When Females Lead

I’ve always been a dreamer, but the dream of closely interacting with leaders was not one that crossed my mind… Still, as far-fetched as that dream may have seemed, it has been my reality for the last couple of months. And might I add: this was no mere fantasy – this was a big dream waiting for me to step into it!

When Females Lead was everything I needed, but could not have imagined having. It was a race that one had to slay in their own lane, but one that needed you to step into with other aspiring leaders. Looking back in retrospect, the miracle isn’t that I finished the race – it’s that I had the audacity to start.

Despite admiring When Females Lead, the thought of applying for the program simply never crossed my mind. So, I thank God for Kapusama Chilufya Mwitwa because had it not been for her encouragement and belief in my career development, I would simply have continued to admire When Females Lead from a distance. As God would have it, we applied and were both selected as Cohort 8 participants of the Mentor Her program.

The Mentor Her program was the epitome of growth. Day one was literally the whistle being blown and the mark of the beginning of a strengthening race! In many of our discussions, our Founder Mizinga Melu would challenge us to be #AUDACIOUS… And so, we were! We had the audacity to be open and transparent about our challenges, successes, and aspirations. We had the audacity to ask questions about leadership, career growth, and personal development. Most importantly, we had the audacity to believe our Founder and Directors when they assured us that we are worthy.

I cannot even begin to explain how fitting our graduation theme was. #PassOnTheBaton – was a great reflection of the entire program. Mizinga Melu , O'Brien Kalumba, MBA , Chimuka Muyovwe , Sibeso Mofya (MSc FinTech and Finance) and the entire When Females Lead team were beyond intentional about sharing their experiences and inspiring us to aspire for development in our careers. And it didn’t end there! My fellow cohort mates had inspiring stories up their sleeves too!

I joined the When Females Lead program expecting to solely be mentored, but I got much more! I gained sisters. To begin with, I started the program with a sister and colleague who has always inspired me with her work ethic; kudos to thee award-winning Kapusama Chilufya Mwitwa ! Secondly, there were ladies who stood out from our very first meeting and I was very curious to tap into their grace: shout out to Louisa Jere and Elisa Gustavo António Simbine . Louisa Jere was the first person that Mizinga Melu asked to share her story and oh! How inspiring it was to learn about her resilient journey to becoming a Registered Nurse! As for Elisa Gustavo António Simbine , you couldn’t miss her perseverance if you tried! For starters, Elisa Gustavo António Simbine only started to teach herself English last year. Nonetheless, there was not a single discussion that we had where she would not speak – a clear display of one who pursues her goals diligently!

And I cannot forget to mention all the amazing ‘Conversations That Count’ that our cohort lead. I learnt, I was challenged, and I was constantly reassured about my potential! Shout out to: Petula Chilekwa , Bwalya Chanda , Dorcas Kalonda???? , Christine Chinyanta Lundu , Chiwala Mwelwa Daka , Gracious Mumpanshya , Janet Chaponda- Beele , Juliet Mwenda , Kudzaishe Lumpa , Mpeza M'hone , Naomi Chileshe Ching'andu , Naomi Mwewa , Nkole Catia Lungu , Salome Mwalwisha , Taurai Matenga Njobvu , Thokozile Tafela , and the entire cohort 8!

As for the mentoring, I am convinced that the team at When Females Lead prayed before pairing me with my mentor Sandra Malupande because Lord knows she is exactly the mentor I needed. When she was not inspiring me with the story of how she’s worked hard to make it to the top, she was encouraging me and advising me about how to grow professionally. Believe it or not, there were times when she was selfless enough to communicate with me passed 22:00 hours – and still, she did it with all the patience and grace! I’m convinced that she’d be the best person to host a TEDx Talk about work-life-mentor balance; she’s simply the best!

For a lover of networking who firmly believes in the adage, ‘Your network is your net worth’, I networked my way through the program! What a privilege it was to be able to converse with leaders like: Saif Malik , Joseph Mudondo, ACCA , Miriam Musindi Chiyaba , and our very own Mizinga Melu . Each of them passed on the baton so well!

At the end of the day, all that’s left to say is: I’m glad I had the audacity to step into this great big dream and actualise my potential! It’s onwards and upwards from here!

To see highlights of my graduation, please visit click the link below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-jxyqlI_7-/