On Thursday, March 26, we welcomed female creatives, storytellers, and media professionals to the Next Creata Hub for the Creata Connect Women’s Month Edition, a session built around sharing experiences, learning, and collaboration.
This edition of Creata Connect, a monthly community series by Next Creata, was organised under the theme “Visibility to Value.” The focus was clear. Move beyond being seen and step into building careers that create impact, income, and long‑term growth.
The room carried open and honest conversations. Women shared experiences from their journeys in media and the creative industry. The discussions touched on growth, monetisation, and the importance of building meaningful connections within Uganda’s creative economy.
Delivering the keynote, Dr. Shamim K. Matovu spoke directly to young women about self‑belief and showing up with intention. She challenged the idea of waiting for validation and encouraged creatives to take up space with confidence. Her message centered on knowing one’s value and staying true to it, regardless of external opinions.
“Sometimes you have been told you have to wait to be called on to show up,” she said. “You have to wait for someone to validate you. Why? Why do you have to wait for another person to tell you who you are?”
The panel discussion brought together voices including Victoria Sibiya, Samantha Okullo, Caroline Ampaire, Hannah Arinaitwe, Zayra Baby, and Kamanzi Ruth Rwego. Each speaker offered a different perspective on building a sustainable path in the creative space.
Zayra Baby spoke about self‑respect and the importance of choosing partnerships that align with personal values. She shared that working with the right brands strengthens both identity and growth, while staying true to oneself builds long‑term value.
“You will never find me working for somebody just because that person is big,” she said. “How you handle yourself is the same way people will come for you.”
From a brand perspective, Caroline Ampaire highlighted what matters most when working with creatives. She pointed to brand fit and quality as key factors, noting that strong, consistent content and alignment with a brand’s identity often carry more weight than audience size.
“Audience size comes last,” she said. “Those dynamics have changed. You may have a big audience that is not engaged at all. So for me, brand fit comes first.”
Victoria Sibiya encouraged creatives to define their personal values early. She emphasized that clarity on what one stands for shapes decisions, builds trust, and guides long‑term growth in any career.
“One of the things I ask my mentees: what are your top three values?” she said. “These are the three things you live by, things you cannot change no matter what is happening.”
The session also created space for networking, allowing attendees to connect, share ideas, and build relationships that extend beyond the event. With free entry and an open invitation to women in media and digital spaces, the gathering reflected a strong sense of community and shared ambition.
As the Women’s Month comes to a close, the Creata Connect Women’s Edition left a clear message. Visibility is a starting point. Value is built through clarity, consistency, and the courage to take up space.
