The International Women’s Day slogan this year is #ChooseToChallenge. What does this mean for you?
This theme resonates a lot with me, as I am sure it does with every woman out there, in business or paid employment. For me, it says, women can challenge the status quo of gender bias and inequality. We can challenge the thought behind the statement, ” A woman’s place is in the kitchen”. We are worth a lot more than that, and we should be seen in that light.
Has any woman’s achievement inspired you? Who and What was it?
Yes. Several women worldwide have inspired me, as I consider them as people who have broken the glass ceiling. They have achieved the unimaginable by rising to prominent positions, which are ordinarily considered the absolute domain of men. To mention a few; Condoleezza Rice, Former United States Secretary of State; Christine Lagarde, Former President of IMF; Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany. In more recent times, I have been inspired mostly by Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela, being the first woman and the first African to be appointed as Director-General of WTO ( World Trade Organisation). She made history! She rose to the position against all odds and on merit. The lesson learnt is that one can rise to the top with the right educational qualification, attitude, and the quality of relationships we keep. Our past, present and future relationships determine what we achieve in life.
If you were given a chance to build a superheroine, you would love to have had as a child? What would their superpowers be?
The person would be an exceptional character who would make the world a better place for everyone to live in since the essence of being a superhero/heroine is to demonstrate abilities beyond ordinary people.
Their superpowers would be to have the ability to cater to everyone’s needs regardless of their race.
Have you encountered any related challenges in your career along the way to achieving this role? And how did you overcome them?
In all spheres of life, the need to continually reinvent oneself to remain a contemporary HR expert is quite demanding, but the best approach to excelling on the job.
What is one piece of advice you have for women who are doubtful of achieving more?
Follow your dreams, and do not give up.
What is one development do you wish to see in the next few years for African women?
Achieving gender parity: This would remould women who have lost their self-esteem due to domestic abuse over the years and treating the girl child as a mere sex tool.
What is one achievement you are incredibly proud of?
Being an HR expert
