2025 at the IMM Institute: A year of excellence, connection and career growth
A year defined by excellence and momentum
2025 brought progress.
The IMM Institute focused on practical growth in marketing and supply chain. The year was shaped by recognition, learning and connection.
Our community kept moving. We hosted events, built partnerships and gave professionals new ways to lead. Students stepped forward. Businesses found value. Ideas met action.
Are you part of this community? Then this year belongs to you.
Celebrating excellence: Awards, rising stars and industry legends
2025’s IMM Institute Excellence Awards evening at The Maslow wasn’t just a ceremony. It was a celebration of people and purpose. We brought together students, entrepreneurs, industry veterans and rising stars to honour the work shaping Africa’s marketing and supply chain future.
Rising stars
We proudly recognised tomorrow’s leaders with awards for:
- Marketing Student of the Year
- Supply Chain Student of the Year
- Emerging Marketer
- Entrepreneur of the Year
Industry excellence
In a world driven by performance, our industry categories honoured those raising the bar:
- Marketer of the Year
- Corporate Marketing Team of the Year
- Supply Chain Professional of the Year
- Corporate Supply Chain Team of the Year
Legends honoured
We were deeply proud to present Lifetime Achievement Awards to:
- Robert Brozin, co-founder of Nando’s, for brand building that put South African entrepreneurship on the map.
- Lebogang Letsoalo, for her visionary leadership in African supply chains.
And now, the momentum continues. Nominations are open for the 2026 IMM Institute Excellence Awards:
Nominate here before 31 January 2026
We don’t just celebrate success once. We build a culture of recognition.
Thought leadership & events: Where ideas met action
2025 focused on turning knowledge into action:
IMM Friday Flash Talks & Friday Breakfasts
Every month, we explored new frontiers in marketing and topics like the evolution of brands and the power of AI in PR. Our short online talks were followed by in-person breakfasts, giving space for connection and deep dives into topics like:
- Data-driven marketing
- Turning attention into real brand impact
- Analytics for growth across Africa
Innovate X
Designed for entrepreneurs and Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), this online series tackled practical topics like:
- Strategic financial leadership
- Building dashboards that drive business success
IMM Chain Connect
2025 also saw the launch of IMM Chain Connect – quarterly, in-person networking events tailored for supply chain professionals. With voices like Lebo Letsoalo leading sessions, these events focused on practical problem-solving and collaboration.
AMC Conference 2025 – Accra, Ghana
We were proud to support the African Marketing Confederation Conference (AMC) in Ghana – a gathering that explored trust, trends and technology in a changing Africa. The event also launched the Certified Professional Marketer (Africa) designation, raising the bar for marketing across the continent.
The takeaway? The IMM Institute is more than a South African platform. We’re a continent-connected hub for insight and exchange.
Career growth: Marketing for Africa
Professional development remained central to our mission. One key resource continued to expand its impact:
Strategic Marketing for Africa
We were fortunate enough to be published the African Marketing Confederation, reaching over 35,000 marketers and decision-makers, this quarterly journal provides African insights for African markets. IMM Associates use it to:
- Stay informed
- Share knowledge
- Showcase their own thought leadership
As an IMM Institute Associate, this is your tool. Use it to learn and share your work.
Pan-African collaboration: From AMC to ASCON
2025 was also a landmark year for African cooperation.
We deepened our partnership with the African Marketing Confederation, reinforcing our shared goal: advancing marketing as a recognised profession across Africa.
At the same time, the IMM Institute was present for the launch of the African Supply Chain Confederation (ASCON) in Accra in August 2025. This milestone event positioned Africa as a strategic voice in global value chains.
Together, these moves signal a shift. Africa isn’t waiting to be included in the global conversation. We’re leading it and the IMM Institute is proud to be part of that journey.
Looking ahead: Synergy Series 2026 and the road forward
In 2026, the Synergy Series will be launched. This new in-person event series will focus on the link between marketing and supply chain. When the right message meets the right delivery system, businesses grow.
Nominate someone for the 2026 Excellence Awards:
Nominations close 31 January 2026
Thank you for being part of IMM Institute’s journey. Here’s to an even more connected, innovative and impactful 2026.
