The ISSER Main Auditorium at the University of Ghana came alive on Friday, July 11, 2025, as leading voices in media, business, and healthcare shared powerful insights at a career and personal development seminar titled “Beyond the Job Hunt.”
Spearheaded by SRC presidential hopeful Evander Akrasi, the event brought together students, young professionals, and thought leaders to explore the realities of the job market, the value of resilience, and the broader opportunities beyond formal employment.
The seminar featured a distinguished panel including Bola Ray, Serwaa Amihere, DJ Black, Princess Ama Burland, Dr. Caryn Agyemang Prempeh, and Mr. Addo Mensah—each offering practical wisdom and personal reflections on navigating life and career.
Bola Ray highlighted the value of both formal and informal education. He explained that formal education is essential for certain professions like accounting, medicine, or law, where proper training and certification are required. At the same time, he encouraged a broader mindset by suggesting that “CEO” can also stand for Chief Encouraging Officer—someone who not only motivates themselves but also inspires and uplifts others.
He said: “We’re getting formal education, but there’s also education you get outside the classroom, on the streets. It’s important to learn real-life skills too. And if you want to be an accountant, doctor, or lawyer, know the kind of education you need to get there. Also, be resilient. I’ve seen people start businesses, and now everyone says, ‘I’m a CEO.’ It’s become a trend. But I say, yes, be a CEO—be a Chief Encouraging Officer. Encourage yourself and stay strong.”
Serwaa Amihere also emphasised the damaging effects of trolling and gossip, not just on individuals but on the media industry as a whole. She urged students to avoid such behaviour and stressed the importance of using digital platforms with responsibility and integrity.
“As you go on, don’t just use your social media pages for gossip and, you know, trolling, because I’ve been a victim of trolling for many years. Please, don’t troll people. It’s not good,” she cautioned.
Princess Ama Burland spoke about her early dreams and career journey, saying she didn’t have a clear career path growing up, she mostly just wanted to be successful and wealthy. It was during university that things started to take shape when she got a job as a Personal Assistant (PA) at a media company. Not long after, her boss suggested she try on-air presenting, but she turned it down at the time, feeling it was too challenging and not part of her plans.
“Growing up, I just wanted to be rich, so I didn’t really have a career path until I got to uni. In uni, I got a job. I was just in school, and a media company called me that they wanted me to be a PA, and two weeks into my job, my boss was like, Oh, I’m pretty, so I should be a host and a presenter. So I told them it was not something I wanted to do at that time because it’s very difficult.”
The event made a lasting impression and marked a pivotal step toward empowering the University of Ghana student community.
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Story by Juliet Etsyi | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Kelvin B. Annor-Yeboah
