Rockledge East Africa was privileged to attend the International Women’s Day Empowerment Dinner organized by Global Women Impact Foundation; an organization founded by Ms. Clarice Mwakazi. Represented by Ms. Joyleene Rutto and Ms. Mercy Chepchumba, the event was held at The Noble Ballroom, Tononoka under the theme “Empower Women, Accelerate Action.”
The evening featured inspiring and insightful presentations from various speakers including, Ms. Frida Kavwele (CEO- KALAA African Collection) who shared valuable strategies on how to build business connections, focusing on SPEED NETWORKING TIPS. Her presentation touched deeply on:
- Making an impactful first impression
- A firm and warm handshake
- Being enthusiastic
- Showing genuine interests
- Active listening and engagement
- Using body language effectively
She also emphasized the importance of introducing oneself effectively focusing on who you are, what you do and how you impact others.
Ms. Wanjiku Wambugu (CEO Nyali Capital Ltd) shared a personal success story on coming from a humble background and how she was able to navigate challenges in the business world especially for women.
Lastly, the Keynote speaker; Ms. Sarah Karingi, discussed the concept of Women empowerment. She explained that women empowerment is the active support of women at home, work and society. She shared her personal life story filled with resilience and persistence.
She further shared the ingredients for empowerment that accelerate action which includes courage and confidence, self-drive, continuous learning, exposure, service to others, leadership, risk-taking, collaboration and persistence. In addition, networking is not just about making connections; it is about building meaningful relationships that open doors and create opportunities. The speaker encouraged us to do this by:
- Choosing right events
- Choosing the right people
- Communicating with confidence
- Participating in volunteering
- Going where the fish are
- Leveraging your digital space.
Our key takeaway from the keynote speaker was: “If you want a 100+ years of prosperity ‘grow people’.” This quote aligns with the Rockledge East Africa Limited mantra ‘GROWING WITH YOU’. We also had a chance to network with women in various sectors.
