In this month’s Faces of Safaricom feature, we chat with the endlessly energetic Pauline Kerre. She is a seasoned marketing manager who has been with Safaricom for almost a decade, from her humble beginnings as a brand ambassador to leading marketing efforts for some of Safaricom’s most popular products and services. Ever bright, beautiful, fashionable, and ready for what’s next, Paula reflects on her life and her future.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Why Paula?
Everyone calls me Paula–it’s been that way since high school. I’m a Gen Z at heart, and I identify as an ambivert. At work, however, people assume I am fully extroverted. I have been with Safaricom for almost nine years now, and I can say I absolutely love my job and the people I work with–I truly thank God that I do not wake up “cursing” at the fact that I have to go to work. I love it here. I come from a very loving and supportive family. I am a proud daughter, sister and aunt to the most beautiful children. A relationship with God and my family is the most fundamental thing in my life.
As a Product Marketing Manager at Safaricom, what exactly do you do?
Ah, the million-dollar question. Well, a lot of people hear “marketing” and think it’s about events. As a Product Marketing Manager, my job is to understand the products we offer, make them meaningful, and then connect them with the right customers. Don’t just sell, tell your customers why your products are meaningful to their lives. I could be selling a 20-bob data bundle, but what I really do is show you how the internet is enabling you to have a better life–so I don’t sell products. I sell experiences, moments, connections and transformation. It’s about merging the customer’s truth with the right solutions, and more so, those that transform lives.
Don’t just sell, tell your customers why your products are meaningful to their lives
Did you always know you’d end up in marketing? Tell us about your journey.
Oh no, definitely not. I started with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Gender and Development Studies. I honestly wasn’t sure it was what I wanted to do, so I went on to do an MBA in Marketing and Strategic Management. During my college years, I was hustling–I was a brand ambassador/event hostess on the side just for that extra pocket money. It was during one of them that I had a chance encounter with someone who helped me kick-start my career. From there, everything just fell into place, and now I’m here doing what I love.
Tell us about that encounter
We were at a Rhino Charge event, tasked with selling Burn energy drinks under the blazing sun. One of the customers I tried to sell to was a gentleman by the name Kris Senanu (I didn’t know who he was at the time). Kris, with a very serious demeanour, asked me to pitch to him, and if convinced, he would buy my whole day’s targets! Bruh, you mean you’ll buy all 24 of them? Say less! I put my bag down, rubbed my hands like I was about to give the greatest elevator pitch there was, and started convincing this man, who looked quite unimpressed at first, why he needed to buy my drinks. Slowly, his face started to change as he smiled. He was impressed with my sales pitch, and he indeed bought the entire case. He said he was observing me and got intrigued by the number of laps I did just to get this work done. He asked me to go to his office come Monday for an interview at one of his business ventures. That role taught me the value of customer service and relationship-building, and since then, my network started growing, and that’s how I met people who connected me to other jobs. Later, when I shifted to recruitment, I learned resilience and the power of networking. Honestly, each job, no matter how different, has taught me something that I carry with me every day: that life is all about adapting and learning.
You worked in recruitment. How did that experience prepare you for what you’re doing now?
Recruitment was a totally unexpected detour. During my time working for Kris’s company, I got connected with someone who was looking for a recruitment consultant. I did not have the experience, but my passion for sales came through for me during the interview. At first, it was tough–cold calling, trying to get clients who needed to fill vacancies, and then finding the right candidates for those job vacancies. It wasn’t as easy as it sounds, but it taught me a lot about persistence. You have to understand the power of buy-in and have to sell people what’s in it for them–which is a skill I still use today in my marketing role.
You’ve had an inspiring journey at Safaricom. Can you take us back to the moment you got that life-changing call?
Absolutely! To be honest, I had gone through several corporate interviews and I had not been successful, so this was like my last hope despite me not being overoptimistic about it.
I was driving my mom to the market when I got the call from HR, and my heart started racing. He asked, “Pauline, where are you today? I have some news for you. Congratulations, you got the job,” Listen, I am so dramatic–I just started wailing. My mom, equally dramatic, thought something bad had happened and she was like, “Muthoni ni nini? What is going on? Hebu park hapo kando” Little did she know, they were tears of joy! It was at that moment that everything changed for me, and every time I remember that, I cry.
You mentioned starting in the Hustler Segment—what was that role like?
When I first joined Safaricom in 2016, I was part of a segment that focused on business-minded/entrepreneurs who use M-PESA as their flagship product. When I joined, however, I felt completely green. Safaricom is like a jungle to someone new, but I was determined to learn. It was intense, but it gave me the foundation I needed to grow within the company. Shoutout to my line manager, Evans, who was patient enough with me and gave me much-needed tough love as well as valuable teaching. After a couple of years, we went through restructuring, and I thought, ‘This is my time.’ I went straight to my boss, Charles Kare and said, “I want the Blaze job because I think I can do it well. I am ready.”
Oh, tell us more about Blaze and why that role meant so much to you.
Yes. At that point, I felt like I had done my time in the Hustler Segment, and I was ready to step up. For me, Blaze was the dream and such a cool opportunity. It was Safaricom’s youth sub-brand, and the goal was to create a brand that resonated with young people in a completely different way from the main Safaricom brand.
I love young people. The youth are such a force, and they really resonated with what we were offering because we were not just selling a product; we were selling empowerment, transformation, and a sense of belonging. I will forever be grateful for that experience.
What about the customers, though? Did you ever have any standout moments where you saw Blaze making a real impact on them?
Oh yes. What stood out most was the reception we got. Our numbers were growing and growing fast! We had customers coming to events because they felt seen, heard, and empowered by the brand.
All our summits were memorable. The energy there was electric, and we had young people who were just so excited to be part of something they felt was tailored for them. I wish we could replay all the inspiring stories, all the heartwarming journeys, some kids used to come from nothing–but the resilience and determination gave us the motivation we needed to keep at it. Some stories would bring us to tears.
Seeing the impact it had when people would come up to us after sessions and say, “This has changed my life,” was truly humbling. We weren’t just selling them a service; we were giving them tools for their future. That’s when I realized the real power of marketing—it’s not just about pushing a product; it’s about enabling people.
Sounds like it was an unforgettable experience. What did you learn the most during that time?
The power of teamwork. People are your biggest asset when doing any kind of project. Invest in people. Success came from the cross-functional team we created–creatives, agency partners, media teams, and people from different departments–you could not differentiate an external partner from a Safaricom employee; we were one. We brainstormed together, fought over ideas, and pushed each other to do our best. The energy was contagious. We had the best collaboration I have ever experienced to date. We spoke the same language. It was a melting pot of brilliant minds all working towards one goal: to create magic for the youth. And oh, the magic we created. We held youth summits across the country, we were on the road for the better part of 2018 and 2019 – and every time we met, we felt the electricity in the air. I’ll admit I can be a bit of a perfectionist, but here, I learnt to trust the team. Blaze was also successful because it was authentic. We were authentic. It was about being real, listening to the youth, and giving them what they wanted. That authenticity created trust, and trust is everything in a team.
You’ve had quite the career journey. What’s been the best thing someone ever did for you along the way?
The best thing anyone has ever done for me was give me a chance. Kris gave me a chance, which in turn opened other doors for me. Evans, my first hiring manager at Safaricom, gave me a chance. Charles Kare, gave me a chance. My current leaders have given me chances. I cannot express how grateful I am. Every opportunity I’ve had was a chance to prove myself. I will forever be grateful to the people who believed in me. Those who gave me the space to make mistakes and grow —those moments shaped me. Without that, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
What’s a big misconception about you, and what’s your take on it?
(Laughs) Oh, this one always cracks me up. Some people assume life has been easy for me because I look ‘good’–(some call it pretty privilege.) They assume life just hands me everything on a silver platter. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Yes, some women may have it easy, and that’s great, by the way. I am not glorifying struggle, but I’ve worked hard for everything I’ve achieved. I’ve had to hustle, go through multiple interviews, faced rejection, cried. Trust me, I don’t sleep like a baby every night. Life’s not always easy, and I’m definitely no exception.
Looking back on your career so far, any advice for young professionals who are just starting?
You cannot outsmart a hard-working person. It’s okay to work smart, but that diligent, consistent, assertive, hard-working person will eventually get better results in the long run. Embrace every opportunity, even if it doesn’t seem to align with your goals. You never know how seemingly unrelated jobs might equip you with the skills you need later. The right people will recognize your potential. Believe in your journey, because it’s uniquely yours.
Who is your favourite person right now?
Besides my super smart and cutest nephew, Kenzo? It must be Salim, my rider. Salim doesn’t just do my errands from point A to B. He is essentially my family. Salim works hard and takes pride in his work. He is truthful, has never, ever stolen from me or taken advantage of me, takes feedback and is just a gentleman. He makes life easy for me. He is not yet 30 but is a diligent worker and a great father of 4. He is responsible, does not feel pity for himself and takes good care of his kids. Recently, he became a professional photographer. I speak very highly of Salim because he embodies grit, and as a result, a lot of my friends and colleagues now use his services because of how efficient and professional he is.
How about your weekends? What do you get up to outside of work?
Oh, I’ve discovered some new hobbies lately, but my go-to thing is the gym (I’ve been working out for about 9 years now) – I don’t love going, but the post-workout feeling is everything—mental clarity and physical benefits. I’m all about health and fitness. So, my new obsession? Golf! I’ve been playing for about a year now. My new golf buddies really encourage me, even when I’m bad at it (and trust me, golf has humbled me.) I also love spending time with my friends and family—mimosas with the girls are a must!
Now, let’s talk about love. What’s your ideal partner?
Oh Lord, must we? Hahaha. Well, my ideal man has to be kind, first and foremost and not the performative kind. A man grounded in certain values and abides in them. A man who is emotionally available, can express himself and not be ashamed or afraid to have difficult conversations and I can fall back on him whenever. And a man who can be vulnerable and honest? I love those ones. Confidence isn’t about acting tough; it’s about being real. I love funny people, and please, have a hobby or passion. Have something going on for you besides work. Additionally, I will struggle to be with someone who doesn’t take care of themselves—health and fitness are very attractive, and let’s be honest, a little effort to look good gives you leverage.
So, just to clarify, the whole ‘What do you bring to the table’ question? Not a fan?
Oh, don’t get me started on that. I am the table. (Laughs) I don’t like that question because if you ask me that, what makes you think I will not lie to impress? Listen, with dating, don’t ask such obvious questions. Words mean nothing, action is everything. Just be yourself, show me who you are, and I’ll show you who I am; give it some time for a nice slowish burn and let’s see if we connect. I love deep conversations, mutual respect, and fun–we must have fun together. If you’ve got that, we’re good.
