Mimi Kalinda

Most leadership development programs teach communication as a soft skill. We build it as a strategic capability.

Storytelling & Leadership partners with mission-driven organizations and leaders to strengthen narrative strategy, leadership communication, and influence — especially in complex, high-stakes environments. Our methodology wasn't developed in a classroom. It was forged from three decades of global public relations, reputation management, and strategic communications.

We… Show more

Most leadership development programs teach communication as a soft skill. We build it as a strategic capability.

Storytelling & Leadership partners with mission-driven organizations and leaders to strengthen narrative strategy, leadership communication, and influence — especially in complex, high-stakes environments. Our methodology wasn't developed in a classroom. It was forged from three decades of global public relations, reputation management, and strategic communications.

We work across three interconnected pillars:
1. Organizational Narrative Strategy — helping institutions reimagine how they show up during moments of strategic change
2. Leadership Narrative & Executive Storytelling — equipping leaders to communicate with authenticity, authority, and impact
3. Narrative & Organizational Culture — shaping the internal stories that create conditions for people to lead fully and effectively

Trusted by McKinsey, IBM, Coca-Cola, LinkedIn, the Obama Foundation, Oxford University, IE University, UNICEF, and Bloomberg, among others. We turn competent managers into compelling leaders — and transform organizations into cultures where communication is coherent, emotionally intelligent, and strategically aligned.

In an age where AI handles data and analysis, the ability to make meaning, build trust, and move people to action is the most critical human differentiator. That is the work of Storytelling & Leadership. Show less

Some of the world's most influential organizations trust ACG to shape narratives, protect reputations, and drive stakeholder action in complex markets.

Over 13 years, I have built ACG into a fully integrated strategic communications firm operating across multiple markets — advising clients including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, WHO, Mastercard Foundation, the African Development Bank, and the Wikimedia Foundation.

Our work spans:
Reputation management — building and… Show more

Some of the world's most influential organizations trust ACG to shape narratives, protect reputations, and drive stakeholder action in complex markets.

Over 13 years, I have built ACG into a fully integrated strategic communications firm operating across multiple markets — advising clients including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, WHO, Mastercard Foundation, the African Development Bank, and the Wikimedia Foundation.

Our work spans:
Reputation management — building and protecting the credibility of leaders and institutions under scrutiny
Crisis communications — advising organizations when the stakes are highest and every word matters
Executive positioning — turning leaders into credible, compelling voices in their industries
Stakeholder strategy — designing communications that move the right people to action
Cultural intelligence — navigating complex, multi-market environments where context is everything

ACG's edge is not just strategic. It is contextual. We understand the nuances, sensitivities, and dynamics that determine whether a message lands or falls flat. That is what we bring to every client engagement.

www.africacommunicationsgroup.com.

#WeKnowAfrica Show less

As a Visiting Lecturer with the Africa Oxford Initiative (AfOx), I contribute to one of the world's leading programs at the intersection of African scholarship, leadership, and global impact.

My work with AfOx focuses on equipping the next generation of African leaders with the narrative and communication capabilities they need to influence at the highest levels — across institutions, governments, and global platforms.

IE University is consistently ranked among the top business schools in the world, drawing students and executives from over 130 countries. Teaching here is not just an academic role — it is a front-row seat to how the next generation of global leaders think, communicate, and lead.
As Adjunct Professor, I teach storytelling, public speaking, and strategic communications — equipping future executives with the human-centered capabilities that drive influence, trust, and stakeholder action in… Show more

IE University is consistently ranked among the top business schools in the world, drawing students and executives from over 130 countries. Teaching here is not just an academic role — it is a front-row seat to how the next generation of global leaders think, communicate, and lead.
As Adjunct Professor, I teach storytelling, public speaking, and strategic communications — equipping future executives with the human-centered capabilities that drive influence, trust, and stakeholder action in complex environments.
My approach mirrors what I bring to boardrooms and leadership workshops worldwide: communication is not a presentation skill. It is a strategic leadership tool. I help students move beyond information delivery to narrative mastery — learning to craft messages that align teams, shift perception, and move people to act.

The impact has been recognized at the highest level of the institution:
"Mimi is one of the most passionate and inspiring leaders I've had the privilege to work with during my career. Her global expertise in communication and storytelling significantly enriched our classrooms. She was recognized as the Best Professor of the Public Speaking and Storytelling course by our IE MARCOM students." — Carla Szemzo, Vice Dean, IE University Show less

Story & Power is a weekly publication at the intersection of leadership, communications, story, power, and influence — written for leaders, institutions, and advisors who operate in high-stakes environments where narrative determines outcomes.

Each edition explores how the most effective leaders use story, language, and strategic communication to build trust, shift perception, and move stakeholders to action.

We are a publishing platform for extraordinary stories about African changemakers, ground-breakers and torch-bearers. We highlight the accomplishments of leaders in industry, STEM and innovation.

Their stories are the backbone of Africa’s narrative- its challenges at a local and global level, its homegrown solutions, and the impact of the continent’s remarkable development.

The Bezos Earth Fund represents the world's largest philanthropic commitment to tackling climate change — a $10 billion mandate to drive systemic environmental action across the globe. As Senior Communications Consultant for the Energy Portfolio, I worked directly with the Head of Global Energy Innovation to shape how one of the world's most consequential climate initiatives communicated its vision, positioned its leadership, and moved its stakeholders to action.

My work… Show more

The Bezos Earth Fund represents the world's largest philanthropic commitment to tackling climate change — a $10 billion mandate to drive systemic environmental action across the globe. As Senior Communications Consultant for the Energy Portfolio, I worked directly with the Head of Global Energy Innovation to shape how one of the world's most consequential climate initiatives communicated its vision, positioned its leadership, and moved its stakeholders to action.

My work spanned:
Thought leadership strategy — developing executive positioning and opinion editorials that placed the Fund's voice at the center of global energy conversations
Media relations — building visibility and credibility across international press and digital platforms
Stakeholder communications — advising on strategy that connected with governments, investors, scientists, and civil society leaders across multiple markets
Grantee visibility — partnering with internal teams to amplify the impact stories of Earth Fund grantees worldwide

Working at this level, where communication directly shapes policy conversations, philanthropic narratives, and global energy perception, reinforced a truth I bring to every engagement: the right story, told to the right people, at the right moment, is itself a form of power. Show less

I was honoured to work with the Secretariat, the government of Kenya, and various partners as Director of Communications at Africa Climate Summit, 4-6 September 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya. This inaugural summit, hosted by HE President William Ruto, drove the agenda for climate action in Africa and beyond.

I led strategic communications efforts for this groundbreaking summit focused on advancing a just and inclusive energy transition.

Amplifying the voices of global leaders… Show more

I was honoured to work with the Secretariat, the government of Kenya, and various partners as Director of Communications at Africa Climate Summit, 4-6 September 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya. This inaugural summit, hosted by HE President William Ruto, drove the agenda for climate action in Africa and beyond.

I led strategic communications efforts for this groundbreaking summit focused on advancing a just and inclusive energy transition.

Amplifying the voices of global leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to foster sustainable solutions for climate challenges.

Collaborating with partners and media agencies to reach a diverse audience and raise awareness on climate action and renewable energy.

#ClimateActionAfrica #ACS2023 #SustainabilityLeadership Show less

Innovations for Poverty Action is one of the world's leading research organizations dedicated to discovering and advancing what works to improve the lives of people living in poverty — operating across more than 20 countries.

As Global Director of Communications, I led the strategic communications function for an organization whose work sits at the intersection of rigorous evidence, policy influence, and global development impact.

My mandate centered on three core… Show more

Innovations for Poverty Action is one of the world's leading research organizations dedicated to discovering and advancing what works to improve the lives of people living in poverty — operating across more than 20 countries.

As Global Director of Communications, I led the strategic communications function for an organization whose work sits at the intersection of rigorous evidence, policy influence, and global development impact.

My mandate centered on three core objectives:
Building public knowledge — communicating complex research findings in ways that informed, engaged, and moved diverse global audiences
Strategic evidence sharing — shaping narratives that positioned IPA's research at the center of critical global conversations on poverty, policy, and development
Influencing decision-makers — developing communications strategies that equipped governments, NGOs, and institutions to act on evidence and improve outcomes for the world's most vulnerable populations Show less

The Global Development Incubator partners with visionaries and organizations to launch and scale initiatives that address the world's most pressing challenges — from global health to economic opportunity to climate resilience.

As Senior Consultant for Brand, Marketing and Communications, I worked with GDI's portfolio of high-potential social impact ventures to sharpen how they communicated their value to the stakeholders who mattered most.
The core challenge was one I know well:… Show more

The Global Development Incubator partners with visionaries and organizations to launch and scale initiatives that address the world's most pressing challenges — from global health to economic opportunity to climate resilience.

As Senior Consultant for Brand, Marketing and Communications, I worked with GDI's portfolio of high-potential social impact ventures to sharpen how they communicated their value to the stakeholders who mattered most.
The core challenge was one I know well: brilliant ideas and rigorous work that struggled to move the people with the power to scale them — funders, governments, partners, and communities. My role was to close that gap.

My work included:
Value proposition development — helping initiatives articulate what they do, why it matters, and why stakeholders should act
Stakeholder communications strategy — designing targeted narratives for funders, partners, and policymakers across multiple markets
Brand positioning — ensuring each initiative communicated with the clarity, credibility, and emotional resonance needed to compete for attention and resources in a crowded global development landscape Show less

The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences is Africa's largest and most prestigious network of centres of excellence in mathematical sciences — built on a singular mission: to find and unleash Africa's next Einstein.

As Director of Communications for the global network, I led the coordinated communications strategy across six centres of excellence spanning South Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon, Tanzania, and Rwanda, as well as chapters in the UK, Germany, and Canada. This was a… Show more

The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences is Africa's largest and most prestigious network of centres of excellence in mathematical sciences — built on a singular mission: to find and unleash Africa's next Einstein.

As Director of Communications for the global network, I led the coordinated communications strategy across six centres of excellence spanning South Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon, Tanzania, and Rwanda, as well as chapters in the UK, Germany, and Canada. This was a mandate of genuine global scope — building the narrative infrastructure for an initiative whose patrons included President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and President Macky Sall of Senegal, and whose ambition was nothing less than repositioning Africa as a global powerhouse of scientific innovation.

My work spanned:
Global narrative strategy — developing and owning the communications vision across a multi-country, multi-stakeholder network
Stakeholder engagement — building relationships with the academic community, scientific institutions, multilateral organizations, governments, corporates, and civil society worldwide
The Next Einstein Forum — leading communications for the launch of one of Africa's most ambitious and high-profile scientific platforms, backed by heads of state
Fundraising communications — shaping the narratives that supported the network's global fundraising efforts
Digital leadership — overseeing all digital communications including websites and social media across the network Show less

As FleishmanHillard's Director and Africa Lead, I was part of the Leadership Team for the region. I managed the firm's engagement with, and support of, affiliates in the region. I also identified and developed partnerships in new markets, engaging stakeholders and influencers with a focus on business development and strategic account management. Clients included Barclays Africa, The Economist, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and the African Union.

I worked on a variety of accounts, in partnership with communicators in more than 25 African countries, coordinating strategic outreach for clients including GlaxoSmithKline, Save the Children, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, the African Union and the African Innovation Foundation. I also managed media relations efforts for Samsung during the 2013 African Cup of Nations.

In partnership with fellow filmmakers, I managed the production process for a popular nationally-broadcast anti-HIV/AIDS TV series “Rien Que La Verité”, focusing on behaviour change communications strategies. I managed the production team and crew, with a major focus on training and capacity-building. I also led and managed story development, location scouting and all personnel on location in Kinshasa. In addition, I was responsible for budget spending and tracking, and liaising with all… Show more

In partnership with fellow filmmakers, I managed the production process for a popular nationally-broadcast anti-HIV/AIDS TV series “Rien Que La Verité”, focusing on behaviour change communications strategies. I managed the production team and crew, with a major focus on training and capacity-building. I also led and managed story development, location scouting and all personnel on location in Kinshasa. In addition, I was responsible for budget spending and tracking, and liaising with all branches of government to facilitate the production process and permit acquisition.

With the team, I developed gorilla marketing strategies to reach audiences in both the urban and rural areas and managed links with distributors. I used my language skills to serve as a vital cross-cultural bridge between expatriate American management and the local Congolese team. Show less

I have always been a huge advocate of the fair and balanced representation of Africans/Africa in the media, especially in the West. So I wrote, produced, directed and edited (Avid) a short documentary on the portrayal of Africans in the US media, especially on the news. My film was chosen as an official entry in the Harlem Stage Film Festival/March 2007.

Under the leadership of legendary filmmaker, Spike Lee, and Monty Ross, worked on:
Inside Man, starring Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster and Clive Owen
My Blueberry Nights, starring Norah Jones, directed by Kar Wai Wong.
I coordinated script breakdowns and revisions, oversaw the drafting of call sheets for talent and crew, and assisted with coordinated location scouting, photography and product placement options.

I was the first African woman VJ on MTV Europe and was voted best VJ in Nordic region by an annual viewer poll. I hosted a live regional flagship show, and researched/wrote my own scripts. I also assisted in organizing AIDS awareness campaigns for “MTV Staying Alive” programs. I worked in location in most of Eastern Europe, with regular shows in Malta, Istanbul, Moscow and Ibiza.

Had a blast traveling across Africa and presenting on the continent's first ever music television channel.