Meet Brian Mbunde, The Influencer Extraordinaire.

Brian Mbunde – Social Media Manager at Scanad Africa.

Brian Mbunde is currently working as a social Media Manager at Scanad Africa but he started off as an intern at Ginadin PR where he used to monitor clients’ social media communications, create content and build audiences for the brands under the agency. Brian says he wanted to be a computer teacher studied but he studied journalism and mass communication at the University of Nairobi. According to his LinkedIn profile, Brian also knows about crisis communications, creative writing, video production and editing, content management, blogging, event management, media planning and digital media.

But something happened when he tweeted this

Mbunde’s cheerful mien on social media has catapulted his influence on social media and endeared him to Kenyans on Twitter. A few tweeps will of course tweet mean stuff about his dark complexion but he is too cool and confident to let that into his mind.

I did a short Q & A with Brian on his career, social media and everything else in between for www.digitalkafrica.com ~Social Media Awards 2014 content partner.

1. Who is Brian Mbunde – how old are you by the way?

This is a 23 year old gentleman, quite shy guy offline but oozes confidence online. He is a digital strategist plus a social media executive. His work is to monitor and regulate client’s social communications. In his shoes, you’ve got to be active online, with good grammar and confident in all aspects.

2. In what ways do you use social media personally and for business – clients?

I love creating conversations plus engaging too so social media was just an accessory to help ease my convos. I use social media personally to hype gigs plus just to communicate and know what people are talking about. For clients I cannot disclose that but various campaigns in this country, I have participated in them.

3. How has that worked for you? How do you measure ROI and success in social media?

It has been tricky because many people do not know the power of Social media and how it can affect the society. I measure success through how a brand can evolve and walk on its own after I am done with it.

4. What would you consider your biggest achievement (campaigns/initiatives handled)/ moment in Kenya’s Social media industry?

I would say is Chagua Peace that I worked on prior to the general elections last yr.

5. Do you need papers or the experience to get in? What skills do you consider valuable?

If you are good in Marketing and Journalism then this career will be a walk in the park for you. Through interacting with many brands, one can grow themselves.

6. What makes you concerned or worried about social media in Kenya?

7. I am worried that the industry will move to buying followers so as to succeed. Numbers do not matter in this industry. People should know that engagement and interactions mean more.

8. What’s next for you in your work? What are we looking forward to?

I am looking forward to see more brands opening up to the idea of online marketing and interesting campaigns from rival agencies.

9. Anything else?

Brian was listed by Ghafla among Nairobi’s Top 5 Kenyan Male Socialites.

“God + Hustle = Success.” Got that KOT?

10. Tweetable Takeaways

“Social media is not all about posting on Facebook and tweeting as many assume, it involves much more” @BrianMbunde.

“Type fast but proofread to ensure the right message is passed” @BrianMbunde

“Do not to participate in all TTs, especially those that may negatively affect your image. Always maintain professionalism” @BrianMbunde