The 2025 edition of the World Public Relations Day (WPRD) Festival concluded on a high note last Friday with a transformative fireside chat that brought together seasoned com­munication professionals and rising talents to explore the critical role of personal branding and leader­ship in public relations.

Held in Accra, the event was the capstone of the week-long festival organised by Global Media Alliance (GMA).

This year marked the festival’s fifth anniversary, and was celebrat­ed under the theme: ‘Dominant Coalition and Personal Branding.’

Mr Mensah and Ms Lumor (right) having a panel discussion

Under the themed: ‘Dominant Coalition and Personal Branding,’ the Fireside Chat was a riveting discussion featuring two promi­nent voices in Ghana’s corporate communication space: Madam Cynthia Lumor, Deputy Managing Director of Tullow Ghana, and Mr Gayheart Mensah, Deputy Chief Executive Office (Corpo­rate Services) at the Food and Drugs Authority.

In her opening remarks, Ms Cynthia Lumor urged PR profes­sionals to embrace uncertainty, take bold steps in their career paths, and never settle into com­fort zones that stifle growth.

“The fear of the unknown pa­ralyses us. Don’t be afraid to make a move, even if the next step comes with a lower salary,” she advised, highlighting the impor­tance of aligning one’s career with long-term value and vision.

Drawing from her journey, Ms Lumor stressed that leadership readiness goes beyond job titles and is rooted in deep knowledge of one’s industry and role.

“Regardless of your position, ask yourself, ‘What value do I bring?’ To answer that, you must understand the industry you’re in holistically,” she indicated.

Mr Gayheart Mensah took the audience through his jour­ney from journalism into public relations and how he transformed his career by consciously building his brand.

“Success is grounded in prin­ciples and values. Take yourself seriously,” he advised.

“Ambition is good, but ambi­tion without character will not get you far. This is about personal development and continuous growth, even outside your core career,” he added.

Mr Mensah emphasised the importance of intentionality in leadership development.

The Fireside Chat served as the climax of the 2025 World PR Day Festival, which had an array of activities including a MasterLAB on the intersection of PR, AI, and data analysis, and a curated Festival Jamz playlist in partner­ship with Boomplay and YFM, celebrating the fusion of commu­nication, culture, and creativity.

Emma Wenani, Chief Director at Global Media Alliance, de­scribed the fifth edition as both a celebration and a call to action.

“This milestone not only marks progress but also embodies the spirit of nurturing ideas and building enduring partnerships to advance the Public Relations profession, both in Ghana and globally,” she explained.