User talk:Thato Sarah Choma

Thato Choma is a Coach, Talent Manager and Marketing Specialist. She manages elite stars of social media, entertainment and coaches the young and corporate in South Africa. She recently launched her flagship influencer marketing company, goddss. Her career in coaching began in 2010, when she decided to leave her BA studies at Wits in first year, in exchange for a transformational leadership development program with Lucca Leadership International. The following year she returned as a Junior Coach for the organisation. In the same year, she commenced her studies with UNISA and took on tuition at Varsity College, Sandton. Her international career began in the same year when she served as a Varsity College and Clearasil South Africa representative at the global conference, One Young World Summit in Switzerland. The following year she represented Havas Sports and Entertainment at the 2012 edition of the Summit and returned as an Ambassador for the organisation.

In 2012 she took the decision to study part-time and work full time after starting up a movement to empower young girls in selfesteem. In this year, she also became a Spokesperson for Varsity College, South Africa. She started working for a marketing agency, Blue Rain Consulting, as an Intern. She got promoted to Influencer Marketing Manager of the company, which required the management of over 46 individuals across South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Dubai, India and Pakistan for Nokia (now Microsoft). These individuals covered career categories of music, art, photography, film, television and media. In these 2 years, she managed to execute the regional strategy while she was working towards completing her BCom Marketing degree. The management of these influencers was additional to the management of influencer strategies on other clients of the company.

During this time as an Influencer Manager, she had the privilege to work on award winning and flag ship projects in the whole region. Examples of work she vetted and developed on behalf of the agency and Nokia include music video product placements of The Mavins Dynasty, Leo Large and DJ Lamiez Holworthy; to name a few. Creative projects include collaborations in music, fashion and photography with the likes of Leeroy Jason, Sherilea Gaspar (Gas photography), Kool Out Concepts, DJ ID, Reason and Jamal Nxedlana. During this time, a total of 246 collaborations were executed across the regions under her management. Further brands which she consulted on within the agency include L’Oreal, Dark ‘n Lovely and McDonalds.

After her retrenchment from the company in 2014, as a result of the Nokia closure, she decided to focus on her studies. Within 6 months she was head hunted by the promotions agency, XP Squared to acquiring clients and develop accounts for the agency. During her 6 months at the company she developed a training manual for the promoters and secured projects for the company for Bidvest Bank and Adcock Ingram.

In February 2015, she completed her qualification in Neurolinguistics Programing with Global Strengths Coaching, and also stopped consulting for XP Squared promotions. She started her own coaching practice in this time, while she migrated from being marketing concentrated to focus on the growth of her coaching ability. She has coached over 40 individuals since her practice opened. In the same year she became a registered coach with Coaches and Mentors of South Africa and she also formed part of the Barack Obama Young African Leaders Initiative. To further qualify her coaching skills, she volunteered and developed a leadership program for High School students and delivered it over a duration of 10 months. The program achieved 100% success rate and concluded in 2016. In the same year, she obtained her undergrad BCom from UNISA, with specialisation in Marketing.

Thato Choma was born in 1991 and raised in Pretoria. She is 1 of 8 siblings, a daughter to entrepreneurial and corporate parents, a sister and a friend. She now works and lives in Johannesburg, South Africa. She completed her Primary and High School at Hatfield Christian School and matriculated in 2009. Her achievements in High School include awards in academics, dramatic arts and Tennis. Her extramural activities extended to Eistedford performances, musical plays and public speaking competitions. Her last service for the school was leading the cultural and school spirit portfolio in her 1 year term as an elected Student Leader in 2008/9.