BD Life Date: 15.11.2013 Page 3 Article size: 747 cm2 ColumnCM: 166.0 AVE: 0.0 Meet Jennifer, the vivacious marketer At 61 years of age, Jennifer is still burning her candle from both ends, and she isn't about to slow down. Eighteen years ago shefounded her belowthe line andfieldforce agency Top Image. Over time, it has thrived and blossomed into a successful outfit borrowingfrom her 32 years of experience in sales and marketing. It wouldn't be dramatic to say that she opened the gates of experiential marketing in Jennifer is vivacious, foxy, funny and outspoken. We meet at her descriptive office at Wilson Airport where a table at. the corner groans under the weight of numerous trophies. You aho can't ignore the amount of jewellery on her11 rings, half a dozen bracelets, two necklaces and three pendants. All yellow gold. All special. BY JACKSON BIKO You obviously love your jewellery. I do. When women go shopping for clothes, I go shopping for jewellery. Dur ing my working days when I got a promo tion I would buy jeweUery. Those days, in the 80s, buyingjeweBeryforSh2,0O0was a lot of money. I have bought jewellery in Colombia, which has the best sapphire, Uganda, Egypt, Bangkok, Dubai, every where. Yesterday I was in court, my house girl took off with some of my jewellery. Just what is the scope of the amount of jewellery you own? What keeps you going at 61 year of age? Growing up I was always afraid of pov erty. All my life 1 guess I have been work ing hard not to be poor. I have desires to do a cruise in the Caribbean when I'm 75 years. For now I'm working on big projects, which I have 9 years to complete. I love to meet friends and going danc ing. My daughter (Bidanya Barassa) likes taking me dancing. I also love metime on Sundays 1 go to church by 7am, for an hour, go back home and sleep until 12.30. By the way, I love singing, I used to sing in the church choir at All Saints Cathedral. I was among the first few people to sing the national anthem in 1963 under George Senonga Zake and Graham Hyslop I will stop when I won't be able to (composers of the anthem) at St Stephens move my legs. When will you say, "You know what, I've done enough, let me stop. Today!" What has been your biggest regret in If you put all my jewellery together and life? sold them, you would buy a Mercedes. (Thinks) Starting my business late. I What has been some of your best years wish I had left formal employment much in business? earlier. But you know wh at, God's time is Between 2006 and 2009. Business took the best time. You can push for something a sharp peak after I landed big contracts but if God isn't ready to give it you, it won't and it enabled me to buy a lovely house. come to you. How do you kick back and unwind? Ipsos Kenya Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road Lavington Nairobi Kenya BD Life Date: 15.11.2013 Page 3 Article size: 747 cm2 ColumnCM: 166.0 AVE: 0.0 Yes. You will see it when I'm around Church. I also love fanning. I just bought let alone for marriage. Men have to ask my daughter. She is the best thing to hap a farm in Kitengela, growing managus, women out. pen to me. tereres, apoths and kunde. Fanning is very therapeutic. So you want to tell me, in all these What is the hardest part of doing busi ness in this town as a woman? years no man has ever asked you to marry him? Well, there were those who were mar What's the one thing that money has not been able to bring you in your life? I don't know how I can say this without Getting acceptance from men. I had an incidence where I had gone to the bank to get some money, lots of money, from my account when my bank agent, who is my brother wasn't around and the bank assumed I was working for my brother. ried and wanted me as a second wife. Can sounding brash or distasteful but when who really seeks or cares for male approval, Jennifer... have my daughter who is the best thing been hysterical. youbelieveit?Mebeasecondbest? Never. you make substantial amount of money, you're never really at peace, that state of (Laughs). not worrying. Does it bother you that nobody asked? You always have people who want something from you and who can't be I was totally livid! (Makes a funny face). it's a blessing, I mean I make my own deci lieve that sometimes you don't have it. I'm Again, when you are successful men will sions. If 1 were married I wouldn't make educating about 15 kids in schools ail over always brand you as abrasive and un any decision concerning my business the country through Baraza Foundation manageable... without consulting him. And you know so money sometimes is tied down. what, I was busy building something here But you don't strike me as a woman so I didn't have time for marriage. Plus I Thanks for the interview, you have Not at all! Not at all. Sometimes 1 feel in my life. Thanks, Biko. This was fun. J e nn ifer at he r office I don't. Maybe the word isn't exactly on Sth November 2013. acceptance. But men will always tag you Do you have a lover? negatively if you are making good money, (Laughs) No! Are you going to write SUAtONNJAU which is something I can't stand. I'm the this down? But no, I don't have. My daugh kind of person who is outspoken, even ter has been trying to get me into a rela my father used to have a problem with tionship but it hasn't happened yet. me because BARASSA I could not hesitate to tell him off. What kind of a man would you settle I think a lot of men are intimidated by for? I don't think there is any man out there me, I guess that's why I'm not married. (Laughs). who I can date. Most don't measure. I want Have you ever been married? a man who has a very strong character, who won't be intimidated by me. He has No. And I know I'm not missing any to be tall, financially stable, he shouldn't be younger than me and he has to have thing! (Laughs). dress well and not have a potbelly. And he must be single. (Laughs). Why did you not get married? Nobody asked. Can you believe that, Biko? Nobody asked! (Laughs) The thing What if he is divorced? Then I will want to know why he was is men are intimidated by beauty, brains divorced. and money; they meet a woman who has all these and "watajikunja!" (Laughs). If the men never asked for marriage, why didn't you ask? I mean you didn't build a business like this by being shy, did you? (Laughs hard) Never! I'm still old fash toned, Biko. I would never ask a man out, Maybe the exwife was completely mad! I don't know, maybe she was too demanding... (Coy smile) Demanding where? (Laughter in the room). Do you have a soft side? CEO, TOP IMAGE :61 ACCOLADES ¦ National Women in Business excellence awards ¦ Most Innovative Achievement of the year 2006 ¦ Kenya Top 100 Midsized Companies I Leading Lady Entrepreneur 2008 2009 ¦ Category Champion ¦ Sen/ice Industry 20O8 2009 ¦ MSK Warrior 2009, Ipsos Kenya Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road Lavington Nairobi Kenya BD Life Date: 15.11.2013 Page 3 Article size: 747 cm2 ColumnCM: 166.0 AVE: 0.0 Ipsos Kenya Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road Lavington Nairobi Kenya
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