Today on Pearls And Heels we feature Poshia Musesya. Poshia Musesya is a PR consultant with 5 years of experience in the PR industry. She has experience working with a wide range of clients including lifestyle, sports, corporate and government communication, among others. After graduating from Daystar University, she joined a local PR agency, working closely with some of the best minds in Kenya, to execute PR campaigns across Kenya for different sectors. After 2 years of employment, she left to focus on being a freelance consultant. Her strength in this industry is in media relations and she is thankful for the many instrumental media networks that she has. It is through them that she has been able to highlight some impactful stories in the media. She is also a devoted mother of one daughter.
- Describe your typical day.
My typical day starts at 6 am. Since I work from home most of the time, I try to clear my inbox as soon as I wake up so that all emails are replied to by 8:00 am. My house is my unofficial office, so I try as much as possible to be as “official” as I can by taking a shower and changing into a less casual outfit. I catch up with work, in between taking “snack” breaks. If I do not have a meeting that day, my day ends at 2:00 pm.
If I have a project that I am working on, my day can start as early as 5 am and end as late as 1 am.
- What did you want to be when you grew up?
I pretty much was clear about what I wanted to pursue as a child; which was something to do with communication. At first, I wanted to be a writer, but I changed my mind in high school and decided that I wanted to be a news presenter. I initially registered for an electronics major at Daystar University but changed to PR after I accidentally sat through a PR lecture in my 2nd semester. So here I am, combining my love for writing and information gathering in PR.
- If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
I think that I am the lucky few who absolutely enjoy what they do. The ups and downs and challenges in my career have built me into the professional that I am right now. I don’t think that I would change much, although I think that I should have had more confidence in my abilities starting out.
- What would you say are the top three skills needed to succeed at your job?
- Writing skills – PR requires a lot of writing for clients; whether it’s a press release, an article, a speech, a script etc.
- Content creation and curation- A person who can churn unique content; especially for digital media is a gem in the PR industry.
- Budgeting skills- I know that it sounds weird, but you need to have your math game polished up for PR, especially if you are in a leadership/ management position. You do not want to be under budget for a campaign.
- As a professional how is it working in Nairobi? Is Nairobi open to what you do or what could be better?
Working in Nairobi has been an exciting experience for me, especially since I was born and bred in Mombasa. I love the fast-paced work culture in Nairobi; especially the space that is available to those willing to learn and put in work. I have had a wonderful experience working here and I think that Nairobi is very receptive to people who are willing to put in work.
Working in the communications industry in Nairobi is both exciting and challenging at the same time. You have to be constantly on your toes because you do not know what tomorrow’s tide might blow your way. For any budding communicator, Nairobi is a great place to start and I think that the market is large enough to accommodate many more PR practitioners.
- What motivates you?
Different experiences motivate me at a particular stage in life. For example, seeing a brand move from a dull, unknown commodity to a household name and a client’s reaction when that happens. That is priceless to me.
- How do you define success?
In my career, I define success by the number of people that I have touched through the various campaigns that I undertake.
In life, I define success as the ability to take care of yourself and your dependents both emotionally and financially.
- Who has been your greatest inspiration?
I am inspired by spirited women in my industry. The likes of Kentice Tikolo and Gina Din.
- What is your favourite aspect of your job?
The unpredictability of it all. When you are dealing with an industry that relies on people’s emotions and feelings, you can never predict what will happen next. So, my job keeps me on my toes all the time.
- What would you say are the key elements to being successful?
Passion and motivation in what you do are very instrumental in being successful, especially in a PR career.
Knowledge of your area of expertise is also a key component in a successful career
- What advice would you give somebody just starting out in your line of work?
Don’t be afraid to speak up. The craziest ideas make the best campaigns. Align yourself with the best in the industry; you’ll learn a lot. PR is about practical experiences.
- What has been your most satisfying moment in terms of career?
I do not have one specific moment but during the IAAF World Junior Championships, watching sports bring Kenyans together was probably the best time of my career.
- What makes you happy?
I don’t really know how to answer this because different things and experiences make me happy. For example, watching my daughter grow into the young girl that she is right now gives me a lot of joy.
- What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
I am a really great cook. So, when I’m not running around with work, I am probably experimenting in my kitchen. I also love reading; especially books by African authors.
- Where do you see yourself in around 10 years?
Running my own firm and shaping how people view Kenya and Africa at large. I also hope that in 10 years, I will have been instrumental in shaping the careers of one or two (or more) women in my industry.
