An Interview with Comfort Umoren-Olorunnisomo, recent Atlas Corps Fellow at Deseret Management Corporation (DMC)
Atlas Corps recently spoke with fellow “Comfort Umoren-Olorunnisomo” from Nigeria, a communications professional with over five years of experience in various sectors who has ended her fellowship in June. Here are some of the insights she shared:
I had three main goals when I applied for the Atlas Corps Fellowship – to gain global exposure in the communications field, hone my cross-cultural and digital technology skills, and expand my international network, to foster both professional and personal growth. I believe I have exceeded these goals. Also, my understanding and perspectives on issues like global politics, American history, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA), education, AI, leadership and life in general, have broadened.
The fellowship provides a unique platform to engage with other young leaders from diverse backgrounds. This was a strong motivator and source of inspiration to push myself to know better, be better, and do better. In addition, serving at my host organization offered me the opportunity to organize and attend high-profile events, which served as an ideal space for learning new things and networking with c-suite executives from different sectors. In addition to this, being in the US has opened my eyes to several learning opportunities. For instance, through a connection made during my fellowship, I applied and got a Verizon scholarship that allowed me to access various courses on the edX platform. As a result, I earned certificates in project and program management, Spanish, data analysis and visualization (using R and Power Bi), programming for beginners and critical thinking for effective communication, all from leading American universities.
I brought innovative solutions and creative approaches to my host organization, offering fresh perspectives and ideas that foster creative problem-solving and out-of-the-box strategies. My extensive experience as an African communications professional helped me to establish media collaborations between my host organization and media practitioners in Africa. I have a strong background in communications research which I employed on various projects at my host organization including conducting Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews in Nigeria for Skylight, an initiative of Radiant Foundation. I leveraged this skill to provide an international perspective on my host organization’s products and increase its reach. I also provided human insights on Boncom projects and helped to boost media relations between my host organization and media organizations within and outside the US.
Being a part of a global fellowship program like the Atlas Corps has enabled me to build a diverse and robust network of professionals from across the globe. I leveraged these connections to foster local and international collaborations, exchange ideas, and explore new opportunities for partnerships that benefited my host organization and enhance its global reach efforts.
The impact of the fellowship on my community in Nigeria is multifaceted. They include:
- Knowledge Sharing: Through the skills and knowledge I have gained during the fellowship, I have conducted a number of workshops and webinars with young professionals within the Knowledge Skills and Entrepreneurship (KSE) Network, my personal platform and on-sight events during my visit to Nigeria last year, emphasizing the importance of participating in international programs like the Atlas Corps fellowship.
- Mentorship: I have also initiated mentorship sessions with young Nigerians within my circle, to equip them withcommunication and leadership skills that have helped them grow as individuals and professionals.
- Collaboration: I have facilitated collaborations between local media practitioners in Nigeria and my host organization, enabling the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and resources. These partnerships have led to strategic relationships and impactful projects that will promote opportunities for growth and development in my community.
I served at DMC as a global communications fellow. I was part of the team that organized the monthly Global Communicators Collective (GloCoCo) events in DC. GloCoCo is an initiative to create a community among top communicators from diverse industries and foster discussions on issues that concern the profession. It is a place for communications experts to share ideas, discuss trends and network. Previous events include discussions on communicating about faith in a fractured world, communications in the age of AI, role of communications in supporting diverse global talents, and leveraging communications to drive culture change, among others. I contributed in sourcing for speakers and communication experts who would benefit and lend their voice to the conversation. I usually share the link with young people in my online community. I also worked as the media partnership person at Skylight helping to expand the app’s media reach and visibility, as well as working with Boncom’s research and strategy team among others.
The most recent was in December when we were putting together the ‘communicating about faith in a fractured world’ event and wanted to do an all-women panel. We needed a diverse but respectful panel. Faith was/is a sensitive topic considering the Israel-Palestine war and we wanted women who have practiced the event’s theme over time. I was part of the team who reached out to women leading such conversations in their community. This was to ensure different religions were represented. From my network, I invited two out of the four panelists, a Hindu and a Muslim. The conversation was deep but respectful and it turned out to be one of the most successful events we’ve organized. We always ensured diversity and inclusion among our speakers and attendees – age, religion, gender and others.
Yes, definitely!
The KSE Network, the organization I was working with before leaving Nigeria, organizes workshops for young Nigerian professionals and entrepreneurs. I intend to leverage my network in partnering with local and international experts and organizations to train more young Nigerians on technical and soft skills, and connect them with learning, work and mentorship opportunities that will result in professional, entrepreneurial and personal growth. I also hope to build resourceful connections between the Network and interested contacts to foster collaborations on projects. Furthermore, I will continue contributing to projects at my host organization. I plan on having more one-on-one mentorship sessions with young Nigerians to serve as a source of motivation and guide the next generation of African leaders. A PhD degree in Communications is also part of my future plans. I am excited about what the future holds for me!