Women must be honest with themselves

The Economist Businesswomen Club and Ericah Shafudah, Namibian Businesswomen of the Year 2013, held their second informative networking breakfast for this year on 17 April, with Strategic Communications Specialist and National Trainer for the Global Access Programme (ITC), Ebben Kalondo as guest speaker. Ms Kalondo’s topic was, “Effective Leadership through Authentic Self Management,” she spoke about how a manager is not always a leader and that leadership is all about service.

“Always be brutally honest with yourself, know yourself and always live an authentic life,” she said. She advised the ladies not to subject themselves to peer review, for people to tell them what kind of persons they are, and to take the bad with the good and try to improve themselves.
“Learn from other women, you are not perfect, and your friend, mother , sister or colleague might have strengths that you can benefit from, to make your weaknesses stronger, and help other women too,” she emphasised.
“Accept your individuality, and the journey of finding yourself does not stop,” she added. Kalondo said that women should stop playing the blame game or having the victim syndrome, but that they should rather manage themselves, because it is an every day’s work, but most of all they must be very honest with themselves.
The Economist Businesswomen Club is a forum for the exchange of ideas and expertise, through planned networking. It aims to encourage the personal development and management skills of its members and to advance the standing and power of women.
All proceeds from this event go towards the Economist Businesswomen Bursary Fund.