Let’s begin with a toast ~ May the seeds we sow today create a path for inspired future generations! It is in line with this popular belief that every 8th of March, the world unites to celebrate this uniqueness on International Women’s Day.
This year’s International Women’s Day aims to emphasise the importance of its theme: to inspire inclusion, a theme geared towards ensuring women’s illuminating presence is not only seen but also valued and empowered. The goal is to encourage individuals and institutions to invest in women, recognizing their pivotal role in bringing about the societal changes we yearn for. Investing in women is investing in society. It is often said that women work twice as hard to produce similar results to their male counterparts. So, whenever a woman is thriving in any field, she gives hope to so many other women. She symbolises endurance, tenacity and wisdom. Additionally, women’s representation ensures that diverse perspectives and experiences are included in the decision-making process, leading to more innovative and inclusive solutions.
You must be wondering, how do we go about this? They say the best way to uproot a tree is to start at its roots. Therefore, the best way to chart the course for women’s empowerment is to focus on learning institutions. A train that might have left the stations many years ago, with many learning institutions championing this course. However, out of the many learning institutions that have been fervent advocates for the ‘girl child’, Strathmore University takes the leading role in advancing this course. The learning institution has consistently shown its support for women in leadership through the introduction of a range of initiatives designed to encourage more women to take up leadership and entrepreneurial roles. The programs have ensured that women harness their strengths in the boardroom, enabling them to become more effective and efficient in delivering success.
A good example is a program such as the ‘Women Directors Leadership Programme’ (WDLP). This program aims to shift the conversation from why women should be on boards and C-Suite positions to how they can elevate and perform for the board. The program, which is set to host its first cohort from May 28th to 31st this year, aims at equipping women in leadership positions with the necessary skills needed to become exemplary leaders. This program has also addressed the challenges women in leadership face by creating a forum for sagacious discussions, which have culminated in solutions and provided women with pertinent networks that have enabled them to advance in their careers.
Furthermore, the Prestigious University has also championed the inclusion of women in the digital and technological space by partnering with Standard Chartered Kenya to launch the Women in Tech Incubator Programme. The 12-week program, which involved 15 applicants last year, saw 7 women-led start-up businesses receive an endowment of over Ksh 1.2 million. In addition, the program also offered women in the tech industry training, coaching, and mentorship from industry pundits, providing them with invaluable exposure to the tech business.
For this year’s International Women’s Day, Strathmore Business School has liaised with the Kenya Healthcare Federation to assemble women in the health sector in an event to celebrate Women. The partnership aims at bringing together over 500 women leaders in the health sector along with key stakeholders in celebration of the milestones women, especially in the health sector have taken in taking up managerial roles. This journey towards fostering Women in the health sector to take up leadership positions is a course that Strathmore’s Business spearheaded with the aim of achieving gender parity. Last year, on 26th October, the implementing team hosted the first focus group discussion which aimed at addressing challenges and creating opportunities for women to take up leadership positions in healthcare.
In addition to these programmes, Strathmore University has nurtured brilliant trailblazers who have broken the glass ceiling in the job market, putting the institution’s name on the map. This week, we are excited to showcase a couple of our remarkable alumni breaking barriers in their careers. Their stories will not only highlight their personal achievements but also shed light on the challenges they have overcome, serving as a source of inspiration to others.
Join us as we celebrate the progress made and reflect on the work that still lies ahead in achieving gender equality and empowerment for all. With that said and done…. Happy International Women’s Day!
This article was written by Gertrude Wachira , She is a Financial Economics student at Strathmore university. Her passions revolve around bridging the gap between finance, business, and communication, as well as public policy.
