“My daughter makes me think I am a superhero–that I can do anything”… Nneka & Christine Obiamalu’s Life@ GWN

Girls Write Now Community Manager Christine Obiamalu, our newest staff member, may be the “baby” of the Girls Write Now community, but in her nine months here, she’s already woven herself into the fabric of the organization. She’s engaged the community, strengthened relationships, and enriched our communications. Christine helps lead our Enrollment and Engagement department, making sure mentors and mentees are supported every step of the way throughout their Girls Write Now experience. If you’ve ever emailed community@girlswritenow.org, received a Slack reminder, or sat down for an impactful check-in, you have Christine to thank for the timely, thoughtful, and warm response. 

Some say it runs in the family. Behind every superhero, is a supermom. This cycle, Christine brought her mom, Nneka Obiamalu, into the Girls Write Now community as a mentor. As a mentor, Nneka has enjoyed stepping into the role of the writer and celebrating the superhero that motherhood and mentorship brings out in her. 

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With Mother’s Day on the horizon, Christine and Nneka share their fondest memories, and proudest moments—but not their inside jokes. Some things stay in the family!  Enjoy the interview!

Tell us about your Life@GWN. 

Nneka: At the prompting of my multi-talented daughter, I signed up as a volunteer mentor to a lovely young lady who is on the Editorial Perspectives Journey and who is passionate about writing fictional stories.

Christine: I’m a Community Manager in the Department of Enrollment and Engagement. My work sits at the heart of the program cycle—reviewing applications, conducting interviews, pairing mentors and mentees, and making sure those relationships are thriving from start to finish. I also oversee our Mentor on Demand program, which matches mentors and mentees for short-term focused support, and this keeps me connected to the broader community year-round.

What about doing that/those things gets you up in the morning?

Nneka: Speaking with her and hearing other young girls talk about their work and experiences is always inspirational; they are so much more outspoken and courageous than I ever was at their age.  

Christine: Honestly? The mentees. They are curious, bold, and ready to move—and that energy is contagious. Gen Z does not come to play, and being in their orbit every day is genuinely one of the best parts of this work.

What is it about the Girls Write Now work environment that you find so special? 

Nneka: I think the opportunities they have created and the resources they have made available (especially the Journey curriculum and Studios) for young writers trying to find their voices is absolutely incredible. And the fact that all of this is purely altruistic is phenomenal. 

Christine: The collaboration here is real. Everyone wears many hats, and what makes it work is that people show up with great ideas and the willingness to listen—that combination is rare. I’m about nine months in and I can honestly say I look forward to coming to work. 

What’s your superpower? How does that inform the work you do at Girls Write Now?

Nneka: I don’t have a superpower. I just know how to get things done, and I love a new challenge!

Christine: Multitasking—without question. When you’re managing 200 active pairs, the ability to hold a lot at once isn’t optional, it’s essential. I’ve also been told I’m very personable, which I think is just as important in a role this front-facing. People need to feel seen, and I genuinely love making that happen.

People need to feel seen, and I genuinely love making that happen.

The theme for our upcoming anthology is “METAMORPHOSIS.” How has writing changed you?

Nneka: I am not writing yet. I am reading far more than I used to, and I think this is going to help me get started.

Christine: Writing gave me permission to be unapologetic. There’s no performance required on the page—no ego, no audience to impress. Like most creatives, I still wrestle with putting work out into the world, but the page itself has never judged me. 

Describe each other in three memories OR three adjectives. 

Nneka: Singing at the top of her voice in my car and bobbing up and down. Planning family gatherings and insisting on performing “Don’t Rain on my Parade” or some other musical for everyone. Picking me up at the airport in New York every single time I come to visit and making all arrangements for my stay.

Christine: 

Warm: Most people who meet my mum would lead with warm—she just radiates, and I’ve always associated her with the color orange. 

Smart: She’s also incredibly smart, even if she doesn’t always give herself credit for it. She knows how to take in information, hold it, and form thoughtful opinions—a skill I genuinely aspire to. 

Grounding: That’s the one I feel most. She keeps me tethered in the best way.

What’s an inside joke that you and your Mom/Daughter still laugh about? 

Nneka: It is censored; we cannot share it with the world.

Christine: Our inside jokes are staying inside for a reason—but trust me, we have them!

Who is a creator (writer, artist, musician, etc.) that your Mom/Daughter got you hooked on? 

Nneka: Bruno Mars! She took me to his concert in Toronto and I was hooked. 

Christine: Luther Vandross. My dad might try to take credit since he’s the one who introduced Luther to my mum—but she’s the one who brought him into my world, so this one goes to her. It’s a full family affair, honestly.

What is the greatest advice you ever gave each other? 

Nneka: It’s crazy but my daughter makes me think I am a superhero—that I can do anything.

Christine: My mum gives great advice—I don’t make any important decisions without calling her first. But the two that live rent-free in my head are “this too shall pass” and “preparation meets opportunity.” “This too shall pass” especially has carried me through more than I can count.

If you got Freaky Friday-ed (magically switched bodies), what do you think your Mom/Daughter would have the toughest time with living as you? 

Nneka: Dealing with extended family drama.

Christine: Keeping up with my schedule! I work my 10-to-6 at Girls Write Now, but I’m also a singer-songwriter, a yoga teacher, a piano teacher, and currently in the middle of wedding planning. My mum is no stranger to multitasking herself—but I think even she would look at my calendar and say “okay, this is a lot.” Because honestly? It is.

What’s the best place you’ve traveled to? 

Christine: Berlin! I was just there last month with my fiancé! Shoutout to our Senior Community Manager Jesse Jagtiani for planting the seed (she’s from Germany!). There’s something about it that reminded me of New York in the best way—the public transit, the energy, the food, the things to see and do. It’s a city that just lives. I’m already plotting my return.

Do you have any pets? If so, tell us about them! 

Nneka: My daughter’s Dalmatian, Lisa. She is in pet heaven now, but she was a very perceptive dog—she knew who liked her, who did not, and she responded in kind. Until we had her, we didn’t know dogs smiled.  

In a few lines, what’s the best book you’ve read recently? 

Christine: I’ve been reading a lot lately, so this was hard—but The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi really stayed with me. It’s beautifully written, full of twists, and set in Nigeria—where I’m from. There’s something about reading a story rooted in your own culture that just hits differently.

Star Wars or Star Trek? 

Nneka: A trekkie!

Are you a morning person or a night owl? 

Christine: Night owl—through and through. I’m working on it, I really am, but my body has made its preferences very clear. Late nights just feel natural to me. It is what it is!

What is one thing you share with your Mom/Daughter (eye color, love for chocolate, it could be anything)? 

Nneka: We both have a sweet tooth—cake, candy, chocolates, ice cream! 

Christine: An infinite love for chocolate and all things sweet. My father and my fiancé both know that if you want to make my mum and me happy, chocolate will do it every time—and ice cream if we really need a pick-me-up. We also get told constantly that we look alike! My mum doesn’t see it but you can be the judge.

When you sit down to eat together, is there a certain restaurant or meal you both love?

Nneka: Italian—my daughter loves pasta, and I enjoy a good salad with all the trimmings

Do you play a musical instrument?

Christine: I have been playing the piano since I was five years old. It’s one of my favorite things in the world, and now I get to teach it too, which makes it even more meaningful. It never gets old.

What’s something you’re proud of?

Nneka: My daughter, for successfully navigating “the big apple”; finding her circle of people, building a life filled with activities she loves, creating a lovely apartment—and earning enough to pay her own bills.