Some experts estimate that 77 per cent of people suffer from glossophobia, the fear of public speaking. But there are those rare ones who seem born with the gift of gab. One of those is Ainka Williams, whose mastery of words and upbeat personality makes her a perfect fit as a television and radio presenter.
Williams, 34, told WMN as a teenager she did not know what she wanted to do. But since her father worked in the oil industry, she studied sciences in case she wanted to work with him later on.
“While doing CXC I had English teachers who let me know I had a way with words so I should pursue something along those lines. Still having no clear direction as to where to go, I stumbled upon journalism and public relations with COSTAATT (College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts Trinidad and Tobago).”
While studying for her associate degree at COSTAATT she had the opportunity to do an internship at a radio station and decided that was what she wanted to do with her life. However, after completing her degree, she went to work at a bank but continued looking for broadcasting opportunities.
Williams auditioned for a local online news site but was too nervous to do well. Fortunately, someone at SynergyTV saw her audition tape and asked her to audition for the TV station.
“That audition never saw the light of day. They saw the bloopers for the audition with me making all sorts of faces and O’Brian (Haynes, general manager of SynergyTV) said, ‘Yip. I want her.’ And that’s how I got started in television.”
She started at Synergy in May 2015 as a producer and presenter and stayed for about two years. She was the only female presenter at the time and covered entertainment news, both live and pre-recorded, filled in as host on a number of shows, and met a lot of people in the local entertainment industry.
“That was a baptism by fire but it gave me a lot of room to have creative input. I was very involved in the process of creating a product but there was a lot of trial and error.”
[caption id="attachment_934788" align="alignnone" width="705"] Ainka Williams in studio at 99.1FM. As a media personality, Williams is a youth activist who wants to inform and inspire people. - ROGER JACOB[/caption]
In November 2015, the unit with which she worked at the bank closed so she took it as a sign to go into broadcasting full-time but as a freelancer.
Over the years she has worked as a digital media content manager for a number of companies as well as voice talent and master of ceremonies for many others including Flow Sports TT, bmobile, and MasterCard.
Wanting to be part of something good and give back to communities, she accepted the position of YMCA Ambassador and host for its activities and events between 2016 and 2017.
Williams is currently co-host of TTT’s the NOW morning show and Next 99.1 FM’s mid-morning show, TeamUp in the Morning, and does UNDP public service announcements.
She is also the facilitator for the Ministry of Sports and Community Development’s virtual outreach initiative TT Online Commu
