Business Elites Africa are thrilled to present our latest magazine issue 40 Under 40 Trailblazing African Entrepreneurs. SMEs make up ninety percent (90%) of the economic fabric of the African continent. But the men and women running these SMEs are rarely recognized for their strides and courage. And now we are doing exactly that. Embedded within these pages are the stories of Africa’s 40 young and emerging business leaders, entrepreneurs and influencers. These men and women have held centre stage for years in redefining the African economy.
Cleo Anastasia Johnson’s Journey to Becoming a Hospitality and Marketing Maven
Cleo Anastasia Johnson is best known for her drive, successful track record and commitment to mental health. But these are not enough attributes to define this hospitality and marketing maven. Nevertheless, they give you a glimpse into the foundation of everything she represents.
Her journey in hospitality began shortly after she obtained a National Diploma in Hospitality Management from Cape Town Hotel School back in 2012. She took up job roles as a Receptionist and Management trainee at The One & Only Hotel, Cape Town and African Pride Melrose Arch Hotel, respectively. These roles served as the perfect springboard to launch her into the world of hospitality and marketing.
Between 2012 and 2017, she worked with Marriot, and Radisson Blu before going on to set up Nuecleo, a consultancy firm specialising in social media and marketing strategy for hospitality & tourism businesses that lack marketing infrastructure and a presence in the digital space.
In an interview with Forbes Africa, Cleo gave a rare insight into how she started off her own business at a Starbucks outlet in 2017. According to her, she simply talks to a stranger. She said:
“My journey started in 2017. I think it was in January when a certain contract was not working out. About a week later was my last day at the hotel. I thought about going out to India for some six months and just take time for myself to discover what is outside corporate. I tried monetizing a blog to make money, bored with everything else.
“I had to register a company and establish a brand identity while I found myself at Starbucks. And there was this gentleman opposite me, who asked what I was doing. I was just registering as a freelancer trying to go overseas. He asked, what do you do? I explained that I did social media and marketing strategy. Then he replied he needed a social media manager.”
If you believe your business needs some revamping to be ready for what comes after corona, book a virtual coffee date with me and we can work through your thoughts. If you already have a project in mind and you need marketing assistance then we can book a free consultation together.