Today I am starting a new Monday segment called Pearls And Heels. Pearls and Heels is a segment where women talk about their jobs, hopes and dreams. Faith Oneya is my first Pearls and Heels Woman. You have probably read one of her articles on inspirational women in the Daily Nation where she is an Online Editor. She writes stories that inspire you and make you realize if those women can make it so can you. Find out more about her.
1. Describe your typical day?
I wake up at 5 am daily because I like to be at work early. Usually, I am at the office by 6.30 am. I work as an online editor so I will go through our site, and comb through other sites as well to look for stories. I will usually write a story or two for the web, as well as edit and update stories for the website. My day usually ends at around 4 PM. I will usually go home for a thirty-minute yoga session, then spend quality time with my baby girl, before retiring to bed at 9 pm.
2. What did you want to be when you grew up?
At first, I wanted to be an air hostess, then a probation officer, but the most consistent and recurring one was a writer.
3. If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
I once applied for a position in a newspaper that turned out to be a hacking job. I was eighteen and hot-headed so I quit after one day. I should have stayed there, should have taught me a thing or two about persistence and self-discipline. I would also go for professional courses and join professional bodies much earlier.
4. What would you say are the top three skills needed to succeed at your job?
Writing, Editing and Listening skills are very essential for any editor/ writer.
5. As a professional how is it working in Nairobi? Is Nairobi open to what you do or what could be better?
I think there are a lot of opportunities here but the one thing that irks me is traffic jams. It is one of the reasons I negotiated my working hours with my boss. Thank God he is quite flexible.
6. What motivates you?
My daughter motivates me on a day-to-day basis.
7. How do you define success?
Doing what you love and doing it well.
8. Who has been your greatest inspiration?
My late mother, who worked very hard and loved teaching her students, still inspires me to date.
9. What is your favourite aspect of your job?
Telling inspirational stories of everyday people.
10. What would you say are the key elements to being successful?
First is self-awareness, just to know yourself and know what really makes you happy, and satisfied. Find a way of making money out of what you love doing. Everything else for me is secondary.
11. What advice would you give somebody just starting out in your line of work?
Always take the experience first. The money will come later. Once you know what you want out of a career, find ways of volunteering or interning and when you do, make sure they remember you for something that you did extremely well. If you want to write, you should already be doing that by the time you are applying for a job. Start a blog, write on Twitter (follow the right people on Twitter), and submit well-written articles.
12. What has been your most satisfying moment in terms of your career?
Doing an interview with a woman called Dr. Stellah Bosire who inspired the whole nation is a career highlight.
13. What makes you happy?
My daughter calling me mommy, a good book, a good movie and nice brown chapatis.
14. What are your hobbies?
What do you do in your non-work time? I love reading, blogging and doing yoga.
15. Where do you see yourself in around 10 years?
I see myself as a consultant in communication matters.
Check out Faith’s articles in the Daily Nation at http://www.nation.co.ke/faithoneya. You can also interact with her on Twitter at @FaithOneya.
