Taking our turn to share our story |
The most recent one was last week when I had the opportunity to
share my journey into Fashion Public Relations (PR) with participants at the
Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) programme at the Ghana Institute of
Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).
When a friend Naa Adjeley Konney of TrendsnBlendsgh asked if she
could save a slot for me because she was assigned to invite 5
Entrepreneurs/Influencers who would experience YALI for a day and also have the
opportunity to interact with participants about how they started and got to
where they are now, I hesitated for a minute.
So I asked her if she thinks I fit in, she said "I think you
do, You run a Fashion PR, that's huge". Then I thought to myself, how is
it that, I always think what I do is so small and not worth sharing. It's been 6 years since I founded e'april public relations.
I agreed, and I'm glad I did. It was a great learning
experience for me. Aside sharing my journey as a PR person in Fashion, I also
had the opportunity to learn a few things from the training.
I also had the opportunity to listen to amazing stories from other women such as Evita Joseph, founder of Evita Joseph Beauty and Fashion Blogger, lavanita.
The other speaking
engagement I had few weeks back was at the University of Professional Studies'
"Time with the Practitioners" event organised by the Public Relations
Management Students Association (PReMSA). This event was targeted at PR
students who have had many questions with regards to what practicing PR was
like and jobs prospects after school.
I shared the platform with
fellow PR practitioners Paa Kwesi Forson (Head of PR, Global Media Alliance)
and Abigail Naa Karley Clegg (PR Freelancer).
Speakers and Lecturers at UPSA |
Being students studying
Public Relations, I could related to what would be going through their minds as
students on what career choices are available to them after graduation.
As professionals, we
gave them our guides on what little things they can do differently that can
keep them ahead of others looking for the same job opportunities.
Particularly in my case,
they should create their own jobs if they can't seem to find what they are
looking for or are not being hired.
I took the opportunity
to share how I found my niche in PR by combining my skills as a PR person to my
passion which is Fashion to build a career as a Fashion PR Specialist.
To any student or young
PR professional looking to find their place in PR, remember that just like
mine, it takes time, research, self-searching and hard work to find what you
are passionate and do what you love.
The key to loving what
you do is identifying what you’re good at and matching it with what you’re
passionate about.
What skills set do you
have? See how you can match that with something you enjoy doing or you are
passionate about.
Faith Senam Ocloo
Fashion Public Relations
Fashion I Beauty I Lifestyle I Events