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Founder@ Interview
Interview with Lindi Mngaza
“Put time into perfecting a skill before adding another string to your bow! Taking this approach will guarantee sustainable growth” – Lindi Mngaza
Today we feature Lindi Mngaza, the founder at Explode Social Media. We hear their story in their own words, their successes, their challenges and their insights.
Let’s start by getting to know you. Can you please tell us a little bit about you and what you do?
Before founding Explode Social Media five years ago, I had co-founded another business with my former business partner where we would buy and sell manufacturing goods. From here, I then moved into running the advertising for several national, celebrity-owned magazines for the likes of Tess Daly, and Lorraine before then deciding to pivot and setting up Explode in 2017.
A great introduction and start to this interview. Can you please tell us, how did you start, from what age, and what made you decide to change direction and start?
We’re a Birmingham-based social media agency that specialises in services including paid and influencer marketing, content creation shoots, PPC campaigns and multi-channel marketing campaigns.
Thank you for that insight. So can you tell us…What does your business do and where is your company based?
I planned and executed an ad campaign whilst I was still working my day job in magazine publishing. Even before the pandemic, the high street was slowly dying and I noticed that the tried and tested methods of physical advertising were no longer as effective as they’d once been.
To remedy this, I researched new ways to attract customers that would also provide quantifiable data; e.g. print and digital posters with scannable QR codes with embedded tracking links. The data we received from these initial one-off campaigns proved to be my ‘aha’ moment and confirmed that digital-led marketing was the way forward.
What’s the story behind your success? What led to your aha moment? how did you get to where you are now?
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I planned and executed an ad campaign whilst I was still working my day job in magazine publishing. Even before the pandemic, the high street was slowly dying and I noticed that the tried and tested methods of physical advertising were no longer as effective as they’d once been.
To remedy this, I researched new ways to attract customers that would also provide quantifiable data; e.g. print and digital posters with scannable QR codes with embedded tracking links. The data we received from these initial one-off campaigns proved to be my ‘aha’ moment and confirmed that digital-led marketing was the way forward.
Thank you for sharing that. What’s been your life’s biggest lesson so far?
To always do the right thing and to be the bigger person, in both your personal and professional life. Having and standing by good ethics will help you so much in the long run and will allow you to build a strong circle.
To keep doing what you’re doing, always look to the future!
If you were to go back in time, what piece of advice would you give to your younger self?
To keep doing what you’re doing, don’t over-focus on money in the bank, enjoy your life and don’t give up; enjoy the journey, not about the destination.
We’re nearly halfway through our interview so it’s a great time to ask how does your business run. What three tools make your business run better?
• People with high energy and great focus
• High-quality pieces of tech, e.g. professional cameras and the latest iPhones.
• Valuing strategic thinking above anything else.
What do you know now that you wished you had known before?
To keep doing what you’re doing, always look to the future!
What has been your greatest or proudest achievement or moment?
Right now, founding and scaling Explode to the level that we’re at now is my proudest achievement: I’m so proud to have carved out my unique niche within such a competitive industry that I had no prior experience with.
Some of the highlights of my earlier career would also include competing in the 2008 series of The Apprentice, along with growing the Allied Commercial Finance group from a £1 million turnover to £10 million as sales director.
What future life goals do you want to achieve and why?
To live well, feel good, and prioritise spending time with my friends, family, and colleagues are things that are always high on my agenda. I always aim to bring the best version of myself to both my professional and personal life and to show up and show out!
To finish our inspire questions…”We believe that sharing inspiring words can inspire others.” If there was one positive thing you would say to someone to inspire and empower them what would it be and why?
I’d suggest focussing on one thing at a time: put time into perfecting a skill before adding another string to your bow! Taking this approach will guarantee sustainable growth.
“Thank you it has been great learning more about your founder story and Explode Social Media “
To learn more about Explode Social Media Visit https://explodesocialmedia.com/
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