ADMARP is taking the white collar(or blue) off some professional faces in the industry. You’ve heard their names, you’ve seen their works; now it’s time to get familiar with some of their weird, admirable, fancy, and maybe not-so-fancy sides.
Today, we set off on the right foot with a renowned marketing professional, Rukevwe Toka. Toka is an experienced modern marketing professional with over a decade of proven marketing expertise across Africa and Latin America.
ADMARP: Did you choose marketing, or marketing chose you?
Toka: We chose each other
ADMARP: What is your greatest weakness?
Toka: My greatest weakness is groundnut. I can’t resist groundnuts.
ADMARP: What is the idea of you people have that is quite contrary to who you really are?
Toka: People often think I am not loyal because I’ve changed jobs a lot, but I’m quite the opposite.
ADMARP: What can you describe as the most groundbreaking moment/period in your career journey?
Toka: The most groundbreaking period in my career so far was when I served at Unilever. I transitioned from digital marketing to consumer insights in my first role there and also took on brand management. I got quoted on Harvard Business Review based on my work there, and also had several career defining achievements there. I’ve made some lifelong friends from Unilever as well, and the period I worked there is one of the happiest moments of my life till date.
ADMARP: What is your favorite food?
Toka: My favorite food is currently Village Rice and Moi-Moi with Beef, Fish or Snail (The Place Recipe)
ADMARP: What food do you think is the most overrated?
Toka: The most overrated food has to be Soup + Swallow. I have drastically reduced swallow for over 5 years and I’m still alright 😂
ADMARP: Tell us something, an unpopular opinion about marketing that you think people should embrace more?
Toka: The marketing function is a value creating function and not a cost center.
ADMARP: If you weren’t a marketer, what would you have done differently in life?
Toka: If I wasn’t a marketing professional, I think I would have become a human resources professional because I care a lot about building people.
ADMARP: What state are you from?
Toka: I am from Delta State
ADMARP: What are you afraid of the most?
Toka: I am most afraid of wasting my time on earth and not fulfilling the purpose of God for my life.
ADMARP: Who is your bestie in the industry?
Toka: I have many besties in the industry both within and outside DMM/ADMARP, but I’ll mention 3 people that are well known within this community – Oti, Innocent and Princewill. 3 of them can do no wrong in my eyes, they’ve contributed immensely to my growth and I think I have contributed to theirs as well. When they speak to me, I listen.