Alumni Hour Interview: Nesima Aberra Discusses the Intersection of Media and Social Impact

Anne Lassen, Vice President of the Flinn Scholars Program, interviews Nesima Aberra (’09) in this Alumni Hour conversation on her work at the intersection of media, social impact, and storytelling.

Based in the DC-Metro Area, Nesima is a writer and digital strategist who currently serves as vice president of digital and content at Change Consulting, with previous roles at The Atlantic and the Center for Public Integrity. Her career reflects a commitment to ethical communication, community-centered narratives, and the power of multidisciplinary creativity.

In this Alumni Hour episode, Nesima discusses how journalism and philanthropy can drive social impact, what ethical storytelling requires in a digital world, and how creative writing continues to shape her personal and professional life.

Interview Highlights:

• 0:00 — Chandler roots and family influence

• 3:32 — Applying for the Flinn Scholarship

• 5:31 — Choosing majors at ASU

• 12:13 — First steps after graduation

• 20:45 — Working at The Atlantic and moving on

• 24:54 — Making values‑aligned career decisions

• 27:03 — Networking moments that opened doors

• 29:11 — What movement journalism means

• 31:30 — Navigating ethical storytelling

• 33:14 — A myth about social media and virality

• 34:50 — How to consume media responsibly

• 37:04 — Managing digital overload and fatigue

• 39:05 — Lessons from leading a communications team

• 48:07 — Overcoming writer’s block

• 50:00 — Advice on taking career risks

• 53:16 — Realizing advancement limits at The Atlantic

• 56:01 — What’s next on Nesima’s bucket list