**Exploring career opportunities in the media industry with experts**
Bringing together influential women in the media industry, an inspiring and empowering webinar was hosted by Boston Media House, Good Governance Africa and the Mail & Guardian. The event was held at BMH’s Sandton campus, where an audience of young girls were able to hear stories from these influential women on how they reached the positions they hold today in the media sector, as well as advice, guidance and words of encouragement.
A key takeaway from the experiences shared by these women across the various media sectors is that continuous learning is essential. It allows women entering the media field to stay up to date on new developments and to be able to pivot and adapt to changes in the industry. Seizing opportunities as they arise is essential to advancing one’s career; having a mentor is a great help; and maintaining a competitive edge is important for women in the still male-dominated media industry.
In parallel, GGA’s regional offices in Zimbabwe and Ghana hosted similar events, where participants were able to learn from the diverse experiences of women stakeholders in the media industry. In Nigeria, a conference on gender-based violence was also held. Detailed reports on these events are to follow.
Mmabatho Mongae, Data Analyst at GGA, opened the proceedings by stating that GGA believes in empowering young women and that the aim of the webinar was to give the young women in attendance a perspective on the world of media.
**Introduction**
Carike Verbooy, Academic Director of Boston Media House, presented the different areas of the media industry in which young women can thrive.
Keynote speaker and radio host Precious Maputle highlighted the importance of youth empowerment, especially young women, for the future of Africa. Cultural and creative industries contribute greatly to the GDP of all countries and the media industry offers many career opportunities. Working in media has many benefits, such as creative expression, networking, collaboration and global connection, while encouraging continuous learning. “It’s a fulfilling career, and you can make a meaningful contribution. Dare to dream!”, said Maputle, emphasizing that a positive attitude is beneficial, as is finding a mentor.
**Session 1: Women in Media**
Panelists were encouraged to share their journey and explain how they got to their current positions.
Shoeshoe Ntsoaki Qhu, CEO of the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), asked the girls in the audience how diverse the social media platforms they listen to are. Reflecting on her own career, she noted that the media industry offers a variety of opportunities and experiences, and she has embraced the ones that have come her way.
Qhu stressed the importance of always being prepared to face failure and mistakes, which are part of the journey to success.
Asafika Mpako, Southern Africa Communications Coordinator for Afrobarometer, shared her life-changing journey from a small town to studying at UCT and then in the US. She subsequently applied for more scholarships and travelled extensively. She didn’t intend to end up in media, but her mentor told her that she had always been a communicator at heart. She encouraged the audience to rise above fear as there are no limits, and to always be adaptable and open to continuous learning.
AFDA graduate Naledi Mphahlele, a beauty pageant model and script supervisor, is now a film director, often working over 12 hours a day, in a field where about 90% of the technical crew are usually male. She stressed that courage is key to making your voice heard as a woman in the media industry.
Sibusiswe Ndlovu, CEO of Amakhosikazi Media in Southern Africa, joined the online webinar from Zimbabwe. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, she started her career as an actress, then worked as a radio presenter, before producing radio programmes and furthering her studies to develop her career. She realised that women were often too quiet in male-dominated media meetings, which led her to found Amakhosikazi Media to create a platform to share women’s stories.
A question from the audience asked Mpako about how she balanced her career, studies and personal life; she explained that she often studied too hard, leaving herself with very little time, highlighting the importance of prioritising. “To stay positive and focused, you need discipline and routines. It is also important to surround yourself with a support network.”
**Session 2: Journalism, Radio, Television**
Dr Allegro Dinkwanyane, Founder and CEO of Orgella Group, mentioned that she started Orgella at just 21, encouraging the younger generation to start early. On continuous learning, Dinkwanyane stressed that the world is changing rapidly and it is essential to stay on top of the latest trends..
In conclusion, this webinar opened the doors to the multiple opportunities available to women in the media industry, encouraging continuous learning, risk-taking, courage and empowerment. It highlighted the immense potential of women in this field and highlighted the importance of diversity and inclusion for a more dynamic and balanced media industry.