“Balancing my work in technology and digital marketing with my passion for helping girls isn’t just about finding time; it’s about making sure everything I do has a purpose. For me, these things are connected, they all inspire me and guide what I do.” When we talk about versatility in job roles and excelling in it, Chineze Anumba comes to mind. Over here, she shared with us how she balances her works in tech and digital marketing and still has time for family and impacting the lives of numerous young girls.
Biography of Chineze Anumba
Chineze Anumba is a multifaceted professional with over nine years of experience in customer service, project management, and social impact, excelling in both client relations and community-driven initiatives. With a strong drive for excellence and client success, she is known for her passion for helping others, resolving challenges, and fostering growth in various sectors, including technology, non-profits, and digital marketing.
Currently, Chineze works as a Client Account Manager at Tenece Professional Services, one of Africa’s leading tech companies. In this role, she consistently delivers results by driving revenue growth, cultivating client relationships, and ensuring exceptional customer satisfaction. Her leadership, strategic mindset and commitment to a customer-centric approach have led to significant improvements in revenue, client retention, and satisfaction levels.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Chineze has a deep commitment to social impact. She is on the Board of Directors for the Girls’ Education & Mentorship Initiative (GEM), an organization that has transformed the lives of over two thousand girls in Nigeria. GEM empowers girls through skills acquisition programs and educational support, focusing on underserved and rural communities. The initiative has launched impactful campaigns, including “Say No to Rape,” “Girl Child Hygiene Education & Pad Drive,” “Say No to Cultism,” and “Say No to Early Child Marriage.” Through these programs, GEM provides critical education, mentorship, and life skills to help girls break barriers and improve their futures.
As the Director of Brand Knowledge at CustomerSuccessU, a certification hub based in Atlanta, Georgia, Chineze volunteers her time to support the platform’s growth as a leading certification hub for customer success professionals. In this role, she is actively involved in customer support, ensuring industry-recognized certifications, and offering career advancement opportunities for both novices and professionals.
In addition, Chineze is a passionate advocate for literacy and education. She supports literacy efforts through “Yes to Literacy,” an NGO focused on ensuring that children in underserved communities have access to books and learning resources. Her work with this initiative helps foster a future where every child has the opportunity to read and succeed academically.
Chineze’s commitment to youth empowerment is evident in her role as a mentor at Genesys Tech Hub, Africa’s largest tech talent accelerator. There, she nurtures emerging tech talents and helps them navigate their career paths. Similarly, at Digital Biz Guru, a certified digital marketing agency in Nigeria, she coaches interns in content marketing, copywriting, paid advertising, and email marketing, helping them develop their skills and realize their full potential. She also served as the team lead at TxE Africa, a summit aimed at driving economic growth and positioning Enugu as a leading center for innovation in Southeast Nigeria. TxE Africa brings together global thought leaders in technology, business, and leadership to inspire youth to harness opportunities in tech.
In 2020, Chineze ventured into entrepreneurship by founding Cajoagency, a digital marketing agency that is still a work in progress. The agency aims to provide exceptional services while training others in the complexities of digital marketing. Her expertise spans social media management, digital marketing, and WordPress website design, where she creates captivating content that fuels engagement and amplifies brand presence.
Chineze’s influence extends beyond Nigeria. She has been featured in Liquid Barrier Solutions’ “Voices of Africa,” a digital platform based in Irvington, New Jersey, that amplifies the voices of young African women. The platform highlights the contributions and importance of African women as the continent’s true treasures, a sentiment that deeply resonates with her advocacy for the empowerment and protection of African girls and women.
With certifications in areas such as project management, product management, customer success, and digital marketing, Chineze embodies a seamless blend of leadership, expertise, and advocacy. Her extensive background in customer service, digital marketing, and social impact makes her a dynamic leader who continues to drive positive change in the communities and industries she serves.
Chineze’s professional journey is a testament to her relentless pursuit of excellence, her passion for empowering others, and her commitment to making a meaningful impact. Whether it’s ensuring client success, mentoring young talents, or advocating for the rights and education of girls, she approaches every role with dedication and a vision for growth. She looks forward to continuing her journey of learning, leadership, and advocacy in the years to come.
Gutsy Chat with Chineze Anumba
1. You’ve ventured into many roles—from Client Account Manager to mentoring tech talents and running your digital marketing agency. What motivates you to take on so many responsibilities, and how do these different roles complement one another?
What drives me to take on different roles is my love for learning, growing, and making a difference. Every job I’ve done, from being a Client Account Manager to mentoring tech talents and running a digital marketing agency, helps me help others while also improving myself.
As a Client Account Manager, I learned how to understand what clients need, build good relationships, and get things done. These skills are very useful in my digital marketing work, where it’s important to know what clients want and deliver great results.
Mentoring tech talents is my way of giving back. I’ve had great mentors who helped me, and I believe that by helping someone grow, they can help others too, creating a positive cycle.
Even though these roles seem different, they work well together. My digital marketing work benefits from the new ideas and trends I see while mentoring. At the same time, my experience with clients helps me stay focused on their needs, whether I’m mentoring, managing, or leading a project.
At the heart of it, I believe that we all have a special part to play in making the world better. By taking on different roles, I can make a difference in many ways, with each role making the other stronger. That’s what keeps me motivated
2. With over nine years of experience in different fields, how do you balance your career in technology and digital marketing with your deep commitment to social impact and girl-child advocacy?
Balancing my work in technology and digital marketing with my passion for helping girls isn’t just about finding time; it’s about making sure everything I do has a purpose. For me, these things are connected, they all inspire me and guide what I do.
In my career, I choose jobs where I can use technology and digital marketing to make a difference. Whether I’m helping businesses grow or mentoring young people in tech, I see every chance as a way to create positive change.
My passion for helping girls comes from believing that every girl deserves a chance to achieve her dreams. I’ve seen the challenges they face, like not having access to education or opportunities in STEM. This belief drives me to break down these barriers and help the next generation succeed.
For me, it feels natural to balance these parts of my life because they’re all about one thing: empowering others. In my work, I always think about how what we do can help communities and make a lasting impact. My advocacy for girls also shapes my work decisions, helping me stay true to my values.
In the end, it’s about finding a way to bring my career and my passion for helping others together. By making sure my work aligns with my values, I stay motivated and committed, knowing I’m contributing to something bigger than myself.
3. Congratulations to GEM INITIATIVE on her 10th year anniversary. A decade of impact is remarkable. As someone who is on the Board of Directors of GEM INITIATIVE, you’ve impacted over 2,000 girls. What has been the most rewarding part of this journey?
I joined GEM INITIATIVE in 2016 after my friend, Mrs. Chiamaka, who is the Founder of GEM, told me about the organization’s mission. When she shared the amazing work GEM was doing to support young girls, I didn’t wait, I jumped right in. I knew this was something I wanted to be part of, and it turned out to be one of the best choices I’ve ever made.
Every success story we see reminds us why we started this initiative to create a place where girls can reach their full potential, no matter what challenges they face. I remember some of the young girls we first worked with who were unsure about their future and didn’t believe in themselves. Now, many of them are following their dreams and even giving back to their communities as mentors and advocates.
Watching these girls grow, overcome challenges, and become leaders has been the most rewarding part of all. It’s not just about the numbers or the milestones we’ve reached, but about the individual lives that have been touched and changed. Each time one of our girls shares a success story whether it’s graduating, starting a business, or finding her voice, it shows us that what we do really matters.
This journey has also shown me how powerful community and teamwork can be. GEM INITIATIVE is strong today because of the hard work of our team, volunteers, partners, and, of course, the girls themselves. As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, I’m not only proud of what we’ve done, but also excited for the impact we’ll continue to make in the future.
4. You’ve led several impactful campaigns through GEM, including “Say No to Rape” and “Say No to Early Child Marriage.” What are some of the challenges you’ve faced while addressing these sensitive issues, and how have you managed to navigate them?
Working on issues like ‘Say No to Rape’ and ‘Say No to Early Child Marriage’ has been both hard and important. These are not just projects; they deal with deep beliefs and traditions that can be difficult to change, but it’s very important work.
One of the biggest challenges we’ve faced is breaking the silence around these issues. In many communities, people don’t want to talk about things like rape or child marriage, which makes it hard to help. Sometimes, victims are too scared to speak up because they’re afraid of being shamed or punished, and some communities don’t even want to admit there’s a problem.
To handle these challenges, we had to be very careful and thoughtful. Our first step was to create safe places where people could talk openly, whether in small groups or online. We knew it was important to build trust in the communities, so we worked closely with local leaders, teachers, and others who could help share our message in a way that respects their culture.
Another challenge has been the emotional stress these issues bring. Hearing about so much pain and unfairness can be very hard on our team and volunteers. To manage this, we made sure to support each other and focus on self-care, so we could keep going without getting too overwhelmed.
Even with these challenges, what keeps us motivated is knowing that change is happening, even if it’s slow. Every time a girl says no to early marriage or a survivor of rape finds the courage to speak out and seek justice, it reminds us why we do this work. It’s these small steps forward that keep us pushing on.
We’ve also learned how important it is to keep going and to be flexible. Social change takes time, but by staying dedicated, adjusting our plans when needed, and always remembering the people we’re helping, we’ve been able to make a real difference. And that makes all the challenges worth it.
5. Gender-based violence and early child marriage are major issues in many parts of Africa. How do you think community leaders and advocates can better address these issues at both grassroots and policy levels?
To stop gender-based violence and early child marriage, we need to work together in our communities and with our leaders.
At the community level, it’s important to talk openly about why these practices are harmful. Community leaders, who are trusted by many, can start these conversations. They can teach everyone men, women, boys, and girls why it’s important to protect girls and let them grow up safely. These leaders can also help by supporting programs that give girls education, skills, and opportunities to earn money. When girls are educated and can support themselves, they have more power to make their own choices.
On a bigger level, we need strong laws that protect girls and women. Advocates should work to make sure these laws are not only in place but are also followed. This includes training police and judges to understand the importance of protecting girls and enforcing the laws fairly.
It’s also important that the people who make the laws listen to the real experiences of girls and women in their communities. When policies reflect the actual needs and realities of the people they are meant to protect, they are more effective.
By combining the efforts of local leaders with strong laws and policies, we can create lasting change. We can build a world where every girl is safe, can go to school, and has the freedom to make her own decisions.
6. How do you advocate for literacy and education through “Yes to literacy?
“Yes to Literacy’ is another nonprofit organization that I’m proud to volunteer for. This initiative is all about promoting reading and education, especially among children who may not have easy access to books and learning materials. We believe that literacy is the key to opening doors to a brighter future, and we’re committed to making sure every child has the opportunity to learn and grow.
In ‘Yes to Literacy,’ we work on several fronts. First, we gather books and educational resources to distribute to children in need. These books come from donations and fundraising efforts, and we make sure they reach the children who need them the most.
We also organize reading clubs and workshops where kids can come together to enjoy stories and improve their reading and writing skills. These activities are designed to make learning fun and engaging, so children develop a love for reading that will last a lifetime.
In addition to working directly with children, we train teachers and volunteers to support literacy in their communities. We believe that when learning is enjoyable and accessible, more children will stay in school and succeed in life.
We also encourage parents to get involved by reading with their children at home and supporting their education. By bringing the whole community together, we can make a bigger impact and help every child realize their potential.
Volunteering with ‘Yes to Literacy’ is incredibly rewarding because it’s all about giving children the tools they need to succeed. We say ‘Yes to Literacy’ because we believe in the power of education to change lives.
7. How do you think education can drive social change, particularly for girls from disadvantaged backgrounds?
Education is a powerful tool for driving social change, especially for girls from disadvantaged backgrounds. When girls have access to education, it opens up a world of opportunities for them. They gain the knowledge and skills they need to improve their own lives and make positive changes in their communities.
For girls from disadvantaged backgrounds, education can break the cycle of poverty. It gives them the chance to pursue careers, earn a living, and become independent. Educated girls are also more likely to make informed decisions about their health, marry later, and have fewer children, which contributes to healthier families and communities.
Moreover, when girls are educated, they can become leaders and role models in their communities. They can advocate for their rights and inspire other girls to follow in their footsteps. Education empowers girls to speak up, challenge harmful traditions, and fight for equality.
In the long run, educating girls leads to broader social change. It helps create more equitable societies where everyone, regardless of gender, has the opportunity to thrive. That’s why it’s so important to ensure that every girl, no matter where she comes from, has access to quality education.
8. How do you encourage others to get involved in community-driven initiatives?
I believe the best way to encourage others to get involved in community-driven initiatives is by sharing the impact and the joy that comes from making a difference. When people see the positive changes that even small actions can create, they’re more likely to want to be part of that change.
One way I encourage involvement is by leading by example. I share my own experiences of volunteering and the fulfillment it brings, whether it’s through storytelling, social media, or conversations. When others see how passionate and committed I am, it often inspires them to take that first step.
I also emphasize that everyone has something valuable to contribute. Whether it’s time, skills, or resources, every bit helps. I remind people that you don’t have to do something big to make a difference—small acts of kindness and support can have a huge impact over time.
Another approach is to make getting involved easy and accessible. I provide clear information about how people can help, whether it’s by volunteering, donating, or simply spreading the word. I also invite them to join community events or initiatives where they can see the work being done firsthand.
Finally, I focus on building a sense of community and belonging. When people feel connected to a cause and to others who share their passion, they’re more likely to stay involved. I encourage people to bring friends or family along, turning community service into a shared experience.
By showing the impact, making it easy to get involved, and creating a sense of community, we can inspire more people to join in and help drive positive change.
Projects by Chineze Anumba
