The History of LESA Communications

Our team is led by Kristine Pearson, founder and CEO of the multi-award winning non-profit Lifeline Energy, known for its pioneering solar and wind-up radios and MP3 players. Kristine brings more than 20 years of hands-on experience as an entrepreneur on the ground in Africa. She has been long recognised by the Schwab Foundation of the World Economic Forum and others.

The vital role of communication

Kristine’s venture into development communications began in Africa in the late 1990s, where she quickly recognised the transformative power of connection and storytelling in remote communities, an insight that predates smartphones.

IShe witnessed how radio soap opera dramas produced in local languages served as powerful tools for entertainment, education and social change. These dramas simplified complex topics into relatable narratives, making information accessible to audiences with limited literacy levels. Kristine recognised how blending compelling storytelling with messages that address important issues around health, peacebuilding, civic education, livestock, farming and more helped underserved areas bridge knowledge gaps and provide comfort and psycho-social support.

In 2019, she identified a need for professional external communications support. Despite the profound impact of many individuals and organisations, their stories often went unheard. Kristine sought to change this by highlighting their inspiring narratives on the Lifeline Energy platform.

Founded in late 2019, LESA Communications was born out of the Catalyst 2030 movement. As a founding member of Catalyst 2030, Kristine took on a challenge posed by a fellow member to create a name and tagline for a new initiative. Together with her colleague, experienced web developer and graphic designer Karen Vollaire, they brought LESA Communications to life crafting the logo, brand colours, a foundational website and brand guidelines. This work was instrumental in preparing for Catalyst 2030’s global launch at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2020.

Since its inception, LESA Communications has delivered impactful creative projects for entrepreneurs, social innovators, businesses and NGOs across Africa, the US, China and Europe. With a client-centred approach, LESA has operated under the radar, allowing its work to speak for itself. Now, however, LESA stands at a pivotal moment, ready to broaden its reach and scale its impact.