Burson Africa inspires future PR Leaders at Career Acceleration workshop

Burson, the global communications agency purpose built to create value for clients through reputation, recently hosted a Career Acceleration workshop attracting final-year PR students from across Africa. Leveraging the agency’s experience and expertise, it provided practical advice and tips to help springboard their career in the PR Industry.

This event, a perfect complement to Burson Africa’s Starting Blocks internship programme, which has trained over 280 up-and-coming PR professionals in 27 countries in Africa, underscores Burson’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of PR professionals.

The workshop, attended by close to 70 participants, including an entire graduating class from a leading academic institution, featured sessions on personal branding and how to best showcase strengths. In addition, top marketing and communications recruiter, Joanne Barret, led a session on decoding the PR job market.

Participants also learnt how to navigate tough interview questions and confidently engaged in mock interviews, receiving feedback from industry experts including, Karl Haechler, Burson Africa co-CEO and Lerato Songelwa, Managing Director of Burson South Africa.

‘At Burson Africa, we believe in the power of mentorship and providing a strong foundation for the next generation of PR professionals on the continent,’ said Haechler. ‘By equipping these aspiring individuals with essential skills and knowledge, we are not just filling a talent pipeline – we are shaping the future of the industry and fostering a dynamic and inclusive PR landscape for years to come.’

The event emphasised the importance of mentorship and provided a realistic yet optimistic view of the PR landscape. Attendees from diverse fields found immense value in the insights shared. The workshop fostered an engaging learning environment with a dedicated Q&A session, allowing participants to directly connect with industry leaders and receive personalised advice.

Lewis Rantho, a law student, remarked, ‘As a law student, I gained a lot from the insights on personal and strategic branding from Burson Africa. A carefully and intentionally managed reputation is just as important for lawyers in their professional capacity and the organisations they represent.’

Vetiwe Mamba, a PR graduate, shared her excitement, stating, ‘It was such an honour to learn from the awesome Burson team! Feeling really inspired about the future and what lies ahead, thank you for offering us the opportunity.’

Zamantuli Ntuli, lecturer at Rosebank College in Durban concluded: ‘This workshop has been immensely valuable for my students. Their notebooks are brimming with ideas and insights gained throughout. I extend our heartfelt thanks to Burson for delivering such an impactful session.’