AWDF’s CEO forums are a dynamic time of coaching and sharing aimed at strengthening organizational capacity in our grantee institutions. The fourth CEO forum was held in Nairobi, Kenya, from March 25-27, 2015.
The thirty participants from women’s organizations supported by AWDF were made up of managers, board members and young professionals in senior roles within the organizations (dubbed “the next generation leaders”). By bringing these three groups together for the forum for the first time, participants were able to get a more comprehensive look at governance and administration – the two building blocks of a healthy organization.
“Our goal is to impact organizations at the individual, organizational and community levels.” AWDF Capacity Building Specialist Nafi Chinery.
Next Generation Leaders:
Dorcas Zamuchiya, Gender Officer, SAYWHAT (Students and Youth Working on Reproductive Health Action Team) Zimbabwe:
“We are here at the CEO’s meeting learning a lot. I got the chance to discuss with some people who have been through a lot of governance issues..and they aired their experiences..I realized challenges come from being in governance. I can take home.things to avoid..the good things they have done..and see if it works in our own situation.”
Lindiwe Jere, Project Coordinator, Girls’ Empowerment Network, Malawi – “This has been like a building session for me .”
It’s been a very interesting forum for a young leader.I think it was a learning experience. Whatever skills I learned from here, I’m going to use in my personal life and work. I have a very bright future. Before came i didn’t understand the board thing…didn’t understand that they had a really crucial role to play in our organization.”
Executive Directors:
Doris Brendan, Executive Director, Heal the Land Nigeria
“(This forum) let us know who we are as women in Africa. It’s been indispensable support…being able to reflect. The workshop has really helped us to know how to be better at communications – it has opened our eyes, made me realize the importance of knowing our elevator pitch.. know what are you known for, what you really do, what we are doing.”
Board Members:
Tifsehet Lemma Woldetsadik Board member, Developing Families Together (DFT), Ethiopia “Relaxing, but informative.”
I really got some experience from this forum got insights into what leaders should be doing as board members. I got experience from other leaders, especially the three women activists. Nothing I didn’t like. It was a relaxing environment, interactive, not just sitting and being lectured. I loved the yoga part. I met with different NGO’s – board members, CEO’s …they worked with different issues , but some are similar. I loved Boxgirls…
I really found the mix of levels useful. Sometimes the top levels they go to meetings but when they come back they don’t share.”
Facilitators:
Christine Gachu-Katee, Coach, WMG Management Consultants Ltd Kenya: “We need to help those who help others.”
“I started off with strategy planning…but I found that after a year people were struggling. both the individuals and CEO’s .I did for several organizations..I.found that CEO’s were really struggling…its quite rigorous, you get embodied as a coach.”
“If they do the work – because it’s actually giving time to yourself – it doesn’t matter how much time you give – you can’t be the same. You get more grounded…to who you are, what matters to you as leader..you see the cracks and know how to mend them for yourself where you are.”
“I’d like to coach men too. There’s lots of work to be done with women but we need to get the men in.”
Amba Mpoke-Bigg, Communications Specialist, AWDF “Everyone is the face of your organization, not just the CEO or board members.”
“It was exciting and challenging to craft a media skills session for the participants of the CEO forum. A lack of capacity in communications has been identified as a major weakness in many organizations.
Whether it be writing reports, planning outreach activities or sharing the vision of the organization with stakeholders, many said they had real difficulties.
I focused on media interviewing and gave practice in crafting messages and communicating them in mock interviews and we practiced the famous elevator pitch.
I began by asking participants to ask themselves who they were and why they were in the organizations they worked in. What motivates you?”