Reflecting on 3 Years!
As my blog and website are turning 3 years old this month, I thought it is a good time to answer a couple of questions on why I started my blog and what I have learned so far.
Why did you start a blog & website?
While I was finishing my master’s degree, I spent a lot of time researching about next steps in my career and tips for job navigation. One tip that I saw that stood out to me was to make sure you stand out in a pool of applicants, which can be by establishing a personal website. I searched key leaders in the public health field and I noticed that quite a few of them had websites with their portfolios. I would always use the websites as resources, as it gave a comprehensive overview of their experiences and the blogs were useful to gain career insights or just read about their thoughts. Some key websites I looked at are Dr. Ngozi Erondu-Manyonganise, Fatou Wurie, when it was still the fatoublog, and Aya Chebbi. Each person crafted their website in a different way, which is something I studied as I planned how to create mine.
I also listened to a YouTube series and have heard many public health leaders mention that you should put your writing out there, as it builds your portfolio, and it can be a space to publish your work if organizations are not willing to publish it. As you build your portfolio, one day organizations will approach you and will want to pay you to write. I also liked the idea of having a blog, as I liked writing, and as I discussed in a previous blog post, not all my writing has gotten published. I thought that could just be my own space to share my thoughts on topics and also share advice about navigating public health careers.
As I have continued growing my page, I also realized it is a way for me to tailor my own digital footprint and build a brand for myself. In 2025, I also expanded to offer services. I have learned a lot about branding and designing content, and what my interests are. In undergraduate and graduate school, I had Social Media positions at student groups, so this is where I was able to learn social media skills, and now I have expanded to content creation.
Depending on what your motives are, you do not necessarily need to build a website. If you are just interested in writing, you can use LinkedIn articles or pitch your writing to online spaces.
Why did you decide on health systems & policy?
In the summer before graduating from my Master of Public Health, I spent a lot of time networking and speaking to people and I realized I needed to find a specialty area. This was also more important as my program did not have a specialization;, it was just a general Master of Public Health. I spent a lot of time researching and came to the conclusion that I was interested in improving health systems, especially using the WHO’s Health System Building Blocks. This is why I define myself as a health system and policy analyst. I first labeled myself a researcher, but was advised that this can be limiting, as people may only see you as a researcher, and I wanted to do more than just research. research.
What are all the jobs/Internships you have completed?
Vaccine Research Assistant, King’s College London
United Nations Association of Canada Youth Internship Program
Black Youth Policy Fellowship, Urban Alliance for Race Relations
Toronto Urban Fellows Program, City of Toronto
Evaluation Fellows Program, United States Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
What have you learned from building a brand?
Know Your Audience
Plan and It’s Never Too Early
It’s Okay to Change
Ask for Help
Reach Out To People with Similar Brands
