A Career in Content Creation. Q&A with Bathabile Dlamini.

In 2014, Bathabile Dlamini (BD) started on a journey as a content creator that has seen her win awards and also use multimedia content to contribute to humanitarian causes. In this Q&A with Nomathemba Zondo (NZ) she shares her career story and advice to would be content creators.

NZ: Hi Bathabile! We are excited to host you on Phakama CareerTALKS. Please tell us a bit about yourself. Who is Bathabile?

BD: My name is Bathabile, as you have mentioned. I was born and raised in Bulawayo. I like to identify myself as a storyteller who uses her talents, skills and experiences to achieve this.

NZ: You currently work as a content creator, kindly tell us about that. What does your job entail?

BD: Oh yes, I am currently a content creator for an amazing global organization called Internews. I have been with this organization for a year and a half now and my work entails creating content in multimedia format. By multimedia format, I am referring to designing and presenting information in audio-visual format, infographics, animations, illustrations, producing podcasts, documentaries and writing articles. My other responsibility includes capacitating content creators at global and local level through equipping them with multimedia content creation skills. Yeah, that’s it in a nutshell.

NZ: Wow interesting. You have been involved in creating content outside of the orgsanisation you work for now, please give us a sneak peak into some of the content you have created.

BD: My content creation journey started in the year 2014, when I was a second year student at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST). That year, Mobile Community Zimbabwe introduced a content creation training programme, which unveiled a skill and talent I never knew I had. I was among the 20 students that were selected to participate in training and in 2015 I received the award for Best Student Mobile Storyteller.

Fast forward to 2016 where I introduced a multimedia storytelling club at NUST called Student Run Networks and in 2017, my team and I received a provincial award for outstanding documentary production on sexual exploitation of minors.

Since then I have not stopped telling stories. In year 2020 I produced a series of COVID-19 advocacy vlogs which gained traction on Facebook attracting the attention and in other instance support from organisations like the Harare US Embassy, The Feed ZW, International Commission of Jurist, I am for Bulawayo Fighting COVID-19 Trust and CITE just to mention a few. All this content is available online in case anyone wants to watch or listen.

NZ: Has it always been your goal to work as a content creator?

BD: Not really! My goal has and still is to fulfill my purpose through using my talents for positive impact in my community.

NZ: Content creation must demand a lot of creativity and inspiration, where do you manage to get the energy and inspiration to be at the top of your game everyday?

BD: I’m a creative so I don’t struggle much when creating content. Additionally I study the craft, research and have fun while at it.

NZ: You have a Bachelor's degree in journalism and you are currently completing a masters in strategic communication. How have these educational programmes positioned you for the work you are currently doing?

BD: I have always approached life strategically and as I have highlighted above the goal is bigger than content creation. So the program I am currently taking is a stepping stone towards my ultimate goal. I believe I am a leader, and leaders are readers. You need to keep at the top of your game!

NZ: Besides schooling, what would you say are the skills or talents that have positioned you as the content creator that you are today?

BD: Acting, willingness to learn and listening.

NZ: Looking back to your days in high school and university and where you are now, is there anything you would do differently in as far as using your skills and talents in developing your career?

BD: To be honest with you, I am grateful for the decisions I made, mentorship I received, and support I received and continue to receive from my family and friends. We are on track!

NZ: From where you are now, where do you see yourself in the next five years or so?

BD: I foresee myself in view of Community Connect, an organisation I lead. In that regard, I see ourselves successfully accomplishing organizational vision and mission.

NZ: What words of advice do you have for young women in high school, college or university who are seeking to develop their careers within the content creation space?

BD: It’s a fun 🤩, boundary less and competitive field. Just develop your unique fiber, make mistakes, learn and listen. Most importantly, believe in yourself especially if you are a girl because this is a male dominated field 😉