Image credit: Ruweida Salifu
Ruweida Salifu is currently the Marketing and PR manager for Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra. She earned a B.Sc in Business Administration from Ashesi University College; and right after graduation, started a career as an account executive with Mindfull Agency. For three years, she drove business development initiatives forMindfull, after which she moved to the UK to earn an MSc in Marketing. Outside of work, she enjoys binging on a good Netflix series or watching documentaries and also occasionally spend time at the beach to reconnect with nature.
Recently, she has embarked on a promising entrepreneurship venture with GlitzBagsGH and she’s really excited to watch the brand grow. In this interview with Leading Ladies Africa, Ruweida talks about her journey into the hospitality industry, as well as share tips on how to incorporate diversity and inclusion in the workplace for women. Lean in!
1. Can you briefly describe yourself and what you do?
As a strong power-of-the-mind idealist, I believe success starts from a thought process before it can be translated into something real through hard work and resilience. In my current role, I am committed to ensuring all of Kempinski Accra’s brand touchpoints are constantly communicating our essence of “delivering beautiful performances to enchant our guests and positively contributing to Ghana’s tourism narrative.”
I also provide marketing consultancy for brands looking to make a firm statement in the local market about who they are and what they have to offer. Seeking new challenges, I recently decided to start my own luxury accessories business. Not only do I find this exciting, but believe it provides me with an opportunity grown and learn more about business management.
Image credit: Ruweida Salifu
2. How did you start out your career and how long have you been in the corporate world?
I started out in 2014 as an account executive at Mindfull Agency (A creative agency and marketing services firm) and within a year, I advanced to Snr. Account Executive & Business Development Lead.
After completing my Master’s degree, I came back to Ghana and began working with Kempinski Accra in October 2018. Interestingly, this is my first job in the hospitality industry, and I must say, these 17 months of marketing the only 5-star luxury hotel in Ghana have been nothing short of exciting.
3. Your go-to hack when you are creatively stuck?
When I get stuck creatively, I take some time off to listen to music( Afrobeats being a particular favourite). This helps me to take my mind off everything so I can come back to whatever I am working on with a clear head. I also read of magazines like Conde Nast Traveller and Vogue as sources of inspiration for the work I do.
4. Tips for diversity and inclusion in the workplace (esp. for women)?
It goes beyond HR and top management – It needs to be owned by everyone on every level. Everyone needs to buy into the idea of creating a sense of belonging and taking ownership in empowering others to tap into their potential and become who they were meant to be.
Image credit: Ruweida Salifu
5. Top 3 tips for the career women in our community.
i. Be unapologetically ambitious
ii. Surround yourself with a positive support system and engage in conversations that bring value.
iii. Reward yourself, you deserve it.
The Career Quick Five Series is a weekly interview series that highlights the achievements and entrepreneurial journeys of African female entrepreneurs. The idea is to showcase the Leading Ladies who are transforming Africa and the African narrative through enterprise and business.
It is an off-shoot of Leading Ladies Africa, a non-profit that promotes leadership, inclusion and diversity for women of African descent.
If you know any kick-ass women of African Descent doing phenomenal things in enterprise, email lead@leadingladiesafrica.org, and she could possibly be featured.
