CAROL ODERO

• Determined readiness of written pieces, made changes and approved final versions for publication.
• Reviewed reports and recommended changes to improve copy flow.
• Communicated directly with reporters to assess stories and improve quality of work.
• Prepared, rewrote and edited pieces to improve readability and impact.
• Monitored breaking news for information on incidents, events and topics of interest to quickly assign coverage to staff.
• Reviewed articles for grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, accuracy and compliance with quality standards.
• Assigned stories, led content development meetings and reviewed completed stories to guide execution of concepts and tone.
• Devised attention-grabbing headlines and summaries for articles.
• Provided concise and constructive editorial feedback to writers.
• Developed and optimised online and print strategies to maximize coverage, advertiser funding and subscriptions.
• Built productive relationships with writers, designers and other professionals to successfully produce monthly publication.
• Guided and motivated staff to achieve demanding targets under tight deadlines.
• Managed team to deliver consistent, accurate, engaging and relevant content.
• Solicited and encouraged public reviews and commentaries on trending topics and subjects of topical interest.
• Adhered to ethical guidelines and standards to promote responsible publication and media practices.
• Worked with graphic artists, post-production team members and other specialists to produce captivating and successful content.
• Collaborated with writers, designers and other editors to deliver content of highest quality.
• Developed strong relationships with industry experts, conducting interviews and securing exclusive content for the publication.
• Edited and reviewed content for grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Developed and maintained editorial standards for content.
• Conducted editorial meetings with staff members to collaborate and review proposed publication suggestions.
• Ensured compliance with legal requirements regarding copyright and intellectual property laws in all published materials.
• Maintained a consistent editorial voice throughout all published materials, reinforcing the publication''s unique identity.

• Creating, voicing and scripting weekly content for fashion shows on Viusasa, video on demand on mobile.
• Applied current editing and photography tools to tell great stories.
• Coordinated with graphic design team to create visually appealing infographics, enhancing shareability of data-driven content.
• Conducted market research to identify emerging trends, enabling development of timely and relevant content that resonated with audience.

- Develop and execute a comprehensive content strategy, ensuring engaging and high-quality content that aligns with our audience's interests and industry trends.
- Oversee content creation, including articles, features, reviews, and editorials, for both digital and print platforms of the tech magazine and the website.
- Lead the management and operations of dxNova, our DEI platform, fostering an inclusive environment and driving impactful initiatives.
- Manage and coordinate PR activities to enhance visibility and reputation, including media outreach, press releases, and cultivating relationships with industry influencers and media contacts.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including editors, writers, designers, and event managers, to ensure seamless execution of content strategies, events, and PR campaigns.
- Analyse content performance metrics, PR efforts, and event outcomes, providing insights to refine strategies and optimise future initiatives.
- Stay abreast of industry trends, market developments, and advancements in tech, content creation, and DEI practices to drive innovation and maintain a competitive edge.
- Develop and curate captivating agendas for tech events, ensuring a diverse range of topics, engaging speakers, and interactive sessions that cater to the interests of our target audience.
- Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to identify industry trends, hot topics, and emerging technologies, integrating these insights into event agendas to deliver valuable and forward-thinking content.
- Lead the strategic planning and development of comprehensive agendas for tech events, demonstrating visionary leadership in identifying key themes, topics, and speakers to deliver impactful and engaging content.
- Transform data insights into actionable strategies, optimising content, event agendas, and PR campaigns for maximum impact and audience engagement.
- Manage the agency's website, ensuring its effectiveness, functionality, and alignment with brand standards, user experience, and SEO best practices.
- Coordinate with the digital marketing team, providing strategic guidance for campaigns, social media, SEO, and content distribution to maximise brand visibility and audience engagement.
- Mentor and guide a team of event coordinators, ensuring cohesive collaboration and effective execution of agenda plans, delegating responsibilities, and providing guidance to ensure successful event outcomes.
- Drive the innovation and evolution of event agendas by fostering a culture of creativity, encouraging team input, and leveraging industry insights to continuously improve and refine event content strategies.
- Lead the strategic planning and development of comprehensive agendas for tech events, demonstrating visionary leadership in identifying key themes, topics, and speakers to deliver impactful and engaging content.
- Mentor and guide a team of event coordinators, ensuring cohesive collaboration and effective execution of agenda plans, delegating responsibilities, and providing guidance to ensure successful event outcomes.
- Drive the innovation and evolution of event agendas by fostering a culture of creativity, encouraging team input, and leveraging industry insights to continuously improve and refine event content strategies.
- Crafting content such as presentations, speaker briefs, workshop outlines, and supplementary resources tailored for events.
- Strategically drive the commercial visibility of our publications by aligning content strategies with revenue generation objectives, fostering partnerships, and exploring monetisation opportunities while maintaining editorial integrity.
- Oversee the monetisation efforts of CIO Africa magazine, website and PR initiatives, collaborating with sales and marketing teams to optimise revenue streams through advertising, sponsored content, and other commercial avenues.
- Develop and execute PR strategies that not only enhance visibility but also contribute to revenue growth, leveraging PR activities to attract sponsors, advertisers, and collaborators for events, publications, and digital platforms.
- Collaborate closely with the sales and marketing departments to ensure that PR efforts align with commercial objectives, contributing to the overall business goals and maximising the company's commercial visibility in the market.
- Act as a brand ambassador for the company, representing our values, vision, and expertise within the tech industry across Africa, effectively communicating our brand messaging, initiatives, and industry perspectives to external stakeholders, including media, partners, and the public.
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with key industry contacts, influencers, and thought leaders, leveraging these connections to enhance the company's visibility and reputation as a leading authority in the tech sector.
- Collaborate with the marketing and PR teams to align brand messaging and ensure consistent representation of the company's voice and values in all communication channels and public appearances.

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.

• Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
• Worked flexible hours; night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
• Collaborated with Council Board to achieve communication and cohesion of legal projects.
• Identified issues, analysed information and provided solutions to problems.

• Write column polled as most read column at Nation Media Group
• Polled as 3rd most read columnist in Sub Saharan Africa.
• Pioneered fashion journalism in Kenya.
• Enhanced publication's reputation by consistently delivering high-quality, well-researched articles on various topics.
• Increased readership through engaging storytelling and attention-grabbing headlines.
• Wrote and published articles for leading newspapers and magazines.
• Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment.
• Adapted content for various platforms, ensuring message was effectively communicated across all mediums.

• Oversee publication of digital and print products, aligning multi-media content strategies to maintain cohesive brand identity.
• Oversaw editorial transition from CIO East Africa to CIO Africa.
• Grew online impressions by 412%.
• Oversee compliance with style guide, editorial guidelines and brand identity throughout entire publication portfolio.
• Hire, train, and provide daily direction for team of 9.
• Proofread, edit, and evaluate final copy to verify content aligned with established guidelines.
• Edit long and short-form content, specialising in technology, business and leadership content.
• Maintain advanced social media presence to promote deliverables and solicit new contributors.
• Manage freelance editorial teams, coordinating remote workers to achieve prescribed deliverable milestones.
• Propose ancillary projects and products to expand diversity of editorial offerings and revenue opportunities.
• Provide concise and constructive editorial feedback to writers.
• Work with graphic artists, post-production team members and other specialists to produce captivating and successful content.
• Conduct editorial meetings with staff members to collaborate and review proposed publication suggestions.
• Support and encourage editorial board to provide independent and objective advice, opinions and perspectives to enhance publication.
• Oversee train and develop writers and associates, assistants and junior editors to optimise production and quality of work.
• Determine readiness of written pieces, made changes and approved final versions for publication.
• Solicit and encourage public reviews and commentaries on trending topics and subjects of topical interest.
• Adhere to ethical guidelines and standards to promote responsible publication and media practices.
• Represent and promote publication at publisher events, trade shows and conferences.
• Increased readership through strategic content planning and audience engagement techniques.
• Enhanced publication quality by implementing rigorous editing and proofreading processes.
• Developed publication website, blogs and social media presence.
• Mentored junior editors and writers, fostering their professional growth and skill development.

• Handle arising legal matters in the Council.
• Researched and wrote contracts, agreements and proposals.
• Interpreted laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.

• B2B and tech journalism and content marketing to and for businesses across East Africa,.
• Lead entire content strategy from end-to-end, from ideas, to execution, to distribution.
• Designed editorial calendar and monitored engagement via Google Analytics and WordPress.
• Write lead and complex stories and editorials.
• Work closely with heads of marketing, events and head of partnerships to generate content across multimedia platforms on multiple projects.
• Hire and coach editorial team which consists of freelance columnists and creatives, assigning, editing and and ensuring apt writing content.
• Manage editorial team of 7 and ensuring content engagement.
• Ensure editorial standards are met with every article.
• Determine look and feel of publication.
• Content strategist for podcasts, magazine, website and CIOTV content.
• Determine publishing guidelines by setting tone and scope of publication.
• Create flat plan, and production schedule monthly for magazine.
• Represent publication as face of brand.
• Meeting and interviewing prolific African personalities such as entrepreneurs and personalities.
• Developed long-term content strategies to drive audience engagement and brand awareness.
• Coordinated work with proofreaders, graphic designers and photographers.
• Championed diversity in editorial coverage by actively seeking out underrepresented voices and perspectives within the industry or sector covered by the publication.
• Enhanced editorial quality by implementing rigorous fact-checking and proofreading processes.
• Edited, wrote, rewrote, copied, edited and proofed articles.

• Resolved problems, improved operations and provided exceptional service.
• Proved successful working within tight deadlines and fast-paced atmosphere.
• Prepared a variety of different written communications, reports and documents to ensure smooth operations.
• Used coordination and planning skills to achieve results according to schedule.
• Created plans and communicated deadlines to ensure projects were completed on time.
• Participated in continuous improvement by generating suggestions, engaging in problem-solving activities to support teamwork.
• Managed multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely completion and seamless execution.
• Monitored industry trends to keep creative materials fresh and engaging.

• Established procedures and quality standards for department.
• Revamped work strategies and processes to accomplish agency objectives.
• Collaborated with outside agencies to manage project progress and milestones.
• Oversaw full teams of writers, artists, designers and project managers.
• Developed strategic communication and marketing plans.
• Evaluated and contributed to creative team ideas and translated into actionable project plans.
• Orchestrated photo sessions by choosing photographers, stylists and cosmetic artists.
• Evaluated and approved image retouch work, mechanicals and art proofs to deliver quality results.
• Carefully prepared all design layouts into prepress files for offset, web and digital printing.
• Collaborated with production on task list creation to meet overall project goals on time.

• Participated in continuous improvement by generating suggestions, engaging in problem-solving activities to support teamwork.
• Developed team communications and information for meetings.
• Conducted research, gathered information from multiple sources and presented results.
• Proved successful working within tight deadlines and fast-paced atmosphere.
• Established a solid social media presence and became an influencer.
• Collaborated with directors and writers to refine scripts, leading to more engaging and impactful stories.
• Conducted market research on audience preferences and industry trends to inform content creation decisions that resonated with target demographics.
• Developed strong relationships with industry professionals, creating valuable networking opportunities for future projects.
• Contributed to the development of an engaging social media presence, building a strong online following that increased brand awareness and fan engagement.
• Enhanced overall production quality by managing pre-production tasks, including script development and location scouting.
• Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities, staying current on industry trends and best practices to ensure continued growth as a skilled CoProducer.
• Cultivated a positive work environment that fostered teamwork, collaboration, creativity among cast members through effective leadership and support.
• Found appropriate stories and ideas for programming to engage target audiences and hook advertisers.
• Remained highly composed and calm in very fast-paced, stressful and constantly changing environments to provide optimal leadership and achieve desired results.

• Supervised work of contracted employees to keep on task for timely completion.
• Worked flexible hours; night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
• Exceeded goals through effective task prioritization and great work ethic.
• Identified issues, analyzed information and provided solutions to problems.
• Quickly learned new skills and applied them to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
• Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
• Worked to maintain outstanding attendance record, consistently arriving to work ready to start immediately.
• Resolved problems, improved operations and provided exceptional service.
• Used coordination and planning skills to achieve results according to schedule.

• Managed team of up to 10 full-time staff and 5 to 15 external contributors at any given time.
• Reduced DRUM budget by 50% while generating better, dynamic, vibrant and relevant content.
• Increased circulation of DRUM by 80% within 2 years.
• Led team in repositioning and redesigning DRUM increasing readership numbers by over 80%.
• Designed and formatted extensive brand document for DRUM now used for induction and externally to explain brand to advertisers.
• Handled high net worth, influential, powerful personalities in their private spaces.
• Oversaw and interfaced with sales, design and marketing on strategy, sales, brand and business development.
• Brand ambassador for DRUM EA with prolific media and public presence.
• Increased readership through strategic content planning and audience engagement techniques.

• Involved in creative development of The Fashion Show, a television show on East African fashion.
• Co-produced and reported on The Fashion Show.

• Determined readiness of written pieces, made changes and approved final versions for publication.
• Pitched content strategies and managed asset acquisition.
• Devised attention-grabbing headlines and summaries for articles.
• Collaborated with graphics department to develop and implement visual elements.
• Chose and prepared photos for use with feature pieces.
• Prepared, rewrote and edited pieces to improve readability and impact.
• Reviewed reports and recommended changes to improve copy flow.
• Checked reference sources to verify dates, facts and statistics.
• Reviewed articles for grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, accuracy and compliance with quality standards.
• Supported design team by helping develop layouts and collaborating with production professionals to create publications.
• Built productive relationships with writers, designers and other professionals to successfully produce monthly publication.
• Formed core of revamp team for True Love EA magazine when it re-launched in May 2010.

• Created and planned for True Love’s birthday event, a movie premiere.
• Profiled personalities for exclusive interviews.
• Was lead creative writer on the True Love team.
• Collaborated with editorial teams to refine content, resulting in high-quality publications that resonated with target audiences.
• Contributed positively to team dynamic as part of collaborative writing projects, fostering open communication channels among colleagues.
• Utilised strong editing skills to revise written work for clarity, coherence, and grammatical correctness.
• Conducted thorough research before writing, ensuring accuracy and authenticity in all published works.
• Enhanced reader engagement by developing compelling characters and unique storylines.
• Completed projects ahead of deadlines, effectively managing time and setting priorities for multiple assignments.

• Formed core team of personal finance journalism when it premiered in Kenya under Money magazine.
• Established myself as business journalist with picture byline as an intern.
• Featured in publication as a female business journalist.
• Resolved problems, improved operations and provided exceptional service.