I had been informed she would be visiting Nigeria for the first time, for the ‘Find Your Edge strategic communication conference, designed to drive senior management professionals in media, politics and corporate industries to open their eyes to the emerging opportunities in today’s media cluttered world. When I got the confirmation of my interview with her, I knew it would be an enlightening experience with the stunning, intelligent and highly impactful woman of substance and yes it was!
There is just always something nice to remember Wheatbaker hotel for. I have had various interviews there but this was somewhat different because we sat outside and enjoyed the cool breeze as we chatted. I must admit that it felt like we had known each other for years and her demeanour was very warm and amiable. Looking gorgeous in her red flair gown, we exchange pleasantries and before the interview kicks off, she begins to tell me things about myself “what? already? How did you know that?” I asked “common Kemi, I read up about you, I needed to know more about you and I must say I am impressed” she says and with a coy leer I respond “Thanks Ma’am, I am humbled”.
Gina London is my ‘date’ for this week and she is an internationally recognised expert at helping professionals reach their greatest potential as dynamic and effective communicators. An Emmy award winning veteran, former CNN correspondent and anchor, she has a proven track record of teaching the skills and strategies needed to become a powerful and credible communicator. She has a rich experience of training, coaching, and interviewing thousands of executives, political leaders and celebrities worldwide. Her international trainings have taken her across the globe, from Egypt to the UAE, Cambodia, Indonesia and more.
She has worked with a wide range of global businesses, political and media leaders. From executives in Fortune 500 companies, to small family owned businesses. She has provided in-depth training to Iraq women running for parliament and Bahgdahd’s city council, opposition party activists in Egypt, and high level women in the Persian Gulf committed to social change. She is an expert in writing and communication skills, with years of experience designing issues, advocacy and marketing campaigns.
Gina starts by telling me she grew up in a small town in the state of Indiana. When she said Indiana, I was excited as it brought me sweet memories of my visit there “Yes Kemi, Indiana is such a beautiful place” she says to which I respond “very true” after which she continues “Back then when I was eleven, my father who was a pilot was killed in a plane crash, it was tragic but it allowed me have an isolated life, it made me realise that life is short and we never know what is going to happen, for me relationships are deeper and very important. He was a corporate pilot and mum was a teacher. I did not grow up wealthy but I was satisfied. The value I have learnt is that family and friends are important.” She says.
I shared with her my memories of visiting CNN and how I am not quick to forget that experience anytime soon. It felt like I touched an exciting area of her life because her face lit up and she begins to share “I was one of the youngest reporters when I joined back then so, my first time reporting on job was at CNN. I was given the opportunity to cover politics, interview people and get to the heart of stories as they occur. When I covered the 911 event, I was able to empathise with the victims who had lost loved ones within a blink of an eye because I lost my father also to a crash though not same circumstance. CNN for me was an incredible experience because I learnt to work fast because, there are people you can meet and you can report live.”
“I was at CNN for seven years, I left in 2003 and was later offered a job in the corporate world and I knew I had had enough. I had not gone on a date for six years but things changed as I later found passion helping professionals reach their potentials.” Gina tells me
Gina loves to focus on how to leverage on global media to sustain relevance, and also a global approach to communicating with stakeholders, the media and the entire world. She tells me more about this. Hear her “I work with executives and grassroot organisations and it’s more about being an engaging communicator and getting better. It’s not about giving out information alone but connecting with your audience, focusing on who that audience is and what the audience wants to hear and how to engage with them. It is the methodology and the skills and techniques combined but it is a liability if you don’t have it especially in today’s’ 24 hour mass space. It is critical more than ever to be able to communicate fast and in an engaging way. I talk about communication strategies, skills, communications and relationships and all these combined helps make executives or grassroots organisations more effective in what they do.” She reveals
For Gina, it is not enough to be educated, you need the strategy to build up to a momentum and then arrive at a logical conclusion, it is about identifying goals, setting a calendar to achieve those goals and taking notes. It’s about communicating!
Sharing about her reason for being in Nigeria, Gina says “I am in Nigeria because directly, I made an amazing connection through twitter, my strategic partners Ayola Jolayemi of SwiftThink and Ayo Owodunni of Amplio Consulting and over the years, we have built an amazing relationship to come together to make my visit possible.” She admits
It was fascinating to see Gina all excited about being in Nigeria but I asked for her views on Nigeria and the reports she has been reading and watching and her response said it all. “This is my first time in Nigeria, journalists don’t always have time to go all the way to find out about a story and listeners want to hear information, reach their conclusion and move on from there. Knowing that the media sympathises, I have learnt in Indonesia, and all over as I have travelled that there is always more that what you read or hear from the outside and there are a lot of people committed to doing great things even in places that are dreaded dangerous. When I met both Ayo’s, I knew I had met people of honour and integrity.’
“I read and heard enough about Nigeria but I did not pay attention to alarmist stories or to some of my friends who even discouraged me from coming because I know there is always more to learn about a place or people and you cannot judge a book by its cover neither can you judge a country by a few headlines. It has been very interesting for me, I have met very intelligent and progressive women and men in Nigeria who are working hard to ensure the perception about Nigeria changes because it is true that there are perceptions but there is more to life than mere perceptions. I trust that the strategies I have been giving in the classes I have had and others to come, together with my experiences will help Nigerians as I believe they will make good use of it by adapting it and making it work for themselves here.” She quips.
As a woman, wife, mother and professional, Gina is amazed at the multitasking abilities of women and she confirms this when she tells me “I have spoken at Women in Democracy forums, been privileged to serve on various women platforms and I am stunned at my findings. I have met women with forward thinking ideas and are great multitaskers. I think the way to get things right in this world is to tap the resources of women because we are already nurturers and we are committed to strengthen one another. I am committed to empowering and nurturing women.” Gina discloses.
Gina certainly had all planned out at the home front before coming to Nigeria and she shares with me how she achieved that. In her words, “Work and family balance is very important. My decision to come here was agreed by my family. My daughter is six years old and this is the longest time I have been without her since she was born because I will be in Nigeria for a while. The great thing is that we have Skpe and I made a little calendar for her so she’s counting down well. My husband is also very supportive about this and I communicate well with him too. There must be a balance between work and family and none must suffer at the detriment of the other”. She advices.
I asked her to summerise her personality for me in few words and indeed it was a brilliant way to end our discourse. “I am a determined optimist, I don’t think everything will be rosy but I am also someone who get’s excited about simple things as well as I can get excited about great things. I am determined to build relationships because together, we can do more despite all the wrongs in this world”.
Kemi Ajumobi
