Emma Wenani: Deep down, I always knew I would be successful
Emma Wenani is the Director, Human Resources at Global Media Alliance (GMA), a leading communications company in West Africa. Together with her team; they manage the HR processes for over 300 staff members across 9 business entities. Emma embodies the idea of women in corporate leadership, but her career now is nothing close to what she wanted to do with her life while she was growing up. She shares more about that, her leadership experience and the challenges for women in leadership. What was your dream job as a kid? Why? I wanted to be so many things at the same time. At some point I wanted to become a model because they looked so prim and proper and very well mannered. Then I wanted to be an air hostess so I could travel the world; I still want to travel the world, but as a tourist. Then at yet another point, when one of the top cardiologists in Kenya died from heart disease, I decided I was going to be a surgeon. For the longest time I was working to be a doctor, but when I really discovered what careers were (I guess one eventually does grow up), I knew I wanted to become a teacher, I still believe that I will teach one day. I wanted to teach because of one of my primary school teachers, Mrs. Katingima. To date, she is my all-time favourite teacher because she taught us and loved us. I admired her; there was something about how much she wanted us to succeed that made going to school very easy. I wanted to be a teacher like Mrs. Katingima so I could teach my students with as much passion as she taught us. How did you find yourself where you are now? I will summarize it somewhat and say I do believe I am where I belong. I never thought that I would be pursuing a career in human resources, but this is where I find myself and I love it. When I was doing my undergraduate studies, I joined a student organization on campus called AIESEC. AIESEC is the largest student-run organization in the world, which was keen on inculcating in us the importance of working towards realizing our leadership potential. It was there that truly, my passion for talent, training and people was unearthed. I was involved in a number of roles that gave me the opportunity to lead teams, attend conferences in different countries with like-minded leaders, facilitate conference sessions etc. It was clear that anything and everything that involved working with people and in talent management was something I would pursue. After 6 years of being in HR and 2 years specializing in HR studies at Masters Level, I can comfortably say that I am home. What woman inspires you and why? I admire Kenya’s First Lady Margaret Kenyatta; I admire everything about Her Excellency. How simple yet powerful she is, how much thought goes into her ceremonial and occasional outfits, her causes and the passion she puts into them. I admire that she not only says she is going to do something, but puts her all into it. A leader should not only delegate but should also show others that they can do what they say they are going to do. The effort and work she has put as founder and patron for the Beyond Zero campaign, aimed at stemming maternal mortality must be lauded. I look forward to meeting H.E. Margaret Kenyatta one day, to tell her that I admired her from afar, and to say thank you on behalf of current and future mothers for sharing her story and truly living her promise. What do you consider your biggest success? I don’t know whether I would term it as biggest success but I am proud of the woman I have become. I have always been ambitious and deep down I always knew I would be successful. But, I do not take for granted the opportunities that I have had in the pursuit of my dreams that have made me excel in my career. 10 years ago, if anyone told me that in 2016 I would be a Director of one of the most successful media companies in West Africa, I would not have believed them. But here I am, many miles away from home, away from my family, away from what is familiar but flying the Kenyan flag high and representing it in my new home, Ghana, smiling deep down and being content with the woman I have become. I am still a year behind my dream of being CEO but I am proud of who I am today. Tell me about a time you failed as a leader? I cannot put a finger to any moment that I may have beaten myself up for failing. One of the things that scares me the most and would be a failure on my part, would be not leaving a legacy or having a good successor. If for example, I have to leave my work place and no one notices or feels my absence or I am not able to leave a good transition history, I would have failed as a leader. What do you think is the most significant barrier to women leadership today? Today, more women are empowered to take on executive leadership roles than in the past. Obviously we still have a long way to go because the percentage of male executive leaders still outnumbers women’s by a huge margin. One of the barriers to women leadership is the struggle with the idea of neglecting family as they climb up the corporate ladder. Women are natural caregivers. Therefore, we always have to think of how our families will be affected if we take on more responsibilities at the workplace, and what support, if any, will be offered by organizations whether in the formal or informal sector. How do we create a balance between taking a seat at the table and still remain competent home makers? If you’d like to share your story with She Leads Africa, let us know more about you and your story here.
Jinna Mutune: Girls need to be told that they can have it all
[bctt tweet=”I have lived long enough in Africa to be able to tell an African story in an African way” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Dreams and making them come true; this seems to be the running theme with this film-maker, Jinna Mutune whose feature film LEO was well received by international audiences in twelve global cities. SLA contributor Juliet had the great pleasure of visiting Jinna at the Pegg Entertainment offices in Karen Country Lodge within the leafy suburbs of Karen, Nairobi. Amidst a couple of monkeys doing monkey business on the office rooftop and peering into their interview through the glass windows, they managed to have a great chat. When did you figure out that you wanted to do film? I actually always wanted to do it, I just didn’t know what it was, and I didn’t know it had a name. There was a creative space in our home that allowed me to explore a lot. When I was 12, my first mentor —who was a student pastor— used a lot of art and creativity to teach the Bible and that really inspired me. So I did a lot of plays in school and carols in church. At 15, I got to a place where I needed to know what my purpose was and was stirred up by my faith. The most defining moment though was when I met my mentor; that really opened my mind to what I wanted to do. Dream Dare Believe. How do those three words speak to you personally? That you should dream, I think it’s time to encourage the African children to dream out-of-the-box dreams, of becoming astronauts and scientists, things that are not on our regular spectrum. Daring comes with doing, going after the dream making plans with people. Trying and failing and trying again until it works. Then, believing means hanging on to it until it comes to pass. The only problem when we talk about dreaming in this generation, is that people want it to happen in a flash. The whole idea of believing is the consistency, I knew this at 16 when I wrote the plan of how I was going to be a film-maker. I thought I was going to make a feature every year; more than 17 years later though I have only done one feature and working on my second. [bctt tweet=”I think it’s time to encourage the African children to dream out-of-the-box dreams” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] There’s always a bit of a time lag between the dreaming and the coming true, what do you advice dreamers out there to do during that time lag? I’d encourage people to start small; I personally started with small plays. You can always tell a great person by what they do with the little resources they have. Many times I meet young people who say that they want to do big things but don’t know where to start. Start from where you are and do it to your level best because you never know who is in your audience. Maximise the small opportunities, I did a lot of plays when I was starting out. When I was getting the movie to screen in 12 global cities, most of these cities are the same ones where I did the small plays. Faith has also been everything in this journey, I have relied on it, it has been my inspiration and it’s how I charge up half the time. Is there any point when you thought your dream was crashing before your eyes? How did you pick yourself up again? There have been many; let me talk about distribution though. When we did LEO, we didn’t have a marketing budget. We thought we’d be acquired by one of the major distribution channels, but the deal didn’t pull through. So here I was with a product and no money to let people know about it and I really wanted to give up. It was really tough because I found that there was a lack of understanding from the masses about the work I did. There was a lot of criticism and very little support and I wondered why? Why did I need to move forward? I used a lot of inspiration and scriptures that I call ‘muffins’ to keep me running. One was a visual of a man running through a wall, and every time I looked at it I told myself ‘something has got to give’, ‘something has got to happen’. So, I started speaking more and got radical about it until I finally got a lead to get the movie into the air-planes. [bctt tweet=”The thing that this journey has taught me is that there is nothing like impossible.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Out of the blue, an old friend called me from Houston and wanted to screen the movie there. Soon after that the cinemas opened up. The thing that this journey has taught me is that there is nothing like impossible. I think it’s Einstein who said ”… it’s not that I am a genius, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” That’s why I find the culture of instant success amongst our young people a bit scary because I feel like we are going to lose our genius minds. Our genius minds need to develop the character of staying-in until it works. You’ve talked a bit on money matters when it came to distribution tell us more about talk about getting funding. Money follows good ideas, one of my mentors said to me and I thought it was mind boggling. I always thought you get the money and then get ideas to use the money. But now, if I have an idea and I’m not getting money then I go back to the drawing board and ask myself how I can improve this idea so that it attracts the money people. [bctt tweet=”Money follows good ideas, one of my mentors said to me…” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] LEO the movie went through about 20 drafts before the shooting begun. So there’s always a way in which you can improve your product. One door may close but they will leave you with ideas on how you can tweak your product to make it more sellable. I never feel like any of my meetings are quite wasted even if I don’t get the deal that I am looking for. It somehow adds up to something or they give me an idea that helps me move in the right direction. Does where you live geographically affect the filmmaking process? Hollywood has systems. There, film-making is an art and a job, if you are talented, you can find your way into the system. There’s a system with compensation in every stage which motivates film makers. There are also things like 3D studios, trained actors, trained animals, period wardrobes etc. These things help you create your story and your imagination canvas as a director becomes wide. From creation to consumption there are systems that acknowledge the work and a willingness to pay for the work. Locally, my advantage is that it’s never been done before. In the West for a young independent film maker, it can be very difficult to access the system. But here I can talk to anyone for things like location and negotiate on rates and because it’s an African story its best told in African soil. I have lived long enough in Africa to be able to tell an African story in an African way and that’s a huge advantage. Have you experienced any challenges in your journey as a filmmaker being a woman? I don’t think I have ever gone into the
Taking command: Meet Kenya’s first female marine pilot, Elizabeth Marami
At only 27 years, Elizabeth Marami is charting the path less travelled and breaking gender barriers that have been in place for so long. Her courage would see her swim away from the waters of comfort to take up a comprehensive and challenging course in navigation and become a marine pilot. Intimidating and authoritative would be the ideal requirements for her job. However, Elizabeth has a warm personality, petite physique and is soft spoken for a person whose main duty is to take ‘command’. You have the name pilot in your job title, does that scare you? I do not often introduce myself as a marine pilot. It was just recently that I just found myself doing so. I believe it must have leaned more into the fact that I was talking to someone who inspires me and made me feel comfortable saying it. I am just Liz. What influenced your choice of career? I didn’t want to be ordinary. I wanted to pursue something that would challenge me. So when I heard about a scholarship, I could not resist the temptation to apply. The scholarship would have me leave Kenya for Alexandria, Egypt to study navigation. The selection process was very competitive and I couldn’t believe it when I was awarded. I had another offer to study law at the University of Nairobi but my mind was set on navigation. What comprises navigation studies? The degree course takes 5 years. On completion you get certification from a UN body, the International Maritime Organization (IMO). There is also a mandatory requirement of 18 months of sea time for every rise in rank and additional channel training at Kenya Ports Authority (KPA). I’m currently at second officer level. When I joined the training I was one of 2 female students, the rest were men. The training is very extensive with classes running late into the evening. I never had a typical college life of fun and socializing. You are now a marine pilot; describe a typical work day in your life I am a second officer in command. Foreign ships coming to the Kenyan territorial waters are not allowed to navigate on their own and have to have a Kenyan pilot meet them and help navigate. By doing that, you are taking ‘command’. I understand you are the only woman in your workplace. What are the dynamics? Do you prefer working with men as opposed to women? Our workplace is predominantly male. Small things such as bathrooms —where we have separate bathrooms for the male staff and the rest for general public— goes to show the gender disparity that is in the maritime industry. Yet the real struggle is not about the bathrooms but so many other key policies that keep away women from the sea. There is gender imbalance in staffing and training. Consider that women in the maritime industry account for only one or two per cent of the world’s 1.25 million seafarers, according to the International Labour Organisation. The men I work with are great; they encourage me and push me towards achieving my goals. Actually, working with men has helped me understand women better. The men in my workplace affirm, encourage me to be more assertive and don’t compete against me. This has helped me look at women not as competition, but team players in the same frontier. If you weren’t a marine pilot, what would you be doing? I would be working in the fashion industry. I would want to build an international brand that showcases African fabric and authentic designs. Tell me about your blog? Is it an escape from the unwavering tide in your career? I have always loved writing and fashion. Running my blog keeps me normal. I get to wear beautiful pieces and get photographed —which is a world away from my job. Sometimes I wish I could run this blog anonymously and that way I would be able to write about the deep-rooted issues of my life. You wrote extensively about rejection on your blog. Would you comment on that? We were 9 students who were awarded the same scholarship, 8 are male and 1 is female. Part of our course requirements is practical skills in form of 18 months of sea time. All the men in our class have successfully secured sea time on board ships since been offered the opportunity. I have been rejected by various companies in my quest to meet the board requirements for 18 months of sea time so that I can graduate to a captain, 1st in command. My applications often come back with rejections based on my gender which can be very frustrating. Companies are afraid of getting into sexual harassment (legal) suits so they prefer not to hire women. The blog gives me an off-my-chest platform where I can share my frustrations. I have however learnt to be patient. Good things come to those who wait. What does your family feel about your career choice? My family is very understanding. They have been very supportive. It’s only when I started my initiative, ‘Against the Tide’ that my dad became a little concerned. Be on the lookout for the official launch of this initiative. Tell me more about the initiative Against the Tide is my own initiative to see a reasonable gender balance in the maritime industry. Although in its infancy, I want to advocate for policies that favour both genders and allows for equal opportunities in access to opportunities in the industry. I also intend to mentor young girls into believing in themselves and having the courage to get into the profession. I have been speaking to students at various schools about the importance of believing in themselves. You met the President, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta. How was it like? The most impressive thing about meeting the president the second time was that he remembered me from the first time we met. On this instance, he commended me on our work before
Valentine Njoroge: If you have an idea, do something about it
Entrepreneurs are a dime a dozen in this millennial age. Here on the African continent, the main obstacles preventing one from getting their business started is the lack of enough capital and investors ready to believe in your new, cool idea. Valentine Njoroge, a young entrepreneur from Kenya, saw this problem and decided to fix it by starting an online crowdfunding company for African businesses, Mradifund. Her passion about financial inclusions and development, entrepreneurship and impact investments, not only inspired the start of this initiative but also landed her the coveted role as projects director at East Africa’s leading investment firm, Centum Investments Ltd at the tender age of 24. SLA contributor Diana caught up with Valentine and got her to share her tricks and tips to making it in the fast paced financial world and why she is determined to help other young people get their dream off the ground and become a success. When did you first get interested in the investments industry? One of my first internships was at Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT), a micro-finance institution focused on funding low income women. The women who got these loans had such incredible stories of transformation. They would start very impressive businesses and see their lives changed because of these loans. This got me really interested in the investments space and I got to discover all sorts of other verticals in the industry. How did the idea of Mradifund come about? Mradifund has been a journey of sorts. One of my senior seminars while I was pursuing my undergraduate degree was all about economic development. I chose to focus my paper on alternative investments in Africa (with a bias on Kenya). While researching for this class, I came across Kickstarter, which was still fairly new at the time. They had applied crowdfunding to social/cultural works of art that the public wanted to see. I thought the same concept could be applied to businesses, so I wrote about Equity Crowdfunding. I envisioned a situation where the general public could fund ‘cool’ companies that were too small to be interesting to the traditional investor. Fast forward a few months, I was working in Private Wealth Management aiding high net worth individuals to allocate their wealth to various investment opportunities. Then, one of my clients asked if there was a way he could invest in African companies. At the time, I said I didn’t know, but kept researching. When I next visited home, I started finding out more about start ups and SME financing. I eventually connected that same client to a startup which he invested in. He later asked me how much I would charge for the connection which triggered the thought that this could be an actual business. I moved back home a few months after that and spent some time fine tuning the ideas from my paper. The experience of actually connecting a business to an investor is what inspired Mradifund today. You currently have various investors from not only Kenya but all over the world. How did you manage to get them on board with your vision for online crowdfunding? I still know all of my investors personally, so I met each of them and explained the concept to get them on board. Most of Mradifund’s investors already have an interest in funding businesses due to a variety of reasons including past experience or passion for SMEs or a certain sector. Investing with other people is valuable to them because it allows them to spread the risk of investing in SMEs over several opportunities by putting less money into each opportunity. The fact that the investment is shared among several people also means that investors can make more investments. Again, this spreads the risk which makes investors happy. (If an investor has KES. 10M, they can invest KES. 1M in 10 companies and the probability of 10 companies failing/losing money is lower than that of 1 company failing). This is what makes them stay. You are also currently the Projects Director at Centum Investments. How do you juggle running your own company, working at such a big corporate company and still get time to live life? Haha, well… I have learned how to use the resources around me to the max! My board at Mradifund, my team at Centum, my friends and family all help me achieve my goals in little ways, even if they don’t realize it sometimes. I kill two birds with one stone on very many occasions, especially in the work/friends’ quadrants. Also, I have had to learn how to be very efficient with prioritizing the urgent and important stuff. I say no to stuff that’s just interesting (but not value adding) or just feels like an obligation when it’s really not. Did you ever see yourself going the entrepreneurial route or did you just chance upon it? I have always kind of had an entrepreneurial spirit in me. I sold everything as a kid and I grew up in a very entrepreneurial family, so maybe in that sense I never had to think about it much. It became clear to me once I was already in it that it was a big passion of mine. I did spend a ton of time dreaming up my career in corporate (it was constantly changing) —wearing suits and carrying a briefcase as a teenager though. What has been the proudest moment of your career? One of the founders of the a business that Centum Foundation supported wrote me an email saying how much impact we had on his company through our mentorship program. He spoke about the knowledge and opportunities it opened up to him, as well as how much more confident it made him. As a result, he was able to partner with a major retailer which turned his business into an overnight success. It was really heartfelt and was very inspiring! As a young woman working in the male-driven field of finance, what
Christine Khasinah-Odero: You can live out your purpose even after becoming a mum
Ever heard of “Mumpreneur”? This term captures the essence of being a mum and entrepreneur. At the forefront of inspiring Mumpreneurs in Kenya is Supamamas, founded by Christine Khasinah-Odero. At first glance, Supamamas is a marketing and events company but when you look further, you find a company that inspires mums. Through events and their website, Supamamas encourages mums to remain in business by imparting the skills needed to thrive. An award winning entrepreneur, Christine created this platform specifically for mums to let women know that they can continue to move towards their dreams even as mothers. If you’re looking to be a flawless Mumpreneur, this one is for you! What makes a woman a Supamama? What makes a woman a Supamama is living your life with intent. To live out the best version of you as a human, as a woman, as a mum and as a professional, whether in business or employed. It is also about striving to be the best version of you. Just because you have become a mum, doesn’t mean that you cannot live out your purpose or dreams. Being a Supamama is about giving your family, your children and society the best of you but not forgetting to invest in yourself. A Supamama continuously learns and strives to achieve her goals. She is also that mum who accepts that she cannot be a super woman. She knows that it’s okay to ask for help and accept help. Tell us, how do you inspire mums in business? When it comes to mums in business, there are specific events we put together that provide an opportunity for Mumpreneurs to come and learn from notable speakers who have been there and are thriving. Our speakers share their personal journeys from which mums are able to learn from. Our invited guests also share practical business tips gained from their experience running businesses. At Supamamas, we also inspire mums in business by sharing their journey on our website. This gives them an opportunity to share how far they have come, while at the same time giving their businesses visibility and connecting them to possible customers. What do young mothers get wrong when it comes to raising children? Helicopter parenting: This means hovering over our kids and being there at their beck and call. We want our kids to have it easy and not fall in any way. So, instead of letting them experience adversity, we clear the path. We remove obstacles to make their life easy, forgetting adversity is a part of life. Only by facing it can our children build life-coping skills they’ll need down the road. So while it seems like we’re doing them a favour, we’re really stunting their growth. We’re putting short-term pay-offs over long-term well-being. Compensating for what they didn’t have as children: Some parents provide over and above the basic needs of their children. Whenever the child asks for something, they give in, literally to everything. This way the kids never learn the value of delayed gratification and not getting everything now. Not spending enough quality time with their children: This is because our lives have become so busy. We either spend many hours working or when at home, get easily distracted by other things. Mums need to make a conscious effort to be present when with their children. It’s best to realize that it’s not the quantity of time we spend with them but the quality. What makes Supamamas stand out from other marketing and events companies? What makes Supamamas different as a company is that we have created a platform that provides an opportunity for companies to connect specifically with mums. Providing an opportunity for companies and brands to engage and have meaningful conversations with their customers or potential customers. Our events are also different in that they are conversational, experiential and interactive. This provides an opportunity for brands to go beyond selling and marketing but also to receive feedback and meaningfully engage. Our events are personal and intimate. Mums who attend them feel special because they can be heard and express themselves. It’s like being part of a big family of mums where we all have a common goal to be the best we can be. The warmth that mums experience at events organized by Supamamas is exceptional. Beyond business we also are keen on mentorship and community service and have organized numerous initiatives mobilizing mums and corporates to give back. One of our notable CSR was a red carpet event for cancer survivors. In 2013, you were a finalist in the “Most Influential Women in Business in Africa SME” category in South Africa’s CEO Magazine. In 2015, you were Country Winner 2015, what do you think changed at Supamamas to cause this win? It was an honour being selected as one of the Country Winner 2015, CEO Magazine Africa’s most influential Women in Business. I believe what played a big part is staying consistent and continuously learning. I’m always looking for what I can do to improve and grow the events, as well as grow our online following and engagement. As an entrepreneur you need to continuously improve, knowing that there is always room to do better. What four skills do Mumpreneurs need to master to avoid burning out? Make your well-being a priority: Setting up a business and growing it is tough. It can really take a toll on you, not only physically but mentally. Mumpreneurs need to make a conscious effort to take care of themselves to push through and prevent burnout. That means eating well, exercising and getting adequate sleep. Nurture friendships and create a support system: For instance, your support system can be with other entrepreneurs. With them, you can share your experiences, frustrations and celebrate the little gains. Being around like-minded people helps to ease the pressure and gives you a sounding board and room to exhale. Creating focus and having a plan: This gives you an idea of what you want to
6 easy ways to become smarter when you are strapped for time & cash
[bctt tweet=”You can take charge of your learning by creating your own personal syllabus.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] You have been out of school for a long while, your everyday work schedule is not as exciting as it used to be. You keep on pushing aside those books that you have been meaning to read forever. That short course that you wanted to your employer to fund has been declined. Yet you keep reiterating to your friends and family, “If only I had more…time/money… I would learn …” It’s time to take charge! You can take charge of your learning by creating your own personal syllabus. Personal syllabus (n.) structured course of self-driven learning This mode of study can be as complicated or as flexible as you would like it to be. Websites like Degreed will allow you to keep will allow you to keep track of all the material that you enroll in. Alternatively, if you are an Excel-junkie, a simple Google spreadsheet could do the thing. If you are the pen and paper kind of girl, the bullet journal system could be your magic bullet. So, what kind of materials can you include in a personal syllabus? 1. Books Media strategist Ryan Holiday, dropped out of college to pursue his career while continuing to educate himself by reading primarily classics. Today, by the age of 29, he has authored 3 books, worked with Robert Greene of the 48 Laws of Power fame. Ryan has appeared in major publications such as Fast Company, New York Times and Forbes. Not to forget to mention, he is a former Director of Marketing at American Apparel. You may argue that reading is an expensive hobby because the average cost of a new book KES 1,000-2,500 (approx. £7-18). It’s more expensive if Amazon does not ship to your country. But have you tried borrowing from your good friends or the nearest library? Alternatively, you can find books on the second-hand booksellers on streets of Nairobi (a.k.a Inama Bookshop) from as low as KES 50 (£0.37). 2. Podcasts and audio books Though, the jury is still out on the paper versus e-reader debate, the third option of audio reading through podcasts and audiobooks is gaining popularity. This is a great way of reinforcing learning, especially when learning a foreign language. If you have a pretty long commute (yes, I am thinking about you, Nairobi traffic jam), comedy audiobooks or current affairs podcasts can be perfect way to begin your day. [bctt tweet=”Podcasts and audiobooks are a great way of reinforcing learning” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Book bloggers and Booktubers are also making the case for audiobooks and some like Ashley of Climb the Stacks saying that you can test the waters with short memoirs by using apps such as Audible. 3. Webinars and e-courses If you have always wanted to take an art appreciation class so that your trips to the museums more memorable or learn how to code in the latest programming language but you are not sure where to start, then you are in luck. The beauty of living in 2016 is that you have access to screens 24/7 so you can take advantage of your fringe hours to take up new hobbies and hone your skills. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have gained popularity over the last couple of years and are seen to be the future of learning. They provide classes offered at international Ivy League schools at a fraction of the cost and within a few clicks. [bctt tweet=”The beauty of living in 2016 is that you can take advantage of fringe hours to hone your skills” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] A great place to start is Class Central that aggregates MOOCs for other course providers such edx, Coursera and Udemy. Skillcrush has also gained popularity by providing tech skills which have enabled their alumni to make career shifts. Special mention goes to Skillshare for having everyday ‘practical’ classes like Knife Skills 101. In addition, you can take advantage of bloggers and Youtubers who offer free and paid online courses that are range from blogging, scrapbooking, navigating your career to playing music by ear. In short, you have no room for excuses. 4. Start an Articles Club! Back in 2011,the ingenious Joanna Goddard from A Cup of Jo was on a mission to fight winter blues. In her words: An articles club would be just like a book club, but we’ll read articles. We’d all read the same story –from, say, The New Yorker or Elle– and chat over (your drink of choice) and snacks. It would be fascinating, timely and a much easier commitment than a book club… This is a great idea for building friendships in a relaxed environment with people who love reading but cannot commit to finishing the latest Man Booker Prize winner in time for the next meet-up. Here is a glimpse into how Joanna organised her own Articles Club. 5. Volunteer After completing my postgraduate degree, I decided to volunteer at one of the local charity shops near my university and I enjoyed every minute of it. Working with people from diverse backgrounds not only made me more culturally sensitive, but also built on my interpersonal skills. Moreover, I have finally put my numerous hours on Pinterest to good use by helping out with visual merchandising. Working for someone for free or work-shadowing provides you with the opportunity to learn new (and free) knowledge and skills like baking, cooking, changing a tyre, floral arrangement… 6. Visit local places of interest Hands up, if you have lived in Nairobi (or insert your city here) for over 5 years and you have never set foot near the local museum? You would not imagine the number of born and bred Nairobians I’ve met who have never visited the Kenya National Archives. The archives are smack in the middle of the CBD. [bctt tweet=”Local places of interest could also serve as sources of inspiration” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Though, these sites are meant to generate income from tourists, they are also meant teach you about your history so that you don’t repeat mistakes…. these could also serve as sources of inspiration. As Ruthie Ackerman said here; Every city has its mysteries, and amazing experiences can always be found just by uncovering a few for yourself. Well ladies, the opportunities for learning are endless and can only
Lanji Ouko: I believe in second chances
[bctt tweet=”Our objective is to build strong, independent, empowered and self-driven women” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Crevit Mulier is derived from a Greek word ‘Creverit Mulier’ which means grown woman. Here at SLA, we take pride in celebrating grown women being the best version of themselves and Lanji Ouko is a perfect example of just that. A published author, legal consultant and entrepreneur, her company Crevit Mulier, is just one of the very many achievements she has under her belt at the tender age of 25. SLA contributor Diana had a quick chat with Lanji about the come up of her networking society. What is the inspiration behind Crevit Mulier? A rough patch in my life inspired it actually. I dropped out of law school in 2012 after failing a series of modules. After failing contract law again, during my re-sit, my degree was downgraded to a BA in Legal Studies. Being the go-getter I am, I quickly acknowledged my mistakes in the past and dropping out was the only way to continue the story about my journey as a lawyer. Between the period I dropped out and graduated from a totally different institution, a harsh reality hit me. Friends stopped talking to me, there were a lot of whispers within my family and generally a lot of voices in my head causing a lot of personal conflict. By not having a strong group of women surrounding me, to uplift me, root for me, I felt lost and lacked motivation. The idea came about exactly two months after graduation. I thought I should try a one-off event in Nairobi and see what would come out of women below the age of 25 coming together to root for each other. Upon it being a success and noticing a few pitfalls here and there, I decided to make it a members-only club, in order to ensure women involved are on the same wavelength and are equally thirsty for success and to better themselves and their community. How has it contributed to young women’s lives in Kenya? Crevit Mulier has positioned itself as the only ladies club that provides a safe haven for women to brainstorm, think critically and nurture healthy female relationships, which tends to be quite difficult the older we get. The members have become more confident, more powerful, more ambitious. It is a safe haven where people openly discuss rape, bad relationships, financial issues and much more. The goal-friend aspect in the membership has encouraged women to start a number of projects they were procrastinating on. Women have started charities and businesses thanks to the message within the open sessions we have. What sort of activities do you get up to within the group? We pride ourselves in giving women a vibrant and friendly atmosphere. Here, they meet ladies of all ages and from all walks of life, for formal or informal talks on day to day life issues. We recently introduced a co-working space at very affordable rates. This is for young ladies who cannot afford the expensive market rates of hiring meeting rooms or having monthly office space. In addition, we offer a diverse programme of events which has helped established a valuable means of access to top institutions, museums, colleges, corporations and well known retailers. The ladies enjoy spa treats, hair and beauty services from our very own door to door spa company. We also provide wine and cheese tasting, flower arrangement parties, cooking classes, financial classes, mentorship from investors among many more. The club-owned owns an academy, The William Hobsons Academy: School Of Etiquette, Social Protocol and Culture. The academy aims at empowering both boys and girls and training them on African culture and language too. Crevit Mulier believes in empowering the boy child too. This is to have a generation of men who can co-exist with the empowered woman, without feeling threatened. What do you want to ultimately achieve with Crevit? Our objective is to build strong, independent, empowered and self-driven women. We enable ladies to identify, address and resolve certain issues in their day to day lives. We want to position a new example of women for generations to come. This club will soon expand across the continent to work towards giving second chances to women of different tribes and backgrounds. I believe there are more important things in life than just being a beautiful woman. We therefore want to recreate and redefine the renaissance woman. In the future, I hope to establish a second-chances institution in partnership with various safe houses. This is in order for women fleeing from gender-based abuse to have a place to start over. I am what I am today because my family and society gave me a second chance. Inspire us with your story! Let us know how you’ve bounced back and done amazing things here.
Vivian Onano: Where you come from does not determine your power
One year ago, in front of the entire UN General Assembly, the then 24-year-old Vivian Onano gave her first keynote speech. Not many 24 year olds can claim such an achievement, neither can they say they dined with FLOTUS, hung out with Bill Clinton or met all living American presidents, Jimmy Carter excluded. Coming from a small village in Nyanza province, Kenya, Vivian has grown into one of Africa’s most passionate youth advocates with credentials that have earned her a seat at the table with the greats of the world. Diana Odero, our SLA contributor, had a candid chat with the young powerhouse about how her life has changed significantly since then and why she will not stop fighting for the rights the youth deserve. Tell us, who is Vivian really? Minus all the accolades, jet setting and changing the world, tell us about the girl -Vivian Onano? Well, Vivian the girl is a very shy person believe it or not. I’m very shy and I think it’s my demeanor that makes people think I’m not. I consider myself an introvert because as much as I’m out there doing all these things, I always feel drained after an event or two. I always need some space and time to myself just to re-energize for the next day or the next thing I need to do. I’m very down to earth and that’s something else that is also wrongly perceived by those on the outside looking in. I love dancing and being around happy people who are also very focused. I keep my circle very small, around people who give me the positive energy I need to get things done. It’s really helpful to have such focused and enthusiastic people around you. That aside, I’d like to add that I’m very approachable guys! There’s been incidences when some journalists have been scared to approach me just based on the straight-faced look I usually have —please don’t judge me by my face, I’m always willing and happy to talk to people. How did you get started on this activism journey? My mum and my grandmother raised me, and my grandmother is a woman with a very giving heart. I grew up on so little but even with the little we had she would call all the neighbours and their kids to share with them when they didn’t have much. So, it all started from my family who taught me the importance of giving despite having so little. I remember I used to help my classmates with homework back in primary school and I was always that kid who would stand up for others, particularly my fellow girls. I’ve been a student leader from kindergarten all the way to college and I think that’s where all the self-confidence came from as well. It’s part and parcel of my DNA. The field you are in currently must bring lots of challenges and difficult tasks to take on. How do you handle such situations? How do you deal with conflict? It’s true that my field is a very difficult space to be in and I think it’s even more difficult being as young as I am. I always find myself in spaces with people of the older generation and mostly just men. It’s great exposure and it’s helped me build great networks but I always have to rise up to the challenge of knowing I’m still a young person who has to be an adult at the same time. I’m representing the voices of African youth and I want to be taken seriously but the kid in me still wants to be a kid. Juggling both worlds is quite the task. Whenever I go to conferences, people are always like ‘When I read your bio I thought you would be much older…’ Others expect to see a 40 year old woman so it forces me to rise up to the maturity level of a 40 year old woman while giving a presentation/talk yet I’m only 25. I still keep it very authentic and stay true to myself but I always hope my presentation matches what they are expecting to see. Whenever I’m speaking on a panel for example, I never want my age to be used as an excuse for the type of contribution I give to the topic at hand. I always want to deliver it the same way an accomplished older person would as well and attain the same respect, that way making room for future young people like me to get the same opportunity. As for dealing with conflicts, it’s always best to be diplomatic i.e. be very honest but also very respectful at the same time. I’ve come to realize that people think some spaces should only be for the older generation. Being mindful of that, I try and remain as authentic as I can be but respectful of where they’re coming from so as to avoid anything escalating out of proportion. You are a self-proclaimed feminist. What does the word feminist mean to you and why do you think it is still frowned upon today? Being a feminist in my opinion is giving everybody an equal opportunity to maximize on his or her God-given human abilities. The reason why it’s still frowned upon is because it’s seen as a sort of label for angry women. As a feminist, I don’t look at it that way. I engage with men just the same way I engage with women when it comes to feminism, gender equality, women’s empowerment etc. I actually think I’m much tougher on men as I try to make them understand the importance of gender equality, the importance of everyone having equal rights and opportunities and maximize on their talents. You have sat in the same room with some of the most prominent people in the world including President Obama and first lady Michelle. If you were to have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it
Regina Opondo: The Kenyan civil society sector is very exciting
Regina Opondo wears so many hats in the Kenyan civil society sector. She is the Executive Secretary of CRECO, a consortium of 23 civil society organisations in Kenya, Co-Convener for the ‘Kura Yangu Sauti Yangu movement, a platform for political dialogue around Kenyan elections, a Deputy Convener for the Civil Society reference group in Kenya, among others. Regina believes that women work best together and dismisses the saying the women are their own worst enemies. She also says women tend to do very well in civil society as compared to other sectors. If you’ve ever considered starting a career in civil society, this one has lots of gems for you. Why civil society and not a different sector? I always knew that I wanted to help people especially on human rights issues, and for me the civil society was the only way. The civil society sector is also very exciting. There is always something new every day, and there is a feeling of family as we all work together towards specific good. Do you think are the barriers to women’s progress in the sector? I would say there is minimal barrier as women with technical expertise in the sector tend do very well as compared to other sectors like the government and the cooperates. To some extent though, there is the social barrier. I think it is sometimes quite a challenge balancing between work, family and the civil society work. The sector is quite demanding as it requires more hours at work, traveling now and then, active activism and advocacy. Most women with families in the sector have had to tone down after on active participation in their work and are not as active as they were before. They are forced to take less work and take care of other social responsibilities. Does being a woman-led organization give leverage in winning donor funds? I would say yes and no. Yes, because it makes it easier when one is dealing with women-led donor organisations. I have always believed that fundraising is about building relationships and how you relate. You see for women, there are so many things to share. We talk about challenges and how to handle them and freely give advice when needed. Hence, it is easier to pitch agendas and ideas to women for funding. With men on the other hand, it is hard to build relations as relating with some can be quite a challenge. No, because the playing field is the same and the quality of work is what matters. What are your views on the relationship between civil society organisations and the government? There is a general feeling of mistrust and open hostility that manifests itself differently in many African countries, and in Kenya to be specific. The current government has not allowed the civil society organisations (CSOs) to operate freely and there is the new bill in parliament to amend the Public Benefit Organisations Act. The PBO Act aims at protecting freedom of association and allows civil society organisations doing public benefit work to operate under one single Act. The Kenyan government though, has refused to put a commencement date on it. Has your ethnicity ever affected your advocacy work? To some extent it has, as others always believe that since one comes from a specific ethnic community, they are automatically inclined to a specific political party. Hence, they do not tend to be keen on important issues raised but judge your actions, as genuine as they are. What do you do in your free time I love art and craft, watching movies, reading fiction and swimming. I have to try keep fit you know 😉 Any advice to upcoming women leaders? I would say, look for good mentors to serve different purposes in life whether career, spiritual, family and even technical. After you succeed, remember to give back that which has been given to you. Want to see women you know featured on SLA? Tell us what amazing things women are doing in your communities here.
Twitter Chat with Patricia Kihoro: Building a career in entertainment
Don’t miss another event! Join our community and always stay informed. Do you have dreams of big lights and sold out concert halls? Are you trying to convince your parents your love and talent for singing is a viable career? Many people make a living as entertianers but it’s hard to know where or how to start. Join us Thursday Sept. 29th for a twitter chat with Kenyan singer, actress, radio presenter and improv comedian, Patricia Kihoro. If you have ever considered a career in the performing arts, then you don’t want to miss this chat. Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats to ask your questions and participate in the discussion. Topics that we’ll cover: How to decide your talent is marketable Making the right connections Your African parents and your career in entertainment Breaking out without selling out The fastest route to killing your career before it starts Twitter chat details Date: Thursday Sept. 27, 2016 Time: 7am NYC // 12pm Lagos // 2pm Nairobi Location: Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats About Patricia Kihoro Patricia Kihoro is a singer, actress, radio presenter, improv comedian and sporadic blogger from Nairobi, Kenya. She has dabbled in just about everything in the entertainment sphere. Soon after completing her Psychology degree in 2008, she joined a reggae band, and then participated in a regional televised singing competition where she emerged a finalist. She has since acted in numerous musical stage productions, as well as in a few TV series and a couple of award winning films. Patricia has written articles for magazines and websites, emceed at events, released radio singles, been in a few friends’ music videos, hosted a popular radio show, participated in a Nigerian reality series, anchored the news on radio, and shared a stage with musical artists such as Just A Band, Aaron Rimbui, Harry Kimani as well as American Jazz great, Gerald Albright. She has also been on tour in Europe, singing and dancing on stage 6 days a weeks for 3 months. Her biggest achievement so far has been writing, producing, directing and performing her own stage show, “Life In The Single Lane”, which was a surprising success, and sold out all six times she put it up. She currently is part of an improv comedy group, because You Said So, that puts up a show every two months at Nairobi’s popular Carnivore Restaurant. She is also currently a judge on a talent show to be screened on KISS TV. She’s not done yet, however, as she still has some albums to work on, a TV series to create, a book of short stories to write, and 12 children to bear. She will however, never go sky diving. Ever.