Evolve Group Africa, a leading brand marketing and communications outfit, on Thursday, July 24th, hosted the marketing fraternity to the inaugural Women in Marketing Summit & Honors 2025.
The suits-and-sneakers-themed event was hosted at Kampala Serena Hotel. It brought together marketing trailblazers, thought leaders, and change-makers, to share insights, celebrate excellence, and inspire bold leadership under the theme- ‘Brilliance and Bold Moves.’
The event keynote speaker- Beatrice Lugalambi, the General Manager Corporate Communications & Marketing at Centenary Bank, described the Women in Marketing Honors & Summit as a platform of truth and triumph, a defining moment for Uganda and the continent.
She urged marketers to embrace both artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven strategies, highlighting the importance of merging AI with human intuition. Lugalambi emphasized that the most impactful campaigns are those designed using insights from data, but with a deep reflection and understanding of human emotion, behavior, and context.
“I urge marketers to challenge themselves and stay versatile, authentic, and bold. It’s not just about following data, but about using it to tell stories that matter. When you lead with purpose and keep empathy at the center, your work can truly make an impact,” she said.
The Chief Guest- Hon. Shartsi Kutesa Nayebare Musherure, the current Member of Parliament for Mawogola North constituency, Ssembabule District, who doubles as the Managing Director Mbabule 101.1 FM, spoke about her experience in marketing, specifically how she used to promote Ugandan jewelry in the United States.
She narrated that her business was successful, because she was open-minded, bold, and was open to take risks.
“When you have the perfect reasons for doing what you’re doing, no one can stop you. I’ve lived this. I went from being a housewife, to becoming a Member of Parliament. Find your purpose, commit to it, and silence the negative voices,” she remarked.
The event also featured panel discussions, that had active marketing professionals engage in conversations that reflected on personal journeys. They also shared valuable insights into overcoming challenges, embracing innovation, and driving success in the industry.
The panelists included Caroline Ampaire, Head of Digital and Media at Uganda Breweries Limited, and Vice President of the Uganda Marketers Society (UMS), Charity Winnie Kamusiime, Head of Marketing at Dfcu Bank and President of the Uganda Marketers Society (UMS), Jackie Namara Rukare- CEO Iguru Consult Limited, Connie Nankya- Marketing and Communications Director at World Vision Uganda, Grace Namutebi- Brand Manager at Crown Beverages, and Lorraine Tukahirwa- Head of Marketing and Communications at Vision Group.
Among other things, the panelists emphasized the importance of blending creativity with data-driven insights to create authentic and impactful marketing campaigns.
I&M Bank, one of the event sponsors, reaffirmed its commitment to empowering women in the marketing industry.
Women in Marketing, a subsidiary of Evolve Group Africa, is aimed at bolstering Evolve Africa’s relentless efforts to empower Women in the Marketing, Advertising and Communications ecosystem, while also recognizing, celebrating, and curating platforms for women to fulfil their potential and advance their careers.
“We’re happy to host the inaugural Women in Marketing Summit & Honors. We believe the takeaways from the event will inspire, empower, and encourage more women to lead with confidence and creativity in the marketing space,” said Happy Milla, Empowerment Team Lead at Evolve Group Africa.
The event was capped with a honorary awards ceremony, that saw four outstanding women in marketing presented with Life time achievement honors.
They included- Jackie Namara Rukare, Susan Nsibirwa (CEO Nation Media Group), Immaculate Ngulumi Nabatte (Chief Manager Marketing &Branding at Centenary Bank) and Barbra Arimi Teddy (Head of Marketing and Communications at NSSF)
The honorees were awarded based on their inspiring career journeys, contribution towards the marketing profession, as well as the mentorship & coaching they have offered to various marketing professionals over the years.
The summit marked the official launch of the Women in Marketing Uganda Chapter, a fully-fledged non-profit organisation aimed at honoring and celebrating outstanding women in the Ugandan marketing profession.
The Women in Marketing Summit & Honors 2025 was sponsored by I&M Bank, Centenary Bank, Vision Group, Radio City 97FM, Matooke Republic, Rage East Media Africa, Kadanke Brand House, Aquafina, Uganda Breweries Ltd.
