CEO summit Uganda is where growth-oriented corporates challenge, effectuate and expound transformation. It is a platform that uniquely gathers the most influential CEOs, bankers, and investors in the region. It is a private think tank fluent in solutions, through its Annual CEO Forum and the sector-specific CEO Cluster teams.
In 2020, Patricia Kahill a multipotentialite, lover of Jesus Christ, and CEO of Kahill Insights – Content Marketing Agency now an author of ‘Make Social Media Work For You’ book’ featured in the CEO summit magazine, and below is the interview
- Tell us about Kahill Insights and its work in Uganda; how long have you been here and what have been your achievements so far?
Kahill Insights Company Limited is a Content Marketing Agency that creates engaging and interactive content items for online platforms with a focus on returning the client’s desired outcome. The business was created in 2013 as a sole proprietorship and in 2015 it was incorporated as a private company limited by shares.
With the help of online tools, we managed to get 30,000 signatures for a petition against Tobacco use, the Government of Uganda under the Ministry of Health through the Ugandan Parliament was able to have the Tobacco Control Act 2015 passed.
We have also been able to carry out not less than 150 training and coaching sessions both for individuals and groups under the organization and specially organized.
We pride ourselves on being the first digital content creation and marketing company in Uganda.
- What has been your journey as a female entrepreneur in a fairly new field of technology?
As a passionate person who has been online since I was 12 years old, my journey has been filled with excitement, discoveries, and adventure.
From the dial-up days to Wi-Fi, from Yahoo and Msn messengers to WhatsApp and Telegram, from Black planet to WordPress, from Tagged, Hi5 and My space to Facebook and now TikTok; I have used almost all the popular social media platform and CRMs so I could find out their uniqueness and the kind of content that make them tick. From a desktop to a laptop and now a smart gadget both tablet/ iPad to phone, technology has evolved, carrying me along with it. I can’t wait for AI and the Internet of Everything… holograms!
As a female entrepreneur working in this field, I have met several biases and prejudices against my gender but that didn’t shake me. I had a very good balanced upbringing where my parents prepared me for both the feminine and masculine jobs and this became my foundation to succeed at every step.
Also, I found myself in the right spaces while starting out, places like Mara Foundation and Thought-Works events, Outbox and Hive CoLab’s hackathons, and mentors who have kept pushing me to do more and better.
Not forgetting God who has implanted His uniqueness within me and keeps opening doors and teaching me His way for business and personal growth.
And our clients at Kahill Insights, who challenge us and allow us to innovate on the go for them.
- What new developments do you see in the digital industry in the post-pandemic era?
If one is not ready for the fourth industrial revolution and its elements of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, genetic engineering, quantum computing, and other technologies; the next 5- 10 years are going to swallow them up.
AI is here helping us create content for our emails and replying to our messages while making sure online business and individual interactions are prompt and articulate to the client’s needs. We have moved online for almost everything, conferences, shopping, delivery, studying, and hanging out.
In the digital marketing space, I see digital marketers starting to specialize in specific skills and Line Managers knowing what kind of skills specifically they need for their departments.
- What opportunities are available for the private sector and how can small and medium sized organizations get involved?
There is a need to embrace the available digital opportunities, change their strategies, and feature them in every step of their businesses. They must have digital cultures, ready to automate, and run their businesses at an estimated 50% level with advanced technology tools. With that in place, these businesses will not miss out on creating long-lasting brand recognitions and building authentic relationships with their customers, fans, and leads. With digital marketing, companies can compete favorably with larger companies and save on money as digital marketing is relevantly cheaper than traditional marketing.
Let’s not forget that i) digital tools offer measurable returns on investment than any other form. There is also ii) Google’s EAT content which is an SME internet marketing concept that stands for Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness, iii) Search Engine, iv) Social media and all its features. If all the mentioned have been enabled but there is a lack of v) content creation and marketing, then all the above will be nothing as this is the foundation for all of it.
- As an SME in the digital industry, in what ways is Kahill Insights contributing to Uganda’s Vision 2040 and 2030 SDG targets?
Uganda to fast-track it’s agenda 2030 embraced the global wave of digital transformation which presents significant opportunities in the technology sector where we operate as a digital boutique.
Our contribution to this fast track is training as many young people as possible with digital marketing skills that will enable them to contribute favorably to the country’s agenda by widening the sector with skilled resources that implement and bring to function formulas that lead to digital transformation.
- How can Ugandan businesses repurpose profit to create value for social development for the communities that they operate in?
They can invest in upskilling resources for shared prosperity. During the World Economic Forum, a report was presented that focused on proving employees with learning and development opportunities to expand their horizons while minimizing skills gaps.
This is what I think businesses should repurpose their profit to and create value as it addresses the disconnection between current education programs and the skills employers need today and, in the future, but also it presents upskilling’s advantages, including wider social benefits triggered by the development of specific skills like ones needed for the fourth industrial revolution that will prove beneficial for the future success of the global economy.
- Examples of works or companies that you have successfully supported
The Ministry of Health – Tobacco Control Campaign
Reach a Hand Uganda (It’s Not On Its Not Safe campaign)
Kuteesa Foundation (Boys Mentorship Program)
Barclays Bank (Ready to Work Campaign)
European Union (Opportunities Are Here)
True African
Klick Investment
Africa Data Edge
- Where do you see Kahill in the next 2-5 years?
We are already working on a restructuring that we are hoping will bring in a rebrand of the company and solidify it as a digital boutique with a remoting working model that emphasizes personal growth of the teams while improving our services to the SMEs we serve to get on track with the digital transformation and improve their cultures.
We believe in 5 years to be an African brand as an online boutique with remote working teams serving in different regions.
- Finally: what is your ‘winning statement’ or motivational quote that keeps you going/inspired?
I can do all things through Christ gives me strength – Philippians 4:13
