Olive Gachara
Image & Brand Consultant
I use my drive, strategic thinking, and pursuit of excellence to help others get excited about their potential as they rise to new levels of actualisation and accomplishment.
#iAmAfriCan
Email:
Passions:
Personal Development | Disruptive Media | Branding | Africa | Women In Leadership | Entrepreneurship | Emerging Tech.
Star Sign:
Aquarius
A Bit About Me
I believe that there is no better time to be Young, female and African than today.
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Having never been employed, I started my first business right out of high school [while waiting to go to university] "just for fun" and got bitten by the entrepreneurship bug. Funny thing, entrepreneurship wasn't even a word - or a thing - back the early 2000's, so I still consider myself a businesswoman and, of course, a consultant.
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I stumbled upon my passion for personal development and branding, and this has formed the backbone for IWO Consultancy. If you have sat in my class, listened to my podcast or watched me give a talk, I trust that this passion shines through and I hope I have been able to positively influence your outlook on how you see yourself [Your Self-Image], how you carry yourself and how you show up, every day.
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If you'd like to read the more technical stuff about me, you can DOWNLOAD MY BIO HERE.
In The Media
Work Experience
July 2013 - To Date
June 2011 - To Date
November 2005 - June 2013
Founded Couture Africa Limited which started by publishing East Africa's First and only Fashion magazine, Couture Africa Magazine available as a quarterly print magazine and online content website [www.mycouture.africa]
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Expanded Couture Africa into Africa's Premier Luxury Media and Events House
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Developed the publishing-as-a-service arm where to publish print and digital magazines, journals, business reports and coffee tables books for third parties.
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Developed the content-as-a-service arm where we produce audio visual content such as podcasts, media campaigns, documentaries and short films for third parties.
Founded Image with Olive Consultancy Limited [now IWO Consultancy].
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Developed tailored curriculums relevant to the African market around our key pillars; professional image, communication skills, business protocol and etiquette, government protocol and cultural intelligence, customer communication, personal branding and political branding.
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Set up MePAW [Mechanisms to Promote the Advancement of Women] where run capacity building programs to increase the participation of women in political leadership and have had the pleasure of receiving support from UNWOMEN, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and Mzalendo Trust.
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Trained over 25,000 people across 75 institutions across East Africa including banks, insurance organisations, government parastatals, FMCG organisations and CSO’s to-date
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Executed over 700 one-on-one consultations focused on image and style, communication skills, dining etiquette personal branding and political branding.
Founded my first business, a Modelling & Talent Agency that provided high fashion models for runway shows, corporate events, advertising, and editorials.
Worked as a fashion stylist and contributor for various publications including HFM Magazine, African Woman and Msafiri Magazines.