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In our recent Limitless podcast, we spoke with the award-winning visual artist and the co-founder of the fashion brand Bawsty, Morenike Olusanya, popularly known as Renike. In this conversation, she takes us through her remarkable journey as an artist, entrepreneur, and lifestyle influencer.

Have you ever worked a 9-5?

Yes, for about three and a half years. I got a job in my final year of university and worked there for two years before switching to a contract role for a media company. I went freelance full-time in 2020.

Oh wow. Many people are scared to quit their jobs to follow their passions. How did you navigate that?

Oh, I was very scared; it was an impulsive decision, but many people told me to try it out. After all, I could always fall back on my degree. And although I studied graphic design, I knew I could still make an impact, regardless of the industry, because everyone needs a graphic designer. So, I took the brave decision, and the rest, as they say, is history.

I’d like to say that the discouragements and inspiration I got around that time motivated me to pursue art as a freelancer. I had been job hunting, and the offers I got were disappointing. At the same time, I was also seeing works from other artists, which inspired me to explore freelancing and see how it’d play out.  ‘

There’s a common belief that artists and other creatives struggle financially. Do you think this has changed in recent times?

I think this is a common fear among parents in particular. I remember having a long conversation with my father, who, although he worked as an artist for some time, was still worried when I told him I wanted to study creative arts. I was eventually able to convince and reassure him that I could do this well, and if it didn’t work out, I’d quickly pick up something else.

But I think for artists these days, social media makes all the difference. It’s easier to reach people outside your studio, country, and continent. You can connect with clients, collectors, and galleries outside your primary location; social media is now a serious game changer.

That’s very true. How do you think Artificial Intelligence (AI) will affect art in terms of creativity and pressure on artists?

This is a good question because it’s an ongoing conversation these days. AI is taking and threatening to take a lot of jobs, but I don’t necessarily feel pressured because I think it’s a cycle. There will always be new inventions; this same conversation probably happened with traditional artists during the emergence of digital art; the same can be applied to photography and painting.

I believe there will always be new technology. Still, the difference is that the human experience and connection are irreplaceable, which is why many people choose to work with human artists over AI. Also, there’s a different audience for everything. In the same way that digital and traditional art and photography have their dedicated audiences, AI has its unique audience that it caters to.

And I think there will be more collaborations with AI rather than clashes. While I don’t support the piracy aspect of AI, I don’t think we should be threatened by it; instead, we should find a way to work with it and use it for our benefit.

That’s insightful. Thanks for sharing. What would you be doing if you weren’t Renike, the artist or influencer?

A while ago, the answer to this would have been interior decor, but after working closely with an interior decorator to design my apartment, I don’t think the stress involved is for me. I feel like I’m called to be an artist, and I’ve explored many other things – dancing, acting, singing, and even playing instruments. But I’m still an artist today, after a long time, because I really like painting, and while I enjoy experiencing good interior decor, I don’t think it’s something I want to take up.

However, realistically speaking, if I were to do something else, it would be related to travel. I’d also like to explore science. I work in the public health sector sometimes, where I create art that helps scientists and doctors explain concepts to the public, and the whole experience has opened me up to how broad and exciting science is. So it’d be travel or science.

Also read: A List of Visa-free Countries for Nigerian Passport Holders

What’s the one thing that keeps you going?

The fact that I’m able to create based on anything and everything. And I’m just really happy; when I worked a 9-5, I had a lot of anxiety, and this isn’t to say 9-5’s are bad. I might do it again, but I was just so stressed out. Switching to freelance art gave me peace of mind, and that’s the number one thing that encourages me not to quit.

Also, there’s this excitement that the collaboration part of my work brings. Art has helped me meet many beautiful people, and I’ve worked in different industries, sports, beauty, and cosmetics. I’ve been able to work on my social skills, and I don’t think this would have happened if I weren’t an artist because I’m typically reserved. I’m just grateful for the opportunity to practice and live as an artist, and I’m curious to see where my talent takes me next.

Do you ever reflect on your journey and are surprised by how far you’ve come?

All the time. Sometimes, I struggle with imposter syndrome, especially when I got awarded recently. But I think it’s all God’s grace, and it always shocks me. It’s unbelievable and slightly scary because I believe and hope things will get better, and I’m still going to higher places.

You’re sometimes called a lifestyle influencer. What does that feel like for you?

I think it’s terrifying and has made me more cautious, especially on X (formerly Twitter). There are things I want to say, but I can’t because I feel there’s a lot of attention on me. And while this doesn’t mean I can’t be genuine, I now have to cater to the feelings of people listening to what I’m saying. But I still don’t think I’m an influencer – I’m just someone with many followers.

Also read: A Guide to Influencer Marketing: Success Tips from Ajibola Grey

Let’s talk about Bawsty. Do you think art influenced your fashion side?

No, in fact, I started paying more attention to my sense of dress because of Bawsty. Before now, I approached fashion from a place of functionality where you wear clothes to be covered up. I didn’t dress for my body type, and it was also extra difficult to get clothes as a busty woman. But Bawsty made me realize that you can look better, and that’s when I started experimenting and exploring because Renike, the artist, is okay with wearing clothes that offer comfort and nothing more.

That’s interesting. How does being a creative and an entrepreneur feel, especially in Nigeria?

Firstly, as an artist, you learn a lot about business, especially if you don’t belong to an agency or have a manager. I’d call freelance artists creative entrepreneurs mainly because you’ll do everything yourself: marketing, finance, and customer service.

For Bawsty, I mainly handle the marketing and customer relations aspects, while my co-founder deals with the design and creative parts. The entire experience has taught me about art influencing and people management, which is especially handy when catering to a group of people who have been neglected in the fashion industry for a long time. But overall, it has been a very exciting experience, and I look forward to how the business will grow and what I will learn.

Wrapping up

Renike’s story is a testament that sometimes, you must take that leap of faith to pursue your dreams and passions outside your comfort zone. And being open to new experiences and opportunities and taking advantage of collaborations can help you have meaningful impacts in your respective field.

In our recent Limitless podcast, we spoke to Lex Ash, an exceptional photographer, NFT artist, musician, and creative director. We call him “Mr. Do-It-All”.

Who is Lex Ash?

Alexandre Chidiebere Ashimole is the full name. The Lex and Ash come from the first name Alexandre and Ash the surname Ashimole.

I’ve been creating as far back as I can remember. But I think much of my life has been me learning, discovering new things, and applying it to everything I do. So, if I were to describe myself, I’d be a lifelong learner.

How did photography start?

So, I started with graphic design, and in my first year of university, I picked up Photoshop —Photoshop Seven CS —for the first time. I spent a lot of time searching for random images on the internet to check their credibility. This was when I realized it was difficult to find pictures of black people; there wasn’t proper representation, which registered in my mind.

In my third year in university, I picked up photography, and a friend coincidentally bought a camera. So I would borrow it to play around, and then, towards my fifth year, people were open to me taking pictures of them.

That’s how I started photography; I won’t say that I always knew that I could do it, but I have always liked image creation. I’ve loved advertising; I’ve loved getting people to see things differently and using that to influence their decisions and thoughts about things.

What are the other things that you do?

Aside from photography, I do graphic design, brand building, and strategy. I’m also good at filmmaking and directing, and I apply that to everything I do because of my experience with photography and lighting.

I do music as well; music is kind of like one of my biggest projects right now, from production to singing. I have dabbled here and there with writing poetry, stories, and stuff like that.

How do you approach photography?

I have a background in graphic design, which involves layering different items to pass information. I use the same approach in my photography to create and tell stories in its rawest forms. Photography isn’t just about taking fine images but helping others relate to the image or portrait displayed.

Regarding photography, I put a lot of myself into my work. So, my process involves a lot of thinking that evolves around looking for the best ways to tell a story.

How do you balance storytelling, creativity, and business?

There’s a whole conversation around the business side of photography, and understanding this has helped build my brand into what it is now.

When it comes to the business side of photography, the first thing, as I said earlier, is being open to learning and building experience over time. There is a lot of struggle trying to balance the business and creative parts of photography, but what helps me create balance is respecting my work as a creator and understanding that what I create has value. And because of this value, people should pay for it. This helps me manage how much value I want to put on my work and how to interact with people.

But beyond this, there are times when you’d need to find someone who understands the business more than you do and let them handle negotiations for you. I had an agency that managed me for a while, and while it didn’t work out in the long run, I learned a lot about the business.

Now, I don’t overthink when it comes to negotiations; I’m very detailed with all my transactions, and I send an invoice with a breakdown of the work done and payment information. Sometimes, contracts are signed when necessary; I know now that these things are discussed from the onset, before a shoot.

However, when I create, I’m not thinking about finances or business; I focus only on what I’m trying to do and ensuring it happens.

How do you handle clients that have their specifications?

When it comes to handling clients, I realize that sometimes, they don’t see the full creative vision, and it’s your job to help them understand it. You have to create an atmosphere of trust, and I do this by having conversations with them ahead of the shoot so they know the kind of person I am, which helps them trust me enough to go with my creative direction.

Part of being a professional is understanding that clients will have specific needs. And it means meeting those needs, no matter how you feel about it.

Do your family members rate you?

That’s a good question. Going into photography was a struggle between me and my dad, especially as I wanted to leave my 9-5. He asked me to continue my office job for two more years, but thank God for rebellion. I’ve always been a bit rebellious, and eventually they understood.

When I visit home now, my dad asks to see my recent work and says, “My friend’s son’s getting married soon; you can shoot their wedding.”

Who are the most influential people in your life?

My parents. My dad was the one who taught me the importance of learning from everyone and everywhere, and he’s one of the most intelligent people I know. I also learned that integrity is super important no matter what I do or where I am.

My mum, on the other hand, is why I tried many things because I grew up seeing her do that. She is such a nice and caring person, both for her family and her friends, and you know, and all these kinds of things just kind of feel like they’ve influenced my life.

If you could be remembered for one thing, what would it be?

I would like to be remembered for being the reason people feel better about themselves. So this goes beyond photography but instead based on their interactions with me. I want people to feel like their lives are better and different positively because they’ve met me.

What impactful lessons have you learned in photography, business, and all that?

1. Consistency: The only way to get better at anything is by doing it consistently. And this also means trying to learn more about it daily. Sometimes, I go to exhibitions to see what other artists think and even watch YouTube videos on photography. Experiencing other people’s art helps you see how others think and imagine things.
2. Be genuine: I don’t think about how other people are always doing things; I am about what speaks to me. How can I make this about what I feel?
3. Treat people well: It sounds like a general life thing, but it’s important because how people experience you and feel when you leave resonates with them.

Wrapping Up:

If you’re just starting as a photographer, work with people on the same level as you are, work with models who are just beginning, and build with them. Over time, you get better, and then when you climb up, those models go with you, and you’ll also find people on that new level, and you will recreate with them. So, collaborate horizontally and build vertically.

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Being a freelancer or creator empowers you to have complete control over your career. This grants you the freedom to pursue your passions and creativity, set your work hours, and even work from anywhere in the world. However, with great power comes great responsibility, particularly when managing your finances. 

Freelancing can be a rewarding career path, but it can also be challenging. Unlike traditional jobs, you don’t have the luxury of a guaranteed paycheck and often juggle multiple clients or projects simultaneously. These circumstances make it difficult to stay on top of your finances or plan effectively, especially if you’re not used to managing your money.

Here are a few reasons why financial management is so essential for you as a freelancer or creator:

• Income can be unpredictable and since you can’t rely on a regular cash flow, financial planning can be exhausting when you don’t know where your next pay check is coming from.
• You’re responsible for paying your taxes, health insurance and other benefits. This can be a huge financial burden, so it’s important to plan ahead.
• To succeed as a freelancer or creator, you need to invest in your business. This includes allocating funds for things like marketing, equipment, and software to enhance your business.

Now, let’s explore some important tips and strategies you need to know to track your finances and stay on top of your money.

Set Clear Financial Goals 

The first step towards financial stability as a freelancer or creator is setting clear, achievable financial goals. Whether you’re saving for a dream vacation, paying off debt, or investing in a new camera for your content creation, having defined objectives provides you with direction and motivation. Begin by asking yourself what you want to achieve in the short and long term. Your goals should be specific, measurable, and time-bound.

For instance, instead of saying, “I want to earn more money,” set a goal like, “I need to increase my monthly income by 20% within the next six months.”

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‍Track Your Expenses 

It’s easy to lose track of small expenses, as they add up really quickly if you don’t keep an eye on them. To avoid falling into the trap of overspending, track your expenses diligently. Our ‘Expense insights’ feature on the Grey app can provide a detailed breakdown of your spending habits. Make it a habit to record every cost incurred, no matter how minor it may seem. By doing this, you’ll better understand where your money is going and can make informed decisions.

Invest in Professional Development 

Investing in your skills and knowledge is a wise move for freelancers and content creators. By enhancing your abilities, you not only become competitive in your field, you attract more clients and secure higher-paying gigs. Allocate a portion of your income for education and training in your field or to acquire a new skill. You can enrol in online courses on Udemy or Udacity, attend workshops, or purchase industry-related books; these investments will pay dividends in the long run. 

Diversify Your Income Streams 

Relying solely on one source of income in this current cost-of-living crisis can be a risky proposition. Consider exploring various income avenues, such as affiliate marketing, sponsored content, online courses, digital content or even part-time consulting work. Diversification provides stability during slow periods and ensures you’re not entirely dependent on a single client or revenue source. It also increases your overall income potential.

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Logging your finances as a freelancer or content creator can be a headache, but it doesn’t have to be. Simplify your financial operations by using a single platform, like Grey. With Grey, you can seamlessly send invoices to clients, receive payments on time, and pay for online courses—all while conveniently tracking your expenses in one place and focusing on what you do best. Create an account on Grey to stay on top of your money and smash your financial goals!

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Remote work has become increasingly popular, offering employees the flexibility and freedom to work from anywhere. As a company committed to remote work, fostering a positive work environment conducive to creativity and accommodating personal commitments is one of our foundational values. We recently had the honour of hosting Jude Dike, the CEO and co-founder of Get Equity, in a Twitter Chat session. In this post, we will explore Jude’s insights on balancing remote work with one’s personal life. 

A Little Background on Our Speaker

Jude Dike has a wealth of experience in the tech and venture capital industry. He began his career in 2018 as the Chief Technology Officer and Engineering Manager at Comflo Inc., where he supervised a team on a project for a proprietary blockchain MVP, wrote test cases, and created proofs of concept for innovative new solutions. Jude is currently the CEO and Co-Founder of GetEquity, a full-stack investment and fundraising platform. He is also a venture partner at Wefunder, the largest crowdfunding platform in the world, and RaliCap, a $30m+ fund specialising in B2B infrastructure across evolving economies.

Why is it essential to have a healthy work-life balance?

During the Twitter chat, Jude offered valuable insights into balancing remote work with personal life. He shared tips on strategically making time for hobbies and personal commitments while advancing your tech career. He also emphasises the role of employers in providing a company culture that promotes healthy work-life balance.

Managing A Busy Schedule as a CEO

Jude relies on a combination of strategies to manage his schedule effectively. 

• Exercising: He emphasises the importance of a gym routine for mental grounding, especially when working remotely.
• Delegation: If you can delegate tasks, do it! Delegating tasks will free up your time so that you can focus on the most important things.
• Conscious Playtime: He also encourages making time for leisure and social activities. 

Staying Productive Without Sacrificing Personal Time

Jude highlights the significance of recognising your peak and low work periods. He also encourages building productive habits and understanding your work preferences for optimal productivity. He also discusses the importance of discipline and setting a schedule to help you stay focused.

Setting Boundaries

The chat highlights the importance of setting boundaries in workplaces. Jude acknowledges that remote work often requires some flexibility in work hours. He uses a meeting calendar to set clear boundaries and shares his schedule to help others respect his work hours. It also helps set expectations for availability.

Company culture and remote work

It’s no news that company culture plays a significant role in fostering a positive remote work culture. Virtual on-site, town-hall meetings and intentional welfare efforts contribute to a healthier work environment. Jude also advised startup founders to set realistic goals and be prepared for the sacrifices that come with entrepreneurship.

Balancing work and side hustles

While It’s a personal choice to prioritise earning more cash over personal time, Jude says everything is a cost/benefit play. He also shares his realisation that life is not a do-over, and it’s crucial to enjoy the rewards of hard work.

Conclusion

Jude’s anecdotes and experiences reinforced the necessity of maintaining a work-life balance. He wisely states, “This life na one, I have to live it.” It’s a reminder that life is a one-time journey and reinforces the need for a balanced work-life relationship.

In summary, the conversation with Jude shed light on the critical aspects of balancing remote work and personal life, from time management to understanding your unique work style and the role of company culture in remote work environments. Jude’s insights are a valuable guide for remote workers and freelancers looking to prioritise a healthy work-life balance.

Follow us on X to stay updated and not miss our upcoming Grey Chat sessions.

Failure is an inevitable part of career growth, especially in tech. It’s a learning experience that builds character and gives room for growth, innovation, and eventual success.

In our recent Limitless podcast, we spoke with Scott Eneje, a tech founder and entrepreneur. He shared how he broke into the tech industry, navigated the challenges and failures of his first startup, and eventually turned everything around.

You were the co-founder of Yandi. Can you share the story from the beginning?

It was in 2011 when I dropped out of school after 11 years of trying to get in. I didn’t want to waste time feeling bad for myself, and because of my upbringing, I couldn’t get addicted to any vices, so work became my addiction. I had already started learning web development while in university, so I took to it full-time and learned different programming languages.

Next, I tried to convince people to give me web gigs; I even offered to work for free just to build my portfolio. But convincing people to trust a dropout was difficult. While pursuing gigs, I met a guy at my friend’s store who offered to pay me ₦30,000 to build a website. I was excited because I’d be getting my first pay, but it took another four months before he got back to me.

At this point, it began to look like website development would never start for me, so I took a teaching gig from one of my mentors, Mrs. Okereke, to teach and prepare students for different examinations. The fact that she trusted me to educate people helped my confidence; while I was doing that, I got a call from the guy saying he still wanted me to work on the website, but I had to come to his office. I told my brother to go and make pitch instead because I didn’t really believe he’d give me the gig. But they loved my brother’s pitch, and although we charged an outrageous amount of money, they agreed. Next thing I knew, a couple of years later, the same guy called me and asked, “Hey, do you want to start a company together?” That’s how Yandi, an e-commerce company, was born with my brother, and this person became our first investor.

So what happened after Yandi started?

Yandi taught me one of the biggest lessons in my life because it showed me what not being prepared for certain heights can do to you. When we started, I only considered the technology behind retail tech. We put much of our energy into improving the tech, but we knew nothing about business or what it took to run a tech company in Nigeria. And because we didn’t have a proper business strategy, the vendors didn’t trust us. We decided to buy from the vendors and get the money back from customers when they paid for an order. And since we were trying to run a pay-on-delivery system, we’d need a large budget to pull this off.

However, unfortunately, we had several instances where people would place large orders, and we’d take money from operations and people’s salaries to buy and deliver these items only to discover that these people and the delivery addresses were non-existent. This made me realize that business is more than buying and selling; there’s a process and a lot of education, which I didn’t have, which crushed me.

But one of my biggest lessons from Yandi is what happens when you employ the wrong people. Then, I gave everyone jobs, family members, or strangers from church who were job hunting. I remember one incident where the customer service agent was shouting at a customer, and one thing we’ve come to see, especially in retail tech, is that customer retention is the most challenging thing to do. And interestingly, customer retention is also the best thing to do as it’s cheaper than trying to get new customers.

What motivated you to keep working at it in the middle of everything falling apart?

Honestly, my family and my then-girlfriend turned wife. Everything was crumbling; I remember people from the tax office calling me daily; we discovered our accountant never paid taxes and showed us fake receipts. That experience taught me the tax laws and policies guiding businesses in the country. But anyway, we were going under; I called my investor, and long story short, we were on our own.

During this period, I was working on AI before it became a thing, and we were driven by the idea that if we could sell it, it’d be a game changer. So I took out a loan, under my name, not the company’s, and put together my money to fund the AI project. We were almost six months in, and it looked like we had a bank willing to buy our AI. I was excited because, finally, my investment would pay off. The bank confirmed their interest in buying but said they wanted to look at the codes to make sure it made sense. And because I was desperate and gullible, I sent them the codes, and we didn’t hear back from them. We called them several weeks later, and they said the market wasn’t ready for that kind of tech, but three months later, they released an AI model similar to what we built.

By this time, we had gone under, I had lost all my money, and I had to let people go even though they were competent. I fell into depression; I would stay weeks without showering. I didn’t die because I didn’t want to face the stress of dying, but at the same time, I didn’t want to live.

Wow. So, how did things improve?

I started offering freelance digital services again. I set up a company to provide tech solutions and decided to look at the global market rather than just build for only Nigerians. I reached out to people and lowered my prices when they gave me projects. When they see the quality of the result, I’d then upscale my prices. I kept doing that until one of my former employees, who had a freelance gig with a US company, told me they were looking for someone to manage their Nigerian branch. The role was in retail tech, which I had experience in, and during the interview, when they asked why I thought I’d be a good fit, I told them, “I know how to lose money. That’s the one thing no one can take from me,” and that was my major selling point.

I got the job and then worked for another company in the US, where we built analysis solutions and created analytical data for clients and marketing in retail and innovation tech. Now, I’m building CX (Customer Experience) tech solutions. I’ve also played around with augmented technology and NFTs.

You have an academy called the Morpheus Academy. Can you tell us about that?

This started last year when I realized that many people, especially in tech, have low to medium-level skills. Because of this, they are offered meager salaries when they apply for jobs, but they take it due to desperation. I thought then that if I could train 100 people, the same thing I spent the last 15 years learning, they could get foreign jobs and pull foreign currency into our economy. And currently, we’ve trained close to 1000 people. We teach them product management, software engineering, QA automation, business development, and finance management. We want people with zero knowledge and get them to the level where they can get global jobs.

Morpheus Academy is a practical one that teaches primarily tech skills, and the ideology is that one person teaches ten, and the ten teach a hundred, and so on. It’s completely free, and at the end, we give laptops to the best graduates, along with other incentives. The one vital lesson we teach the students is never to forget that someone gave you time, so you should always do the same for others.

If you had one mantra, what would it be?

I think I would steal the one from Winston Churchill. He said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it’s what we do afterward that matters.”

What would you say are the three most important things founders should know?

• Sometimes, you’re your problem: don’t get carried away because you founded the company. There’s a reason why several fields have experts: get those experts.
• Learn policies: there are policies from state and federal governments in different sectors. Understand these policies; they’ll guide you when you start learning them.
• Structure: structure isn’t reserved for larger organizations. It’s meant for everything, even in your daily life. As a founder, it’s important to learn and put structure in your business from the very beginning. It will help with your expansion; even when you fail, you’ll have a contingency for failure.

Wrapping up

Having a fulfilling tech career isn’t a walk in the park. It’s filled with moments of self-doubts, challenges, and failure. But if you keep trying, learning, and growing, these setbacks will one day be a part of your success story.

The importance of non-tech roles in the tech industry is gaining more popularity. From marketing to customer support and finance, these roles act as the backbone and are essential to the growth and success of any tech company.

In our recent Limitless podcast, we spoke with our first female guest, Peace Obinani. She’s the head of online marketing at PiggyTech and the founder of Non-tech in Tech.

How did you find yourself in tech with your background in Microbiology?

I literally just found myself here. I knew I wouldn’t continue in microbiology, but tech was also nowhere on the list. I always figured I’d do something relating to events or event management because I was gathering experience.

But after I got my first tech job, I realized that it wasn’t what you’d call a typical 9-5, which I’ve never been particularly keen on. This was more flexible and relaxed, so I decided to stay and see how it panned out.

My driving force, however, for remaining in tech is my curiosity. I’m a naturally curious and passionate person. So, as long as there’s something new or challenging, I’m going to give my 100 percent to it.

Can you tell us more about Non-Tech in Tech?

The idea came up from seeing that many people still think that you need to code to work in tech. So, I started to dispel those myths by creating a community of people who work in tech without coding skills. This community provides an opportunity for people who have non-tech tech careers to connect.

Where do you see Non-Tech in Tech in the next five years?

I see us doing what we’re currently doing but on a much larger scale. We already organize local tech summits, partnerships, and annual events for non-tech people – we have an edition coming up this year – and in the next five years, we can replicate these events across different countries. We’re generally just concerned about advocating for no-code tech rules and professionals, educating people about non-tech tech roles, giving them a chance to upskill and get better jobs, and learning new things in the local tech space.

What are you most proud of with everything you’ve achieved with Non-Tech in Tech?

I’m proud of how far I’ve come in a relatively short time and the impact I’m making in my little way. Because people now understand that you don’t need to learn coding to work in tech, you can be a product marketer. Also, there are people, some fresh graduates, who are getting their first jobs or getting international offers from our community. So, I’m just really happy to be part of this.

Returning to marketing, what are the biggest marketing challenges in fintech?

I think the most challenging part about marketing in fintech, especially in Nigeria, is dealing with many uncertainties and variables. I like to say that every day is unique, coming with its own set of problems that need solving. When you juxtapose this with the level of mistrust Nigerians have regarding their money, it can be quite a lot to handle. For example, if there’s a minute of network lag, everybody starts talking about how you’re a thief and scammed them of their money, so you’re not just dealing with marketing your product but with people’s emotions and trying to gain their trust.

What advice would you give to anyone looking to succeed in marketing?

1. It’s all about your audience: It’s all about your customers and never about you. I’m sorry. Yes, you can try to infuse certain parts of yourself, but you should always put the wants and needs of your customers first. For instance, there might be specific ideas you might want to implement, but they might not resonate with the people you’re trying to sell your product to. We try to live by this at PiggyTech; when it comes to marketing our products, we’re very customer-centric.
2. Be empathetic: You should always put yourself in the customer’s shoes, especially during the creative process. Always look at different perspectives when approaching issues to ensure you’re not just shooting blanks.
3. Document everything: it’s easy to get carried away, especially when you’re in the marketing space. You can reflect on the month and feel like you’ve achieved nothing. A lot of unfulfillment comes with not documenting, which can lead to a creative block or even feelings of depression. But documenting helps you build your confidence, keep track of your successes, and protect your interests in situations where you might negotiate for a raise.

Wrapping Up

If you’re interested in having a career in the tech industry, you no longer have to worry about not having a technical background. There are many great non-tech roles you can pursue. By investing in self-development, gathering the right skills and experience, and connecting with people with similar interests, you can have a successful and rewarding career in tech.

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