ABOUT
Story is how we make meaning and move people. I've spent my career doing both.
I'm a strategic communications professional and writer with 25 years of experience working at the intersection of story, policy and social change - across Africa, the UK and the Middle East.
Translating complexity into language that moves people has been the constant across my roles. In magazines, that meant writing and editing stories about women's lives for some of South Africa's most-read titles. In the NGO sector, it meant leading communications for Sonke Gender Justice - shaping how gender-based violence, HIV and AIDS and gender equality were spoken about in public. At Airbnb, it meant building creative policy campaigns across Europe, the Middle East and Africa that changed how governments and communities understood the platform - and that delivered measurable results.
Storytelling is the thread. But what I've learned, is that story only works when it's grounded in strategy, shaped by a genuine understanding of the audience, and executed with rigour.
I'm currently thinking about what the AI moment means for the craft of communication and storytelling.
Stories have always motivated people and moved them to action. If that's what you're aiming to do - I'd love to hear from you.
Photo credits © Alexandra Shoneyin and David Bloomer
