Nina
Current Position
Managing Director and Owner, Likha Communications Consulting/ Regular contributor for various lifestyle and business publications
Job Insider
Role Description: As sole proprietor and managing director of a communications consultancy, I very often perform business development, client servicing/account management, creative, and administrative roles all at the same time. For every project that I get into, I do the following:
- Network, meet with prospects, prepare proposals and make pitches
- Source talents for my creative pool (freelancers—usually for copywriting, art direction/design/layout, photography, etc—are hired on a project basis)
- Manage the overall project
- Deal with third-party suppliers and contracted freelancers
- Write, copyedit, proofread
- Ensure quality assurance at the pre-press stage
- Supervise printing of publications and print materials
As a freelance writer/editor and a regular contributor for various publications, I source stories, conduct interviews, and write/edit articles for my various clients.
Typical Day: I usually work 12-16 hours in a day, 6-7 days per week. Every day is different, but the usual activities consist of the following:
- Attend client meetings, interviews, photo shoots, team interfaces, etc.
- Perform writing, editing, other editorial duties
- Read and respond to emails (sometimes this takes as much as 3 hours/day)
- Do administrative duties (e.g. prepare proposals/ paperwork, coordinate with suppliers, run bank errands, etc.)
- I also spend, on average, 3 hours a day for “extra-curricular activities.” On some days, this takes the whole day, especially when there are speaking engagements.
What I Love About the Job: I love meeting people from different fields and industries; I love the conversations I have and the friends I make because of the interviews that I conduct. I love the social aspect of my job in every way (e.g., attending events and launches, meeting artists, etc.). Of course, I love writing, and I enjoy researching and learning about new things in the process. I also enjoy making pitches, meeting with clients, etc. In many cases, my clients become my friends, and I almost always get repeat business because of the relationships I am able to build with people around me. Above all, I love the sense of empowerment that I get from being able to pursue a career that I love and being able to build a life that I feel is worth living.
What I Don’t Love About the Job: 1) Transcribing interviews! I enjoy the conversations, but not when I have to transcribe them and listen to them over and over again. It takes the joy out of the entire process. 2) The fact that I work alone and usually have to do the administrative tasks by myself. 3) The occasional feeling of insecurity over not having a “regular job” with a “regular paycheck.” But I always go back to why I decided to do this in the first place (empowerment, flexibility, etc.) and I don’t feel as bad.
Proudest Accomplishments: Let’s just say that I had very many lucky breaks in my writing career. By the time I had established my consultancy at 24, I had already: written a column for the country’s leading daily, managed the publication of 8 books, and co-written 1 book. It became quite easy to establish my credibility in the field despite the absence of a graduate degree or experience as a journalist or a “literary expert.”
Likha’s first two years were also very good, as I was able to work on a lot of groundbreaking projects and concepts. The one I’m most proud of was the 60th anniversary exhibit of the Liberal Party of the Philippines. Instead of the usual exhibit with staid old memorabilia and the tendency to be boring and overly nostalgic, my partner and I turned history into pieces of art that evoked strong emotions and made people feel proud to be associated with the Party. It was a very different approach to history and politics, and it was a very big hit. It required intense concentration and focus, hours and hours of research, attention to detail, collaboration with a lot of people and groups from the private sector, academe, and politics—AND, it also required an intuitive understanding of politics, art, culture, and relationships that no class or book can teach anyone.
Biggest Challenges: Right now, it’s usually sourcing the RIGHT people for each project. There are times when suppliers and collaborators “over-represent” their capabilities and are not able to deliver according to the desired or committed specifications. Sometimes, too, people stray from their commitments and you are left holding a [deadline] in your hand.
Who Would be a Fit with the Role
Job requirements:
- Superior proficiency in oral and written English
- Flexibility in writing and working style, proven ability to turn any subject into engaging reading material
- At least 3 years of experience in client-servicing/account management/project management
- At least 5 years of experience in marketing and corporate communications, advertising, public relations, or publishing
- Proven track record in working with teams, motivating people, spotting talent, training staff/collaborators
- Proven ability to work under intense pressure, tight deadlines, difficult clients, less-than-ideal conditions, etc.
- Uncompromising commitment to quality, effectiveness, and efficiency
- Excellent leadership and managerial skills
Skills/Education required:
- Copywriting, advertising, marketing/corporate communications, etc.
- Journalism, public relations
- Creative team management/creative direction
- Publications management (including pre-press technology, techniques, etc.)
- Client/account management
- Strategic planning
- Enterprise-building
Personal characteristics:
- Disciplined and focused yet flexible
- Independent-minded yet a leader and a team player
- Personable, reliable, trustworthy, credible
- Resourceful; does not panic or crack under pressure
- Perceptive and intuitive, with high EQ and can read between the lines
- Comfortable with both left- and right-brain activities; can easily multi-task and switch between functions without “short-circuiting”
- Attractive physical appearance a plus! ; )
Why and How Nina Arrived at Her Job
I did not seek a position; I created my own!
- Consciously gained experience in the private, non-profit, and government sectors to gain an understanding of the inner workings of each and to be connected to various networks
- Maintained strong connections to the academe, civil society, movers in society, arts and culture, business, government, etc.—the wider your social networks are, the “smaller your world” is, the better it is for you and your job
- Did not specialize in a particular field, or on a particular writing style—flexibility is a great asset to develop in this field
Long-Term Career Goal/s
I want to be established as one of the leading social entrepreneurs in the field of public/advocacy/political communications and social/cultural change. If given the chance, I would like to serve in public office.
Advice to Job-Seekers for the Same or a Similar Position
BE SURE THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. It’s not for everybody—you need a high EQ, strong appetite for risk, a high tolerance for occasional bouts of financial instability, and passion, passion, passion. Monetary rewards often come late in this career. You need to have unwavering endurance, commitment, dedication to stay here—and to stay here with integrity. In this field, reputation is everything. You’ve got to earn your stripes and work your way up. This is not just a “business” – in many ways, it’s a calling and a lifestyle.
