She naturally greets everyone with a warm and magnetic smile. She exudes positive energy which gets almost everyone attracted to her at first point of contact.
Quiet, simple and endearing, she goes about her daily work.
She is a die-hard ‘Waakye’ lover and won’t miss it early mornings for any reason on earth.
Candice Owusu Adjei loves anything involving event organizing, management and writing and has been an effective backroom staff when it comes to Excellence in Broadcasting (EIB) Network’s events.
She granted audience to StarrFMonline.com to share her life story:
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
There is a little confusion about describing my personality. Some say I am quiet and others say I am crazy and can talk…. I still don’t know who to believe. I’m the first child of my parents and have four siblings looking up to me and that alone keeps me on guard. I have a beautiful family and simple things attract us. Family is everything to me because they have been there for me always. My mum is “too nice Rosemary” as I like to call her and my father is “strict Robert.” That should give you an idea of who my parents are.
HOW WAS IT LIKE GROWING UP?
Growing Up? Lord Jesus, you are taking me back to the little girl in Mrs Ankrah’s class with her plenty ribbons. I attended St. Martin de Porres for elementary and Junior High School. I continued at Aburi Girls Secondary School and on regular occasions I am a proud Akora. (Are the Achimotans coming for me?) I completed University of Ghana with a degree in Psychology Major in June 2013. If there’s anything I am grateful to, I’ll give it to my parents for a good upbringing as well as doing everything possible to invest in good education for me and it’s all reaping off today. I had a lot of good memories growing up because I was surrounded by lovely friends. One bad one I can’t forget is how my father scolded me for taking my sister out to play and she got hurt in the process when he had asked that we stay home. He didn’t lash me or anything but he made me stay indoors for hours. For some reason he was able to figure out how that “punishment” got to me so anytime I was stubborn I was taken to timeout.
WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?
I grew up in Ghana. I speak good Ga and satisfactory Twi even though my name is Ewurabena. My Ga mother had a lot of influence on me….and ooohhh I speak un peu un peu French. Ce n’est pas parfait mais c’est mieux quand meme.
HOW DID YOU JOIN EIB?
This story is always humbling any time I share it. I was a national service personnel at Swivel Marketing Ghana Limited where I worked as a project lead. I had a general manager called Jeffrey Sowa who I only interacted with on the corridor mostly at lunch times and it’s always “Good afternoon Sir” “How are you.” The longest conversation we ever had were these two lines and the conversation we had during my interview and during reviews. It was a very formal boss and subordinate relationship.
At Swivel this whole marketing thing was new to me so I decided to observe and learn. I was always in my line manager’s corner learning how to write a sellable proposal or draw up an event budget. Finally, I went through the one year and it was time to leave. I got an offer to become a permanent staff at Swivel and another one from my GM (Jeff Sowa) who then had an offer at EIB. It was a text….a simple one… “Am taking up a new role in a different company, are you ready to take up a new challenge too.”
I was confused… why is “Mr. two lines conversation” asking me to work with him. Actually I never asked him why he extended the invitation till after two years. His response “I like to work with people who are self-motivated, appreciate quick turnaround and are creative and you were fresh and young with the right attitude so it was easy to mould you than having someone who has their way of doing things which might not suit my style.”
It was a new company so I wasn’t sure. I heard things like “allow them some few years, if they survive then you join them.” I had a meeting with Bola and Cox after which I made a decision. I am avoiding the word interview because it wasn’t the usual “tell us about yourself” norm. They knew what they were looking for and that was it…Straight to the point.
HOW IS IT LIKE TO BE A MARKETING EXECUTIVE?
It’s fun sometimes and challenging most often because everyday someone beats you to your supposed “WOW” idea. It involves a lot of reading and researching. People hear marketing and think it’s all about the fun part. Surprisingly by the time you organize the fun part and it’s time to party, you would be so tired that you hardly really have fun on the job. Also, I have a boss who has allowed me to grow over the years. Jeff has taught me so many things that the books didn’t. It’s been amazing working with him. I am glad I have a chance working with the boss who everyone desires to work directly with.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR DREAM JOB AND WHY?
I don’t think there’s one straight word to describe it. Anything that involves organizing, management and writing, please call on me I will be there…. Maybe the closest will be project management. I enjoy putting things together… In school I was the one organizing birthday parties for my friends and helping plan surprises…. If Candice is involved, there must be a party. I just enjoy playing the organizer role.
HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A MARKETING EXECUTIVE?
Marketing found me three years ago, and we are having a good time so far.
HOW IS A TYPICAL DAY LIKE FOR YOU?
I get to work between 7 and 8am on most days. Most of the time my morning Waakye is non-negotiable.
On my way to work sometimes I have an idea on what I will be working on so immediately I settle in after breakfast, work begins. Sometimes my day goes as planned, but days when my CEO who loves marketing wakes up with some more energy, you have to pause and put his wild ideas into a proposal. This is how some of the wild events you see organized by EIB are birthed.
HOW DID IT FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU WERE ADJUDGED THE 2014 BEST EMPLOYEE?
Shocked…. As simple as that. I had never dreamt about it. I like to be in my corner doing my thing. Not impressing anyone or forcing my way into anyone’s good books. (Remember relationship I had with my “2 lines GM”). I come to work and do my thing and leave. I have always been taught to work smart. You don’t have to be the last person to leave the office nor the first person to show up…Just get the work DONE!! Everyone appreciates results. It was a really humbling one. It gave me a different perception about so many things in life. Don’t do it because someone is watching, do it because you want to do it.
WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE LIKE?
The award?… Lol One ‘Borga’ in town. I had meant a vacation that year that I didn’t want to pay for. The trip was just a perfect one….. and yasss it had to be Dubaiiiii please. But yeah I was and am still full of gratitude for how God came through for me.
HOW DID YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS RECEIVE THE NEWS?
My mum didn’t believe me till I finally travelled….Lol.
My family was proud of me. The reassurance from my siblings that “we are proud we have you as a big sister to look up to” was just an awwwww moment.
TELL US ABOUT DUBAI
Dubai was funnnnn….. No dull moment. From the dinner cruise to the trip to desert safari. The beautiful sight-seeing and oh how can I forget…..the shopping!!
WHO OR WHAT MOTIVATES YOU AND WHY
I motivate myself. I celebrate achievements in my life – small or huge like “self, you did it!!! Way to go.” Seeing myself move one step ahead is so much refreshing and fulfilling. I set goals I don’t have dreams. Once I am seeing progress, I’m motivated.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT WORKING?
Is this a trick question…lol? I am probably at home or chilling low key somewhere with the beautiful people in my life.
HOW WILL LIFE BE LIKE FOR YOU IN FIVE YEARS TO COME?
I will or must be a happy person…. Once I am happy, everything else will fall in place. For some people it’s the reverse but for me HAPPINESS is Ultimate.
WHAT’S THE WORST DECISION YOU EVER TOOK WITH REGARD TO WORK OR LIFE THAT YIELDED GOOD RESULTS AND VICE VERSA?
I can’t recall anything readily so I guess there is nothing really.
IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT LIFE OR WORK WHAT WOULD THAT BE?
My work and I am having a perfect relationship so yeah we good. My Life…. God made it like this for a reason so I am embracing it…
Source: Ghana/StarrFMonline.com/103.5FM/Miriam Hayford
