This week on The Comms Spotlight, Communications and Digital Strategy professional, Maureen Mutisya, shares her career journey, from posting witty takes on social media to founding her own agency, Mollage Media. Her story highlights how using digital platforms intentionally can open doors and shape career opportunities in today’s evolving landscape. Outside of work, Maureen enjoys shopping and discovering African designers, reading widely, travelling, and visiting museums.
How did you get started in the field of Communications?
I got into Communications almost unintentionally. I was coming from a Public Health background and had just started my early career in sales.
Comms revealed itself to me when I built a large Twitter following by sharing witty takes on current affairs, trending topics and social commentary. I also started my own blog. It came so naturally that I didn’t realise I was already doing digital communications work.
That audience opened doors. I started out as an influencer and blogger while on campus because I figured if I had a strong following, I could help brands show up closer to their target audiences. What I jokingly called, “pushing brands for a small fee.”
That period helped me build solid networks across agencies, brand managers and brand custodians who could clearly see the value I was bringing. This was back when content creation in Kenya was still in its early stages.
My first ever brand partnership was with East African Breweries Limited (EABL) on a price-compliance campaign; a milestone I still look back on proudly.
Over time, I became deeply curious about brand building behind the scenes. I was then selected for a South African digital marketing upskilling bootcamp powered by Facebook (Digify Pro). That experience cemented everything for me. It was the moment I knew Communications was the work I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Soon after, I worked at my first branding agency, Birch Kenya, before eventually registering my own firm, Mollage Media. The rest, as they say, is history.
What does a typical day look like for you as the Founder of Mollage Media? What does your role entail?
No two days are ever quite the same; and that’s something I value as a Founder.
My days usually start with reviewing ongoing client projects and aligning with my different teams on priorities. I oversee strategy across campaigns, content, digital execution and brand positioning.
A big part of my role is ensuring that every piece of work from Mollage Media; whether for a corporate client, an SME or a personal brand reflects clarity, intention and excellence.
Beyond strategy, I handle business development, pitches, partnership conversations and shaping the long-term vision of the agency. I’m constantly balancing creativity with structure, making sure the agency remains innovative while still delivering measurable impact.
At its core, my role is to guide the brand’s direction and maintain the standard that clients associate with Mollage Media.
How do you stay ahead of trends in digital communications?
I stay ahead by remaining deeply curious. I’ve always been so curious in nature. I’m always reading, researching and observing. I consume a wide range of material.
From global marketing reports, trend forecasts, behavioural insights, case studies and brand playbooks to articles on culture, user behaviour and digital innovation.
Reading widely gives me an instinctive sense of where audiences are moving and what brands should be paying attention to.
I also track platform updates closely, follow standout creators, publishers and agencies and analyse high-performing content across industries.
Working with clients from different sectors also expands my perspective. It allows me to borrow ideas across industries and develop strategies that feel fresh, relevant and future-facing.
For me, staying ahead is a blend of curiosity, continuous learning and the willingness to experiment early.
What helps you stay creative and focused when the workload gets intense?
Structure grounds me, but writing sustains me. I genuinely enjoy writing: it has always been one of my strongest creative outlets.
I used to blog actively in my early years and I still write today, albeit privately. I have countless articles that may never see the light of day but the process itself keeps my creativity sharp.
Recently, I began writing as a columnist for Business Daily Africa, one of Kenya’s leading business publications.
The discipline of writing regularly has strengthened my clarity, focus and voice; it gives me a way to process ideas and refine my thinking even when work gets intense.
Outside work, my hobbies help refill me. I enjoy fashion; especially shopping and exploring African designers, reading widely, travelling and visiting museums.
I also like discovering new restaurants, taking solo dates, connecting with loved ones and spending quiet time in nature. These small rituals help me reconnect with myself and return to work refreshed and inspired.
When I need inspiration, I draw from culture, lifestyle, design, conversations and everyday life.
And when things feel overwhelming, I slow down, regroup and return to storytelling because that’s the core of communications and it always brings me back to centre.
Can you share some highlights from your career journey so far?
A few defining moments and milestones that stand out include:
- Building Mollage Media from the ground up and growing it into an agency trusted by clients across multiple sectors.
- Partnering with major global and regional brands at different stages of my career: including Safaricom, Unilever, EABL, Britam Insurance and others on campaigns ranging from digital rollouts to influencer programs and brand projects.
- Leading large-scale digital, influencer and brand campaigns, delivering strong audience engagement and measurable results.
- Managing communications and execution for events, productions and brand transformations, ensuring alignment from concept to delivery.
- Building and cementing my brand as a voice of authority in Communications: through consistent work, thought leadership, intentional visibility and storytelling that resonates. Over time, I’ve become someone whose insights are sought after and whose work reflects clarity, consistency and credibility.
Each milestone has contributed to shaping my voice, sharpening my strategy and strengthening my leadership journey.
What advice would you give young professionals looking to start their own Communications business or Agency?
Start early and start with what you have; you don’t need perfection to begin.
Communications is a relationship-driven industry. Your reputation, reliability and professionalism will take you further than any pitch deck. Deliver well, communicate clearly and build trust consistently.
Also, develop your skillset. Strategy, storytelling, digital marketing, analytics and leadership are not optional; they’re foundational.
Understand the business side too: pricing, systems, client management and boundaries matter just as much as creativity.
Most importantly, build an agency that reflects who you are. Your values, your voice and your perspective are your strongest differentiators. When you operate from authenticity, everything else aligns.
