By Sophia Atariba (Executive Coordinator, Editorials) – The African Digest
Senior Broadcast Journalist and Global Chair for Media, Arts & Communication at G100, Natalie Fort granted the Editorial Team of The African Digest an exclusive interview, speaking about her childhood, growing up, her career in Journalism as well as Entrepreneurship.
Natalie shared the ‘never seen before’ side of her life’s journey; the challenges, the highs and lows, her navigating through life and her recent appointment as the Global Chair for Media, Arts & Communication at G100 (A Group of 100 Global Women Leaders, an action-oriented think tank and global network of influential women dedicated to advancing gender equality, inclusivity, and economic empowerment worldwide).
You entered the public eye quite early—how did that exposure influence your long-term vision?
It made me understand very early that visibility is powerful, but substance is what sustains relevance.
I realized that if I wanted longevity, I had to build credibility, intellect, and impact alongside visibility. That understanding shaped many of my decisions later — from journalism, to global affairs reporting, entrepreneurship, and now international leadership work.
It also taught me the importance of staying true to the things I genuinely love and continuing to explore different dimensions of myself creatively and professionally.
That exposure also strengthened my desire to help young people. Through the Natalie Fort Coaching & Mentorship Program, I focus on empowering youth through confidence building, communication, leadership, and personal development. Through Fort Foundation, my team and I also support less privileged individuals and vulnerable communities through humanitarian and dignity-driven interventions.
Breaking into Media: What was the exact turning point that made you choose journalism as a career path?
Interestingly, I often say journalism chose me as much as I chose it.
At the time, I was actually preparing to leave Ghana to study hospitality management abroad. But before that, I was asked at the very last minute by Evelyn Akoto to co-host a pageant event because her female host was suddenly unavailable. I ended up co-hosting the event alongside Kweku Tempeng, who was then a business anchor at TV3 Network.
After the event, he mentioned that TV3 was looking for news anchors and encouraged me to audition. After discussing it with my family, I decided to try. Over 200 people auditioned, and only two of us were selected. For me, that moment felt deeply significant. I genuinely felt God had a plan for me in that field.
Being placed on one of Ghana’s biggest prime-time news platforms at just 21 changed everything. That was when I realized journalism combined everything I naturally loved — communication, storytelling, analysis, performance, and influence — and that I wanted to intentionally build a career and legacy within it.
More importantly, I realized the power media has to shape public understanding and national conversations. I didn’t just want to entertain people; I wanted to inform, challenge perspectives, and contribute meaningfully to society.
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What has been your biggest failure or setback as an entrepreneur, and what did it teach you?
“One lesson entrepreneurship taught me is that vision alone is not enough. Structure, systems, timing, and the right people matter greatly.”
There were moments where I overextended myself trying to do too much personally. I’ve learned the importance of delegation, operational systems, patience, and protecting your energy as a founder.
“Setbacks taught me strategic thinking and emotional resilience. “
Read the full interview in our upcoming Edition of The African Digest Magazine
