Women In Marketing 2024 Edition ft. Sumana Mansingh from Arise Media
In our latest Women In Marketing interview, we had a chat with Sumana Mansingh, the Managing Director at the newly founded agency, Arise Media. Sumana emphasized the transformative power of MOOCs, highlighting their cost-effectiveness and accessibility. She also shared how her travels have broadened her perspective, allowing her to appreciate diverse cultures and integrate this understanding into her work. Sumana’s commitment to individuality and authenticity has been a cornerstone of her success
Personal Background:
Thanks for taking the time to participate in our ‘Women In Marketing’ feature. Where were you born, and what childhood memories stand out for you?
Thank you for inviting me into this inspiring network.
I was born in Durban, South Africa. I later relocated to Centurion. I have the most beautiful memories with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. My upbringing has been shaped by the experiences and opportunities given to me. In particular through travelling with my family from a young age. These journeys have left an indelible mark on my life. Seeing the world through a young girl’s eyes opened me up to the vastness and diversity of our planet. This exposure to different people, cultures, lands, and ways of life gave me a profound sense of awareness.
Travelling broadened my horizons and fueled my curiosity, pushing me to seek new experiences and knowledge. I am incredibly grateful for these experiences and memories with my loved ones as they have shaped who I am and how I view life.
Describe your high school and college years. You were the coolest one, right?
I never really wanted to be the coolest one — I just wanted to be different. I loved socialising and being with my friends. I remember those years being characterised by a deep desire to carve a path for myself and discover who I truly am. These years were filled with fun, discovery and a multitude of learnings. I found joy in being authentic to myself, even if it meant not always fitting into the mainstream.
College took the journey of self-discovery to a new level. It was a period of intense personal growth and exploration filled with invaluable experiences. I also had multiple part-time jobs whilst studying and still have the same best friends!
What’s your favourite meal that you wouldn’t share with anyone?
One of my favourite meals is a perfectly seared salmon fillet with a side of tender asparagus, buttery mashed potato and a drizzle of pesto. It’s Devine! I love sharing food with others; it is not only about the food but the connection, conversation, and camaraderie that come with it. I love entertaining the people I love.
What would be your plans for a sudden $10 million windfall if you were to receive it tomorrow?
Create a community initiative to empower young girls interested in pursuing careers in Marketing, Media/Advertising and Communications. Which will provide resources, mentorship, and hands-on experience to help these girls develop the skills, confidence, and networks they need to succeed in the Marketing and Media/Advertising industry.
In addition, I would do the following:
Help the people I love.
Charity.
Work on a portfolio of investments to secure my kids’ futures.
Buy my dream home and Koi.
Travel.
Can you share an interesting fact or hidden talent not found on your LinkedIn profile? Previous Women in Marketing candidate Anastasia Hamel says that she can breathe fire!
My intuition is my 6th sense!
Career and Work:
How do you typically start your day, and are you #TeamCoffee, #TeamTea, or both?
I’m a tea girl. My day starts early, at 5 am. There’s something magical about those early hours. It really sets the perfect tone for my day.
The first thing I do is meditate. It’s my way of grounding myself and finding peace before the day’s activities begin. After meditation, I plan my day, which helps me stay on track and aware of my agenda for the day. Once that’s done, I make lunch and get my kids ready for school.
This part of the morning is always chaotic, but it’s also a time I love and cherish. Preparing healthy lunches and ensuring my kids are ready for the day is a labour of love. It’s a way to ensure they start their day with the same positive energy I strive for.
With the kids off to school, and depending on the day, you might find me heading off to meetings with great people or settling into my home office — (sipping on tea throughout all of this).
What inspired you to pursue a career in marketing? Didn’t the “I want to become a doctor” bug bite you?
The “I did want to become a lawyer” bug did bite me. I quickly realised I had no interest in studying law and changed my degree in my second year.
You hold a BA in Marketing and Communications from UNISA (You Go, Girl!!). Considering the rise of online educational platforms like Coursera and Google Skillshop, how do you foresee the future of tertiary-based education?
Online educational platforms are profoundly reshaping education by offering accessibility, inclusivity, hybrid learning, and skills-based education, all while being cost-effective. The future of education will likely be more flexible, accessible, and skills-focused, driven by these platforms. I have a lot of friends and family who have opted for this route and love this for my kids, too.
Traditional institutions will still play a role, but they must adapt and innovate to meet the changing needs of students, the job market, and the world. Technology and a greater focus on practical skills and lifelong learning will be vital in shaping the future of education.
Many industries had to create systems overnight that would enable their respective workforces to work from home due to the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. What’s your perspective on remote and hybrid work, and how have you dealt with its challenges? Do you have a preference?
I am all for it! I have been working remotely for over a year now. As a mum of two toddlers, I am blessed to have a balance between doing what I love and the responsibilities I have to the people I love. There are several benefits to remote and hybrid working models — both for employees and employers.
For Employees: Work-Life Balance, Cost Savings and Time Savings, Focused Work Environment, Geographic Independence, and Health and Well-Being.
For Employers; Cost Savings, Diverse Workforce, Increased Employee Satisfaction, Improved Business Continuity, and Environmental Impact.
It’s a no-brainer, right? I think organisations should evolve and modernise with the times, hire talented, emotionally intelligent, loyal people, pay them well and get out of their way and trust them to get their job done.
AI is the hot topic of the day, most specifically, generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. How do you address the challenges you face in your day-to-day responsibilities? Any specific tools you’d like to plug us with?
There aren’t any specific tools, to be honest. People in my industry have become hyper-sensitive to AI-generated content — I use ChatGPT for quick help and answers on a day-to-day basis.
According to the WEF, the pandemic caused a 4.2% reduction in women’s employment compared to 3% of men (from 2019 to 2020). How can organisations better support women and mothers, especially in light of the pandemic’s impact on women in the workplace?
This one is close to my heart as I gave birth to my daughter just before lockdown and also struggled. There is a lot that organisations can do to better support women and mothers in the workplace, especially in light of the pandemic’s disproportionate impact. Organisations can implement strategies that include flexible work arrangements, enhanced financial/childcare support, and more inclusive parental leave policies.
A supportive work culture that offers career development, mentorship, and return-to-work programs is essential. Health and well-being initiatives tailored to the needs of women and mothers can also create a more empowering environment.
How can organisations ensure equal opportunities for women to advance into executive positions?
This is why Arise was born.
With investment from leading investors, Arise Media is a female-led African media business dedicated to driving positive impact across the digital media supply chain and empowering women in leadership. We connect brands with consumers through leading premium online publishers and platforms, helping global brands achieve their progressive marketing goals.
Arise transforms marketing practices, that is, to be more representative, progressive, and equal, working with platforms that embody or promote the same values.
The gender gap in entrepreneurship is both a challenge and an opportunity. Women entrepreneurs are vital to building a balanced and sustainable global economy. Yet, women account for less than 20% of business leaders in South Africa. If men and women participated equally as entrepreneurs, global GDP could rise by up to 6%, adding $5 trillion to the economy. Influential brands should commit to supporting ventures like Arise.
2024 and Beyond:
If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?
Visualise your highest self and show up every day as her!
What are your personal or professional goals and aspirations for the future? We hope to see you on Forbes’ Most Influential CMOs list. No pressure!
That would be amazing! Maybe a TED talk in the future?
For now, my focus is entirely on Arise. Arise has a bold vision to become Africa’s leading female-led digital media business. My priority will be to gear the business towards this goal and on our progressive media partnerships with the most prominent global brands and agencies.
Who are some of your sheroes?
I come from a family of beautiful, intelligent, strong and resilient women, my mum, my grands, and my aunts; they have always inspired me.
What are you currently reading, and how do you consume your content?
I am reading ‘Inner Engineering’: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy, a book by Sadhguru.
I love reading both paperbacks and eReaders, to be honest, depending on the mood!
What are you currently streaming that you’d recommend?
I don’t have anything to recommend. The rare times I do watch something, it would probably be a Bollywood movie or a documentary.
You wake up one day, and before you know it, you are nearing retirement. What would you like your professional legacy to be? Furthermore, what do your colleagues and superiors admire about you the most?
I hope I inspire women in business. I hope people say that I was always my authentic self. I carried myself gracefully and made a positive impact and paved the way for women in the marketing and media industry. I hope I am admired for my relentless pursuit of success and celebrated for my work ethic, leadership, dedication and spirit of growth and collaboration I strive for.
I hope my journey leaves a lasting impression on those whose lives I have touched and inspires them to follow in my footsteps and pursue their dreams.
Share a unique message for young professionals in the marketing industry.
My father’s famous line: “Say what you mean and mean what you say”.
Be who you say you are.
Thank you for your time, Sumana. We hope this interview will inspire future leaders and other Women in Marketing. How can people follow you and your company on social media?
Check out the Arise website, socials and recent press release:
Press release: Breaking New Ground: Arise Media Launches as SA’s Premier Female-Led Digital Marketing Business
Here are my details:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumana-mansingh-4b976b8b
Thank you. This was an absolute pleasure!
