Ezekiel Nali (2026)

09/12/2025

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗜 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀

Have you ever attended an event where one of the speakers talked about networking?

One of the first points they always mention is that you have to have a goal before you even decide to attend a networking event.

To be honest, as simple as that sounds, I never quite grasped what that meant. I was only ever interested in getting clients for my, at the time, freelancing.

It never occurred to me that there could be anything more I would need from a networking event until one day I was looking to get a sponsor for an event I was organising.

I got delayed to no response and wondered, "Is something wrong with me? Do I have to walk into their office with an expensive suit to show them that I mean business?"

I later came to understand a simple analogy. If a stranger walked up to you, introduced themselves to you and told you a story of how they are stuck and need a K50 for transport to get back home, how likely are you to reach for your pocket to give them that money?

Alternatively, if a friend of yours with whom you've stayed in touch over a few months or years walked up to you with the same story and even asked for a K150, how quickly would you say, "Okay, let me see what I can do"?

Simply put, having a relationship with someone is fundamental to doing business. I used to think that all I needed was clients until I needed certain doors opened. It helped me see that there are building blocks required for you to better serve your clients.

Being a consultant and systems optimiser, I am seeing the bigger picture even more clearly. I have a better understanding of what it means to have a network rather than a list of people I happen to know.

So, the next time you attend a networking event, ask yourself: what am I really building here? Am I simply adding names to a list, or am I cultivating relationships that could open doors I didn't even know existed?

Start with intention. Connect with purpose. And remember, the strongest networks aren't built overnight but through consistent, genuine engagement over time.

What's been your experience with networking? Have you had a moment that changed how you approach it? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

23/09/2025

One of the brands I’m currently working with is 𝗞𝘂 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼, an eye clinic focused on helping the community protect, preserve, and restore vision through accessible and quality eye care.

How? By applying the same principles I use with every client:

𝟏. 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚 – We’ve made Ku Menso’s story simple, educational, and patient-centered, so people immediately understand why their eye health matters.
𝟐. 𝑷𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 – We’ve aligned the brand to show up exactly where potential patients are searching, making it easy for them to connect.
𝟑. 𝑬𝒙𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 – From content strategy to visuals, Ku Menso’s online presence now runs on systems designed for excellence, and designed to generate leads.

Follow 𝗞𝘂 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼 𝗘𝘆𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰 here >>> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/163ZzSjBiK/

18/08/2025

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝

I was on a road trip with a close friend when he asked me a simple but powerful question:
“Why is there such a huge gap between people with marketing degrees and those with real-world experience?”

It immediately reminded me of an intern I once worked with. She had just completed a marketing degree — 4 years of formal training, endless theory, and a polished certificate. Yet in practice, she lacked the initiative and adaptability that real-world marketing demands. Every task required close supervision.

I don’t have a marketing degree myself, but I’ve spent 8+ years in the trenches of marketing — testing, failing, iterating, and learning what actually works. That’s when it clicked: there’s a real disconnect between what’s taught in universities and what businesses actually need.

𝐻𝑒𝑟𝑒’𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑦:

𝟏. 𝑻𝒐𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒚, 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆

Degrees focus on the 4Ps, SWOT, segmentation, and models. Useful, yes — but marketing in the real world is messy and dynamic, requiring quick decisions, testing, and ex*****on.

𝟐. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒆𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒖𝒎

By the time you graduate, much of what you learned may already be outdated. (Think: TikTok vs. TV ads, AI-driven personalization vs. banner ads.)

𝟑. 𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒍𝒆𝒅𝒈𝒆, 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒔

Graduates know about branding, PR, analytics, and consumer behavior — but often lack specialized, executable skills like SEO, paid ads, or copywriting.

𝟒. 𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒙𝒕

In school, marketing feels standalone. In reality, it exists to drive sales and revenue. If you can’t tie campaigns to ROI, you’ll lose credibility with business leaders.

𝟓. 𝑭𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒖𝒓𝒆

Universities punish mistakes with low grades. Real marketing, however, rewards experimentation. Many graduates hesitate to take risks or run campaigns without constant approval.

𝑆𝑜 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡’𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑥?

• Run real campaigns — even with small budgets.
• Specialize in one or two in-demand skills.
• Stay updated through industry leaders, not textbooks.
• Learn to connect marketing efforts to business results.
• Treat failure as feedback, not a setback.

A degree gives you a foundation. But the real education begins after graduation — when you step into the market, experiment, adapt, and learn in real time.

16/08/2025

Every great poster starts with a strong visual foundation.
That foundation is built on four core elements: font, colour, image, and layout.

When these elements work together seamlessly, you’re not just creating something that looks good—you’re setting the stage for clear and effective communication.

Which of these four do you think designers struggle with the most?

𝑃.𝑆: 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑙𝑦.

25/07/2025

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜: 𝐌𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐱

When I joined Gralix, actuarial consulting was still a foreign language to most Zambians. It wasn’t just a brand problem. It was a clarity crisis.

They had two years of technical brilliance under their belt — but that brilliance was hidden behind jargon-heavy content, inconsistent messaging, and near-zero online visibility.

No one knew what they really did. And even fewer understood why it mattered.

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆

How do you make something as complex as actuarial science approachable — without dumbing it down?
How do you position a brand that leads in a category most of the market doesn’t yet understand?
How do you shift perception — from “promising start-up” to “premium authority”?

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝑫𝒊𝒅

I came in as a Marketing and Social Media Associate… but the truth is, I built the entire marketing engine from scratch.

𝐻𝑒𝑟𝑒’𝑠 ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑤𝑒 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑑𝑒:

• Defined a full brand strategy — rooted in education, authority, and simplicity
• Reworked website copy into digestible, human-centered language
• Created brand guidelines and a clear voice: professional, but never cold
• Launched consistent, value-driven social content to drive recognition and relevance
• Led the branding, marketing, and coordination of our inaugural Gralix Insurtech Conference (GIC 2024)
• Optimized internal workflows for our team — ensuring delivery even under pressure

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕?

Today, people no longer squint when they see the Gralix name.
They lean in.
Because now, the brand speaks with clarity and confidence.

• Gralix is quickly becoming a household name in Zambia’s insurance sector
• Social engagement and visibility have surged
• Stakeholder and sponsor trust skyrocketed post-GIC 24
• Our systems now support real growth — not just survival

I didn’t do it alone.
This was a collaboration — between a bold leadership team and a crew that bought into the vision.

But I’m proud to say: I set the tone.
And the tone is 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑢𝑚.

If your brand has a great product but a blurry presence, it might be time for a strategy that speaks with clarity. Let’s talk.

17/07/2025

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

I recently attended a 3-day training on Business and Sales, and one session in particular stood to me on the topic "Key Qualities That Make Up the Ideal Seller." We explored the traits that separate good sellers from great ones. Here are the top three that resonated with me:

𝟏. 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔: Great sellers listen more than they talk. They seek to understand before offering solutions.

𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦: They speak in simple, direct terms, no jargon, just value.

𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔: They ask open-ended questions that uncover deeper needs.

𝟐. 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆

𝐵𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑓 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡: They buy in before selling it to others.

𝑆𝑒𝑙𝑓-𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒: Rejection doesn’t rattle them. They stay composed and focused.

𝐴𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠: They know when to ask for the close without sounding pushy.

𝟑. 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒎

𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦: They show up, follow through, and build trust consistently.

𝐴𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦: They own their work, results, and mistakes.

𝐸𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒: They deliver quality, right down to the details.

The best sellers aren’t just persuasive. They’re intentional, prepared, and deeply human in how they connect.

I believe this has definitely given me a push in how I work with my clients.

What are your thoughts on this?

04/07/2025

𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞.

They study the move. Adjust the strategy. Step up their ex*****on.

Excuses are easy. Accountability is rare.

But that’s what sets high performers apart; they stay focused on the goal, not the obstacle.

In the game of business, marketing, or leadership you either play to win, or you watch from the sidelines.

24/06/2025

In marketing, consistency rarely feels impressive in the moment.
The posts no one likes.
The emails that go unopened.
The calls that go nowhere.

But over time, it adds up.
Trust builds. Visibility grows. Momentum kicks in.

Consistency doesn’t always look good while you're doing it - only when it starts working.
Keep showing up. The results are compounding in the background.

17/06/2025

Peter Drucker once said, “𝑪𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒕."

And he was right!

The best strategy will fail in the wrong environment.
But a strong, values-driven culture?

It fuels momentum, alignment, and trust, even when the plan shifts.

Get the culture right, and everything else gets easier.

06/06/2025

𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬, 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬.

In a world full of noise, a direct call cuts through.

It's personal, immediate, and often the fastest path to opportunity.

Don’t underestimate the power of picking up the phone.

03/06/2025

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞

Not long ago, I watched a colleague close a deal, not over email, not in the DMs, but on the phone. A five-minute call did what two weeks of back-and-forth couldn’t.

That’s when it hit me: the phone isn’t outdated, it’s underused.

Most people hesitate to call. It feels too forward, too personal, too risky. But that’s exactly why it works.

A voice carries more than words. It conveys confidence. Belief. Intent. It builds trust fast.

𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅:
• 𝑊𝑎𝑟𝑚 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑠 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟. A simple DM or email first can open the door.
• 𝐶𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑙 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑎 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒 - if you have a reason to call.
• And when you do it well, 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑢𝑡 in a sea of silent inboxes.

The phone doesn’t just connect you, it differentiates you.

Use it with purpose. Most people won’t. And that’s your advantage.

So pick up your phone, and make that call.

27/05/2025

𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐯𝐬. 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐀 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭

Opportunities aren’t limited. In sales, dating, business; there’s always more.
New clients, new connections, new doors open every day.

An abundance mindset lowers pressure. You show up more relaxed, confident, and clear.
A scarcity mindset does the opposite; it creates tension, and people can feel it.

Here’s the truth:
• 𝐼𝑓 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠𝑛’𝑡 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙.
• 𝐼𝑓 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑠𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑛𝑜, 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑎𝑦 𝑦𝑒𝑠.
• 𝐹𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠𝑛’𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑑. 𝐼𝑡’𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛.

Stay grounded. Stay open. Trust the flow.

Ezekiel Nali

09/12/2025

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25/07/2025

17/07/2025

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