When Amos first signed up to work with us at Kru Live in 2015, he didn’t realise just how significantly it would impact his career over the next few years. What started as a part-time gig to earn extra income and gain event experience at university paved the way for Amos’ progression into creative directing and production. A serial creative with an entrepreneurial spirit, Amos has fully made the most of all opportunities available from starting out with Kru Live. We sat down with Amos to talk more about his experience with us, and what his future has in store…
Can you share how you came to be a part of Kru Live's team?
I was studying Event Management at The University of West London, and I was looking for a way to supplement my finances at the time. I needed something flexible, but I also wanted to gain exposure to the events industry - Kru seemed like the perfect fit! At the time I was curious and applied for all the roles available, I was naive to the amazing agencies and brands they work with, and I felt really inspired by the thought of working with them - I knew it would be a great opportunity to learn from the very best. My first job was for HP in 2015, and I didn’t really understand the full extent of what Kru Live offered, I was doing a directional role for their international delegates in Heathrow T5. It was the most low-key job I've ever done and at the time I got paid so much money for it - plus I received the payment a couple of weeks later! Of course, when I found out more about Kru Live and their services, I wanted to stick around for more.
Can you describe how Kru Live has provided you with a supportive and flexible approach to work?
I probably wouldn't be where I am with the network I have, if I hadn't been with Kru. They've been integral to my professional progression. The past few years, there have been key moments where Kru have impacted my career, almost exponentially just by putting me in the room with some inspirational people. Kru Live are also really good at rewarding you and pushing you higher if you work hard and do well. I started out as a brand ambassador, then ended up as a team lead on a high-profile Google event which got me my first events agency job, actually. I still work with Kru Live now because once you become a part of their community, they keep you with them for as long as you want or need. What with launching my own media production agency and carving out my freelance career, I still work with Kru to keep my pulse on the experience economy, meet new people and to keep the cash flowing!
What has been your most memorable activation/event and why?
Hands down, it was the launch of the Google Pixel 2. This was the first time I was a staff supervisor on one of their jobs,and I was super excited. The activation itself was a lot of fun and really creative it opened my eyes to the upper echelons of experiential events, but better still it was the role that propelled me into the start of my events career. I’m a curious person, so whenever I work, I make sure I speak with event producers, executives and creatives about their experiences in their careers, gaining feedback, and generally asking questions and seeing what I can learn. This apparently didn’t go unnoticed, because on the last shift, the Head of Marketing at Google came up to me and offered her email so we could go for a coffee to see if she could help me navigate my events career. I was so naive at the time, I don’t think I realised that it was a big deal! The coffee sadly didn't happen, but serendipity was at work and she helped shape my career nonetheless! A few months later, I applied to work with Amplify, and they invited me to see some of their other work at a live event. I walked in and bumped into that very same Head of Marketing who, no joke, whipped out her Google Chromebook there and then and sent an email recommendation to her contact at Amplify. I got the job and ended up working as a Project Coordinator for a year and the first project was for the launch of the Google Pixel 3; The Curiosity Room, such an iconic experience this was!
How does it feel to be part of this community?
You know, anyone I've ever met on a job at Kru, I'm now lifelong friends with. Everyone in each job is so fascinating. We all come from similar worlds but are all so unique and different with such an interesting story to tell. One of my favourite things is to meet people through Kru. It sounds corny, but they are like my extended family. We go to each other for advice, we share stories, we share contacts, we help each other out. It’s an invaluable network and community to be a part of.
What's a dream you have that you've yet to achieve?
I’m a curious individual with a love of meeting new people and an interest in various nuances in the creative industry, but also notions of anthropology and the human experiences. Since about 2016 I’ve always wanted to produce and present a docu-series called WalkWithA the concept is simple: walking and talking. An ongoing docuseries, taking an authentic deep dive into the lives of pivotal cultural tastemakers shaping London and the wider world; authentically documenting real-life stories whilst exploring enriching locations around the world.
The concept came from my own challenging experience of navigating the creative industry, every significant opportunity I have achieved has been through meeting new people and being exposed to their world. With each time a new door being opened. My fortune of working with the likes of Kru Live and Amplify has taught me the power of networking however it has been a tough journey and I realise that these opportunities are not always available to people. The walking series would be my way of opening doors to my younger self, a resource for those curious enough to learn from. I really want to inspire and make space for other young creatives. I was so fortunate with my opportunities, and I want to create those for others. I want to pay it forward and open the doors for others.
Last year I was able to produce a proof of concept for the walking series which I’d love to develop, the series was called; Local Insiders: Digital Jobs - the series explores various careers in digital technology, profiling individuals as they share their paths, skills, education, and passion. Commissioned by LIFT – a partnership of Islington, Camden, Hackney, and Tower Hamlets boroughs – and produced by the Good Growth Hub.
I also took the opportunity to run the video production through Us.Man.Dere a community-led media production company I set up in March 2023, we are a collective of cultural tastemakers who aim to be change agents for the next generation of creatives. Our focus is on delivering purposeful work and content in various creative fields, including Filmmaking, strategy and community building. Through brand partnerships, commercial work, designing and selling products, community-building initiatives, and thought leadership.
Our mission is to open doors to our younger selves, breaking down the barriers that limit creativity and creating lasting engagement with the communities we work with. We made a contemporary art short film called Rebirth inspired by the Renaissance movement and the 2011 riots; as a flagship project for our portfolio. It shines a light on the area of Newham in a really positive and innovative way, fighting against negative stereotypes and highlighting cultural talent from the area - did you know Idris Alba is from Newham?
It’s my dream to keep developing Us.Man.Dere off the back of Rebirth.
Follow Amos on socials and find out more about his work:
Instagram: @Amosmukombero // @WalkWithAmos
YouTube: WalkWithAmos
LinkedIn: Amos Mukombero
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