Phan-Kay Events Limited is the first company to be fully introduced to the Sokoni-links business feature. The company is based in Uganda and is run by Andrew Yawe Kigongo. Phan-Kay Events Limited was formed in August 2018 since then, Kigongo has provided several services in the events management spectrum of business-like managing Festivals, Conferences, Ceremonies, Wed-dings, Formal parties, Concerts, Private functions, Social gatherings and many other types of event.I interviewed Andrew Yawe Kigongo for this article and it was clear that he is a man with strong business acumen and event management skills. I asked him about Phan-Kay events inauguration and he told me the idea of starting a pri-vate business started 12 years ago in an attempt to create what he called “a side hustle”.
Unlike many entrepreneurs who start a business without adequate in-formation, Andrew was different and had a unique approach, it took him a long time to start a business let alone an events management company, he started by attending meetings and conferences organized by Enterprise Uganda. “I learned a lot from those meetings but I felt I needed more information about a business that minimizes overheads and one that I would work from home. I wasn’t para-lyzed by analysis; I just took my time to plan exactly what I wanted”. He said. “In 2016 I then got a copy of the Uganda Investment Authority Final Report for Generation and Up-dating Business Ideas”, published in May 2010 by Business Synergies. A Public and Private Management Consulting Firm.
This 256-page report contained and broke down 500 business ideas. “I looked through each one of them. You can imagine the time it takes to critically analyze 500 businesses when you have other things to do. I was patient I knew what I wanted, 2 years later Phan-Kay Events was born and as they say, the rest is history” he said.
He told me he zeroed down on events management because he would minimize over-head costs and more importantly, he was a people person and could easily work with and through people to deliver a successful event. He also mentioned he looked up a good mentor. It’s not strange that besides working out every morning, his passion is socializing, he enjoys being with people, inviting me for a face to face meeting over a cup of tea after this phone interview is proof that Mr. Kigongo enjoys interacting with people. Kigongo recognizes the importance of technology which he said: “Has re-programmed doing business”. “We are now in the information age. Every business must adapt to the new digital era or face being wiped out by the competition. “Remember Kodak” he cited an example. “Kodak refused to adopt despite warnings from its inhouse experts, now look where they are.
There are 3.2 billion Smart Phones in the world”. he sent me reference to that after the interview (Source https://www.oberlo.com/statistics/how-many-people-have-smartphones) “And every smart phone has a digital camera. He continued. “many people are stuck in the stone age and yet this is the infor-mation age”. I asked him the role of information technology on his business and he said 80% of his business is conducted online. “I communicate with clients and sub-contractors on phone and WhatsApp, prepare and send soft copies of proforma’s or invoices, and the clients pay using mobile money or bank transfers. Digital presence is very important, people look for you over the internet especially now during this COVID 19 period, people have to use different platforms to market” he said. “I am on social media platforms and more business-oriented platforms like Sokoni-links which has helped expand my online presence, my business page on sokoni-links.com has over 1,000 views in one month, people need to see you, and if you are everywhere, you get more opportunities, people need to learn and master how to use these platforms to market their services ”Mr. Andrew Yawe Kigongo de-scribes himself as an aspiring geek, social media fanatic, a polymath, project manag-er, a husband and a father of 5 and a person who loves his tea.
I noticed that throughout the interview, Mr Kigongo stressed interpersonal skills and constantly mention adaptation to ICT platforms as key to running a business, after the interview, I sought opinion from two directors of our directors here at Sokoni-links ltd, Beatrice Hofmann, and Her-bert Obwoya about what they thought regarding running an events company.“Events Planning Can Even Push the Most Confident Person Over the Edge. Besides adapting to information technology, Having Interpersonal skills is the number one quality of a successful events manager or anyone for that matter. Here is the reason why. Everything you own in life was given to you by a person. Everything that has ever been removed from you, was taken away from you by a person. Think about it.
So handling people right is key to being successful in life. An events manager has to meet and deal with people, and Kigongo is a habitual cultivator of interpersonal skills. Events managers meet with high ranking executives, vendors, officials, coworkers, customers, sponsor reps, staff, suppliers, and event attendees” Beatrice said “Coordinating with such a wide range of people requires the ability to build last-ing relationship skills with them, I think Kigongo is a pleasant negotiator who can motivate and work together with his team to achieve the desired goal. I am confident that Kigongo maintains an adequate dose of sense of humor and responds to people in a clear and friendly manner, remember you can’t do everything by yourself, you’ll need all the help you can get, so building relationships is the key”According to Obwoya Herbert one of the Directors of Sokoni-links ltd “An events manager’s job is a hectic one, you’ll have to juggle many tasks and technology will keep you ahead and make you more productive as an events manager, those software applications can help you send invitations, track RSVPs and follow up on all activities. Sites like Sokoni-links come in to link businesses to different services that an events planner may require, from projector hire, security or decorations and many more services re-quired with a click of a button”Herbert thinks Kikongo’s key to success in the industry is his interpersonal skills and flexibility, “I think if required, Kigongo on some occasions could have to double as a gatekeeper or driver, cleaner or waiter. Nothing is fixed when organizing events, anything can change in the blink of an eye, but you’ll have to adapt to the situation and make appropriate decisions to get the event going” he said.
Phan-Kay Events always delivers on time exceptional results, going above and beyond their clients' expectations is very important for Mr. Kigongo and his customer-focused orientation is what has given his business sustainable competitive advantage. While the world prepares its self for the second wave of the deadly COVID 19, people will not stop holding events, they will continue scientifically. Excellent industry players like Phan-Kay Events come in handy to provide extraordinary memorable events while Sokoni-links limited plays an important role in providing a huge market of vendors with support services to make an event successful.
Compiled and Written By Oula David
Nakuwadde,Bulenga plot 846 block 306 Mengo.
For more information call us on:
+256774784472
+256705385422
E m a i l u s at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.