Woman 2.1 Summit ; Sharing is caring

Waking up to a terrible headache on the 19^th October a day I had prepared feverishly for not to miss this years’ Woman2.1 summit. I enjoyed the maiden edition two years ago and I vowed not to miss this one. I was home alone with my dad. Everybody had left to town. I quickly took breakfast in order to take painkillers to calm down headache I started feeling the night before. I took shower and dressed up in a hurry. My dad complemented my looks and walked me to the junction to get a cab to the venue (National Theatre). I finally arrived after going through all the traffic in town. I went straight to Benjamin since I had already booked a seat, filled the form and headed to the auditorium.

Hearing the voice from the foyer, I knew that was Esi Yanka. I wasn’t lucky enough since I heard just the final part of her presentation which had to do with her encouragement. She said “one didn’t have to be the first to be a winner”. She shared some exciting bullets from her book. One other thing I also heard she said that worked on me was, and I quote; “I realized that am soooo tall because I stand tall among tall people”. (As humorous as this might sound, it had a lot of meaning and made a lot of sense in the context it was used.) Fortunately for me, her full speech is online. Get it here www.esiyankah.com/index.php/78-my-speechs/78-woman-21-speech

Next to speak and share her life struggle was Sandy- CEO of “Diva Delicious”. She shared how she started diva delicious and spoke on the topic “Turning your passions into prophets”. Sandy spoke about “how to live within your means and how to invest”. She encouraged us to read a lot and learn lessons from those who are where we want to be in life.  Sandy challenged us not to be afraid to take a step of faith in all we do and doing what we love patiently and persistently. 

It was now the turn of Charlene Osei-Baffour, from “Diamond Pillars Women’s Ministry”. Charlene spoke on the topic “The doorway Of Destination”. With a lot of enthusiasm, she shared with us what Destiny was. Mrs. Baffour coined the 3d’s for destiny; Decision, Discovery and Direction. She encouraged us to do the extraordinary and yearn for excellence since that would take us to greater heights.  She shared some five major attributes of a woman. According to her, every Woman is a;

Divine statement maker

Sugar container

Salt container

Problem solver

Solution carrier

Don’t these sounds interesting?

To her, women have got 7 powers;

Power of Utterance

Power of influence

Power of motivation

Power of motivation

Power of encouragement

Power of adaptability

Power of transformation

Power of procreation

She summarized it all saying “God doesn’t call the Qualified, He qualifies the called”.

Dream it!. Dare it!. Do it! Next on the Bill was the ever loving, gorgeous and mentor of mine Mrs.  Gloria Buckman Yankson.  She shared her journey with us about how “Planit Gh” came to bear, all what she had to go through to bring it where it is now. The sacrifices, the encouragements and the relevant relationships she has built over the years. “It’s not what you have in your life, it’s who you have in your life that counts” #GBY  

For the first time publicly, she shared her experience about how she had to go through a condition when she was fifteen (15) which made her almost give up on life. But thanks to God and family, she wouldn’t have been where she is now. Nothing comes on a silver platter she says. It takes lots of hard work, research and a lot of talking to the right people about what you want to do, to make your dream a reality.

Believe, Begin, Become………………be relentless #GBY

As Benny Bonsu, a young lady who has lived in London and played a fantastic role in making this year’s London Olympic successful. Her story filled my eyes with tears. I couldn’t figure out why. Her mum has and will always be her inspiration as she single handedly brought her and her siblings up and support them in all they do. She didn’t deny the fact that she suffered racial discrimination while in London especially at the time when she started schooling……

Uche Ofodite, Chief Marketing Officer at Vodafone was passionate about her topic on “Womenomics”. She did a presentation on how women could be leaders by being passion driven. She believes that, “if you aren’t passionate about anything, then you can’t be a leader”. She encouraged us to take up opportunities as they come and be bold to take risks and keep our head high. She said these after she shared her challenges. 

Rosy Fynn, Consumer Manager Tigo Ghana got on stage as well and what made her stand out was the fact that she was the only one with the “kpenkpeshi” hair. (a stubborn type hair, which is very difficult to comb easily; until she decided to go natural)

She shared with us through her presentation on ways that can lead you to the top;

·         Learn to Network

·         Be who you are

·         Have a goal and focus on it

·         Learn to deligate

·         Empower any team you lead

·         Free yourself for other to do something

·         Finding mentors

·         Believing in your abilities

·         Develop tough skin

·         Find time in your life for extracurricular activities

·         Don’t be despair when you make mistakes, learn from them.

Monalisa Okojie, CEO/Founder of “Nehita Jewellery Company” that had gone global and was sharing ideas on how you can start a global business and why you should start a Global business and how to achieve success. She also appreciated fact that she had a very supportive family system. 

Finally, Dzigbordi Kwaku Dosoo, a woman I have admired for so many reasons. As she walked up the stage in her yellow colored jeans and dark pink African print shirt buckled with a brown belt, I felt she was really adaptive to the latest color blocking sense of fashion. For a minute I had a feeling she was going to talk about “Image”. A topic she shares at most seminars and on her Talk Show. 

Dzigbordi as usual gave us tips on the right make-up to use as ladies, the best outfit to wear in terms of the job you do. Some table etiquettes and of course touched on a little bit of communication. It was at this session I learnt that when speaking with someone, it was appropriate to look between the nose regions to the forehead, or better still look in the eyes of whoever it was, since looking at the lips of the speaker was found to be flirtatious.

All of the speakers were on point, and they all articulated their time. Though I expected more, I realized Benjamin and his team had factored time since there was going to be another program. Since this was the second time, I think “Effusion Motivate” had done a very good job, but I think more needs to be done in terms of advertisement and getting a lot 

more people to attend. One thing I realized this year too was the presence of guys who felt that though it was to empower women, they knew there was more to be learnt. Kudos to Benjamin and his team, I must say you guys did fantastic. To the MC, …….(forgotten her name) indeed she was great, she also shared a few things with us. Benjamin and his team, please next year God willing we will want to have a packed lunch and not snacks…….hehehehehe. Thank you very much.

Unconditional Love

One evening after a hard day’s work. I was alone and thinking, I just couldn’t figure out what I was thinking about. That was minutes ago when I had checked on a friend about her sick dad, when I wanted to find out how his condition was. She told me she wasn’t home yet , then I told her to let me know when she gets home. (Indeed she has been one of the friends I met after school tho we were in the same school. I didn’t know her till I completed. I got to know her well and she inspires a lot. I took her like the sis I never had) like I told her, when she got home, she got back to me saying her dad was still same :-( , all I could do was encourage her to keep the faith and that all we can do was to pray, after we discussed his condition. She really thanked me for being there and that I was a good person, that those she considered her best buddies aren’t even bothered. I told her it was the least I could do as a friend and that if she’s happy, I am. And if she is sad, I am. 

That evening minutes later, I had a feeling to check on a friend who I normally won’t check on at the time. I called and asked him the normal “how was your day question” all he said was he was rushing home because his son is sick……I felt sad wishing I could help in any way and I remembered that Our Help Comes From The Lord… suddenly I got moody and started to write this piece.

Don’t help friends looking at what you will get in return. Treat them because you have something to offer. For me I think LOVE is the greatest you can afford. Having a big heart full of love can turn a situation around. I think if I did offer you all the money in the world just for you to be my friend you still will not appreciate it. 

If I did offer you a car, it probably won’t be what you wished for. If I did get you a house, it just might not be the kind of house you always dreamt to live in. And you ask yourself what is in mind of an individual?.  If I gave you LOVE, unconditional love, you will really appreciate it with every breath you take. Love that I show through my thoughts, my kind words, my actions, my phone calls, my text messages, my silly comments, my appreciative gestures, a cheerful look, a warm smile, love that can indeed last you a lifetime. 

 True love comes from the heart, It comes from within. That which is ready to give, even if it the smallest you have, one that is ready to receive any criticisms, one that is accommodative, one that gives you all the attention you need………those kind of hearts are hard to find you have to open your “third eye”. I know someone will tell me that “I do so much to make other people happy, why do I always get the short end of the stick…..?”

Don’t stop doing good. I have learned that one can always pray for someone when you don’t have the strength to help someone in some other way, but remember God doesn’t give us everything we ask for; He has his reasons. Learn to encourage people in all they do, DON’T be envious of their success. Sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand. I have always believed that a lot of the trouble in the world would disappear if we were talking to each other instead of about each other.

Continue loving friends for whom they are not what they have. Try it, and you will never regret helping someone…………………………

CHEERS TO LIFE.