Nedbank Namibia Hosts Leading Integrated Marketing Conference

What do you get when you put some of Southern Africa’s greatest marketing minds in one room? - you get Africa's leading marketing event; the Nedbank Integrated Marketing Conference (IMC).

18 September - The 5th instalment of the Nedbank IMC took place on the 15th of September 2023. The conference which took place in Johannesburg, what streamed live from the Nedbank Namibia Campus, under the theme “Marketing: Up Close and Personal”. The conference saw a lineup of 18 local and international speakers from various industries including, but not limited to, technology, food, telecommunications, and entertainment share their inspirational stories and discuss some of the trending and hard-hitting topics within the marketing industry.

This year’s Nedbank IMC was also hosted at the Nedbank Namibia headquarters’ Sky Garden in Windhoek. Attendees included invited guests from various Namibian brands, agencies and creatives within the field; besides the screening, attendees were treated to an outdoor networking opportunity. Nedbank Namibia’s Sponsorships, Marketing, and Brand Manager-Helene Meintjes, emphasised the importance of giving Namibians the opportunity to attend the event, saying that the Nedbank IMC creates a continuous learning platform. “It's important to continue learning. Our field is closely connected to the latest developments in technology and communications; therefore, it is vital that we stay on top of our game, know what is going on, and show that we understand who we are talking to.” She hopes that the Nedbank IMC continues to aid in the growth of Namibian Marketing professionals and that they were able to make lasting connections within the marketing fraternity.

Future Media, the Nedbank IMC media partner for the second year in a row, expressed gratitude to Nedbank for hosting, as it presented a great opportunity to be immersed and involved in the future of marketing. “At Future Media we understand that the marketing world is becoming more chaotic, complex, and fast-paced so, as our name suggests, we believe it is very important and valuable to hear from the best of the best in the marketing world and we are very proud to be involved and associated and supporting the [future] of marketing,” said Nicci Wilson, Future Media’s General Manager of Sales. 

Founded in 2021, the Nedbank IMC believes that marketing is business and thus deserves its place at the boardroom table. The annual conference is a neutral platform created with the aim of uplifting the marketing industry. The one-day event takes place both in-person and online. In Windhoek, Creatives and Marketers gathered at the Nedbank Namibia Headquarters’ Sky Garden for a virtual screening of the event.

Among the speakers unpacking the theme were Actress, Presenter, Producer, and Entrepreneur-Pearl Thusi; Chief Marketing Officer of Nando’s Africa, Middle East, and South Asia-Doug Place; Group CEO of TBWA\South Africa-Luca Gallarelli; Executive Creative Director of Woolworths South Africa-Brian Mtongana; Nedbank’s Group Executive of Marketing and Corporate Affairs; Khensani Nobanda, and more. The underlying discussions centred around collaboration, innovation, and embracing the chaos that the past few years have presented.

Speaking on collaboration, Nando’s Doug Place said that Marketing has the opportunity to improve people’s quality of life and ultimately make a significant impact on the economy; but that it often requires collaboration. “Brand trust is built through sharing and collaboration. There is more value in collaborating than there is in competing. It’s not enough to win, you have to win-win,” he said. Echoing the same sentiments was Nedbank Group’s Khensani Nobanda, who shared ten marketing insights that included building brand trust, embracing the power of the collective, and building brand legacy. She said, “Our role as marketers is to take ourselves to the boardroom table and earn the trust and buy-in of the executives across the business for all the things that we want from a marketing perspective. It’s not rocket science, but it does take deliberate execution to win the market and leave brands with a legacy that lives beyond this.”

The 2023 Nedbank IMC was hosted in partnership with the Effie Awards and proudly sponsored by Barron, Meltwater, Red & Yellow, Future Media (Namibia), Dan Really Likes Wine, The Capital, and more.