Kobina

in context

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So you Googled me. In the words of the bad guys from the old James Bond movies, "I've been expecting you." Frankly, I've probably Googled you too. I think it’s irresponsible not to. So I always assume myself Googled. I hope you too do.

You can find my professional profile on LinkedIn. This right here is just my forethought in the past. I figured someone might want to Google me at some point in the future--like now.

As a strategic communications professional I wanted to ensure that when the future did arrive, as it evidently has, I would own my story. In this era, you can't control what's out there about you, but you can control the context.

As a businessman I'm controlling real estate. I figured if I'm truly Google-worthy, someone could purchase and resell my own name to me at my maximum willingness to pay. Besides, Kobina is quite a common name. It is the name given to a male born on Tuesday among Ghana's Akan people. I estimate there are at least 100,o00 Kobinas in the world. Of course, the vast majority of them don't have the need, means and skills to get a domain name in their name, but you get my point. Who knows, I may be the one to sell this at a premium to a more Google-worthy Kobina.

The biggest risk, however, I figured, was that someone could-God forbid!--use my name in vain; hence, my ownership of this page--as well as  kobina.wordpress.com, twitter.com/kobina and kobina_AT_gmail.com (yes, I know people).

As a public servant I'm helping you with your research. I thought I’d save you the trouble by putting everything you could reasonably want to know about me in one place. Some find it indelicate to Google someone who isn't exactly a public figure. I disagree. I think it's expected.  If you think about it, in this era, it's hard to trust someone who doesn't appear in a Google search.

Like many people my age, I've grown up online and my footprints are all over the place. (You have to understand I went to college in Miami. It's not that serious--really.) As you explore, you may find some pretty offbeat and (attempting to be) funny pieces that I've written in the past. I look back and laugh and appreciate how much I've grown.  I hope you see it the same way. At least, laugh.

When I first acquired this domain I was a student, so I had much leeway in what to do with it. Now, as a professional, I'm a tad more limited. I considered closing it down, but that would have gone against the very aforementioned purposes for which I acquired it. So I guess I'm stuck with it.  But rather than transform it to present the professional me, I've decided to keep it as the human me. In this goal-setting, networking, back-stabbing world, think of this as the happy hour me. At least you know there's a real person inside the professional, and I will not apologize for him.

You can call me one of a million. I believe in teamwork; that’s what makes us beings. And that’s how great things get done.

You can also call me one in a million. I believe in originality. I believe that’s what makes us human beings.  That's what makes me me and you you.

If I ever have the pleasure of meeting you in person, please feel free to bring  this up in conversation. Remember, I'll assume it anyway. I know these things can be uncomfortable to talk about in person, but who are we kidding? Really. Besides, it will be a good conversation starter, won't it?

So go on, click away. It’s okay.

I...

…have written
On crutches
Second person plural
Harvard Escort Service
On buying and selling blood
Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya…Could it happen in Ghana?
Gender or race: White men face tough choices in South Carolina
On restless legs
Annual report
Cats
My war on terror
Life on the outside (blue collar blues)
Me stupid foreigner
Parents, do try this at home
Cash machine: non-traditional banking methods
Bathroom humor
LA Confidential: An unconventional convention report
The Yellow Page Problem


…have been editor of

Africa Policy Journal


…have created

How to drop the H-bomb
The Neo African Americans

 

…have been educated by
Harvard Kennedy School
Barry University (Department of Communications
and Graduate School of Business)
University of Ghana, Legon
Accra Academy
St. Charles Secondary School
Prince of Peace International School


…have been employed by

De Beers
Public Strategies Inc.

Intel Computer Clubhouse
Warner Bros.
Metro TV


…have done other work for
De Beers
President’s Strategy & Policy Unit, Rwanda
Min. of Economy, UAE


…have interviewed
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
Cedza Dlamini
Patrick Awuah
Danny Glover


…have been involved in
Academy of Achievement
International Documentary Association
Ghana Leadership Union
Innovation Policy
National Broadcasting Society

…look like
this!


…develop my mind with
The Economist
The New York Times
McKinsey Quarterly
Documentary Magazine
 

…and fry it again with
Phil Hendrie Show
and a few others


…support
Accra Hearts of Oak
Barcelona
LA Lakers
Miami Heat


…am on
Linked In
Facebook


…regularly watch
Lockup
Seinfeld
This Week
Hardball
The Office


…can be reached @
Kobina@gmail.com