Uganda’s leading marketing minds gathered at Serena Hotel on Friday, April 25, 2025, for an extraordinary edition of the Uganda Marketers Society (UMS) CMO Breakfast themed “The Leadership Leap: Positioning Yourself for the Boardroom”.
It wasn’t just another networking event; it was a space of revelation, inspiration, and clarity on navigating the often-elusive journey from marketing to the boardroom. The breakfast struck a deep chord among the CMOs, CEOs, and senior executives in attendance.
Moderated by the poised and dynamic Remmie Kisakye, CEO of Majestic Brands, the event challenged attendees to rethink leadership and redefine the marketer’s seat at the strategic table.
“Leadership isn’t about waiting to be invited,” Kisakye said. “It’s about preparing, showing up, and claiming your space with confidence and competence. The boardroom isn’t for the timid—it’s for the intentional.”
The panel, rich with insight and experience, featured Goretti Masadde, CEO of the Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services, and Hassan Saleh, Managing Director of Multichoice Uganda. Together, they offered raw, personal, and often emotional accounts of their own leadership leaps.
Navigating Corporate Seas
Masadde, known for her trailblazing journey through male-dominated industries, reflected on her early days navigating the corporate seas.
“As a female Brewer at Uganda Breweries Limited, I led teams of 6 to 10 men,” she recalled. “I was told I didn’t fit, that I was too young, too female, too everything. But I kept showing up, armed with receipts—results that spoke louder than any stereotype.”
Her story echoed with resilience. From managing multi-million-dollar projects to standing firm in spaces that once doubted her, Masadde underscored a key truth: “You don’t stumble into leadership, you build towards it, step by step, with clarity, courage, and character.”
Saleh, a soft-spoken but commanding presence, on the other hand, took a different route in his leadership journey—one marked by bold, unpopular decisions.
“I’ve had to take downward moves to move forward,” he shared. “Everyone thought I was crazy, but I knew what I was building. I wanted to lead big businesses, and for that, I needed breadth—crisis management, people leadership, and cross-border experience. I took the hard road.”
He highlighted the importance of stretching beyond comfort zones, pointing to his selection for an Africa Mobility Programme in 2002. “It wasn’t glamorous. I was earning less than my peers. But I saw the long game—and it paid off.”
One consistent message echoed from all speakers: marketers must move from being “doers” to being “drivers.” From campaign execution to corporate influence.
“Marketing is not a back-office function,” Kisakye asserted. “It is the engine of growth. If we don’t see ourselves as leaders of business outcomes, no one else will.”
Personal Branding
The breakfast also sparked deep introspection about personal branding and executive presence. “Sometimes, we wait for someone to hand us a seat,” Masadde noted. “But you must build your own table—or at least bring your own chair.”
According to Kisakye, personal presentation is also key in striking the right impression. “Your appearance matters. Remember to be yourself and keep a close circle of friends.”
“Build your personal brand the same way you build your other brands,” said Masadde. “As a marketer, what prepares you for the boardroom?”
In closing, Saleh added a powerful charge: “The future belongs to those who are bold enough to reimagine their role. We need more African experts at the table—not waiting for validation, but offering value.”
In her closing, Charity Asiimwe Kamusiime, the Uganda Marketers Society President, emphasised the importance of personal connections and how they shape careers.
“I am who I am today because I stand on the shoulders of so many who came before me. Thank you to every shoulder I’ve leaned on. I am not done yet. But everything I am — and everything this Society is — comes from the power of the market, the power of community,” she stated.
She added, “We each carry a light. Let no one pass you without feeling its warmth. Let’s be bold in this transition. Let’s transform the lions of our industry — and roar with purpose. Every marketer here matters. You are not just a voice. You are a force. And together, we are rewriting the story of marketing in Uganda.”
The 2025 UMS CMO Breakfast wasn’t just a morning of ideas—it was a moment of transformation. A reset. A declaration that Uganda’s marketing leaders are not just brand stewards—they are boardroom contenders.
