Amanda Namayi

I will begin my post with an excerpt from one of Maya Angelou’s poetic masterpieces, Phenomenal Woman.

Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need for my care.
’Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Phenomenal Woman, Maya Angelou

March 8th marks International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also serves as a reminder of the work still to be done in achieving gender equality in all aspects of life.

This year’s theme is Investing in women: Accelerate progress and it had me reflecting deeply on what this means. Oftentimes, when discussing cross-cutting issues such a gender-related matters, the onus lies on a different party to make the changes, seldom is it ourselves. Today, I pose the question; what have you done to invest in yourself and in other women?

What investments have you made or are you making, to better yourself? This question ricochets to me as well. For those in the development world, it can be easy to speak about barriers that women face – especially rural women – and how the solution is always a policy reform away, a capacity building session away, a multistakeholder approach away; the horizon is always far reaching. How about we look at what we can do within our means, within our power?

Start now. Start where you are. Start with fear. Start with pain. Start with doubt. Start with hands shaking. Start with voice trembling but start. Start and don’t stop. Start where you are, with what you have. Just … start.

Ijeoma Umebinyuo, Nigerian poet

I attended a personal branding session and the speaker, one eloquent Ms. Lucia Musau, asked a pertinent question; “What do I want to transform?” she then went on further to ask, “How to I bring about the transformation?” Those two questions shifted the tide for me.

When I look at women who inspire me, their wheels of self-improvement are always in motion. Lucia shared some amazing tips for self-development and I will be benevolent this day to share a tidbit with you:

There are six people we need to have in our Personal Board of Directors:

1. Career Sponsor – someone who will open doors and opportunities for you.
2. An informer – someone who knows enough about the industry
3. A connector – someone who knows key people and is well networked
4. A captain – someone who has gone ahead of you; preferably someone who is older than you and has gained wisdom over the years.
5. A future you – knowledge transfer to someone younger than you and/or who has not as progressed as much as you have (professionally, socially, academically and otherwise).
6. Invisible counselor – someone that does not know you, but you learn from (through reading their books, listening to their talks, watching their videos and so on). They could be dead or alive.
   As we celebrate the feats achieved by women who were bold enough to dream and brave enough to execute; I will share stories of ladies who have made leaps and bounds in their areas of expertise and rose high in spite of the odds staked against them.

Happy International Women’s Day!

Amanda Namayi