Why Isha Sesay walked away from CNN — and why it mattered to Africans
Why Isha Sesay walked away from CNN — and why it mattered to Africans
Why Isha Sesay walked away - Isha Sesay, a media figure with a multifaceted identity as a mother, CEO, and journalist, remains a household name across Africa, even years after her departure from CNN. Despite her numerous achievements, the network’s international channel continues to be closely tied to her legacy, a fact she acknowledges with a mix of pride and introspection. Her journey from a high-profile anchor to a single mother and media leader offers a compelling narrative about personal sacrifice, cultural expectations, and the evolving role of women in the African continent.
A Career Marked by Global Recognition
For over a decade, Sesay was a fixture on CNN’s international broadcasts, covering pivotal moments that shaped global discourse. Her career spanned more than 13 years, during which she interviewed some of the world’s most influential figures, including former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former US First Lady Michelle Obama, actor Matt Damon, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai. These interactions solidified her reputation as a skilled and respected journalist, yet they also left her with a lingering identity as “the girl from CNN.”
While her professional accomplishments were celebrated, Sesay’s decision to leave the network in 2018 sparked curiosity and debate. She remained silent about her reasons for nearly five years, allowing speculation to flourish. “People still stop me in the streets, in airports, or in LA, and say, ‘Oh my God, you’re the girl from CNN,’” she recounted in an interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo during the African Voices show in early April. The phrase, she noted, carried both admiration and a sense of destiny, as if her career was defined by the network itself.
"I left because my mom had the stroke. And I was in a position where effectively, business decisions were being made that just did not align with my responsibilities to care for her."
It wasn’t until 2023 that Sesay revealed the personal trigger behind her exit. The stroke that struck her mother, Dr. Kadi Sesay, a Sierra Leonean politician and women’s rights advocate, in December 2016, changed the course of her life. The incident left her mother in a semi-vegetative state, requiring years of devoted care. “I’m still navigating the loss of my mother,” Sesay said, reflecting on the emotional weight of her decision. “It’s sad on so many levels for a woman of her stature and heart to have been laid low by a stroke that left her effectively immobile.”
Her mother’s illness forced Sesay to confront the realities of mortality and the sacrifices of her career. “It’s when my mom took ill and sort of like mortality and the finality of life smacks you in the face that you think, what is it all for?” she explained. The stroke became a turning point, prompting her to prioritize her family over her professional ambitions. “I made the decision to walk away,” she said, adding that the move was not driven by conflict but by a need to be present for her mother’s recovery.
Reevaluating Life’s Priorities
Sesay’s journey with CNN was one of growth and recognition, yet it also meant she often set aside her personal aspirations. “I got to CNN and it just became about the work,” she said, describing how the demands of her job overshadowed her desire to start a family. For years, her career consumed her, leaving little room for personal life. However, the stroke and subsequent care for her mother reignited her sense of purpose.
Reflecting on the transition, Sesay highlighted how her mother’s condition forced her to reexamine her priorities. “I realized the importance of bonds and of having offspring,” she said. This realization came after she had postponed motherhood for years, driven by the pressures of her high-profile role. “I had always wanted to be a mother, but said her job made her put it on hold,” she explained, emphasizing the tension between professional success and personal fulfillment.
The decision to become a single mother in her 40s was both a personal and public statement. “I was like, give me that website,” she joked, referencing the sperm donation process. “Let me find a donor, let me do this on my own.” Her journey to motherhood, marked by two failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) attempts, culminated in the birth of her daughter, Naimah Yasmine Kadi Sesay, in April 2023. The event not only symbolized a new chapter in her life but also challenged societal norms about family and gender roles.
"I stand as a champion to say to women, choose your own journey. The notion that people would say to me, be in a bad marriage, be in a bad couple, so that you would have a child, seems ridiculous to me in this age of science and progress."
Sesay’s story resonates with many African women who navigate the balance between career and family. Her decision to embrace single motherhood without apologies has sparked both support and criticism on social media. “I’m amazed by the depth of feeling people have about this decision,” she said, noting that some viewed her choice as a rejection of traditional relationships. “It’s not a rejection of anyone; it is an embrace of my own autonomy,” she clarified, advocating for women’s right to define their own paths.
A New Chapter: Balancing Leadership and Family
Today, Sesay is the CEO of Areya Media, the parent company of OkayAfrica and Okayplayer, and a mother to a toddler. Her dual role highlights the evolving landscape of women in leadership, where personal and professional responsibilities are increasingly intertwined. “Now a mother to a toddler, I’m juggling that role with my job as CEO,” she said, underscoring the challenges of balancing family and career in a high-pressure environment.
Her journey from CNN anchor to media leader also reflects broader shifts in the African media industry. Sesay’s transition demonstrates the potential for women to redefine their careers and identities, often in the face of societal expectations. “It’s not for everyone and I’m not evangelizing it,” she admitted, while emphasizing that her path was deeply personal and valid.
As Sesay continues to shape the media landscape, her story serves as a reminder of the power of individual choice. From the global stage to the intimate realm of family, her decisions highlight the complex interplay between public and private life. Her departure from CNN was not just a professional move but a deeply human one, driven by love, duty, and the need to reclaim her own narrative. In doing so, she has inspired a new generation of African women to embrace autonomy and redefine success on their own terms.