Over 200 marketing professionals. 50+ leading brands. One powerful conversation.
This edition of the CMO Breakfast, hosted by Uganda Marketers Society, did not disappoint. Held under the compelling theme “The Leadership Leap: Positioning Yourself for the Boardroom”, it was a wake-up call for marketing executives to shift gears from campaign managers to strategic boardroom influencers.
THE KEYNOTE THAT SHIFTED MINDSETS
Delivering the keynote address was none other than Gloria Evelyn Byamugisha, Group Chief HR Officer at Dangote Cement Plc, with an illustrious track record leading human resource strategies across Africa at Equity Bank, Ecobank, and Bharti Airtel.
In her address, Gloria shared powerful lessons on the evolving demands of leadership, stressing the importance of depth, influence, and adaptability.
“To succeed in the boardroom, you need depth. It’s not about knowing a little bit of everything—it’s about mastering your sphere of influence,” she emphasized.
She urged marketers to build technical competence, cultivate executive presence, and prioritize relationships built on trust.
Gloria also shared a poignant personal anecdote, navigating a major business continuity challenge during a global crisis. Her leadership, she said, was tested not just in metrics, but in the lives impacted. “Legacy,” she noted, “is not built on accolades, but on how you touch the lives of others.”
THE PANEL THAT DELIVERED STRATEGIC FIREPOWER
Adding texture to the morning was a dynamic panel discussion featuring:
Goretti Masadde, CEO – Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services
Hasan Saleh, Managing Director – Multichoice Uganda
Moderated by Remmie Kisakye, CEO – Majestic Brands
The panel addressed how marketing professionals can position themselves as serious contributors to governance, growth, and long-term value creation.
Masadde emphasized that modern marketers must understand financials and business operations to remain credible at leadership levels. “Storytelling is no longer enough—marketers must speak the language of business,” she stressed.
Saleh reflected on his own leadership journey, emphasizing emotional intelligence, vision, and quiet influence as the new markers of executive success.
A DEFINING MOMENT FOR UGANDA’S MARKETING COMMUNITY
This was more than just another industry gathering. It was a clarion call for self-assessment, preparation, and strategic repositioning. Participants left energized and ready to rethink their leadership journey—not just within marketing departments, but across the corridors of power.
“This event didn’t just teach us how to lead—it reminded us why we must,” shared one senior brand manager in attendance.
IN CLOSING: THE NEXT FRONTIER
As Uganda’s marketing professionals step into an era defined by volatility, innovation, and transformation, one message rings clear: It’s time to leap. Into leadership. Into boardrooms. And into legacy.
Report by Publicist East Africa | For copies or reprints, contact: [email protected]