Public relations and communication departments in most organizations are known more for the role they play when defending the reputation of their organizations amidst crises and critism. However these departments can be engaged to strategically exploit a country’s economic potential as business reporter, zawadi mudibo, found out when he spoke to jack leslie, the chairman of weber shandwick…a leading global pr firm in the united states. Leslie was a communications crisis advisor to american airlines following the terrorist attacks on september 11, 2001 and is currently the chairman of united states african development fund.