Women In Marketing 2024 Edition ft. Nomfundo Komotolo from Sauce Advertising

In our latest Women In Marketing segment, we spoke with Nomfundo Komotolo, the Senior Digital Channel & Content Manager at Sauce Advertising. Originally from Durban, Nomfundo shared her insights on the importance of trusting your instincts and seizing opportunities. Although she initially considered a career in the medical field, her passion eventually led her to the dynamic world of marketing.

Personal Background:

Thanks for taking the time to participate in our ‘Women In Marketing’ feature. Where were you born, and what childhood memories stand out for you?

I was born in Durban, KwaMashu where I stayed till age two and then moved to Johannesburg with the rest of my immediate family.

My favourite childhood memories always involved being with my cousins back home during the holidays. I also have fond memories of my time as a K-TV Presenter from when I was 12. The training was intense; it was a great way to build confidence and character.

Describe your high school and college years. You were the coolest one, right?

Hahahaha! Well, my personality is very extroverted but I wouldn’t say I’m cool… More so, I was friends with different types of people so I was never short of friends. I also played many sports for my schools, which definitely helped turn me into a teacher’s pet. 

I was already working as a presenter in my early high school years so I would juggle my extracurricular activities with having an actual job at a young age. It was a BLAST!

What’s your favourite meal that you wouldn’t share with anyone?

I have so many, but the top 3 would be; really (really) good biltong, charred sweetcorn that you usually buy from vendors on the side of the road and a good Sirloin steak – with spinach and pumpkin.

Oh and anything my mom cooks, cause she’s a full-blown MasterChef with spices.

What would be your plans for a sudden $10 million windfall if you were to receive it tomorrow?

10% to my mom, 30% to my daughter, 10% to tithes and the other 50% goes into savings/investments.

Can you share an interesting fact or hidden talent not found on your LinkedIn profile? Previous Women in Marketing candidate Anastasia Hamel says that she can breathe fire!

I can write my name forward and backwards at the same time. Since I’m ambidextrous, it’s not that difficult.

Career and Work:

How do you typically start your day, and are you #TeamCoffee, #TeamTea, or both?

I’m a #TeamBoth … If I’m feeling sluggish then it’s definitely a great cup of coffee but if I’m already hyped up and ready for the day, tea works well to centre me. Rooibos tea, to be specific.

What inspired you to pursue a career in marketing? Didn’t the “I want to become a doctor” bug bite you?

It’s funny because I wanted to be a Neonatal Surgeon since Primary School. But, when I first got into Media/Advertising, the bug REALLY hit me.

Seeing how ad campaigns are put together from the very beginning and looking at the finished product after giving your blood, sweat and tears. There’s an unspoken magic in that.

Many industries had to create systems overnight that would enable their respective workforces to work from home due to the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. What’s your perspective on remote and hybrid work, and how have you dealt with its challenges? Do you have a preference?

I lean more toward hybrid working where there’s a balance between being at the office and being at home. However, I have found that it’s much harder to have a work/life balance when working remotely because you find yourself working before and after hours often.

A secret to not losing that control though, is creating a space in your home that is specifically for work and leaving that space when the clock strikes home-time.

AI is the hot topic of the day, most specifically, generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. How do you address the challenges you face in your day-to-day responsibilities? Any specific tools you’d like to plug us with? 

I have never trusted the AI phenomenon. I happily craft my own work, from research to essays to writing an email. I trust my intellect to get the job done correctly.

I have however found an interest in creating artwork or images using AI where you simply tell the tool EXACTLY what you’re looking for then they generate the image for you. A great tool I found for this is imagine.art. 

How can organisations ensure equal opportunities for women to advance into executive positions?

Allow us to shine, be ourselves and not dim our light. Oftentimes, women are held back because their voices are not heard so after a while, you stop talking.

Encouraging open communication, transparent dialogue and equality in a room full of “bosses” lets us do what we do best and being ourselves is a large part of that.

2024 and Beyond:

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?

To trust my gut and my gift.

I have given away so many opportunities due to a lack of self-awareness where other people saw how great I was, but I didn’t. Thankfully, becoming a Mom helped me acknowledge and appreciate that side of myself. I genuinely believe that I can do anything I put my mind to.

What are your personal or professional goals and aspirations for the future? We hope to see you on Forbes’ Most Influential CMOs list. No pressure!

To start my own Digital Marketing School which would be a Non-Profit, teaching children in financially-confined circumstances to learn about advertising and the wonders of Digital Media.

I would provide them with the tools, equipment and software to further their learnings and – God-willing – get them accredited as Digital Marketers.

Who are some of your sheroes?

My mom. Refilwe Maluleke, Mbali Ndlovu, Maya Angelou and India Arie.

What are you currently reading, and how do you consume your content?

I’m a paperback girl but because our crazy schedules seldom allow time for this, I tend to listen to audiobooks while I work.

I’m currently reading ‘Atomic Habits‘ by James Clear.

What are you currently streaming that you’d recommend?

KAOS! It’s a Netflix series that will blow your mind.

You wake up one day, and before you know it, you are nearing retirement. What would you like your professional legacy to be? Furthermore, what do your colleagues and superiors admire about you the most?

I would say that my colleagues and superiors admire my work ethic and my cheesy-bubbly approach to any task handed to me. I’m a hippy at heart so I believe in spreading the contagiousness of positive vibes.

Hmmm, I would want my legacy to be that I inspired, taught and encouraged everyone around me to be the best version of themselves … And they did.

We are always looking for amazing Women In Marketing to profile. Who would you like us to get in touch with? 

Mbali Ndlovu. She is the Head of Community Management at TBWA Hunt Lascari.

Share a unique message for young professionals in the marketing industry.

Trust yourself and always stay learning. Let your light automatically allow others to shine too.

Thank you for your time, Nomfundo. We hope this interview will inspire future leaders and other Women in Marketing. How can people follow you and your company on social media? 

You can follow me on Facebook.

You can follow Sauce on the following social media channels:

• Instagram
• Facebook

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