5 minute read
Andrea Fernandes
Motivational coaches often speak of pushing the boundaries, building on strengths, and pursuing your passion. For Andrea Fernandes, all these came naturally as she ventured into public relations. Andrea was always passionate about her goal and her career transition from journalism to public relations was smooth.
“I was looking to expand my horizon. Public relations as a profession appealed to me. Being a former journalist, I knew I had the experience to confidently take up PR assignments. Since I had already built a network of people as a correspondent, it was easy to build on this and start my own venture,” says Andrea.
Born in the picturesque village of Moira in North Goa, growing up, Andrea was inclined towards singing, reading, writing, sports such as basketball and volleyball. Little did she know that some of these passions would come in handy later in life. After completing her graduation in Mass Media at Don Bosco, Panaji, Andrea landed her first job at Goa Streets. Over the years, Andrea has been associated with various media organisations in Goa and grew in experience at three English publications.
She covered extensive stories and also had an eye for sports coverage. After her marriage, she didn’t give up her passion and continued with the same vigour.
“Writing has always been my passion. I stand for the truth. Hence, I wanted to be a journalist, but the sad reality is that today, big businesses and government have a huge impact on the editorial integrity of news organisations," she says.
Sharing some of her experiences as a journalist, Andrea said that every interview she conducted has a distinct memory and experience linked to it. "I have done several stories on the poor state of infrastructure in sports, misappropriation of funds and other issues faced by sportsmen in the state. I have also highlighted issues such as sand extraction, hill cutting, filling of fields, and the flourishing drugs and prostitution business along the coastal belt. My best story was an investigative piece on the Bandodkar Gold Trophy, which was an exclusive one and created widespread impact," she said while reminiscing about her journalistic days. Asked to pick a celebrity that she would want to
meet and interview someday, Andrea says, "Being a sports journalist for six years, I would love to interview Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. These two footballers are the greatest of their generation and have inspiring stories.” Role models are considered as guiding lights, and growing up, Andrea too had a few persons whom she admired.
“Barkha Dutt for sure. She is a prominent figure after her frontline war reporting on the Kargil Conflict between India and Pakistan in 1999. But we need to make sure that these incredible women in the field of journalism are remembered. In today’s society, women journalists, sadly, are misrepresented, even in Hollywood and Bollywood films. They are mostly portrayed as single-minded, and unethical in their pursuits of a story or to make it big in the industry. So, forget about the fictional area, and let us focus instead on highlighting these amazing women," says Andrea.
“I later began working with the Goa Football Development Council over six years on a part-time basis, and I am still handling their PR. I have also handled publicity for prominent politicians. During the last election as well, I have worked for some candidates who have gone on to win their respective constituencies. Besides this, I am associated with various other reputed companies. For me, no client is too big or too small. I try to help their business grow,” she points out.
In entrepreneurship, tackling challenges is key. “Catering to specific needs of a client and meeting their expectations is a major challenge. There have been situations wherein things don’t go as planned. So strategies have to be reworked. But these aspects are part of the profession. At the end of the day, client satisfaction is all that matters,” she says confidently.
On her future goals, Andrea has set her sights on taking up bigger assignments. “Since I began my journey as a PR professional, my clientele has steadily increased. This has given me the confidence to take up more challenging assignments. I look forward to scaling up and working with bigger clients," she says.
Andrea is a firm believer that life is full of opportunities. "We need to keep a growth mindset. Just focus on investing in yourself. This is what I would probably tell the past version of myself if I went back in time!” says Andrea.
On a parting note, Andrea says navigating the journey of life is a challenge, especially for women. “God has blessed me firstly with a very supportive family and post-marriage, with a husband who has always stood by me through thick and thin. There always will be highs and lows. But you have to keep an open mind and a broad horizon. Keep exploring options, building relationships, and working hard. Opportunities will definitely knock on your door."
