Campaign’s Faces to Watch, Brand Edition 2021 – Sherry Italia, Communications Specialist, IBM Middle East & Africa
Age: 30
Nominated by Jumana Akkawi, Communications Leader, Middle East & Africa At IBM.
Sherry is one of the most imaginative and creative people I have ever met. Her drive to do things differently, curiosity for new skills and appetite for treading unchartered waters is admirable.
An outstanding writer, Sherry traverses the complexity of simplifying technology for our audience with utmost ease and is an integral part of every creative brainstorming and campaign execution. She is passionate, dependable, smart and knows how to keep her calm through challenging situations.
I will confidently say that Sherry is someone to watch out for as she rises through the communications spectrum over the next few years.
Bio
I graduated in filmmaking, interned in TV and radio, spent 7 years as an award-winning advertising copywriter. I was then selected for See It Be It 2019, followed by moving to a Communications role in a field I adore – technology!
In the past year at IBM, I have supported a diverse group of leading executives as a trusted communications advisor. I’ve worked on announcements/interviews/narratives, created innovative campaigns like ‘I am IBM’ and ‘She Loves Systems’, and spent 400+ hours on learning & certifications.
My constants on this journey were having a growth mindset, taking creative ownership and making ideas work.
Guiding principles
- If I cannot do great things, I will try to do small things in a great way.
- Trust your inner guidance system. Validation is an inside job.
- Never put off what you’re ‘capable’ of doing just to continue what you are ‘comfortable’ doing.
How has Covid-19 changed your job?
Covid-19 highlighted to me the importance of my role and the communications function. Engaging employees who work remotely, evaluating messages through a lens of empathy and mindfulness, ensuring the authenticity of tone that brings leaders closer to their teams is something I learnt; and I continue to evolve with every campaign.
Side hustle
Self-care. Every act of self-care is a powerful declaration of ‘I am on my side’. I alternate between gardening experiments, volunteering at animal shelters, binge reading or watching content, writing poetry, exploring new music and taking long walks to it; and my personal favourite – meditating in nature.
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https://www.instagram.com/sherryitalia/