Emerging Talent: Hannah Abban
Can you share a pivotal moment or experience that led you to pursue a career in the Comms industry?
Two moments come to mind for me, the first becoming the Press Officer for my university’s Afro-Caribbean Society (ACS). I really enjoyed the creative freedom that came with the role and helping to grow the society’s membership effects was my first exposure of the direct positive impacts PR can have. The second was having work experience at a charity where they really took the time to sit down with me and talk me through PR basics like press releases – it was also beneficial to see generally what PRs do on a day-to-day.
Navigating the early stages of any career comes with its set of challenges. Can you tell us about a significant obstacle you've overcome and what it taught you about yourself and your profession?
It definitely does! I think learning to have confidence in my decisions and taking ownership of them – whether the results they create are good or bad - is something I’ve struggled with but have been improving on in the last year. I’ve realised you can’t underestimate the importance in doing this, because when good results do come through you can say ‘I did that!’ and allow yourself to feel pride in yourself and your professional capabilities.
Looking ahead, where do you see yourself in the next five years within the industry? Are there any particular goals or impact you aim to achieve?
I love the variety and fast-paced nature of comms, so hopefully I’ll still be in the PR industry! The mantra, knowledge is power rings true in every industry, including ours, so I’m hoping to get more of that under my belt as I continue working. From events and strategy to crisis comms and influencer relations, there are so many different avenues and skills within the industry, so – God willing – I hope and look forward to being able to gain more exposure to these over that time.
Reflecting on your work so far, which campaign or project holds a special place for you as your favourite, and why?
When working with the phone brand, OPPO, I organised an event for tech influencers and journalists to help them experience the features of the brand’s new phone, which had the USP of taking very good photos in the dark. It started with an evening boat trip on the Thames, which took us to the Greenwich Observatory where we had a private talk at its Planetarium (which included an amazing display of the stars). We then ended the night with drinks and canapes. It was a long and intense day but one that left myself and the team with a great sense of accomplishment by the end!
