STORYMOJA

Do you understand the unspoken rules of business, the reality about where and how and when the big decisions or deals are made?  What kind of career moves and personal decisions do you need to take to climb the corporate or business ladder to the very top? Whom do you need to know and be known by? What experience, networks, and partnerships can you leverage? How do you manage the guilt that arises from the tricky negotiation of your Work/Life balance? Many women struggle on their own to understand these issues. Few companies arrange formal mentoring (or life coaching) and women lose out more than men whose ‘old boy/pub/golf/club’ networks often serve this need.  In fact, having a mentor is the single advantage men usually have, and women usually don’t.

How important is a mentor?

‘To get ahead, to break through the “glass ceiling,” successful women benefit from having a mentor. In fact, a trusted mentor is more vital to success than hard work, talent, or intelligence.’ Conclusion from research conducted by Catalyst, a US non-profit organization that works to advance women in business.

How can we find a mentor and what would we expect from them?

Last year, Nyokabi Njuguna was fortunate enough to spend a month on a Vital Voices Fortune 500 mentoring program.  She was mentored by Kathleen Vaughn, Executive VP of Wells Fargo – the third largest bank in America.  She was so inspired by that experience and so inspiring in turn that I invited her to share her experiences of being mentored in America, talk to us about that program, and stimulate us to think about:

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What do we want to learn? What difference does mentoring really make?
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Effective ways to mentor and be mentored, and possible outcomes and challenges

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The concept of ‘Passing it Forward’ – how inspiring others leads to personal success and greatness
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What local mentoring possibilities and structures exist can we tap  into or create?
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Her  ‘Vital Voices’ mentoring challenge to Women in Leadership

The session will again be moderated by Muthoni Garland, and the emphasis will be on discussion. Thus, after every major point made by Nyokabi, we will stop to allow discussion on the floor. Please come
prepared to share because only by sharing will we help each other learn and grow. I look forward to seeing those who attended our earlier sessions and to meeting many new faces who share our common concern
about furthering the role of women in our society. To book your ticket (Ksh 500), or to get more information, kindly email me or call MIllie on these numbers:

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0722 838 161  /  0735 564 394  /  (020) 208 9595

‘It is lonely at the top’ is often said of chief executives, but it is even more so for women on their journey to the top as they have few female role models whose skills they can learn from or emulate.  I urge you to
come to the session on Thursday 18th at the Nairobi Museum from 6-8pm. Please bring a friend whom you think might benefit or enjoy this session, and feel free to forward this invitation.

Let us talk and be lonely no more.