Meet Christian Mugabe, the IWG area manager for Rwanda, who shares what flexible working means to him and some of the challenges in his role in Kigali
Christian Mugabe lives in Kigali-Rwanda with his wife, two children and a third on the way. “Family is the most important thing in my life,” he says. “Outside of my work, I like to spend as much time with them as possible, whether it’s hanging out on playdates, going swimming or just spending time together.”
Mugabe joined IWG as area manager for Regus Rwanda almost two years ago. “My role is primarily to generate revenue for the company by both bringing in new sales and the retention of our existing clients by building strong relationships and ensuring their satisfaction,” he explains. “It’s paramount to be close to clients and to pay attention to their ever-changing business needs. Sometimes I’ll act as an advisor, and it’s this kind of attention and customer service that goes a long way in a highly competitive market.”
According to the latest Global Cities research from The Instant Group, demand for flexible workspace worldwide has increased by 19% in the last 12 months. With more than 3,300 offices in 900 cities across 120 countries, IWG provides a wide range of serviced offices, flexible workspaces and mobile solutions to support every need and price point, with the group’s field staff as the main brand ambassadors.
“To me, flexible working means giving someone total freedom to decide how, when and where they want to work,” says Mugabe. “And that’s what I love about Regus. We have a portfolio big enough to give our clients freedom to decide and only pay for what they really need.”
Mugabe enjoys meeting different people every day. “Some are very interesting and I’ll learn a thing or two from them, but what’s more fulfilling is the fact that I can provide a tailored solution that will help them to be more productive by just focusing on growing their businesses,” he says. “The feeling of enriching people’s lives and businesses, and at the same time contributing to my company and country’s economic growth, is priceless.”
Has he found any challenges along the way? “The only challenge I find – which I would actually call an opportunity – is that we only have one centre in Kigali. With one centre at 80% occupancy, it doesn’t leave me with much to sell and also doesn’t give my clients many options in terms of preferred locations.”
In his time working at IWG, Mugabe has developed a set of skills for smart working. “Since April this year, I’ve been managing Tanzania as well as Rwanda. Managing three centres in Dar es Salaam and one in Kigali comes with many tasks and responsibilities, but not so much time at hand,” he grins. “Thankfully, my line manager, Heidi Duvenage, who manages ten countries, has taught me a lot and I can now manage my time better and I’m confident that I’ve become a much more experienced manager and sales person through this.”
Building a thriving business community is key to the success of any flexible working space. So how does Mugabe manage this in his Rwanda and Tanzania offices? “We host a global community at Regus, people who come from all different parts of the world, but generosity is a universal language that they all understand,” he explains. “Giving them time and paying attention to their needs, as well as showing a genuine interest in their business and encouraging them from time to time, makes them feel at home. And, in the end, people buy from people.”
Could a career with IWG be the right move for you?
