Black Girl Magic

Slaying the PR game

By Basetsana Makhalemele

Candid, talkative and energetic, these are some of the adjectivesC that we can use to describe the full of life and one of Bloemfontein’s it girl, Helen Namponya.

The effervescent help takes time to speak to Ignited Woman ’ s creative director, Basetsana Makhalemele about life, work and everything else in between.

Ignited Woman (IW): Please briefly tell us about yourself and where you are from?

Helen Namponya (HN): My parents are Malawian - born and bred. I was born in the Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone Botswana, raised in the Eastern Cape (Fort Beaufort and Port Elizabeth) and I guess matured (like a fine wine - cliche hahaha but oh well) in Botswana.

I' m floating around my 30s as a mom to Gabisile aka Gabi aka The Gabz aka Gabi Smallz, sibling/daughter (youngest of five and probably the owner of the biggest mouth in the family), colleague, broadcaster, craziest friend (everyone deserves a ME - I' m awesome for the laughs) and who knows maybe someone ' s future wife (God bless him).

Those who know me would say I have a big personality however those who don 't would say I' m unfriendly with a resting bitch face. What you get depends on who you are. I' m an introvert with a small circle. I keep myself and my life private - not everyone deserves to know you or your business.

I' m a passionate person with the gift of the gab, I guess that’ s why I' m also in radio. I' m a laugh a minute because I enjoy laughing - you ' ve got to find the humour in everything. Life is stressful and manic enough. LAUGH!

Fun Fact - Helen is Greek for "light" . Ek is die ligte.

IW: Can you tell us about the business ventures you are involved in?

HN: Giiiirl, I' m not currently involved in business so to speak. I have dabbled in artist/talent management as well as celebrity assisting (the former shall NEVER be repeated). I do some copy writing and voice over work here for some known and unknown brands...wines, tourism, domestic violence, youth employment agencies as well.

I' ve done a lot of pausing and restructuring this year - the past few years were brutal so I needed to slow down. Cut out some business, took a break from my Master ' s studies and opted to focus on ME.

IW: You are known to be in the communication and media industry and you are doing extremely well. Why did you choose that field?

HN: To be honest, I think it chose me and if my dad had his way I'd probably be a financial journalist (I shudder at the thought). I'd thought I would be an investigative journalist (after thinking I'd be a forensic entomologist but then I woke up one morning and hated worms, that' s a story for another day).

I matriculated in 2005 and went on to study Media Studies as the UFS didn 't offer Journalism at that stage. During this period I was introduced to PR, internal communication and the like. I just found myself drawn to the field and I suppose the fact that it' s generally unpredictable is what I liked most. I get bored quickly. In this field, I could be coordinating an event today, writing a speech or release tomorrow, doing media drops the next. I love that and being able to interact with people from all walks of life - there are many lessons to be learnt from the people we meet.

IW: What is your impression about the media landscape in the Free State and how do you want to change the game in the province?

HN: New technology as well as the lockdown saw a number of content creators pop up across traditional media and /internet social media which is a good thing. This allows for broader thinking and challenges content creators to think out of the box and give the people what they want because there is more competition.

't compromise yourself! Ever! Also trust your gut. If it tells you to run then run! 19

How do I want to change the game? I don 't. I don 't wake up thinking "how can I change the game/media landscape?" I' m merely someone who loves what she does passionately. I also know who I am and what I want to achieve...sometimes (more often than not) I step on toes and sometimes I don 't. I' m driven by what I want to achieve for myself and what lessons I want my daughter to learn from me.

IW: Congratulations on your new career venture in retail, what role are you playing and how has the journey been so far?

HN: Thank you. I' m in two minds about whether to speak about it because I generally keep my two worlds apart...we all know Ms Helen, who you know from broadcasting, has a big old mouth. 9-5 Helen is not her.

I' m in the PR field for one of Africa ' s biggest food retailers where my portfolio includes public relations, CSI and events. Additionally, we run mobile soup kitchens which provide hunger relief in our division which Free State, Northern Cape, parts of North West as well as Lesotho.

Look, I had been The Grads Girl for so long I ate, breathed, lived, slept graduations. I was graduations and graduations were me. My experience in retail is zero so it' s an exciting challenge for me to learn about collections, shrinkage, swell allowances, stock ordering and so on. I' m incredibly blessed to be in an environment that is conducive to my growth and development and welcoming of my expertise.

We pray for jobs but forget to pray for good bosses and environments that will allow us to thrive. I got both.

IW: How do you juggle everything that you do? And what keeps you motivated to be the women you are today?

HN: How do I juggle everything? Hahahaha I love your jokes. I don 't. Phela remember there in the beginning I said "I' m floating through my 30s " . I take it each day as it comes. I used to be very hard on myself and would work through the night to complete tasks. I pace myself and I prioritize and I don 't feel bad about what I didn 't get to I'll get to that tomorrow. It' s also important to not think one is a superhuman which I used to. You parent, you study, you work, you hustle, you nurture, you wife/husband, you butcher, you bake, you candlestick make. Why do we do this to ourselves?

I am absolutely not successfully juggling everything and I have no qualms about it. I' m human.

IW: Do you think the role of women in the media industry is taken seriously and what can be improved?

HN: Gender parity may be an issue for years to come. We are underrepresented, face numerous safety/harassment issues and generally aren 't faced with the same challenges or afforded the same opportunities as our male counterparts. It irks me that in 2020, we are still having this conversation. That is proof enough that we have a long way to go.

IW: What has been the highlight of your journey in the media industry?

HN: Geez I' ve had a few highlights, last year I was invited to moderate the Standard Bank Top Women ' s Conference. That was huge for me to share spaces with the Caster Semenyas and Dr Precious Motsepe-Moloi' s of this world. What a flippen honour.

I think serving on the advisory board for Miss Commonwealth SA is definitely a highlight along with casting for two SA Tourism adverts, coming up with the Young Alumnus of the Year award during my time at UFS and winning awards for graduations and the Chancellor ' s Distinguished Alumni Awards are highlights.

I did the Top Billing Presenter Search and made it into the top 100 (that was the year Jonathan ntoni ntoni won). Doing that walk in front of the judges with cameras and praying that you don 't trip and end up meeting your ancestors. What an experience!

IW: What would you say to a younger Helen who planned to be in the media industry?

HN: R.U.N. Ma Hellza and marry rich. LOL! Seriously, keep trusting your gut and refuse to compromise yourself.

IW: What has been the most challenging part of your journey thus far? How did you overcome those challenges?

HN: Suffering from imposter syndrome challenged me. I found myself in spaces/environments where everything was questioned and doubted, that made me doubt myself. I had to dig real deep to deliver quality work while second guessing myself. It' s difficult to get the hell out of your own head.

IW: What expansion plans are you looking for the next 2 to 5 years regarding your career?

HN: Ultimately I'd like to be a spokesperson and get into mainstream broadcasting (I told you, my gift is the gab). I' m actually obsessed with the idea of being an NPA spokesperson. Obsessed.

IW: Message to other women who are finding it hard to crack the media industry.

HN: This applies to all genders and is not specific to a particular industry. Don 't compromise yourself! Ever! Also trust your gut. If it tells you to run then run!