Sonita believes in projecting her desires ahead of herself.  She knew that she wanted to go into jazz, and set things up as though she were already a jazz journalist. From this time on doors began to open.    It became real. If you say something it will become real.  I call it an imposter moment.  I decided I wanted to work in jazz. I came out of Cambridge with a degree in philosophy and decided to work in what I liked, which was jazz.
 
You run a large Media Company. What is media? 
Telling stories; I've always told stories, we've always told stories, from early African cave paintings to African oral history.  All cultures have oral histories, but they are particularly strong and living in Afro Caribbean culture.
 
Have you ever been aware that you got different treatment as a woman?
What I find the hardest thing  is being a woman, a mother and a CEO.  People's expectation is that you will have the same emotional commitment as a man.  People expect you to be  a man.  There should be more flexibility in work.
 
Are you aware of the relevance of cultural  or gender equality issues in your work?
But we're doing this interview the day after the American Elections, (America had just elected the first Afro-American President) and there's a different feeling.  It feels like there's a line been drawn.
 
If you were speaking to young women starting out what advice would you give them?
I am a seizer of opportunities, and making  the most of them. Grab the moment.
 
Advice to young women starting out:
 
1) Don't set a limit on your ambition.
 
2) Realise that your ambitions will change as you achieve things: as you do more, more things will become possible.
 
3) Yes is a better word than No.
 
4) There will be some impostor moments. Just opens up more doors.  If you say something, it makes it real.
 
5) Don't be afraid to network; meeting interesting people and saying: "Can you help me with this?"
 
6) Ask lots of questions constantly. Don't' be afraid to ask for help.

©2009 christina@christrainers.com