Joel Nomdarkham
Journalist, Marketer, and Social Impact Creator
Joel Nomdarkham, Journalist, Marketer, and Social Impact Creator / Photography by Shaquiel Brooks
Jamaican journalist, marketer, and social impact creator, Joel Nomdarkham is on a mission to make the creative industry more colourful, more inclusive, and more joyful. A self-proclaimed “Corporate Eccentric”, you might have seen his online work using his position to educate and amplify, whether that’s on Twitter, LinkedIn, or his various social good initiatives including Black Kings Rising, and Project Mic. Below, he talks role models, passion projects, and how it all started.
So, why “Corporate Eccentric”?
My friends actually coined that. Eccentric, to me, means standing out, not conforming. I’m corporate but I don’t fit that blueprint. I want to challenge people and the industry.
It’s all part of my personal brand, like a signature. Even something small like wearing my patterned pants helps me stand out. It’s about telling a story and how you express yourself.
Were you creative from a young age?
I started doing public speaking aged nine, on stage in front of hundreds of people. So, I was never afraid to take on leadership roles, always planning, organising. That’s when I realised I have an interest in events and creating. Some people prefer to be creative and aren’t much of a talker. I found a perfect balance because I have both sides.
You always hear “Doctor, nurse, teacher”, but when I was 12, I heard about journalism and researched that. I became a presenter for my university’s video series, then after I graduated, I got my first TV gig. I loved the strategic part and that’s where marketing came in.
Tell us more about BKR Collective?
Black Kings Rising (BKR Collective) started as a local response to the murder of George Floyd. Whether you’re in the USA, Africa, or the Caribbean, news like that sends a shockwave. The group wanted to show Black men in a positive light and people really responded. We photographed about 24 men; some had never had their photos taken. The energy was electrifying, and we got a lot of traction.
We all just wanted to do something to show our support, but then brands started to see the importance of it and wanted to partner with us. Since then, we’ve done branded campaigns for International Men’s Day and Father’s Day. We love spreading joy and positivity and are excited to see how it grows.
Your other initiative is called Project Mic?
It’s my super passion. It’s all about amplifying and educating the next generation of marketers, creators. I didn’t have a lot of guidance or a lot of role models. And being from Jamaica it’s hard to break into the international marketing space. But as the first Jamaican writer for three international publications, including Adweek, I became a role model to a lot of younger marketers, and I wanted to support them.
I was able to bring a few industry experts together for a video series and we did our first event back in August, bringing together 100 marketers and creators in the same room as younger marketers and students. Right in front of my eyes, connections were being made. That’s really the aim. Not profit, just building community.
What would be your dream project to work on?
My dream project would be something that brings the Caribbean marketers and creatives together from tech. My dream collaboration would be with Bozoma Saint John, former chief marketing officer at Netflix. Randomly I had this interaction with her the other day, after I tweeted her. I thought she’d never see it, but then she actually responded! It became a whole Twitter conversation of her giving advice. She posted it on her LinkedIn, and I shared it too. That mentorship moment between two benefited 1,000s. It just goes to show what you get if you ask.
Interview by: Katy Pryer
