Can you tell us about your job?
First and foremost, it's an exciting job; my role is to act as the interface between customers and the products and services that Jumia wants to promote. On the one hand, we have customers who want to obtain quality products at lower costs without having to travel, and on the other hand, we have Marketing, which works in synergy with all internal teams to ensure that the customer experience is flawless. Upstream, it is also a matter of continuously ensuring that the Jumia brand maintains and develops its influence in the Senegalese market.
What are your main responsibilities?
Our job is very interactive. We go beyond customer needs by defining the right online (jumia.sn, social media) and offline (TV, radio, newspapers, billboards) marketing strategies to optimize the visibility of our products and services and convince consumers to join our digital platform, jumia.sn
. We then act as guardians of our consumers' experience, supporting them at every stage of the sale: before (order), during (purchase and delivery), and after (feedback, new purchase intentions). To do this, we work closely with all of our business units (IT, sales, finance, operations) as well as our external partners (logistics, influencers, advertising agencies, etc.).
What skills need to be developed for this job?
The main skill to develop is, above all, versatility. Since we work with many stakeholders, we need to be able to juggle several disciplines. Beyond that, you need excellent organizational skills
, because it's all about planning and constant adjustments. This is followed by strategic thinking
, which allows you to always be ahead of the game, for example, from one campaign to another, or in a given social situation that may impact the company's business, etc., which brings me to a third skill, which is problem solving
. And finally, I would say the ability to influence
, whether it be teams, other departments, customers, or suppliers, because it's about being able to convince a large group of people who all have an impact on the successful implementation of the marketing strategy.
What academic or non-academic path did you follow to get there?
After obtaining my high school diploma in Senegal, I continued my studies in France, where I obtained a Master II in Business Management, specializing in Marketing and Communication. This training gave me a solid foundation in the field of marketing. At the same time, I obtained a certificate in Digital Marketing in Canada.
However, my expertise is the result of 11 years of experience in marketing, in various SMEs and multinationals in Senegal, France, and Canada.
I started out in digital marketing about three years ago as a Marketing and Retail Project Manager for one of the L'ORÉAL Canada Group brands in Montreal, and then had the wonderful opportunity to return to Dakar to join Jumia.
Do you work with a team?
Yes, I work with a team made up of diverse and varied profiles combining the fields of design, social media, public relations, and many others.
Do you collaborate with other departments?
Absolutely! I believe that Jumia's strength is largely due to close collaboration and perfect synergy between each of its departments, from sales to logistics, human resources, and finance. It's a real team effort, and all positions are crucial to the successful execution of the company's strategy.
What are the best aspects of your job?
There are many facets to marketing. One of the most important is creativity, which allows us to be constantly innovating in order to respond effectively to changes in our customer environment.
Do you encounter any difficulties in your work?
Yes, there are difficulties, but we see them as challenges. This job requires 200% commitment, because the world of sales is changing rapidly and you need to be proactive and ready to take on all these challenges.
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