Foundations of Influence (#3): Offering a Helping Hand

Leah Ngini, Founder, @ St. Christophers School

When I started my business, Ignite Excellence Inc., nine years ago I was a woman with a vision, passion, determination and a helping hand. Without all four of these foundations of influence I know I would not have had the confidence or [...]

Foundations of Influence (#2): Kindness will Kindle African Karma

Siemen Mountains, Ethiopia

Traveling through Africa for over a year this trip has provided me with more understanding to expectations of societies and how people interact with visitors.

Ethiopia is a country that vastly surpassed my expectations; it is breathtaking particularly in Mescal flowers season (Oct to Nov) when they [...]

Foundations of Influence Series (#1): What our Mother says

When we look back on our life and we ask the philosophic question: “Why did I turn out the way I did?” Inevitably the answer almost always lies with how we were brought up. More specifically, what our mother did or did not do. Or what they said or did [...]

Join the discussion

Your voice matters! Do you have an opinion, question or want to share insights on women in emerging countries? Provide your perspective on how they should conduct business, what are their obstacles and opportunities. And possibly, most importantly, how can we make those opportunities a reality? Join the conversation via linked [...]

Love Your Leader, and they will love you back!

Imagine: you are a very accomplished woman who has built a very well respected organization. Your efforts produce a marketable business that is eventually bought out by a larger institution. After preparing for the next phase of the company’s development, you step down from your role, and the office moves [...]

Why? A question for all society – Commissioner Gawanas suggests

For the last eleven years I taught the most powerful word a salesperson could ask a prospect or client. ‘Why?.’ ‘Why is that?’ ‘Tell me why that is?’ These questions had two purposes:

To gain a complete understanding of how a prospect/ client makes decisions. By asking why you gain

From Competition to Collaboration: The evolution of African women owned businesses

Dr. Jennifer Riria & Suzanne F Stevens

During my interview with Dr. Jennifer Riria, Group CEO, Kenya Women Holding, on Wisdom Exchange tv, she spoke of a mentorship program she implemented in Kenya that was unsuccessful. The concept was for a well-established African business to mentor women in [...]

In Pursuit of Purpose

Find your purpose and the possibilities are endless

After interviewing 26 women for Wisdom Exchange TV, a web-enabled platform, I am compelled to delve into the fire in their belly that motivates these women to be a trailblazer in their field of expertise. In my pursuit of sharing the [...]

African Women & the World Respond to Mentorship Website

I am very proud to announce that Wisdom Exchange TV (www.WisdomExchangeTv.com) is now being viewed in 49 countries and on 6 continents! This site was designed for African women to

Guilt: Women’s heavy burden to bear

Wisdom Exchange TV interview at Africa International University, Nairori, Kenya

Recently I interviewed Katherine Ichoya, the Executive Director of FEMCOM (French for Federation of National Associations of Women in Business in Eastern and Southern Africa), for Wisdom Exchange TV. I couldn’t help but be affected by her enthusiasm [...]

Pushing Your Edge, and Knowing When Not To…

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

I am presently sitting at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. As I watch the sheer volume of water and the power of its force as it crashes down to Batoka Gorge, I am reminded of one of my favourite books, The Power of [...]

From Comfort to Compassion – A Natural Evolution Realized

Ted Horton & Hanne Howard

At the Hanne Howard and Ted Horton funded community for children, we were watching the children do their crafts, playing, conversing and looking you in the eye when they speak, you quickly recognize that they have been brought up with [...]

An Evolution not a Revolution – Post-graduate education a necessity for future Kenyan Women Leaders

As I depart from Kenya I cannot help reflecting on the diversity of the women I have met, and where some of their values intersect and where they are polarized. I came to Kenya from Toronto, Canada to hear the perspectives of Kenyan women from different backgrounds. These perspectives I [...]

Sandwiched Between Creating Possibilities

Leah Ngini & Suzanne F Stevens in Maasia Courtyard at St. Christopher's School

Often when people think of the Sub-Sahara, they conjure up images of starving children, slums, and corruption. Although these images are real, in many places [...]

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