In this installment of Alternative Winter Break, founder and director Mazi Mutafa speaks with publicist Mercy Chikowore.

Mercy Chikowore is a CEO, journalist and publicist who is invested in storytelling for various clients. Born in Tokyo with roots in Zimbabwe, Chikowore grew up in New York before moving to Geneva, Switzerland. Through these various life transitions, Chikowore became enthralled by getting to know people and their stories at a young age. This led her to pursue a career in journalism, taking various classes in undergrad while being a part of different media departments on campus. After she graduated, she landed a job in the corporate world which helped her learn about different avenues of communications careers.

While continuing to balance her passions with real-world obligations, Chikowore explains the ins and outs of becoming a well-rounded communications specialist. From mentors to career pivots, she shares intimate moments of how she developed her career through diligent timing and the “what” of the story she sets out to tell. Chikowore chronicles the lessons and wins of her own forged pathways to a successful public relations career. Through this effervescent and enlightening conversation, Chikowore speaks to the candid realities of finding a job after college as an immigrant while pursuing her passion for working in the public relations industry. From social media to journalistic writing, Chikowore shares how she utilizes the constant learning curve of digital media as a way to engage a client's story while moving the needle on creative employment.

Want to know how to launch a career in communications? Are you curious to learn more about how the worlds of journalism, public relations, and social media play an important part in running a business? Watch this conversation with the Executive Director and Founder of Words Beats and Life Mazi Mutafa and Mercy Chikowore as they dive into the nitty gritty of a career in communications.