Image and Etiquette consultant

Susan Maina, 30 years.

Managing Director, Image It Ltd

Why image consulting?

It’s really my passion. I love helping people to enhance their image and I love working with people. I realised a while ago while on holiday in Kenya that most people did not really have this culture and thought it was important that I carve my niche in this exciting yet unxexlpored area. Mine is a family of entrepreneurs, I must say, and I decided to get into business, with a slant towards image consulting.

What is image consultancy about?

It is a profession that advices individuals and companies about their image in three main areas; visual appearance, verbal and non-verbal communication. An image consultant is there to help people in visual presentation, communication and behaviour, corporate image and etiquette. Usually boosting your physical image helps to make a great first impression, so be keen on personal style, what you wear and how you groom yourself. What you say and how you say it —body language and behaviour — determines whether or not you portray a positive image.

To be an Image consultant you need to have an eye for style and a passion for helping people and working with people. You definitely need to have interpersonal skills and good communication skills.

When does one need an image consultant?

As you prepare to change your life or better your career, you need to seek for an image consultant. If you are applying for a job, seeking a promotion, simply seking to make a good impression or when you feel its time to change your image, then I come in to help. If you want to be successful as a person, or as a business entreprise, then you shouldn’t leave your first impression to chance. Corporate image is about understanding that successful businesses and respected companies invest in creating a high value image of their most important asset- their employees.

What is your educational background?

I hold dual honours degree in Law and Psychology from the University of Keele in the UK. After working in the UK for a year and a half, I felt I should practise back in my country, but I practiced corporate law in the UK for four years before moving back home. While still in the UK, I had a three week course with Aston and Hayes on image consulting. When I came back home, a job as a lawyer was not forthcoming because I hadn’t studied at the Kenya School of Law, so I decided to start the business and added a few extra modules online with a South African consultancy firm. I’m glad things turned out the way they did because I love consulting more than anything.

Is image consultancy embraced in Kenya?

We have a long way to go and we image consultants are trying to sell the importance and benefits of image consultancy to companies, politicians, diplomats, media personalities and other high profile individuals.

The African culture is slowly embracing the importance of image in the work place because many people want to get ahead or make a change.

Karin Masnicza- Etarukot, 45

Personal Life Coach

Founder, Inside Power Training Coaching Consultancy

How did you begin this journey?

It all began in 1996, at the time I was running my own business- Hotel and Activity Park in the Netherlands. I was a workaholic and had no private life. Deep down I knew that I missed something in my life, but could not put a finger on it.

By coincidence I came across a book by Roy Martin on personal growth, and I decided to attend a five day seminar on personal growth. After the seminar, I felt I needed to know more about it so I attended another seminar. I knew that’s what I wanted to do. After intensive soul searching I traveled to Tanzania , in 2001 and became an assistant trainer at a workshop on Emotional Balancing. After the workshop I decided that I’d work in Africa. I then visited and trained people at several projects in Tanzania and Kenya.

I studied different courses in life coaching: Master Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) life coach, Master practitioner, Transitional breathing coach, accupressure therapy, Neuro-emotional-integration, Archetypehealing, Reiki master(level 1-3), Ennegramme therapy, Dorn therapy, Relationships therapy, Career coaching, Play therapy(children), Body practitioner, Instant release coach, International acknowledged NLP trainer, Core quadrant technique, Quantum Life Coach trainer and Breuss massage.

In February 2002, I sold my business, packed my stuff and left for Kenya and started a relief foundation. After voluntary training for seven years, I started my own company known as IP Training Coaching Consultancy.

How does one become a life coach?

There are different kinds of life coaches, but the basic requirement for a life coach is NLP. Life coaching is not a protected term — if anyone is helping other people achieve their goals in life then they are likely to be life coaches. It however should not be confused with therapy or counseling. A life coach needs to know how to help the person find out what they want to achieve and realise their limitations and what is hindering them from hitting the target. On the other hand counseling deals with the present situation and how to solve your current problems.In life coaching, we help you make the best of what you have and identify the obstacles within.

Why does one need life coaching lessons?

We need life coaching all through our lives, even as young children. People need to have the tools to direct themselves and to manage their lives so they are in a healthy state. We should not pretend everything is fine when the situation is bad. The person who wants to live a conscious life needs life coaching sessions in order to stop giving excuses for not performing. At the least, attend NLP training so you can learn the art of communication with yourself and with others.

To benefit from life coaching, you need to have private sessions where you can express yourself freely. Eileen Laskar, 37

Career Coach and Personal Branding Strategist

Director, Intellect Consulting Ltd

Did you always know you’d be a coach?

No. When I approached 30 years, I decided to give my career a new meaning that was beyond money. I started thinking about making a difference and leaving a legacy. I had always gone for the jobs I wanted, earned promotions and salaries that I deserved. My career development was fast paced and I always seemed to be ahead of my peers. But this did not make me settle; I always believe in soaring higher.

So, armed with the personal mission statement To be an instrument of positive change when I live and after I leave, I started seeking professional support to help me shape my career in line with my mission statement. I couldn’t get anyone who understood the kind of support that I was looking for.

I realised that I needed a life career coach, but there was no such profession in Kenya. I got certification and later set up career coaching firm in 2006.

What was your career path before?

I had studied for a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Economics at Egerton University and later got a Masters degree in Strategic Management at Moi University. With that I worked for 12 years, starting at the public sector, then the private sector before joining an international organisation- Netherlands Development Organisation as an advisor for business and financial development. While I was employed, I did career coaching on part time basis amongst my friends and peers and then started going for classes while still an employee. I earned the leading credentials in career coaching- Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC) and additional specialised training to become a Certified Professional Resume Writer both at the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches based in the USA.

What is career coaching about?

It is a systematic process of helping professionals to set their goals and formulate startegies to achieve them. A coach will assist you to make smart decisions and take better actions in your career. I coach mid level managers, senior level managers and senior executives because this is the level that I enjoy working with.

Everyday has fresh experiences; I meet clients with different career aspirations and challenges and I am always celebrating their success and raising the bar for them.

When should a person go for career coaching?

Coaching is not a therapy; it is a service for aggressive professionals. The coach simply acts as a catalyst throughout your career life because a career is always work in progress. Just like in sports, as long as you are a player, you always need a coach to keep winning. One will always need to lay new strategies.

A number of things can show that you need a coach: stagnation in career, poor appraisal reports and career transition among others. For a career to be successful, it has to be designed. Failing to actively shape one’s career may lead to lost opportunities and substandard performance.