Powerful African Goddess: Joan Mazimhaka
Women worldwide have enjoyed all kinds of advancement in the field of business, becoming more and more visible at leadership levels in various sectors; however, they continue to be shut out of most managerial positions. In Rwanda, the glass ceiling that prevents women from reaching greater heights is forever changing. ElleAfrique caught up with Joan Mazimhaka, strategic development specialist and creative industries enthusiast, to talk about the barriers continuing to affect women’s leadership opportunities in Rwanda and throughout Africa.
ElleAfrique: Thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s start with the basics: Who is Joan Mazimhaka?
Joan: I’m a producer, a creator, and a traveler. I have a background in strategy development and marketing and I am the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Illume Creative Studio. I am a Rwandan woman, passionate about participating in, and helping to grow, the creative industries on this continent. I am a huge believer in creating the change you want to see.
ElleAfrique: What is Illume Creative Studio?
Joan (Co-founder and Managing Director) at illume creative studio in her working space.
Joan: Illlume is a communications agency and creative studio. The agency focuses on content and content creation through design, photography, film, and copywriting and content marketing through social media and PR. We work with each client to bring their vision to life in a way that is unique, fresh and dynamic. We create the tools and strategies to help them tell their story.
The studio is where we develop our own projects. These range from photography exhibitions to mini-documentary series. Through developing quality content, we hope to one day change what the world sees when they Google Rwanda and the region.
ElleAfrique: Not many business women in Rwanda reach the status of Board Member in their companies. What’s your experience been like at this level and how do other people respond to you holding a high position in the company?
Joan: We are in a country where women leaders are the norm and on a continent where entrepreneurship is redefining how we view our future and our capabilities. Forming this company with my partners has been one of the most challenging and exciting things I have ever done. In the five years since starting Illume, we have seen a growing number of women entrepreneurs in a wide variety of industries. To join the growing number of Rwandan and African women entrepreneurs has been a true learning experience for me, and with the exception of very few incidents, the response to my position has been positive and encouraging.
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