By Bizna Brand Analyst

Kenya has an abundance of bright minds and most recently, we caught up with one of the best. His name is Andrew Masitsa Alovi. He has launched and executed ground breaking marketing assets in the country such as Airtel Rising Stars, Churchill Show on The road & Coke Studio Africa. He has also worked for the Nation Media Group and Hope FM. These are very remarkable achievements but what has been his formula?

On his secret to making it big in life, Alovi credits his belief in God above everything else.

“Yes I have been thorough and disciplined in everything I have ever done but if it wasn’t for God, I would be nowhere. Trusting and believing in our creator helps us shine where others won’t”

Andrew Alovi is a very religious man with a love for playing instruments and when he’s not working, he’s often playing music in his church. He also hosts weekly radio shows voluntarily that focus on religion in the 21st century.

They say business is religion, and religion is business. The man who does not make a business of his religion has a religious life of no force, and the man who does not make a religion of his business has a business life of no character. Often a business owner or entrepreneur may need to look or lean on their religion to deal with the hurdles of their business. Religion may also impact their business as a whole. How an entrepreneur practices their business or the rules they follow, their ethics and guidelines, some of this can be attributed to their religion.

The biggest challenge Alovi has been facing in his career has been that on certain occasions, he has been considered too young to take up senior roles. Most people at some point in their careers aren’t typically thought of as leaders in the workplace or capable enough to take on crucial projects. Not only do they inhabit a low spot in the office hierarchy and lack experience and skills, but also many are too timid and insecure to assume a leadership role.

But with the right attitude, an observant eye and a desire to learn, any young professional can prevail early on. Andrew is one of those few people who have managed to beat all the stereotypes by staying focused and delivering results to vindicate himself. Every project he works on always turns out to be  major success and this gives him better footing on the next.

Alovi is a devoted family man too. He’s happily married to one wife and a father of two beautiful girls.

“My family is my most prized possession. I would do anything for them. I always miss my wife and kids whenever I am away doing business. Going back home everyday and seeing my daughters is what I look forward to.”

Andrew adds that his biggest influence has been American film producer Tyler Perry because he embodies the fact that one’s past doesn’t necessarily define who they are. Anyone can change and become a good person.

Successful people take career advice very seriously and Andrew is no different. He says that the best advice he ever received was from Linus Gitahi,

Linus taught me a very important thing that has stuck to my head until this very day, “As a manager, your role is not to do the job, but to inspire those working under you and provide the best environment for them to grow and deliver. Never micromanage.”

Micro-managers spend a significant amount of time not doing their job and instead doing the job of the people they are supposed to be coaching, developing and mentoring. Micro-managers don’t oversee projects but instead monitor tasks with the expectation that everything is done exactly how they themselves would do the work. This is not leadership and it creates a rigid office environment where people are not motivated to succeed but are instead anxious to simply get their boss off their backs.

In conclusion, we asked Andrew to state a piece of wisdom he would pass on to a young person looking to achieve the best in life and this is what he said

“Have ideas, look for experience, money will follow you.”