In line with its corporate social responsibility (CSR) of adding values to societal growth, Fine & Country, an innovative real estate marketing firm, has mentored over 100 young women on contemporary management and leadership skills that will easily distinguish them from their peers and further push their career growth.
The platform, known as iWOW (inspired Women Of Worth), is championed by Fine & Country CEO, Udo Okonjo, with a clear mission to inspire, enlighten, encourage, empower and connect women to their best selves and with each other to accomplish a world of good.
Initially known as Divinely Inspired Victorious Anointed Sisters (D.I.V.A.S), when it was launched in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2012, the project has grown in lips and bounds to become a respectable forum known for inspiring, encouraging and motivating women on how best to thrive in their chosen career path and exhibit their management skills when they assume leadership positions.
Speaking at the recent Global Possibilities Summit in Lagos, Okonjo tasked the women to see themselves as icons of change, value adders, influencers and more importantly unleash their wow factor daily, irrespective of what comes or stands in their way.
“We believe at iWOW that we are no longer in a century with people who are satisfied to be referred to as ‘merely employees and/or business owners.’ We are straddling at a time when women (and men) must fully embrace knowledge that they are simply too powerful to be held bound by the narrow definitions of words such as: employee, professionals or business owner,” Okonjo said.
According to her, only those who decide to step beyond the narrowly defined boundaries into the great and expansive possibilities that can and will unfold when they recognise that they are carriers of immeasurable potential, difference makers, influencers, WOW-game changers, trail blazers and icons of change and unlimited possibilities will survive and thrive in this new world.
On her part, Michelle Hammond, an author, acknowledged the need for an uncommon leadership skill for every woman who wishes to be part of the iWOW family.
“Leaders must learn to serve well, because this stimulates loyalty and commitment from their subjects,” she said, adding that for any leader to be successful she must allow people under her to have dignity because this helps them build up their self esteem and in turn helps them serve better.
She however insisted that women should retain their femininity, while they have the mentality to be champions even as leaders, stressing that this breathes excellence.
“As leaders, you shouldn’t talk to people, but rather speak with them. People under leaders must see themselves as part of the system and see their contributions as crucial,” she said.
Patrick Nwakogo, Nigeria country director, Dale Carnegie, opined that leadership was not a position that should be assumed but an attitude to life, saying that leadership was not about bullying people, but a concious effort to carrying everyone along.
The Dale Carnegie boss also pointed out that an effective leader must have self direction, good communication skills, people’s skills, process skills and accountability.
ODINAKA MBONU
