Company Profile
Wilson Global Communications (WGC) was founded in 1994 in Johannesburg by Julia Wilson, an American journalist and entrepreneur, during the historic presidency of Nelson Mandela. Within weeks of operating, the public relations firm landed Coca-Cola Company International as its first client to publish Outlook Africa, a quarterly publication. Outlook Africa highlighted Coca-Cola’s business and philanthropic activities throughout the African continent and was distributed to more than 200 countries worldwide.
Within months, WGC attracted an eight-member staff speaking 11 South African languages, including English. The public relations firm quickly developed a credible reputation as a multicultural firm comprised of South Africans with a grassroots understanding of their cultures and social mores, while integrating American skill and know-how. WGC soon became the first choice of multinational businesses and government officials who needed public relations and marketing expertise “on the ground” in Africa.
From 1995 to 1998, WGC positioned the “Coke” brand by associating the soft drink with high-profile dignitaries visiting South Africa, including the late Ron Brown, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. WGC worked with the Prince of Wales Trust, securing an exclusive, videotaped talk with His Royal Highness Prince Charles, then expanded to Ghana during the visit of President Bill Clinton.
In Ghana, WGC was retained by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) to promote Ghana during Pres. Clinton’s visit to Accra. The maiden issue of “Ghana Club 100” featured the top 100 businesses in Ghana and became the first national promotion of the country of Ghana to outside investors in such a strategic, high quality manner. WGC consulted with SBC, a U.S.- based telecommunications company as it sought to effectively penetrate the South African market through a partnership with Telecom Malaysia. WGC managed the launch of the first taxi-phone service in township taxis, known as “combies,” on behalf of MTN, Africa’s leading telecommunications company, and continued to expand its services in various African countries including Senegal, Nigeria, Kenya and Liberia.
For nearly two decades, WGC has focused its communications services between Africa and the U.S., building a strong reputation throughout the African continent, before expanding to Europe and China. Today, WGC provides editorial contributions to an international publication published in France, the Presidency Key Brief (PKB), that is distributed to Heads of State and policy makers worldwide, In 2010, WGC’s CEO was awarded a Fulbright Grant from the U.S. Department of State to give speech presentations on Social Entrepreneurship in Paris and Lyon, France to minority students in major universities, including Science Po University (Paris), École Internationale de Commerce et Développement 3A, and Grand École School of Management (Lyon).
WGC coordinated the National Urban League’s historic Trade and Cultural Mission to China in January 2010 by the 100-year-old civil rights organization’s CEO and President, Marc Morial. A delegation of 45 African American business, civic and education leaders met with key Chinese government leaders, which yielded immediate results: 1: commitments to educational and cultural exchanges between students in China and the United States; and 2: the establishment a Confucius Institute at Xavier University of Louisiana, a Historically Black University and College (HBCU). The concept was conceived by Marc Morial, and presented by Morial and Dr. Tim Francis in China. WGC continues to work with the National Urban League, minority businesses and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in an expansion of its mandate to build multicultural global communities that connect African Americans to global opportunities in business and education. Its achievements have included consulting with Xavier University by securing a compatible Chinese partner university for Xavier University, Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology in Qinhuangdoa, arranging high-level follow-up meetings in Beijing between the two universities in Beijing and the Chinese government, and guiding Xavier on protocol and rules and regulations for the official filing of the Confucius Institute application.
WGC signed a contract in 2011 with the African Union Mission to the United States (AUMUS), the umbrella organization for 53 African countries. WGC is providing recommendations for developing a successful communications strategy for reaching the Mission’s diverse constituents, including the African Diaspora. WGC is also providing media and communications training for the Mission’s staff to empower them to more effectively interact with the media in the U.S.
In 2011, WGC signed a contract with the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF) to assist the foundation with connecting African American and Chinese businesspeople, educators, and civic leaders for mutually beneficial collaborations. Hosted by Mr. Tung Chee Hwa, founding Chairman of CUSEF, and NUL president Marc Morial, WGC secured the attendance of top White House and Congressional leaders and leading African Americans in business and education at a special meeting in Washington, D.C.