As a strategic communications consultant leading two organisations with 100% female staff and a 70% female client base, I am always interested in conversations about gendered organisations and the erroneous assumption of its exclusionary intent.

For us at Nigerian Women in PR, for example, a significant part of the work that we do is to help bridge the gap to open up more opportunities for women, expand learning opportunities by ensuring continuous interaction between the classroom and experienced professionals.

Theory is good, but learning from market-place professionals in your field is better.

The reality of practicing as a public relations and communications consultant is radically different from the black and white principles taught in textbooks and classes.

I have been on both sides of the divide, as a student studying for my certification exams in public relations over a decade ago, and now as guest faculty at various executive education and post graduate programs in public relations and communications.

The take away is the same: the more professionals document their experiences and contribute to learning resource development, the better equipped executives and students can be to apply classroom teachings to real world problems.

My current research work, carried out in collaboration with Ana ADI, Professor of Public Relations from Quadriga University of Applied Sciences in Berlin, is looking to address this documentation gap in the experiences of women in public relations.

What has been your experience as a woman working in public relations and communications in Nigeria? What were your expectations when you came into the profession? What does your future in PR look like?

For our academic book project, we are looking to hold closed focus group sessions of 5–10 women each. These sessions will also identify what areas organisations like Nigerian Women in PR should focus on to support the growth and continuous relevance of fellow practitioners.

Are you a junior, middle-level or senior woman in public relations and communications? Would you like to be a part of our research work, and share your story with us? Then please sign up here: https://bit.ly/FutureofNigerianPR

The collective growth and continuous relevance of our industry can be supported by the work of gendered organisations like Nigerian Women in PR. I’m looking forward to YOUR individual contribution on this journey!