That money you want is in someone’s account: Amba Eyang – Ajakaye
Not every “celebrity” is known. There are powerful women who are not just breaking glass ceilings, but also impacting the lives of people they meet. One of such extraordinary women is Amba Eyang-Ajakaiye, a Brand Storyteller and Business Strategist. She is the founder of iDare.NotDread Nigeria, a social engineering platform promoting innovation, creativity, and enterprise through storytelling and value sharing. She is also team lead of the Build My Business initiative born out of iDare.NotDread’s enterprise. Centered on building skills and capacities for young people in the business. This project launched grand ideas such as the BMB Expo and BMB Training school (online) in 2017. Amba has gone from transforming ordinary people who would have never thought of writing their own books, to making them authors. She’s also supporting small businesses to achieve scalability and growth especially, by helping them identify and understand the importance of “target markets” and “market validation”. In this interview with SLA contributor – Wuraola, Amba Eyang-Ajakaiye bares it all about IDare.NotDread and highlights why small business owners should “do it afraid”. Tell us about your company – IDare.NotDread iDare.NotDread is a social Enterprise promoting innovation, creativity, and enterprise in Nigeria. Our focus is primarily to build women communities and empower them with creative and innovative skills for business growth. What’s one business tip you wish most business owners knew and could wield to their advantage? Network. Meet people. That money you want is in someone’s account. That unspoken challenge can be solved by someone. Attend workshops, events, and meet people. Most people don’t bite. How can entrepreneurs begin to understand the power of conducting market validation, and collaboration with other SMEs? I believe in collaboration. This is why I try to build communities. We started the Abuja food community in May, and its amazing to see how much collaboration has happened in a group full of women. Yet, we probably thought women prefer to fight. No. The moment businesses understand that collaboration first means ‘here is what I can give you’, before ‘give me what I want’, they will lead better businesses. With a lot of fake business coaches around, what makes your brand different? We didn’t just arrive. We’ve been here a while. In 2013 we started with creating a platform for entrepreneurs to share their stories and inspire others. Over time, we realized stories weren’t enough. Capacities needed to be built. So we went all in to try to understand the real needs of the entrepreneurs we wished to serve, and since 2016, we started contributing to conversations around digital technology and creating a good impact in the digital space. Since then, our efforts have birthed super brands. In the past 3 years we have successfully trained 4,000 entrepreneurs on digital strategies as well as provided opportunities for business visibility. Many thanks to the opportunity Google granted us through the Digital Skills for Africa programme and a host of other partners who have trusted us to work with them. Why should SMEs understand their target markets before making an entrance into the market? Because if we don’t, we would be hitting our heads on rocks. Hard rocks. You can’t sell to everyone, and this is why research is key to identifying who your market is. Tell us about your Ebook Challenge Its amazing! I launched my first ever ebook on March 2019, titled ‘How to write your first eBook‘ and that’s where the ebook challenge began. We are currently on our 3rd cohort and it’s been amazing!!! Every 2 months we launch a new set of authors who are super proud of their achievements. It feels great to empower people to create wealth with their knowledge. We are looking to expand the community beyond eBooks to help more women create diverse digital products and generate more income. How does the “Do It Afraid” catchphrase relate to entrepreneurs who don’t like taking risks? We all have fear in us. It’s an emotion. I am still learning to tame my fears. And we all should. The best way to go about it is to go ahead and do that very thing you fear. I have coached a number of businesses and one of the areas I tend to focus on is to help them fight those limitations – the little voices and beliefs that make them feel less of themselves and limited. It’s important we act despite fear. Accept your fears but act. What’s the worst that could happen? Failure? Then show me one person who NEVER failed.
Yukabeth Kidenda: I Want To Celebrate And Dignify The Teaching Profession
Teach For Kenya is one of many independent chapters of the Teach For All Non-Profit organization, that is currently being set up in Nairobi, Kenya by Yukabeth Kidenda who is both its CEO and founder. Passionate about education and mentorship, Yukabeth is on a mission to build a movement of ethical leaders to drive reforms in Kenya’s education ecosystem. In this article, Yukabeth talks about her passion for teaching and her dream for education in Kenya. What inspired the Teach For Kenya initiative? Teach for Kenya is not the first of its kind, there are actually 50 other partner networks that exist all over the world. Teach For All was started by Wendy Kopp, an American who actually started it as Teach For America initially. Her inspiration came from coming face to face with the inequities in education in her hometown and feeling a burden in her heart to help bridge those gaps. From the success of that, she decided to replicate the model across other countries. When I was done with college, I decided to take a gap year and went to serve as a teacher in Honduras, Central America. That entire year was 365 of the happiest days of my life. I came back home, but for one and a half years, I couldn’t find a job. That really made me question everything that I had believed. For a long time, I had this belief that education was what gets you to be successful. I questioned that notion a lot and began to think – How come the education that I received didn’t prepare me for this slump on the road? How come this great education made me sit at home for over a year jobless? Why didn’t it help me sell myself to a potential employer? That is when things in my mind changed, I don’t want to just help people get access to education, I want to help them get access to QUALITY education that will enable them to thrive in this 21st century. That’s why I dedicated my life to working in educational organizations. I started with adult learning and corporate training, then worked with Microsoft with their education team to push ICT training and certification. Thereafter I joined Metis where I was running a fellowship program for educators across all sectors and went on to work with the African Leadership Group as a leadership facilitator and now getting ready to launch Teach For Kenya. I had been mulling over this with one of my mentors, Kennedy Odede for about one and a half years and by the beginning of 2019, I just decided to get on with it and actually do something. I think right now the country is ripe for such a great innovation and I’m glad to be at the forefront of it. Why is education important to you? I have a vast background in education, all the way back to my time in high school when my mother was diagnosed with cancer. My parents really valued education a lot and still do, my siblings and I all went to very good schools. My mother’s illness did take a financial toll on the family but one thing I took note of, was that my father did not make us switch schools at any point. We could have saved so much money by going to other schools that were not as costly and I could not understand why he chose to make that sacrifice. As I got older I realized the kind of doors that getting a good education and being exposed to that kind of learning could open for me. During my university years, I approached my dad and told him that I want to support other people who don’t have people rooting for them the way he rooted for us. My dad and I soon started doing a lot of projects in the community, going out to various areas, providing books, toiletries, things that just make the learning environment more habitable and more comfortable for the students. That really generated the passion I have had since then to do more in the education field. 3. How is it going with putting together the launch? It’s been a scary, engaging, challenging but exciting process all the same. One thing that has worked in my favor, is that this is my dream job. I’ve always wanted to work with people who don’t have anybody cheering them on and supporting them. Teach For Kenya puts me in that unique position where I have basically taken the responsibility to run this organization that will help mentor recent graduates and put them in a position where they come face to face with the challenges facing their community, transitioning them on to the alumni face of the program and watching them go out into the world to impact and join initiatives that are seeking to address these challenges. So I’d say right now that the education space in Kenya is very ripe. There are so many people who are very receptive to the idea of Teach For Kenya, and think it’s been a long time coming so the support has been overwhelming in a good way. I plan to pilot this program with our first 20 fellows in January 2021 so what I’m focusing on right now is doing community research and going out into the areas where we will potentially get to speak to the communities, the teachers, students, and parents and find out what their needs are and how our skills can best match those needs. It’s a lot of work but I feel like all of us as citizens of this country and this continent needs to do our part, this is me right now choosing to do my part. I hope this encourages anyone who may think that their part may be too small – we’re all pieces in a puzzle of a beautiful bigger picture and by doing our part, we
11 Traits to have in your single years – while waiting for a life partner
The single years can be fun and productive, but in some societies, the stigma that arises when you start getting close to a certain age can become overwhelming. Beyond that, how can you make your single years transformational and fruitful before settling down? Here are some tips to help you: 1. Give more than you receive This is the best time to start practicing how to share. When you get married, you’ll have to share your life with your spouse and if you have always felt that people were invading your space, this is the best time to start practicing. Smile more, show courtesy, give out some things that you don’t need and volunteer with your time. 2. Start working on things that challenge your self-worth Do you have issues with being confident? This is the best time to seek therapy on that. Do you feel you’re not tall or beautiful enough? This is the best time to start seeing yourself in a positive light. Take time to evaluate what makes you feel less and start appreciating it. In marriage, you wouldn’t want your spouse to be the source of your happiness because sometimes you’ll need to learn to enjoy your alone time. Nobody can complete you so start learning to love yourself. 3. Learn to manage your money If you spend without a budget, plan or savings then you want to learn to manage your finance. You can start saving and investing now. You can research on apps that allow you to save and invest and also learn more on business opportunities. 4. Learn to manage your home If you can’t clean your space, then start owning your space well without the intention of your spouse arranging everything for you. Learn to clean every corner of your house and practice good and healthy hygiene. 5. Be a praying person Marriage has its own battles and you don’t want to go into marriage with an entitlement mentality. You want to start praying for yourself, your spouse and children ahead. Learn to build a relationship with God in your single years so that you don’t build your world around your spouse alone. 6. This is time to work on your insecurities There’re people who’ll get married and try to control or manipulate their spouse because of trust issues. This is time to stop projecting your fears on your partner. Seek therapy and closure. It usually stems from your past experiences and it is better to seek for healing before you settle down. 7. Let go of pride If you’ve pride issues, this is the time to start seeking professional help. Pride kills the beauty of marriage. Don’t assume that your excesses will be managed. Pride comes before a fall. 8. Practice self-control If you think marriage will help you to stop playing the field, that’s a mistake. Self-control is important because you won’t be having sex every day. 9. Start learning little act of commitment Marriage works because of two committed people. Commitment should be practiced even when things are not going your way. It starts with your thoughts and decisions. 10. Travel to a new place One of the beautiful things you can do in your single years is to go to new places and try new things. if you cannot afford to visit a different country, try traveling to another state to tour and meet new people. 11. Invest in your personal development You should also use this period to read books, attend seminars and invest in yourself. I can’t emphasize this enough. A lot of singles find it difficult to invest in their emotional life and it can be frustrating at the end of the day. Save yourself the stress of being hurt and clueless. Learn and relearn. Learn about your personality type, your values, your deal-breaker, communication, love and apology languages, and so many other things. Which of these do you want to start doing?
Chidi Koldsweat: Helping private sector companies launch affordable CSR activities
Chidi Koldsweat is an international development professional and the founder of Donors for Africa. She is a recipient of numerous awards including CEO Global’s Africa most influential woman in management, business & public service (civil society category). Chidi Koldsweat was also nominated amongst the 100 unseen women changing her world. Recently, she was appointed to join the board of CHEID, therefore becoming the only female board member In this interview, Chidi talks about her personal growth, and how she’s designing solutions in the society through Donors for Africa. Your achievements in the development sector are remarkable. What gaps do you see Donors for Africa filling in the years to come? We are building the capacity of nonprofit leaders across Africa to implement their work successfully. Within a year, we have helped nonprofit leaders go from confusion to clarity and then impact. We have helped then generate funds for their organizations and most importantly teach them how to. We are designing solutions that allow African nonprofit leaders to build sustainable organizations for the long term. Ones that do not rely totally on external funding to do all their work. If we empower nonprofit leaders and organizations, then they can be around for more years and in turn, their solutions are more lasting and impactful in the communities. We are helping private sector companies launch affordable CSR activities. Also, we are saving them the cost and connecting them to social impact leaders who are making a world of difference with a fraction of the cost. We are filling the gap between knowledge-developed organizations and donor opportunities. These are needs that will always be present. You have a robust career portfolio, what strategies did you apply that young women can learn from? You must constantly learn, the more you learn and apply what you have learned, the more opportunities are opened up to you. As the opportunities open up, you will find lapses and you will keep learning to fill those gaps. This is one way I have grown exponentially. You must also be ready to do the work. If you desire to build for the long term and not fade away in the future, you must focus on developing roots. This means, doing the work, being committed and focused, failing as much as you learn, finding your voice, matching passion with boldness. Learn to speak up and take up responsibilities. Whether or not you can do it, sign up for projects that challenge you. Intentionally seek out global opportunities and apply! apply! apply! These opportunities will introduce you into an ecosystem, where you can connect with other development leaders from other parts of the world and form the right connections. These connections will amplify your efforts in the future. Above all, be mentored, directly or indirectly by women you admire in your sector. What sort of courses do they take? What meetings do they attend? What schools do they go to? How do they dress? How do they comport themselves? Observing other women leaders will subconsciously teach you how to act and engage now and in the future You pitched your business at the World Bank Youth Summit in one minute. What advice can you give to future applicants? When I applied to pitch our project at the WBYS, my pitch wasn’t selected. However, when I attended the event, I got there on time, found a seat right in front and looked the part. I made eye contact with the MC and was present during each activity when he asked if people were ready to pitch, I said YES and on the day of the event, I was invited to pitch as my passion and zeal were obvious from the very first day. So my advice will be, ‘be prepared’. Always. Find time to clearly define what you do and how you do it. Prepare and master your pitches, so that when opportunities find you, you are ready. Any advice for women who are just starting out their careers in the development sector? You must be intentional about your journey. Be ready to learn. Do not let the desperation of this generation to be heard and seen deter you from also developing the content and character needed to keep you. A career in development is hard; it comes with a lot of rejections. Don’t let it validate your self-worth. Keep creating. A career in development may not give you immediate results but it will in the future and the rewards are endless. Do not turn down opportunities to lead where you currently work. Irrespective the task, DO IT. Every single knowledge counts and will come in handy. How can women distinguish themselves in any field of endeavor they find themselves in? Simply by moving beyond being responsive to being proactive. We need to lead the conversations. You distinguish yourself by building thought leadership. Challenging the status quo and proposing solutions you believe may work. It is long and hard but soon your thought leadership on subjects of interest or national concerns at either the regional or international level will help you stand out. You recently got appointed to the board of the ‘Center for Education, Innovation, and Development’. Being the first female to have this position, what does this mean for you? It means a lot. Innovation and development are two things that are important to me. Being invited to join other leading experts to craft sustainable practices that will revamp the educational sector through innovation further supports my passion to leave a lasting impact. I also believe it will pave the way for other women and hopefully, we can have more women seat on the boards of leading organizations. What are two life lessons you apply every day? Be honest! Be honest with yourself, your strengths and your weaknesses. This will help you clarify what areas you want to expend energy on and the things you have to outsource. It informs your character and your ability to do what
A ‘Maternity Leave’ Revolution is taking place on the continent
The topic of parental leave in Africa is a commonly contested issue that is brought to question time and time again. In many parts of the continent, actual maternity and paternity leave are non-existent. Distiller giant, Diageo have made a huge step in a positive direction regarding parental leave by being the first large scale employer in Africa to provide their staff with six months paid maternity leave and four weeks paternity leave on full rate pay in all their markets across the continent. Diageo made this announcement in conjunction with their move to increase parental leave in their Western and Asian markets as well. This is a big step in the corporate world given that very few (if any) employers in Africa are permitting six months of paid leave – which makes it easier for women in the workplace to be both mothers and have a career with little stringent time complications. The International Labour Organization (ILO) states that 80% of women in Africa and Asia are deprived of maternity leave. In terms of paternity leave, the numbers are even lower with only eight countries out of 54 giving fathers more than a week’s paternity leave. This debacle has made it difficult for African women who are/want to be mothers to progress in the workplace because it forces them to choose one or the other but never both. SLA contributor – Diana had a sit down with HR director of the Diageo Africa division, Caroline Hirst, and Clemmie Raynsford, Head of Market Communications to learn about the steps taken and reasons for making such an empowering initiative come alive. Why did Diageo decide to do this now as opposed to say 2 – 4yrs ago? Caroline: We have been really progressing on the gender diversity perspective, we’ve worked really heavily on representation on a leadership level and in every aspect of our business and in particular generally where women are underrepresented. That has been really successful. However, we have recognized that the gender diversity agenda can’t just be about how many people of which gender you’ve got doing what things. It’s much more a breakdown of stereotypes, how do you create an environment where everybody can succeed, that’s really our aim. I was really keen to bring this policy in Africa because I think you can be forgiven for thinking that the gender diversity agenda is all about enabling women in Africa to do what men do which is not the case. It’s about all of us think differently about how we work together and so having this shift around parental leave and particularly the shift around paternity leave across Africa has not only given men more benefits and women too but it’s also got people talking about the diversity agenda as something that’s relevant and a means to change for everybody. Clemmie: It’s about us being a supportive employer and saying you can take more time with your family. With the beverage industry being such an old fashioned industry, most of our big breweries in parts of Africa took it positively commenting that it’s a really pioneering step that’s actually saying we are an employer first and we care about our people and giving them the right to the environment to do their work in the best way possible. If they need to be at home they can be and have their family and have that balance. As a working mum, what does this new initiative by Diageo mean to you and your family? Caroline: I was fortunate enough that when I had my children, the UK legislation already allowed mothers to take up to 40 weeks off. When I had my daughter and took 6 months off leave, the main consideration for me as the primary bread-winner in my household was how would I afford to take that much time off? When I had my son, I took a year off, most of it being unpaid so I feel that if this policy was in existence then, it would have made a lot more financial sense. This new policy will make a difference for women across Africa. I also hope that more men will feel welcome to take the 4 weeks paternity leave and spend time at home with their families. One of the things that we are seeking to do in our business is to make it okay for anybody to be a parent as opposed to it being something that only women can talk about or experience fully. Clemmie: I think what’s great about this policy is that not only does it take the financial pressure off which probably is sort of 70-80% of the main factor. But also, in saying that your company will give you full pay for 26 weeks off, it’s also saying that slightly the company is expecting you to want to and is absolutely fine with you taking that extended period of time off. It’s the combination of being allowed and your employer saying – we support you and we know that you have a family, this is a crazy new stage in your life so not only will we help you financially but here is some extra time you most likely need. The feedback from a lot of our African markets included people just suddenly feeling that sense of support that never existed before. It has been very positive from our various East and West Africa businesses. Why can’t fathers get the same amount of time off as mothers do? Caroline: In the future, we could look at a possible potential for that. Our intention is to create an environment where men can be fathers. And we think that moving to four weeks paternity leave whereas before in most markets it’s usually just two weeks or less, signals a progressive step forward. We have operationally a few constraints around how we would extend that to six months here where the majority of the workforce is male, but
ILHAN OMAR: From Refugee camp to US Congress
When I think of a Boss in 2020, I think of Ilhan Omar. Omar echoes Lupita Nyongo’s Oscar speech when she said “No matter where you come from your dreams are valid”. Ilhan Omar took this to heart as she began her campaign to the House of Representatives in the US Congress. She is now known as Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, but her journey to Congress has been something of a dream. Omar is a Somali native, who was a refugee in Kenya before she relocated to the United States. She was recently elected to the US Congress in a historic fashion. She is the first East African (Somali) woman as well as the first of two Muslim women elected to the House. The US House of Representatives today is comprised of Boss Ladies who have worked their way to the top. Ilhan Omar’s story stands out because of her resilience and compassion as she introduces new bills on the US House floor. THE BEGINNING Ilhan Omar was born in Mogadishu, Somalia in October 1982. She grew up in Somalia until the civil war when she and her family were forced to flee the ongoing civil unrest. Omar spent four years living in extreme poverty at the Dadaab refugee camp in Garissa, Kenya. She and her family overcame obstacles and were able to relocate to the US after securing asylum in 1995. She was raised in the United States from the age of 12. Her upbringing in the United States sparked her interest in politics. Omar shares stories of her youth when she went to political meetings with her father and saw the lack of female leaders in the political sphere. She went on to study political science at North Dakota State University. Her studies of politics gave her the tools needed to embark on the journey to becoming a political pioneer in 2019. THE BUILD UP If you have been following Ilhan Omar’s story, you will quickly realize that she is an outspoken politician. Her journey to the US Congress is a buildup of courage in the face of opposition to anything that goes against the status quo. Omar’s political stance on many issues, especially immigration comes from her experience as an immigrant. She once said in an interview… “For me as an immigrant, who didn’t speak the language, when I had struggled as a kid, my dad would say: Once you are able to communicate with people, they are able to connect with you beyond your otherness…” Omar’s ability to connect with the fellow immigrant who may be struggling with their new environment struck me as a compassionate quality. She understands the immigration issues and can give a voice to the concerns of the immigrant population in the national conversations happening in the US Congress. BOSSING UP She was the Director of Policy Initiatives for the Women Organizing Women Network, based in Minnesota USA, where she was advocating for East African women to take initiative in civic and political leadership roles. According to the WOWN website, the purpose of the organization is to “Empower all women, particularly first and second-generation immigrants to become engaged citizens and community leaders regardless of political affiliation”. The WOW Network seeks to encourage Diaspora women to engage in civic conversations that bring light to the issues that immigrants face in the United States. From the role as director of this network, she was able to gain the confidence to launch her campaign for office in the United States Congress. The boss lady emerged as she fought hard to win a seat in the House of Representatives. She was elected to the US Congress in 2018 and re-elected in 2020 . If you’d like to see more content like this, please join our community. It’ll only take 2 seconds.
The HealthCare Giant of Botswana
“Bridging the gap between Policy and Implementation in Gender, Reproductive Health, and HIV/AIDS” Professor Sheila Tlou – whose surname translates literally to ‘elephant’ is a veritable giant in the gender, health care and sexual and reproductive healthcare space in Botswana, Africa, and the world. To Professor Sheila Tlou, the themes are inseparable, and much of her work includes activism at the intersection of these spaces. Professor Sheila Tlou is the co-chair of the Global HIV Prevention Coalition and the co-chair of the Nursing Now Global Campaign. From 2010 to 2017 she was Director of the UNAIDS regional support team for Eastern and Southern Africa. She is a former Member of Parliament and Minister of Health of the Republic of Botswana (2004-2008). Also, Professor Sheila Tlou was the former Professor of Nursing at the University of Botswana and Director of the WHO collaborating center for Nursing and Midwifery Development in Primary Health Care for Anglophone Africa. Professor Sheila Tlou has conducted research and taught courses like nursing, pre-medical and social science students on Gender issues relating to HIV/AIDS, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, and Ageing and Older Persons. She has played a key role in the development of national nursing and medical education curricula, working to broaden the scope of Health Sciences education in Botswana. Her work on HIV/AIDS The first case of HIV in Botswana was reported in 1985. As was the case with the pandemic in the early years, the virus spread quickly, and with Botswana’s small population, the implications for social and economic stability were devastating. However, Botswana responded to the pandemic and implemented a number of health care reforms and programs including the PMTCT (Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission) in 1999 and universal access to ARVs (antiretrovirals) to those who were at an advanced stage of the disease. The management of the virus in Botswana is due in large part to the role that Professor Tlou played in those years, and she continues to lend her voice, wisdom, and expertise to the healthcare space worldwide, today. For example, the transmission of HIV from mother to child decreased from about 30 percent in 2003 to about 8 percent in 2008. Maternal mortality due to AIDS also decreased from 34 percent to 9 percent under her leadership. Her work is ‘numbers’ and report-based, however, one cannot forget that the work that Prof. Tlou continues to do has a major impact on the lives of women, and by extension, their families and communities. Professor Tlou worked tirelessly at the intersection of gender and health, to generate research and forge important partnerships between academia, government, and civil society. She advocated for real change at the grassroots level in Botswana. As Minister of Health, she led a forward-thinking and focused HIV care, prevention, treatment, support, and care programme that is used as a model all over the world today; a testament to her knowledge, resolve and leadership. Professor Tlou is aware of the role that young people have to play in continuing the challenge of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths – effectively ending the disease by 2030. Her work on gender health Professor Tlou is the United Nations Eminent Person for Women, Girls, and HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa. She is also the International Council of Nurses Goodwill Ambassador for Girl Child Education. In her past assignment as UNAIDS Regional Director, Professor Tlou provided leadership and Political Advocacy for quality sustainable AIDS response in 21 African countries, from Eritrea to South Africa, including the Indian Ocean Islands of Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Comoros. She has been instrumental in the formation of advocacy bodies such as The Pan-African Positive Women’s Coalition (PAPWC) and the High-Level Task Force on Women, Girls, Gender Equality and HIV in Africa. Professor Tlou initiated and chaired a High-Level task force on Comprehensive Sexuality Education and Services for Young People in Eastern and Southern Africa. Because of the uniqueness and peculiarity of the cultural context of African societies, HIV/AIDS thrived in a thick cloak of ignorance, denial, and secrecy that Prof. Tlou has recognized as a deterrent to the success of any programs that may be implemented. Again, her sensitivity to the fact that women empowerment is a key issue that lies at the heart of HIV/AIDS prevention means that her work is alive to the issues that are particular to African women. “Gender inequality, gender-based violence, including sexual violence and sexual exploitation, are at the core of young women’s vulnerability and need to be addressed if we are to achieve that SDG of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030″. This very goal gives us a platform to deliver services based on rights, inclusiveness, universality and ensuring that no one is left behind. Her Recognitions/Awards Professor Tlou has received many national and international awards. Among them are… “the Botswana Presidential Order of Honor, the Florence Nightingale Award from the International Red Cross Society, the Trailblazer Woman Leading Change Award from the World YWCA, the Leadership in Health award from the Global Business Council (Health)”. She also got “the President award from the US National Academy of Nursing, the President award from the US National League for Nursing, the Princess Srinagarindra award from Thailand, the Christianne Reimann award from the International Council of Nurses, and The Princess Muna Al Hussein award from the American Nurses Credentialing Centre”. “Leaders who are able to communicate the importance of their activism are often able to inspire groups to pull together towards a common goal”. Botswana is one of Africa’s success stories, from one of Africa’s poorest countries to a vibrant, developed, middle-income African state. Sponsored Post.
Bossing through Learning: Joanna Steele
As a boss, learning is your superpower. You don’t know what you don’t know, but there is now a multitude of ways to find out. After completing my Marketing & Spanish degree at London Metropolitan University, I vowed that I was never going to study again. Not because I didn’t enjoy my course or my studying experience – I actually really loved my uni days and not just because of the socializing! However, I was eager to get into the world of work and at the time thought that what I had studied was all I needed to launch and sustain me in my career. However, over time, I have developed a totally different perspective on education and studying and realise that in order to grow it is imperative to continue learning throughout your life. Working in the digital field as I do is exciting. Technological advances and changes in consumer behaviour ensure that it’s an industry that is ever evolving and in order to keep up and remain an authority in my field. Just recently, I completed a Fintech course with Oxford University. I had zero knowledge of financial markets but understood that it’s an area that is being disrupted by technology particularly in Africa. It was important that I improved my knowledge in this area. As a result, I am now part of a group of alumni working on a great project– so two wins – knowledge of a new field and a potential business opportunity! But it’s more than just keeping abreast of your industry, it’s equally important to learn new things in general, and to stay curious. In order to grow and live a fulfilled life, it’s important to expand past your comfort zone, increase your skills and knowledge and deepen your understanding and perceptions around areas that you may not often be exposed to. Haven struggled with weight issues for most of my life, I challenged myself to complete a fitness qualification with YMCA in a bid to better understand health and fitness and to spur on my weight loss. In fact, I am now a fully qualified Group ETM (Exercise to Music) instructor and whilst I don’t teach classes I definitely have a different approach to my health and have incorporated new elements into my daily lifestyle to maintain a certain level of fitness. Encouraging yourself to try new and different experiences, setting yourself challenges, not necessarily knowing how to get there but knowing your why which propels you along your path of achievement. My Top 5 Reasons for continued learning It gives you a sense of accomplishment and pride and helps build self-confidence. Psychologists say that learning makes us happier! It gives you access to new and different opportunities. My network has expanded exponentially – the number of new friends I’ve made and the projects I’ve been able to work on with people I’ve met through learning has been incredible It fuels creativity. You can learn something in a seemingly un-related area which can trigger an idea in another. It fuel change It fuels productivity. Developing a new skill influences the way you do things day to day and can make doing things quicker and easier, saving time, energy and stress. Having lived and worked in the UK my whole life, I have no experience of living in another country let alone starting a business in one. But my aptitude for learning, whether it’s reading, taking courses or training is what’s prepping me on this journey and helped me one step at a time to steadily achieve my dream. I like to believe that learning is our superpower. You don’t know what you don’t know, but there is now a multitude of ways to find out. I reckon it’s definitely time to redefine the phrase CPD from Continued Professional Development to Continue Pushing for your Dreams.
Robinah Nansubuga: My main drive is to always create alternative spaces
The African art scene in Africa is growing, developing and more exciting than ever. With many African artists making a name for themselves – both at home and around the world – how does one get into the art scene when not being an artist yourself? Robinah Nansubuga is an Independent Curator and Set Designer based in Kampala, Uganda. She implements strategies to promote artists and develop the artistic network in East Africa. She has curated and led artistic projects across the continent and the world. Robinah was the artistic director of MTN Nyege Nyege 2018 – a festival organized with grants from the British Council. This Motherland Mogul is also a former committee member for Laba! Street Art Festival, Arterial Network Uganda Chapter, a judge curator at the National Civil Society Fair art Competitions (CSO), co-curator of the Kampala Contemporary Art festival – and much more arts festival across the region. How did you become an independent curator of arts festivals? I have always been a huge fan of festivals they were my get away from everything that one place that I felt included and happened to forget the things happening home and in my life at that time. After having worked for two galleries in Kampala (Afriart and fas fas gallery) I became an independent curator in 2012. I wanted to experience art in a space where audiences and makers get to meet. Therefore I started curating ‘’EKYOTO UGANDA ‘’ during the Bayimba International Arts festival. Ekyoto was a bonfire project that I curated to bring together people through games like ‘’Dulu’’ – which today would come close to being a pool table. Integrating the social aspects with Ugandan traditional ways of entertainment turned out to be a big success. From there, I started to think and focus on how to create arts and cultural events that are inclusive and show a variety of art forms. What skills do non-artists need to make it in the arts sector? Organizational skills! Arts festivals usually do not have big budgets. So being efficient, conscious of costs and committed to timelines are key to make any festival a reality. Also, it’s very important that you are good at collaborating. Festivals are all about collaborations, not only with the other people on the team – but also with the artists and don’t forget the audience. Successful arts festivals can only be realized by listening to all involved because in that way new ideas can develop. I would also suggest that it’s good to develop some creative skills yourself. This will help you understand who you are working with and it will help you develop your own creative vision. And finally, practical skills – from basic electrician know-how to carpentry and designing – will always come in handy during the actual festival. Tell us how you develop your own vision and execute that vision? I am fortunate by now I get invited by festivals to work with them because I have built a name for myself through my vision. Through the exhibitions, I created my main drive is always to create alternative spaces. My vision developed over the years. Whenever I would attend arts of the cultural festival I would look for the things I felt were missing and that would have been of added value to the festival and the audiences. However, when being approached by a festival you usually have to work in teams meaning that the vision is not yours alone. What have been your biggest challenges in the cultural scene? And how did you overcome these challenges? Being a woman who looks really young definitely didn’t help. I really had to push hard to make sure my ideas were not being undermined, but actually listened to. It’s a very male-dominated sector so as a woman you have to bring yourself to think like a man, be able to do all the physical and mental jobs they can do in order to have a smooth working relationship. Another challenge that needs political navigation is that the cultural scene can be very much of a clique scene at times. This can mean that collaborating with on one project, might mean you are not able to be involved in another. That is one of the main reasons why I became an independent curator as I’d like to focus on the work instead of potential conflict of interests. I believe that sooner or later, every challenge can be overcome. You can start by educating yourself, trying to surround yourself with the right people who believe in your goals. And, at times you have to be ready to compromise while staying passionate. plus let your work speak more for you. I am lucky I earned my respect in the industry and for that am still very thankful to many artists and people that still believe and believed I could do more than I was doing. You recently curated the Kigali Photo Fest. How did you decide what to include in the exhibition? Kigali Photo Fest has a vision and mission that really resonated with me. It’s about celebrating Africa’s diversity through photography as a medium of art. The theme of the first edition was ‘In search of relevance – locality and remediation’ – which is about sharing and navigating ideas of identity, memory, experience, intimacy, presence, and connection, in order to co-opt a narrative through a selection of subject matter and presentation. They present a historically, socially significant moment and can frame the conversation around those moments, therefore, it wasn’t so difficult to include. We approached artists with the vision and the theme of the festival and many responded positively. It is a special project that hopes to include many African photographers and teach photography as a medium of art to earn its respect, to start looking for new audiences and to mostly tell stories about other places in Africa that one might not be able to visit but have an idea
WANT TO BE A BETTER MANAGER? KEEP THESE 3 THINGS IN MIND
Being a boss babe leader and managing others is not easy. I remember when I was first starting off as a manager, and I had to make my first hires. I overthought everything. I did not want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but at the same time, I wanted to get the most out of the people I hired. Here are three basic statements I kept in mind when reflecting on my ability to engage and mobilize anyone working with me. They are useful to think about whether you manage one intern or twenty individuals. 1. Understand the goals and aspirations of each member of your team. I used to think that I had to approach each member of my team the same. I would provide them the same information and respond to them in similar ways, expecting the same output from each. It did not get me very far. Each person needs to be treated as an individual. Understanding how each member of your team ticks will help you get the most out of them. If you know how to acknowledge and recognize each member, you will know how best to motivate and communicate with them. With just a bit of work and understanding, you can get a lot more out of a team member, because you will be speaking their language. No two people are motivated the same way, so you cannot always expect the same result from different individuals. If you are an employee… Tell your manager what motivates you. Tell them what you want to get out of your experience working with them and how you prefer to be approached. If you are confused about your role or objectives, ask or show them what you think they should be. They might not always listen, but you can at least demonstrate how self-aware you are. Some managers will appreciate it. Those who don’t probably shouldn’t be managers. 2. Each member of your team knows what you expect, and where they are in terms of performance I was notorious and continued to have issues with communicating what I want from others. Even when we think we have done an excellent job, we usually have not. Making sure each member of your team understands their place (even if it changes monthly) is key to making sure you are getting the most out of them. They should be getting feedback from you regularly, and you should periodically inquire about making sure they are on the right track. If they are not, its either you haven’t done an excellent job being explicit or the role does not suit them. If you are an employee and your company has a formal performance review process, nothing your manager says during the performance review process should come as a surprise. Ask for regular feedback and make sure you get clarity if you are confused. Send your manager an email with what you discussed, even if its feedback, to make sure you both are on the same page. 3. You actively act on advice and feedback on how you come across to your team, and how you can be a more motivating leader No one is perfect but spending a few hours a week on seeking and receiving feedback can make you a more effective leader. You can ask for input in various ways: informally at group meetings or formally through surveys. Take some time to read about different approaches to leadership and reflect on who you admire as a manager. Write down the traits and feedback you want to embody and try them out. Want to check how you are doing? Continue to ask for feedback over time. If you are an employee… Ask your manager if you can give them constructive feedback. Think about what you can learn from your manager and make the best of the situation. If there is something that doesn’t sit well with you, keep it in mind for when you have a chance to manage others. How can you use these statements to make a change or move forward? With each element, try to rate yourself. I would suggest on a scale from 1 to 10. 1 meaning disagree strongly and 10, strongly agree. Ask your teammates for feedback to help you decide where you stand. For the statements you rate less than 5, you might want to spend some time thinking through how to bridge the gap. You can start by asking yourself these questions: Where do you want to be? What is the first thing you can do to make progress in that particular element? That one small step you take can help you get closer to the leader you want to be and get even more out of your team. This month of July, we’re telling stories about boss ladies breaking boundaries, and how you also can hit your #BossLadyGoals. Got a boss lady story to share with us? Click here.