100 Women in Finance (“100WF”), a global non-profit finance organisation that promotes gender equity and empowers women to find their personal path to career success, marked their formal launch in Kenya on Thursday 27th October by ringing the closing bell at Nairobi Securities Exchange.
The event hosted at the Global Trade Centre brought together professionals across the banking, private equity, venture capital, and FinTech sectors, amongst others. In attendance was Dr. Patrick Njoroge, Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, who shared his life experiences and career tips to the women in finance.
8 Life & Career Nuggets from Central Bank of Kenya Governor, Dr. Partick Njoroge:
Lean in
This is something I always tell the ladies at Central bank! When the opportunity comes for you to speak in a boardroom or you are asked to do a presentation, take that moment and blow it out of the park. Quite often, people freeze and it’s almost like pulling teeth.
You may not get a second chance to make a first impression so when it does comes along, lean in, grab your space and make a good impression.
Find your voice
Learn how to explain yourself and verbally promote the work you spend hours working on. When you are attuned to what is going on, communication will not be an issue.
You need a mentor
My mentor helps me set my priorities and holds me accountable to specific things. There are certain things you may not know about yourself – what you are good at, and the areas you need to improve. A mentor holds a mirror to you.
Take care of the small details
Don’t wait for the big things! Take care of the little ones too and never deliver a sloppy job.
Be a mentor
Be a mentor to someone! We can all help each other as we move in this space
Motherhood & Career
The cliche is that having children slows down women’s professional lives. In my view there is no better example than a woman raising children and when she comes back to work, she continues to run her race and move ahead.
Be a leader
Shine light and provide space for others at the work place. That is the true mark of a good leader.
Plan for the future
Don’t limit yourself because of the things that are around you. Think about where you want to be and be doing in the future
