Salome Taka, Living her Dream Job

To replay a scene that took place 9 years ago, Salome Taka was waiting for the local train to reach an Interview venue when she received a call from her dream PR Agency, with whom she had an interview a week ago.  They were offering her a job!

“On a very hot May afternoon in Hyderabad, towards the end of my Master’s course, I finally received the official tag of ‘PR Professional’ at a railway platform! And I have never once looked back!” These words describe a very defining moment in the life of Salome Taka, who is currently the Associate Director at South East Asia’s largest PR Firm.

She rose to her prestigious position from a very humble beginning as a fresher. But in less than 2 years, she was already managing a team and further headed a department in less than 4 years. Remarkably, she has also had 6 promotions in the last 9 years, which only goes on to prove how well she has excelled in the field she has chosen.

The reason why she chose to be in this field, as she says, is because, it had the scope of letting her pursue the many interests -writing, speaking, strategizing, negotiating, Ideation etc, she had in the field of Communications. Notably, she has also had the privilege of pursuing and exploring these interests by working for Brands like Mercedes Benz, Google, Manchester United, Airtel, Ebay, AXN India, Atletico Madrid, Nokia, AHM – India’s 2^nd largest Marathon just to name a few.

However, starting out as a fresher came with its own share of challenges. Because, in her words, “I had to learn everything and I was apprehensive of making mistakes that people would not forget! I realised in my 1^st week at work that this is one industry that is hectic and erratic and has no fixed hours. I had no weekend breaks for the first 3 months. Your social life takes a hard hit because a PR Person has to be available 24 x7 and it is an added responsibility if one has a client that is Crises prone.”

“But the opportunities in hand in the long run and the passion for this career path I had chosen was a huge driving force to not give up. It has not been easy but it has not been impossible to reach where I am today – and that is such a huge source of happiness”, she adds with contentment. 

She confesses that, “I have always wanted to be in the field of Communications for as long as I can remember.” Clearly, the likes of Journalism, PR, Advertising, Events, Broadcast, Documentaries, Sports Agent, Marital Counsellor  are her areas of interest. But it was also necessary for her to focus on one interest professionally, although the different interests listed above all came under one umbrella (Communications).

‘So I invested lot of time talking to people involved in similar professions, read books online and offline, took those fun-but-sometimes-silly-‘which career should you choose’ quiz….’ She says, even as she recalls being exposed to many of her own strengths (networking, flexibility, detail oriented, effective communicator) and weaknesses (impatient, very impatient, technically challenged). This, she explains, “helped me narrow down on a Career prospect that would allow me to use my plus points extensively. This is why I strongly endorse everyone I meet to be open to feedbacks and suggestions they may have on you and to always ask a question, however silly it may seem, if in doubt. The responses you receive may just help you find a career path as it did for me! Importantly I decided to pursue Public Relations as it gave me the window to involve bits of all the interests I have in the Communications industry.”

Salome with her friends in Hyderabad

Looking back, she would term “the unbelievable scope to keep learning” as the most rewarding phase in her profession. “I have been in this industry for 9 years and I am still learning because it is an ever evolving industry that is moving extremely fast. To move and be in sync with reality, one needs to grab the opportunity to learn. The other and most important aspect has been the opportunity I have to work with people across all levels (Junior, Senior) in a cross cultural setting. In such a platform, I have had no choice but to work very hard in cultivating my patience with people and situations in hand. And the ability to being a more patient person has helped me personally too.” She generously shares.

Salome Taka, who describes herself as- “Proud Aunt. Fierce Football Follower. Wannabe Chef. Musically Challenged. CR7 Loyalist. Dessert-holic. Believer. Incurable Optimist” is eternally grateful to her mother.

Salome with her family

The following lines explain why her mother is truly special- “Her whole life has been dedicated to ensuring we were brought up in a family-friendly home and that we received all the attention required. She married young, decided not to pursue higher studies, missed her siblings’ weddings and other family get-togethers as we became her priority. She has been that constant unwavering support for my Dad and his profession. My mother has never been able to participate in conversations revolving around ‘Santa Barbara’ or ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ because the shows timings clashed with her children’s arrival from school. And she chose us over the decades most happening TV shows. Her personal sacrifices, and not forgetting Dad, has encouraged me and my brother to aim for the best and achieve those – this has been our way of saying ‘thank you’”

Apart from a strong supportive family, what does it take to make it Big? Salome Taka has seemingly lived by these rules- “Start early – explore who you want to be professionally when you are still a student. This will give you plenty of time to pursue your dream or to move tracks quickly if you realise your passion lies elsewhere. Mingle and network- do not always look for people ‘from my hometown’. Connect with people from different cultures and it will open up a world of opportunities and possibilities. Ask a silly question, always – If your doubts are cleared, no question is too silly. Love God – If you do this, you are already on the right track.”

And well, it has perfectly worked out for her. The alumna of Patkai Christian College and Hyderabad Central University, says that, “To come back home and share our knowledge for growth is definitely a yes…. it is just a matter of When.” She also strongly feels that, “currently, the important aspect is to contribute and be a positive influence wherever we may be. I also like to believe that working outside the State is a great platform for others to understand and realise that there is talent and potential amongst the Nagas as working professionals – a departure from us being seen as just students coming out to cities to study.”

With the liberty to dream big, in the near future, she hopes “to work as a part of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Social Media Communications Team which can do so much better than its current offerings for the Global fan; Help fight food poverty by volunteering at a Non-Profit; Get married; Find time to travel and soak in different cultures; And many, many, many more!”