A career plan should guide you, not box you in. Sometimes the most fulfilling paths come from opportunities you never saw coming.
This week on the Comms Spotlight series, we meet Flora Nanjala, whose journey into communications began as a detour. What started off unplanned has grown into work that matters, from finding her voice in spaces where she once felt unsure to sharing the stories of smallholder farmers across Africa as the Editorial and Digital Marketing Senior Specialist at One Acre Fund.
How did you begin your career in Communications?
I like to say that communications found me. Early on, I always imagined myself working in the financial space as an investment analyst. But one day, I was invited to attend an internship bootcamp where participants were essentially competing for an internship position in an agricultural company. It was not in my field of interest, but I decided to do it anyway to earn some money. I came second, so I did not get the opportunity at the time. However, the person who came first later referred me when the company needed to expand its communications team. That is how I joined, and along the way, I completely fell in love with PR, communications, and the agricultural space. What started as an unexpected path turned into a career that truly feels like it chose me.
Tell us about your role at One Acre Fund.
I like to describe myself as a brand storyteller. I use my campaign planning and content production skills to amplify the stories of hardworking smallholder farmers across Africa. These farmers are some of the most hardworking people you will ever meet, yet many still struggle to make ends meet, not because they lack effort, but because they often lack access to the resources and information that could help them grow more and earn more.
Through storytelling, I try to amplify their voices, their resilience, and their determination. My goal is to help more people see their realities and inspire others to join the mission of supporting them. I feel deeply humbled to use my skills to serve the people who ensure we all have food on our tables and who play such a critical role in growing our economies.
What is one challenge you have faced in your career, and how did you handle it?
I joined the corporate world when I was very young, 21 years old to be exact. Early on, it was sometimes difficult to find my voice in rooms filled with older and more experienced professionals. There were moments when I felt like I was not the person people expected to hear from. I did shrink for some time, but my family really encouraged and challenged me. Around that time, I also came across a quote by Richard Branson that stayed with me: “Do it even if your voice shakes.” And honestly, my voice shook quite a lot in those early years.
Over time, I realised that the more you step forward, the more confident you become. That experience also shaped how I see leadership. I promised myself that when I am in positions of influence, I will make space for everyone’s voice to be heard, especially young professionals, because sometimes fresh ideas are exactly what a field like communications needs.
If you were not in communications, what do you think you would be doing instead, and why?
After joining One Acre Fund, I discovered how much I enjoy working in the development space. So even if I were not in communications, I think I would still be doing something within development.
Seeing the impact of my work has shown me how powerful it can be when people use their skills to support others. I would still want to contribute in some way, whether through strategy, partnerships, or another field, because the impact of development work is incredibly meaningful.
How do you pace yourself to avoid burnout?
A colleague of mine, Sian Wanjiru, once shared a piece of advice that really stayed with me: prioritise energy over time. The idea is to align your most important work with the times of day when you are naturally most productive. Since a lot of my work involves technical writing, campaign planning, and strategy, I try to protect my mornings for deep, focused work. I then leave my afternoons more open for meetings and collaborative tasks.
Outside of work, I try to stay connected to the things that bring me joy. Spending time with loved ones helps me reconnect with my inner child. I enjoy dancing, singing, playing games, and simply being present with family and friends, and sometimes even colleagues.
What advice would you offer to young professionals looking to niche down in development communications?
If you are looking for a career that allows you to earn a living while also making a meaningful impact, development communications can be an incredibly fulfilling space. You know that your work is contributing to something bigger than yourself.
One of the things I appreciate about One Acre Fund is that everyone understands how their role contributes to farmer prosperity. That shared sense of purpose makes the work even more meaningful.
