- Define your purpose: We need to define our purpose, clarifying our ‘WHYs’. Understand what makes us happy and have the courage to pursue our aspirations. We need to listen to our inner voices because they are our guiding lights in pursuance of our dreams. In all this, let us look for the good within us; be kind to and learn to love ourselves. Becoming our own heroes, celebrating and taking pride in our daily wins propel us forward. It is absolutely fine to just take off the ‘superwoman cap’ and allow ourselves to sit back and relax.
- Learn, re-learn and unlearn: Transformational growth comes in seasons and involves a systematic evolution into the best versions of ourselves. This involves learning new things, re-learning as well as unlearning old habits. In pursuance of our transformation, it is imperative to learn to defeat the inner critics within us, fix what needs fixing; acknowledge and adapt to the shifts/changes as they occur and ask for help when needed. The key is to have the courage to start even when the path is not clear and to seek mentors and coaches to help when needed.
- Embrace the results of transformation: Personal transformation requires goal-setting and key landmarks. Sometimes we do achieve our targets but we are unable to recognise the results of the transformation. Therefore, it is important not only to know the target but we must be willing mentally to embrace the results of the transformation. Transformation does not happen automatically; it starts from the mind.
- Resilience is part of our arsenal: It is needed to push past the mental road blocks to help us reach our new targets. Once we are willing to employ resilience, we will be in a position to push past our potential roadblocks in our path.
- Colour outside the lines: If we keep doing what others have done, limiting ourselves to boundaries set by our cultural/social landscapes or reaching goals that others have set for us, we will not do anything transformative. We must be willing to colour outside the lines to realise our dreams.
- Sisterhood is powerful: The concept of sisterhood is a powerful tool that we must harness in our journey. Depending and deepening our interdependence is a powerful tool in our arsenal.
- Tech-savvy is the new normal: Technology is a prerequisite for accelerating business growth. Corporate and entrepreneurial women leaders need to engage more with technology to scale their businesses and grow their prosperity regardless of whether they have a background in technology or not.
- Technological up-skilling & re-tooling is critical: Young women/girls need to be intentionally encouraged to study STEM subjects in school to be active participants and designers of the future of technology that will impact their lives.
- Reshape technology to serve and not to enslave: It is very important for African women to have a seat at the table when decisions related to climate change, affecting both public and private spheres, are made. Embracing innovation and reshaping technology to serve, not enslave us, is pivotal to our journey.
- Joint effort: In a world that often emphasises division and discord, unwavering love and hope are truly priceless. Together with men, we are sowing the seeds for the next generation of African women who will shape a prosperous, eco-conscious future.
- Intentionality: Event organisers, media houses and authors must make a conscious effort to empanel or feature both males and females as resource persons and role models to inspire the young ones to see their future and aspire to excel.
- Respect: A man’s behaviour toward his spouse at home significantly influences his conduct toward women in professional settings. We should nurture a culture of respect and equality within our households to positively impact workplace dynamics.
- Responsibility: Understand that men participating in raising their children is a fundamental responsibility, not a heroic act. We should not applaud men for fulfilling their parental duties; rather, we should encourage and expect active involvement from all fathers as a societal norm.
- Value: Recognise the dual roles of women leaders as CEOs of both the home and the office. We should value and support these multiple responsibilities by considering fair compensation and acknowledging the immense contributions of women in leadership.
- Start role modelling at home: Role modelling starts at home with people we trust, people we admire. When we succeed at home, it transcends to other parts of our lives. We need to raise our sons to love, support and respect women at home. This will translate to the workplace. If we want to see the type of man or woman you want for your child, model that right from home.
- Display female role models: Deliberate interventions can and do change the narrative around women and their place in society. What you see is what you reproduce. It’s important to paint the right picture for young women to ensure that the desired outcomes in terms of empowerment of women are achieved. Don’t tell a young lady she can be a star if all the stars they see are men – we need to be intentional about exposing women to women role models.
- Watch what you eat: The foods we eat can create imbalance and un-wellness.
- Examine your joy and ascertain if this joy is real: In attempting to self-diagnose our state of mental health, we need to examine our joy and whether this joy is real, artificial or induced by the consumption of some substance or another irregular activity. Trauma creates several negative experiences such as anxiety, depression and un-wellness.
- Speak out and seek help: Traumatic experiences can create imaginary secondary personalities in our minds that become our inner critic that constantly haunt us. We need to speak out and seek support, knowing that it is perfectly okay to do so.
- Forgive: Forgiveness is therapy and necessary for healing but it doesn’t always mean reconciliation.
>>>Chairperson, EWN Executive Committee and 2023 Conference Planning Committee
