Women summit to unlock talent

Oct 08, 2019

We also mentor others, especially those who have not attended the Female Future Programme(FFP)

The annual women leadership conference aims at accelerating the efforts to promote and enhance the capacity of women in innovation

Unlocking the innovation capacity of women in the world of work is the theme for this year's Annual Women Leadership Conference, slated for October 25, at Serena Hotel in Kampala.

Barbara Katende, a lecturer at Makerere University, who has attended four of the eight Women Leadership conferences, describes it as life-changing. "We meet, share experiences and network," Katende, who doubles as a motivational speaker, says. Katende has also had an opportunity to undergo a nine-month female leadership programme which has helped her excel as a leader at her workplace. She says the training has enabled her discover her talents and what she is not good at, what gives her joy and satisfaction. Consequently, she says it has helped her strike a work-life balance.

Josephine Nakkomo Mukumbya, the chief executive officer at aBi Development and a beneficiary of past trainings, says the conference gives them an opportunity to network as female leaders. "We also mentor others, especially those who have not attended the Female Future Programme(FFP)," Mukumbya says.

Fatmah Nsereko, the coordinator of the Federation of Uganda Employers Women Executive Chapter (FUEWEC) says the conference brings together women from various institutions and at different levels to deliberate on issues pertaining to women in leadership. Nsereko says the conference will be held in partnership with Confederation of Norwegian Enterprises (NHO) and UN Women Uganda."This time around, we want to discuss how organisations can innovatively tap talents of women in the world of work," she said.

Any woman or people from organisations, women from the corporate world and nongovernmental organisations are encouraged to attend. Nsereko says the conference involves sharing best practices; learning how other organisations have tapped innovative ways of getting women unlock their talents and even work better. Over 350 participants including the Speaker Of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, who is the guest of honour and Andres Wengan, who is the keynote speaker, are expected to attend the conference.

"We need to accelerate the efforts to promote and enhance the capacity of women in innovation. Women can embrace the idea of venturing into the rewarding productive activities since they have the potential to do so," Nsereko says. A research conducted in Vietnam by the World Bank in March, 2015 showed that women account for more than 40% of the country's scientific researchers.

Similarly, a recent study indicates that high technology firms established by women generated higher revenues and had higher survival rates because women were found to be resilient to setbacks and persevere in the face of adverse outcomes. Nsereko says as more women get mentorship coupled with adoption of new technologies, they can reach higher levels in terms of economic and social achievements.

To crown off the conference, about 35 women who have attended the FFP which is a nine-month training programme with three modules namely; leadership development, rhetoric and board competence, will graduate. The programme under the Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE) has so far benefited over 159 women in leadership since 2011. Of the 88 alumni so far, 35% have got into board positions, 52% got bigger positions and 34% have started their own businesses, thus creating employment.

 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});