[Interview] Harry Clynch, Founder, Leopard PR

Leopard PR, founded by former journalist Harry Clynch, helps African entrepreneurs and businesses gain global recognition. Believing that “leopards can change their spots,” the agency works with startups and institutions to reshape narratives, build credibility, and drive growth, from attracting investment to influencing global conversations on Africa’s innovation.

What led you to establish Leopard PR, and what informed your focus on emerging markets?

I began my career as a journalist covering technology and financial services, where I became fascinated by Africa’s role as a hub of world-changing innovation. Traveling across the continent for leading business magazines, I saw how African technology is transforming hundreds of millions of lives. Yet I also noticed that international media often overlook this progress, focusing instead on corruption or poverty — a bias that research suggests costs Africa billions each year in inflated debt interest.

To address this gap, I founded Leopard PR to help African entrepreneurs and business leaders build stronger relationships with international media, amplify their stories of innovation, and unlock commercial growth while driving positive impact.

What does the name "Leopard PR" symbolize, and how does it reflect your company's ethos?

The name is inspired by the old saying “a leopard can’t change its spots,” which is often used to suggest that people – or brands – cannot change their innate character or reputation. But we believe that leopards can change their spots.

After all, PR exists to challenge perceptions – to change narratives, bolster reputations, and unleash new opportunities. The name’s background reflects our ethos that, with strategic PR work, brands in markets that have traditionally been overlooked can shake assumptions and shift the narrative in a more productive and profitable direction.

Leopard PR works with a diverse client base, from tech startups to government bodies. How do you tailor your approach for such varied stakeholders?

Our approach depends on what exactly the client in question is trying to achieve. For tech startups, the focus tends to be on attracting investors and raising funds. That means the emphasis needs to be on working out how to best articulate the potential value for investors and then placing that messaging on platforms with which investors engage, such as business and industry publications.

For other organistations, the focus might be more on positioning its executives as thought leaders on relevant trends in order to push a narrative or enact change. This requires consistent engagement with journalists at national and international platforms to ensure they view our clients as credible, authoritative sources who can add insightful commentary.

These are just general thoughts as every client is unique. Every media campaign should be deeply researched, data-driven, and bespoke to each clients’ needs.

What’s been the most rewarding part of leading Leopard PR so far?

The most rewarding part of the role has definitely been working with visionary founders and entrepreneurs, many of whom are making a real difference to millions of lives and supporting their growth. Whether it’s helping a Zambian fintech through a pan-African expansion, assisting an Ethiopian e-mobility firm through a multi-million-dollar funding round, or supporting a South African tech company’s growth overseas, it’s been highly rewarding to see how powerful storytelling can shift perceptions and unlock real opportunities and tangible growth.

How do you measure success in your campaigns—not just in terms of media coverage, but business value?

Leopard PR tracks traditional media metrics such as reach and sentiment, but we also strongly believe this should translate into business opportunities. What success means can vary depending on the client and their aims, but it could mean investor interest sparked by a well-placed thought leadership piece, increased product adoption driven by clear and powerful storytelling, or partnerships unlocked through reputation-building in key markets.

One start-up said recently that Leopard PR’s media campaign “has directly contributed to winning projects and strengthening our hiring pipeline.” This kind of feedback is highly encouraging for us as we seek to continue making impact.

How does Leopard PR help bridge the gap between innovative companies in emerging markets and the global business community?

Our core mission is to translate innovation from emerging markets into stories the world understands, appreciates, and productively acts on. As mentioned earlier, many groundbreaking companies across Africa are solving real-world problems and having a huge impact on millions of people – but they’re often overlooked.

Leopard PR aims to help bridge this gap by positioning African founders and companies as global thought leaders, not just local success stories, and crafting messaging that is grounded in local context, but which also resonates across borders. In short, we help African companies tell their story in a way appeals to a global audience, without losing their identity or mission.

What are your ambitions for Leopard PR over the next few years? Are there new markets or sectors you’re particularly excited about?

Over the next few years, my ambition is for Leopard PR to become the go-to communications partner for Africa-focused companies – the team that ambitious African companies trust to take them to the world stage. While there will of course always be a huge amount of innovation taking place in Africa’s traditional hubs – such as Lagos, Cairo, Nairobi, and Johannesburg – we’re excited to see how emerging hubs on the continent continue to grow, such as Addis Ababa and cities across Francophone Africa.

Sector-wise, we expect fintech to continue its meteoric rise, while other impactful areas of the technology space, such as climate tech and healthtech, are likely to continue attracting high amounts of interest.

As global attention gradually shifts to emerging markets, what role do you see Leopard PR playing in shaping that narrative?

Leopard PR hopes to play a role in ensuring that the innovation and ambition present in African markets are communicated to the world with the depth, authenticity, and credibility they deserve. This means elevating the voices of African entrepreneurs, helping to build bridges between ecosystems and, in turn, unleashing growth for our clients.

www.leopardpr.io