Inspiring Girls International’s Post

Girl to Girl: Don’t wait for permission to speak up. Your ideas are worth hearing. Growing up, I was often told to stay quiet, and that mindset lingered into adulthood. I avoided speaking up, convinced my ideas didn’t matter. My first real breakthrough came as a Teller Captain at Guaranty Trust Bank, where I had to lead and, for the first time, find my voice to guide a team. Toastmasters added fuel to that journey, helping me get comfortable with the sound of my own voice and the power behind it. Then came my business—a dream of building a global brand for women. Each new challenge pushed me further to embrace my voice. Now, I’m on a mission to empower over 1,000 women to simplify their businesses with technology, starting with launching the BUMPA website for seamless growth. Every step has taught me that finding your voice is not just personal; it’s an act of leadership. $1 Masterclass for BUMPA, ₦2,000.00. https://lnkd.in/dqtqd7M5

i recently joined ALUMNAE-I NETWORK FOR HARVARD WOMEN INC as a Board Member/Advisor. this isn’t just another title for me - it’s a mission. a mission to amplify the voices of women everywhere, create meaningful connections, and empower each other to break barriers. when i look back, my journey wasn’t smooth. it started with grit, resilience, and a burning desire to make an impact. from becoming one of the youngest executives managing a multi-million-dollar portfolio to driving multi-billion-dollar deals, i’ve learned that true leadership lies in service - to ideas, to people, and to change. my focus will be on fostering a space where every woman’s perspective matters. where the next wave of innovation, leadership, and collaboration takes shape. and most importantly, where we lead with courage and purpose. why does this matter to you? if you’re a woman with a vision to lead, innovate, or create - this is your network. we’re here to champion your ideas, fuel your growth, and build a future that reflects our collective strength. if you’re someone who believes in the power of women-led change, this is your invitation. partner with us, mentor rising leaders, or simply amplify our mission. leadership is not defined by age, titles, or even experience. it’s defined by action. and together, we’ll take that action - bold, fearless, and game-changing. what’s one bold step you’ll take today to empower someone? drop your thoughts below ✨ Harvard Business School Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative HBS Club of the GCC HBS Women's Association Harvard Business School Club of New York HBS | Association of Boston and CAP HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL CLUB OF CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY PARTNERS Kaul3 Ventures Kaul2Action Movement KVXH

Have you ever felt like you’re not enough to lead a team? I did. When I was a rookie leader, the weight of expectations was crushing. But one lesson transformed my path. It taught me this: → 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠. → 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨. Here are top-7 steps for everyone to rock their leadership journey: 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧. ↳ Be kind to yourself. Recognize that mistakes are part of growth. 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲. ↳ Lead with your true self. Authenticity builds trust and inspires others. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. ↳ Every challenge is an opportunity to strengthen your resilience. Embrace it. 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬. ↳ Prioritize your well-being by establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries. 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬. ↳ Appreciate and celebrate what makes you unique. Your individuality is your strength. 𝐀𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐭 𝐚 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭. ↳ View setbacks as learning opportunities. Stay optimistic and focused on possibilities. 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭. ↳ Don’t hesitate to ask for help. Building a strong support network is crucial. Yesterday, I rose from a fall. Today, I stand confident and ready to uplift young women leaders. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬. You can rise and shine! I love giving to the community. Please DM me if you need support or advice. 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭. P.s. What step (1-7) resonates with you the most?

Had a lovely chat last evening with Jonathan Labin about the ingredients needed to enable a culture that allows innovation, reinvention, and growth to thrive, and here are 3 of my favourite takeaways from the night: 1️⃣ What is a non-negotiable for innovation to succeed? Leadership commitment ⏳ And commitment goes beyond words, it translates into actions, tangibly demonstrated by time given to innovation by leaders. 2️⃣ How do you get leaders to care about innovation? Alignment to priorities 🎯 Focus on innovating where it matters and where impact is tangible. Earn that trust (and time). 3️⃣ How to encourage people to contribute? Eliminate fear 😨 The fear of looking bad, of repercussions should things go wrong inhibit innovation more than the lack of incentives. Stayed up past my usual bedtime, but such good conversations and as always, it was great to hang out with the Growth Lab community. Thank you Jonathan for joining us and sharing your insights! (That's Jonathan sharing passionately and me listening intently 😂)

A woman does not limit a man, so why does a man limit a woman? A question that continues to linger in my mind this morning... Women are often misunderstood in business, especially as founders, where we’re too quickly labeled as "non-technical" or confined to nurturing and creative roles. Women have and are continuing to redefine leadership, innovation, and impact every single day. Society has evolved dramatically over the last century. Women and this modern age are rewriting the narratives, creating a new era of leadership and collaboration that transcends outdated norms. This is our chance to rewrite the script—not just for ourselves, but for generations to come. As a founder, I’ve had my vision questioned—not because it lacked clarity or ambition, but because of biases that underestimate women’s ability to lead, navigate complex industries, or scale groundbreaking ideas. Yet here we are, breaking ceilings and proving that leadership is about purpose, resilience, and skill—not gender. For humanity to thrive, we must stop putting people in boxes! Women can be technical. Men can be empathetic. Creatives can be analytical. Founders can be nurturing. When we box people in, we limit their potential and miss the richness of what they bring to the table.

I thought I had to have all the answers. I put on a mask of confidence and perfection, hiding my doubts and fears from the world. But the weight of that mask was crushing me. One day, I hit rock bottom. I was struggling to make a tough decision, and I felt like a fraud. That's when I realized that I didn't have to do it alone. I gathered my team and shared my fears, my doubts, and my uncertainty. To my surprise, they didn't judge me or think less of me. Instead, they offered support, guidance, and their own stories of struggle. In that moment, I felt a sense of freedom and connection that I had never experienced before. From then on, I made a commitment to myself to be vulnerable and authentic. I shared my struggles, my mistakes, and my fears with my team, my mentors, and even my critics. It wasn't always easy, but it was always worth it. I built deeper relationships, made better decisions, and became a more effective leader. I learned that vulnerability is not a weakness, but a strength – a strength that allows us to connect, grow, and lead with purpose. Remember, the mask of perfection is heavy and unnecessary. Embrace your vulnerability, share your story, and watch how it transforms your life and leadership. I am Jonathan Kennedy Sowah, founder of Ghana’s leading STEM engagement organization; INOVTECH STEM CENTER, bridging the STEM Education gap in underserved communities, one classroom at a time. ✅Repost and connect with me Jonathan Kennedy Sowah for more tips.

Independence is a strength—until it isn’t. (I know... it's a trap I've fallen into!) Many mid-career women have mastered the art of being fiercely independent. But here’s the thing: the real game-changer is NOT independence but embracing accountability and support from others. Why? Because true growth happens outside our comfort zones. And given we're wired to avoid risk, discomfort and the unfamiliar - it's amazing we ever do what's needed for growth. Over the years, I've noticed that one of the things many successful respected leaders have in common is that they have been well supported throughout their career. They have people who advocate when they aren't in the room. They receive helpful feedback that they can act on it. They have people to call on when they are unsure about the way forward. They share their wins - big and small - with people who believe in them. But support isn't always enough. Often, it's having someone to keep you accountable is what's really needed. It's the driving force that ensures you follow through, even when things get tough or uncomfortable. It's what pushes you forward to take action when your instinct is to retreat. I wonder? Are the successful leaders who you respect leveraging the power of a strong support system? Do they have mentors to keep them accountable to take the challenging actions that make the difference? You may be surprised about how many have these silent partners supporting them in the background to build their extraordinary careers. ---------- 👍 Like if you found this useful, 🔄 Share to inspire others, 🤝 Connect for more tips designed specifically to support mid-career women to have more leadership success.

Today we had such an enlightening meeting with a wise and nice person, Douglas Conant, Founder and CEO of Conant leadership. So, l can not stop myself from sharing some insights: - People should feel honored in order to perform better. - You have to win in the workplace before you win in a marketplace, before you win the community. - Tough mind and a tender heart is necessary for a leader. The best leaders have both, it is not about “or”, but “and”. - lf you want be the best version of yourself look deep down to your life story. - a leaders job is to help people who work for him/her handle hard better. - lf you do something right, celebrate it and build emotional bank account. Because when you have to make a tough choice you withdraw from this bank account. - Leaders are made, not born. All good leaders make themselves better. - We have to live in 3 times: a) we have to remember past; b) We have to perform now; c) We have to set a table for future. - Acknowledge mistakes, learn fast and move on. - We have the power to choose how to respond to what happens. I know it is long, but it is not all. Rumsfeld Foundation

It’s strange how life-altering something like cancer can be. When I self-diagnosed myself—twice—I stood at a crossroads. I could either sink into a victim mentality or seize control and use this challenge to positively alter my life. 🌟💪 I chose the latter. And here's the thing: there’s nothing special about me that isn’t in every one of us. You have this same power to transform any challenge into a triumph, to shine on your own stages, whatever they may be. Maybe your stage is the boardroom, where strategic decisions spark change, or at home, where you're the hero to your kids. Perhaps it’s on the field, coaching little league, or in your community, leading with heart and dedication. Each of these stages offers unique opportunities to make an impact, demonstrating that leadership and transformation can happen anywhere. 🎤👨👩👧👦 Want to hear more about how you can live a positively altered life, or have me share these ideas at your next event? Download my speaker kit to learn how we can inspire together: https://lnkd.in/g9JczZEf