Interview with Maryann Nwankwo, an event planner, Interior and exterior designer, and a makeup/makeover artist.
Maryann has been kind enough to do a little interview with us. Get to know her a little better....
Born: Nwankwo Maryann Oluebube, 29th of October 1994. She hails from Nanka, Anambra State. The founder of SureGirl Makeover, and a final year student of Mary Sumner Vocational Institute Awka.
BN BLOG: We are honoured to meet you. Thank you for honouring our request.
MARYANN: (shots a dazzling smile) It's my pleasure and I'm very pleased to be here.
BN BLOG: How did you
come to specialise in event planning, makeups, cake making and decorating?.
MARYANN: I will first give all glory to God, who in his infinite mercy, made it possible for me - I started out as nobody. Very difficult. (Laughs). Frustration is the honest
answer. I trained as an event planner and I was managing little events. At that stage, back in 2013, you plan everything. Over
the years, I specialised more on other stuffs - designing and makeovers.
Then I started my own
company - SureGirl Makeover. The frustration
came about because I was
fed up with having to often rearrange and sometimes pay more for my client's cakes.(takes heavy breath). I started saying to myself "Okay Maryann,
you really need a solid
strategy here, you need
proper resourcing" . For a
long time, I would just say
that. I would say "You need a strategy. What's your?. (Giggles). I thought about learning cake making. A good idea. I trained in cake making. Do I pay for cakes again? No.
BN BLOG: Wow! What a fighting and realistic spirit...
MARYANN: (cuts short). Nothing stops a determined mind.
BN BLOG: Yes indeed. How long have you been in this field - rather - fields.
MARYANN: (laughs). Two years now. Yes two years. I started in 2013. Thanks be to God. I haven't been counting!. (looks stunned)
BN BLOG: How would you describe your work style?.
MARYANN: Work Hard,
Play Hard. I love to get the
job done and do it right. Meeting deadlines, successfully completing
tasks and give the task at hand my dedication is
important; but you have time to have
fun, enjoy what you are doing and the people
you are working with. If
you dont love what you do
then its harder to stay
motivated. I just love my job.
BN BLOG: Give an example of a time
when you felt the greatest
sense of accomplishment in
your job?.
MARYANN: I take my work very
seriously and honestly I'm not
finished with a project until I
feel a sense of accomplishment. Like I earlier said, I love my job.
BN BLOG: Describe your experience
with event planning, cake making, makeup and makeover in terms of meeting your clients demands?.
MARYANN: Challenging but fun. Nothing is ever easy. I just want my customer to be satisfied with what I offer. And I don't regret going any length to achieve them.
BN BLOG: Describe your specific
skills and experience related
to Event Planning.
MARYANN: I am hard working,
patient which comes in handy,
I have good interpersonal
skills which will help me to
communicate with customers
and I am resilient. You need resilience, some people are quite difficult to handle. ( laughs).
BN BLOG: If you were hired, when
could you start?.
MARYANN: Right away. Wetin I dey wait for?.
This is an opportunity and
company I am excited to get
started with.
BN BLOG: How has your education prepared you for a career as an event
planner?.
MARYANN: Yes if course, It did. What would I have become without education?. I thank my family for giving me the opportunity. I learn - still learning - those skills from school. I am presently a final year student of Mary Sumner Vocational Institute Awka. (Giggling). I blended well.
BN BLOG: What type of event planning are you
most interested in? Corporate events? Social events?.
MARYANN: OK call me jack of all trade.(Laughing). I specialized in all kinds of event planning. Social and cooperate. I don't limit my ability. Wedding, burial, naming ceremony, birthday, house commissioning....etc. I am in for all.
BN BLOG: What experience do you have with promoting events (through ads, social networking, etc.)?.
MARYANN: I forgot to mention about my computer training. I trained in computer - computer networking. Advertising my brand wasn't really a tough one for me and my company - SureGirl Makeover. We employed Facebook platform, my profile is Nwankwo Maryann . We have what's app: +2348108661520.
We have email:
Nwankwo_maryann@yahoo.com. And I'm thankful for BBM, our pin is: 28613031.
I think African business owners have really come to realize the importance of social media. We have some ads on websites. We are on the global stream.
BN BLOG: Impressed I must say!.
MARYANN: (clapping hands). thank you.
BN BLOG: Tell me about a time when you avoided a near disastrous situation that almost ruined an event?
What was your impact on
correcting or avoiding the
situation?.
MARYANN: luckily, I have
honestly never had a situation
happen like this before. If i
was to have a disastrous
situation that almost ruined
an event I would need to make sure my
team and I are ready for
everything and always have a back up plan for everything. Nothing is impossible.
BN BLOG: What are some
strategies you use for
managing and prioritizing
work for yourself when there is too much work and too few staff members to
complete the tasks at hand?.
MARYANN: I write
everything down and
prioritize. I know strenghts
of everyone in my team and I delegate
accordingly. I motivate my group and keep them focused to the goal. Like I said before, Nothing is
impossible and as a team we can complete
any task.
BN BLOG: Finally what is your motivation?.
MARYANN: I wouldn't say I have this particular motivation. (Giggles) well, God is my motivation....Another is striving to become an independent woman. Basically independence motivates me always.
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