I've been speaking at YALI and UPSA about how I started in Fashion PR

Taking our turn to share our story

In the last few weeks, I have had the privilege to speak at two events targeting young entrepreneurs and students. 

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