NCBA has reinforced its commitment to growing Kenya’s creative economy by equipping artists with practical financial, professional and business skills through a specialized capacity-building workshop under its Elev8 programme.
Held at the NCBA Centre on July 28, the multi-session training brought together industry experts to provide creatives with knowledge in financial literacy, personal branding, media relations, brand strategy and digital banking. The initiative reflects the bank’s broader vision of empowering artists to build resilient careers while promoting financial inclusion and long-term economic sustainability.
Opening the workshop, the NCBA Group Director of Marketing, Communications and Citizenship Nelly Wainaina emphasized the importance of holistic development for creative professionals, noting that artistic talent alone is not enough to guarantee long-term success.
The keynote address highlighted NCBA’s guiding philosophy of Ubuntu – “I am because we are” , alongside its “Banking on Belief” commitment, encouraging artists to embrace professionalism, financial discipline and continuous personal development as essential ingredients for sustainable careers.
The session set the tone for a day focused on equipping creatives with practical skills to navigate the business side of the entertainment industry.
A major focus of the workshop was financial independence and wealth creation. Facilitators from NCBA Investment Bank guided participants through investment opportunities that can help artists build financial security despite the often unpredictable nature of earnings in the creative sector.
Artists were introduced to structured investment vehicles tailored to different financial goals and risk appetites, including Money Market Funds (MMFs) for capital preservation and liquidity, and Equity Funds for long-term wealth creation. The session also encouraged participants to establish passive income streams that can provide financial stability throughout their careers.
Recognizing that visibility and reputation are critical to success in the creative industry, Oxygene Marketing and Communications Limited delivered practical training on media preparedness and professional presentation.
Participants also, learned how to confidently handle media interviews, respond to difficult questions from journalists and maintain control of key messages during public engagements.
The session also covered personal branding, appropriate dress codes, body language and non-verbal communication, helping artists strengthen their professional image and build credibility with audiences and potential partners.
To help creatives unlock new commercial opportunities, Dentsu facilitated discussions on brand strategy, storytelling and revenue diversification.
The session encouraged artists to expand beyond traditional music performance and streaming by documenting the creative process behind their work, producing authentic content and developing professional media kits capable of attracting commercial partnerships, endorsements and brand collaborations. The training highlighted storytelling as a valuable tool for building stronger audience engagement and increasing marketability.
The workshop also featured a digital banking session by Loop DFS, highlighting innovative financial solutions that help freelancers and creative entrepreneurs better manage their finances.
Artists received practical demonstrations on using the Loop App to set goal-based savings plans for career and personal milestones, access responsible credit facilities and make investments directly from their mobile phones.
By combining financial literacy, investment education, media training, brand development and digital financial solutions under one programme, NCBA continues to position the Elev8 initiative as a catalyst for strengthening Kenya’s creative economy.
The workshop demonstrates the bank’s commitment to empowering creatives through holistic professional development, expanding access to financial tools and knowledge, and enabling artists to build sustainable careers that extend beyond their creative talent while contributing to the growth of the country’s creative industry.
