Isidore Kabo from the Oil & Gas Sector working as a Commercial Manager, Sierre Leone

What industry do you work in?

I work in the field of Sales and Marketing in the FMCG & Oil and Gas Industry.

What are your strengths?

Strategic and Operational Marketing
Marketing Management
Trade marketing
Sales operations
People development
Negotiations
Budgets

What inspired you to get into this sort of industry?

What inspired me was knowing that this is a challenging industry and achievements are clearly measurable.

What is the most challenging aspect within your field of work?

A challenging aspect for me personally is meeting your departmental objectives while beating competition.

How do you manage and overcome these challenges?

By knowing my company, its products and services and objectives. Having competitor insights. This information I then use to draw up and implement strategic and operational activities while ensuring that I use the right people.

What has been the highlight of your career?

I got called in the reverse the sales trend of a company (GAMBEGA LTD) that was losing Market Share Y.o.Y. . I reversed this trend from a share of 50% to 70% in 02 years whilst ensuring that a solid foundation was built for future growth.

If somebody y starts as a trainee / beginner within your line of work, what could they earn in salary?

Roughly USD 12,000 per year.

What can this person expect to earn after 10 years of experience?

Roughly USD 48,000 per year.

What advice can you offer people who are in the same industry as you?

Always be self motivated!

If you had to describe yourself in FIVE WORDS, what would they be?

Motivated;
Fast learner and believer in continued learning;
Aggressive;
Enterprising;
Result Oriented

Where in Africa have you worked before?

Mostly West Africa.

As you know, numerous African countries are being invested in due to their rich minerals. Which country within Africa do you think will be the next hot spot and why?

West Africa , its largely unexploited in terms of minerals except for a few countries.

CA Global is a big believer in Africa, why do YOU believe in Africa?

Firstly, I believe in Africa because I am African and secondly the growth potential is never ending.