebook, I found the application link to the Social Media and Digital Skills training. The first thought that crossed my mind was this must one of those scams but what harm is there in trying it out?
I remember going through the Kuza Biashara website and thinking, “This must be good!” I wanted to have a taste of it. And you can imagine when I got the invitation to attend an interview, I was over the roof.
I filled in the online application form with mixed feelings of hopeful as well as skeptical. A part of me wanted to be part of it but another part too was afraid. It happened to be the first time I came across Kuza Biashara. You cannot blame me entirely; not with the news that take over the headlines almost every other day about con men.
The interview
The interviews were not a walk in the park unlike what I expected. Mugure Kamau the no no-sense yet very inspiring gent and James Keru the very informative guy took me through the interview. They were not easy but I must say they had me pulling my hair just to make sure I delivered beyond the expectations.
The questions sent me shivering and I almost lost all hope. I gave it my best shot and let all other to fate or should I call it destiny…
Much to my amazement.. I was among the 50 plus girls that qualified for the orientation and also the last elimination stage, I made it! My celebration was cut short when we were told a few more will be eliminated. Unfortunately they needed only 50 girls!
The rest is history. By the mere fact that you are reading this piece is good enough indicator that I made it.
Fast forward to the first day…I almost missed but by all means I had to attend. I needed to create a good first impression. But the stars did not work for me that day. No sooner had we started than I started having this dizzy feeling.
I brushed it away as just nervousness until everything and everyone around me started spinning like crazy. I couldn’t hold it anymore. I made my way to the washroom. Tried to make a few calls all which were unsuccessful.
The Kuza team came to my rescue. I was wowed by their concern (just by the way I have always taken care of myself literally my whole life, not used to people minding about me) this was new to me. They made sure I was as comfortable as it can get.
I missed a few days after that to recuperate. And you guessed it right! The Kuza team made it so easy for me I almost never felt the gap.
The technical bit
This was great shock to me. I did not expect the training to be so technical. It was way beyond what I imagined. We were given all the information even what we had no idea about. These people were really generous with information.
Everything seemed so easy and now I can appreciate ICT, something I had no interest in. When I enrolled for the program, I expected to be taught simple basics such writing marketing texts, emails and what have you. I did not expect the technical details and the so much information we received.
Paul Hughson the tech guru from Hyderbad and our facilitator was heavenly sent! He went overboard to make sure were nothing but the best. He made the training not only insightful but something I always looked forward to.
He made the training interesting I just could not afford to miss a single session. The few days I missed due to unavoidable circumstances made me feel like the world was crumbling down on me… Yes! You got me right! That was the intensity!
It is unfortunate that the training has to come to an end. I believe this is something you can keep learning like they said learning goes on to infinity. Technology advancement is real! You sleep thinking you are ahead only to wake up and realize that it evolved through the night and you have to run faster than the legendary Kenyan athletes to keep up with it if not a few steps ahead.
Paul was not exactly easy on us! He made sure at the end of every session, there was a mind blogging assignment that sent us pulling out our hairs. I mean he had to make sure we grasped every bit of what he was teaching us.
I am now a proud digital marketer and I must say this is just the beginning. I plan to continue working on my skills until am an expert in this field that is soon going to be a very demanding one as technology continues to advance rapidly.
Communication skills
The social media and digital marketing training was not all about the technical stuff that hardly anyone wants to hear about, they brought in the communication sessions which were facilitated by one remarkable and mettlesome lady Avni Shah.
This was one eye-opening session. I got to learn among the many about how to appreciate myself and understand others. I am the judgmental type; believe everyone got their weakness and well I just let the cat out of the bag!
The communication sessions emphasized on the saying that, “Charity begins at home.” I learnt that I am the problem and the solution to all my challenges. A contradiction, right?I had to understand myself first to be able to understand my neighbor and if I had a problem with my friend, I had to check myself first.
I could write volumes and volumes about this but unfortunately time is limited. I learnt a whole bunch of things about myself and how to improve my communication skills. I will definitely live to tell a story about this. Believe me it works wonders!
The social bit
The training did not end at the there. No! the old adage goes like all work and no play makes Jill a dull girl. The assignments made sure we made a few friends or acquaintances if you may like. Some were group assignments while most were individual based.
This was an opportunity to make a few friends; friend I know will go beyond the Kuza gates. I have made good friends and friends for keeps. If I did, besides being the most shy girl in that class, am certain all else did.
The girls were nothing short of amazing. Each one of us had a story to tell and definitely were leaving the training with even more inspiring stories. Stories to build and leave a remarkable and long lasting impression.
Memorable moments.
I will miss attending the training that’s for sure. But we have to move on to spread and practice the gospel. The whole experience was great and very inspiring. I will miss my classmates who made me long for the next day just to listen to their experiences and share mine.
I will miss the communication session. Oh how I wish we had more time to learn and apply the NLP model. The little I have learnt has helped me a great deal.
I will surely miss the photo-shoots. Hahaha, Kuza also equipped us with photo posing skills. I am not exactly the photogenic type but Kuza unleashed that bit in me. Credit goes goes to Ivonna Diziba and Vaines Jedilia. These two amazing ladies not only unleashed the photogenic version of me but also the professional photographer in me.
The whole experience was one I will live to tell a story about. Am leaving a more enlightened lady boosted with self-confidence and digital marketing skills. Now I can browse Facebook without feeling guilty of “wasting time.
Summary
Kuza means growth. Kuza has had the whole Kuza experience on me. It has transformed me in ways I never imagined it especially my writing and digital marketing skills.
Kuza Biashara was co-founded by one impeccable gentleman; Sri Bharatam. he is the great mind behind Kuza Biashara and he empowered in his own way. He has the BIG DREAM of making sure we emerge the best in the market and bring out the best in us.
I will definitely come back for another session. Long live Kuza!
Dazzling Cleaning and Errands 