Honoring Women: Different Paths, Shared Triumphs| International Women’s Day Special

Stand in your power. Stand in your power and stand boldly and be ready to let them see whatever. Something that can happen. Have the audacity of a white man. Yeah. Period. One of the women that I most admire is Wangari Madai. And if you look back, she was way ahead of time. So what you're worried of doing, in 50 years they will say, ah, Sele was ahead of her time. But you were so worried of doing that thing. Yet it's what will make people remember you for it. So, do what you feel. Push those orders, just be you, be strong, be bold and keep doing, keep moving. So we are celebrating all women, be it the drivers, Thank you. be it the nurses, be it the cleaners. every week i miss you guys i know from wednesday to wednesday Thank you so much for watching last week's episode. I hope you guys have found what your purpose is in life. I hope you know. And if you don't know, please reach out to us. Don't be afraid. Let her help you. Let her guide you so that you get to know what your purpose is in life. And then guess what? In two days, in two days, you're going to be celebrating International Women's Day. Makaofi kwa wanawake! Ho ye! Men, I don't know about you, but yeah, in two days we are celebrating International Women's Day and that's why today on set, I have beautiful and amazing women with me to celebrate Women's Day. Thank you so much, guys. Thank you. Feel at home. Thank you. You are in a good place. Don't be pressured. The people who speak are good. Easy. If we speak, it's not like I'm easy. Yeah. Ah, that's it. So I'd like you guys to introduce yourselves so we can start with my far right. Thank you. Hi, guys. My name is Gatueri Morioki. I am a girl, a sister, and a woman. I'm also a podcaster, and yeah, I'm happy to be here. What's the name of the podcast? Oh, my podcast is called Perfectly Imperfect with Marcy, and yeah, I talk about relationships, adulting, mental health, everything figuring life as a young adult. in Kenya and most recently actually transitioned to corporates. I'm sharing my journey on corporate, the lessons I've learned from corporates yeah and lessons from other people who've been in corporate for way longer than I've been. Yeah and I'm happy to be here. Happy Women's Day to all the lovely ladies out there. Thank you Marcy. Happy Women's Day to you too. Thank you. Next. Hi my name is Helen Nyambora and Happy International National Women's Day. Every woman. And we all know women. We have mothers, sisters. I am a mum to a one-year-old wonderful, wonderful baby. I'm a sister, I'm a daughter, and I'm a partner. By profession, I'm a physician associate and I work in general practice, but also have an interest in public health mainly. I'm also the founder of AFIN, African Health Initiative. It's a small organization. We are still in our infancy, but we're still doing what we can. Thank you. Happy to hear that. Happy International Women's Day. Thank you. And Karibu Sana. Then we have... A guest on my left. Hi, ladies. Hi. I am Vanessa Agenzi. Yay! I am a daughter. I am a sister. Hmm. I am a pan-Africanist, an activist. Thank Well, I think I try to be funny sometimes. I am a PR and communication strategist. I've been in corporate for about two years, two, three years now. you I do consultancy for startups on the side. I like fashion and sometimes I like to talk a lot, very so thank you for having me. And this is a space, feel free, talk a lot. much. So I am happy that you guys are here. I'm happy that you people, most of you are in the corporate world. Apart from me, I'm from Kali, guys. So it will be amazing to get to hear from my fellow women how it is. On that side, on that side that most of us, I'm sure I'll be in the comments, I'm not alone, there are many people, we have this idea, so maybe just to start with Mercy, I'm happy that you've done both, you're in podcast and now you're in the corporate world, so I'd like to know how is it navigating the professional world, especially that you're moving from where I am. Yeah. Yes. All right. So. For me, I work in customer service, by the way. I've worked with a local company here in Kenya that is very well known. And then recently transitioned to a remote role with a remote company. And I think for me, the reason why I went into corporate was because of the pressure from my parents, mostly because they needed to understand, so you just turn off the camera and you get money. And I... Like, you know, the pressure to get like a proper office job, that is what forced me to get into corporate. And for me, getting that job was almost like, let's just leave this job, this story, share this with this guy's story. So it wasn't, for me, I wasn't going in there for it to be like a permanent job or something. But I learned so much or I got to know so much about corporate. And yeah, that's how I got there. And for me, corporate has been... Um, like this thing that has been beautified, especially by me, by millennials, my elder cousins, my elder aunties are always like, you know, an office job at age two, five is all you need in this life. Yeah. Yeah. Let me tell you. It's not. Honestly, corporate is a lot. Corporate is good. It's okay. There are some people who've had wonderful experiences in corporate, which is really nice. But I'd like to think of corporate as this 50-50 thing where You really don't get what you expect most of the time. Rules are there, rarely followed. For the company I was working in, rarely followed. Wow. I remember when you're vocal in that company, you're either called an insider or they look for a mistake and you're fired. So that was the kind of experience I had at first with corporate. Toxic managers, toxic... Toxic bosses and for me the only thing that was driving me to wake up every day and go to work is not the salary because the salary was not good. It was my friends in the office, just that, my only motivation. So I used to just look forward to waking up there and to go meet my friends. Again, the clientele that we were dealing with were not the best. You know, customer service is, you really have to maintain being empathetic while at the same time trying to take in all these feelings that people are throwing at you. Yeah, so maybe I'd say the very first day I got into that job, I took several calls and one call that really stood out to me, a customer called in and so we were really like. I don't know whether this is it's customer service in Kenya really has a long way to go because sometimes customer service agents in Kenya even lose it and want to you can't do that with international clients you I think you'll be fired immediately or you'll be scolded because there's like quality assurance and all these things but so you're forced to human connect with these people if someone let's say This is a talk that's going to be... I've been having a I've had a bad day and your company's just making it worse. I'm really sorry you're having a bad day. What can we do to make it better? You know I'm here to listen to you. You know all that. You really have to like they don't want you to go into the solution first. Listen to the customer. Empathize with the customer. Then go into the solution. So I met this customer and my company was in a food delivery service. Peace, and I'll be out to a Q&A, guys. Yeah. So the customer calls and we actually like have a good chat. We connect. I'm like, oh, as I look into your account, could you tell me some of the things that you like? He's like, oh, I like dogs. Guys, I don't even like dogs. I like cats. But I'm forced to human connect. So I'm like, oh, I also like dogs. You know what? I have a dog. You know, yeah, I have a dog. His name is so-and-so. He's like, oh my God, what breed is he? I'm like, yeah. Yeah, so I don't even know how the call shifted from that to I just had him say stop bullshitting me and get me a supervisor. I was like, yo, wait, am I speaking to the same person? And at the same time, you can't prompt the supervisor immediately. So you're just like, rest assured, I am capable of handling this. And then they just hurled insults at me, the F word, the B word, all those words. I was like, okay, let me get my supervisor. And then they told my supervisor, that girl is very unprofessional. Yeah, and that was like, I think, among my first three calls. And I remember I just, I was just like enough is enough. I just took off my headsets and went out to cry. And then came back to the office and then the first thing is... Where have you been? Your calls have dropped. Can you call all those customers back? So my experience with corporate, and honestly, even on my podcast, I think people think I am the kind of person who really talks negatively about corporate. No, that is not it. I talk about the positive lessons I've learned from corporate as well. I just like to paint it as it is, that you can have a bad boss and you don't have to... You don't have to quote-unquote worship your boss. You can speak, stand for yourself, speak for yourself. If I speak for myself, then I lose my job. If you speak for yourself, you might lose your job, but you speak for yourself, you don't lose your job. Because I know what's causing many people to stick in corporate and toxic workplaces is that fear of, what if I don't get another job? Yeah. And I think I talked about quitting your job, all that, on my podcast, quitting, because I quit my job without a plan B. I just walked out. Like, enough is enough. I'm just walking out. No notice, nothing. Don't do that. Don't be like me. Guys, please. Please do not. Issue notices. But yeah, I was just like fed up. But speak for yourself. I'd like to hear now that you're a millennial. So you're talking like kind of you sound like a millennial. I'd like to hear how your navigating is in the professional. Okay. So I've been, I'm really sorry about your experience. It seems very sad, but mine actually has been good. Because I've always been vocal since I was a young kid. I was like, you're the black sheep because you talk too much. And you're selfish because you always say what you want. But I never saw that as a problem. To me, that was a strength. So in most of the spaces that I've been at, I've been able to articulate my needs. So when I first joined two, three years, it was immediately after. Actually, when I finished school, I did an internship at church for six months. So before I went, I think God was preparing me. You know, you need humility. Were you paid? No, no, no, no, no, no. Charity. And I was okay with it because I think I needed that because I needed God. I can be a handful. So after that, I went to corporate and it was, I think my bosses were heaven sent because they listened to me. They appreciate my ideas, me and the rest of the team. And it's an open office. It's a space where you're comfortable to share what you have because they believe. Everyone has something valuable to add to the team. So my experience has been actually good. Oh, nice. And I was actually, because I got in as an intern. Then six months after, I was actually the first intern in the company to get hired, like, ever. So... I have good things to say about corporate as at now. It's been good. And then there have been those moments with difficult clients. And sometimes when I doubted myself, because I'm in a room where people have experience for over like 10 years and I have like two months experience. So I'm doubting myself. Sometimes I feel like crying because you go in a meeting and everyone has ideas. And then they're like, Vanessa. They're like none for my end. I'll just echo what they said. Mine is just to echo. So those are the times when I felt less than but I had a group of women who always held me up they were like you just you've just started you're just growing it's okay in time you will figure it out and I remember I cried I prayed to God because I felt inadequate but soon after I caught up and I was able and I was given a space to grow. I was nurtured. I was put in rooms because it's a blessing when you're put in a room where you're the least experienced because the people challenge you. That means you have to keep up with the pace. So in those spaces, I was able to grow more than I would have grown if I was in a space where I'm the one who knew everything. That's true. And then in times when I felt like people were not listening, I could stand up for myself. I stood up and I was like, this is my idea. This is what I think would work because of this and this. Every time there's a problem, don't just come complaining, come with a solution, then people will take you seriously. So I was like, I don't feel like I'm being treated right here and here and here, but I think if we do this and this, I would feel much better and I'll be I'll be able to deliver. So in short. My experience with corporates at now has been amazing. It's just being God putting you in the right space where there's less toxicity, where people listen to you and give you the chance. And I think the bottom line is have the courage to always speak out for yourself. It doesn't matter if you lose the job. Maybe it's a blessing, who knows? Plus you get to stay home for a while. I know sometimes it's hard, but just speak out. Some will like you, some will not like you, but you have to say what you want to say for you. That's true. I like that. Whatever you've said, and I love that you cautioned it, it doesn't have to be everyone that toxic. Because for her, it's very positive. Like her feedback is that people are nice in the office, there's no this, you don't feel like, and you're saying you're just two years old, and you have a huge experience. So I love that these two opinions have... Made sure, like you guys have seen, there's a balance. Yeah, corporate walls in Baya, it can be good. Now let's come to Helen, an international. Ash and Moon. Now we have come from here, we have come from here, we have come from here. How is it navigating through that space? I think it has its own volume of challenges, really. And I really empathise and sympathise with you. Thank you, guys. I'm OK. I have a better job. We thank the Lord. Yeah, I believe nobody should leave their house to go and find or meet such challenges at their workplace, especially when you're in a place to help others. I personally see mainly sick people. And so often you're just going to... in a volume to help and empathise with the people. But sometimes you do find some people who don't want your help or are quite mean and rude about it. I think in the West the main challenge is racism. I think some people say we overplay the card but it's there and I've had people come. in to my room and have said things that I feel were very racist but I work in an organization where they are quite quite helpful and they did say sorry we can't take that so I probably had one or two racist patients in my time but I think in the west being a mother and navigating the corporate world is the biggest challenge biggest biggest challenge because health care in the west Quite, quite expensive. I'm a new mom myself. I've actually not gone back to work since fatality. Every time I was meant to go back, I'm like, I'm sorry. Yeah, you need more time. Yeah, and I had separation anxiety with my baby. Thank Then just thinking of how to get to take them to daycare with people I don't know and so I suffered a lot with that and I'm yet to get back to my workplace but they've been supportive they've given me 13 months mortality some of it unpaid but I think child care in the best as a mom and you. And as a woman, I would say, I think, women equality. At the workplace, we've met that. And there's a lot of more women now in the corporate world, I think. Back about, I'm not sure how many years, it was a very male-dominated sphere. But now you have mentors, you have women holding your hands and understanding your struggles, especially as a young person. And in the West, speaking up for yourself is not looked down upon, or it's not found to be challenging authority. You're seen as... You hear, you feel a bit oppressed, you're speaking it up, and often they will meet what you're raising, they will address that in a positive way, but sometimes some managers or some bosses will find that you're being too big for your own good. Good. I think another struggle I faced, especially in the beginning, was imposter syndrome. I quite suffered with that, and I felt not adequate enough to do this. And again, speaking to mentors and my managers, I was able to, within a short time, find, you know, you're worth sitting in that seat. You're worth addressing those issues. And of course, I feel, no, I don't have the... I have adequate knowledge, I have people who hold my hands, I have doors to knock on. I think that makes the working environment a better place. Now I love that, Mercy, you mentioned that you went to the corporate world because of your parents. Like it wasn't a choice, it was something, it was societal pressure. How do you balance life? Do you have some pressures in life that feel like... Right now, by the way, FYI, I have a better job. Okay, so now we should not be sorry. Congratulations. Thank you so much for the empathy, guys. But I recently transitioned to a new role, like I said. And I like what Helen said, that when you experience international recruiters, when you experience international bosses, it's a whole different change from what we are used to here. um they're they're simply interested in your skills and what you bring to the table that's all and every time you try to um bring anything that might add value to the company they take it very seriously as opposed to Kenya where I feel like recruiters are here to show you what they can give you as their recruiter or as the boss but not what not what you you'll gain yeah so um for me uh It's been pretty hard, actually, because this new role is obviously, like, I needed to, like, settle quite well. And I didn't even think I'd actually be in the position where I'd also, like, be looking for another job without the help of my parents and all that. I'd say for me, the biggest issue has... The biggest issue has been the transition now. From setting my mind to the time I quit my job, I had set my mind that I don't want to go back to corporate at all. Like I don't want to. And recently I spoke to my mentor and he was like, just give it one last shot. Like what's the worst that could happen? It can't be bad. It's okay then. It can just be. The transition has been crazy. It's easy. I had even to take a pause with the podcast and just focus on this whole new role because it's almost like rediscovering myself all over again, trying to give this role my best shot because, again, I don't want to have divided attention on this. I love you. I'm saying corporate is bad because I'm not giving it my all. That is one of the things. And then another thing is the idea of... I'd say trying to explain remote work, which is something that I think has not been really, really... So now you work remotely? Yeah, yeah. I work remotely. And it's also something my parents cannot understand. So I'm like, guys, I have an office job, but only in my bedroom. So they're like... We don't understand what you do. So how is your day? Like, how is your day? Yeah. My day starts at 10pm because I work EST. So my day starts at 10pm EAT to 7am EAT. So that's 2pm to 11pm EST. 10pm Kenyan time to 7am. So throughout the night. So now you're supposed to be sleeping. This is now my night. This is my night time. So yeah, Yeah, I think. Finished work at 7 a.m., then I just sleep. Thank So, obviously, parents wouldn't understand why you're asleep at 6 p.m. And then when it's time to actually get to work, I'm just usually mostly maybe in my pajamas and my laptop, and my mom is like, huh? I tell her, don't worry, I'll get to work at 9. No, it's fake. you. You know, like, but that has been also, like, transitioning, also working, like... International time or the U.S. time has been quite the challenge, especially since, like, in the other role, I was really, really comfortable sleeping, like, at night. Right now, you have to sleep with the chaos of the day. Okay. Yeah, especially if you live in a place where there's no light. You guys think living in a church is a problem. I raised you living near a school, kindergarten, yeah that's the only thing and that also comes with not being able to meet your friends as often as you'd like because they work like normal time and then you work at night so yeah and then also of course even family sometimes I don't see people I live with in the same house we just teach each other on like Saturday because Maybe when I'm asleep, they've got work. When I'm working, they can't distract me. That's the only thing. Otherwise, it's been lovely. It's been. The change has been lovely. The transition has been lovely, I'd say. the same role same same role just like a whole different team a whole different supervisor whole different both and truly just like a company that values your skills and they give you like at the same time they give you like a run for your money and your skills yeah so it's it's it's something that matches your level of skills to what they pay yeah so yeah that's the only thing And not being able to meet my friends as often. If the money is good, if the environment is good, your money can be saved. Now back to you, Helen. The client. The client. The money is good. The money is good. So we can handle it. I'm getting dizzy. Your money can be saved. So back to you, Helen. So the question will be, there are policies, and I love that you've mentioned you're a mom. And guys, before we go, Deeper into the conversation. International Women's Day is your mother's day. I'm happy that we have a woman. We have a woman who is a mom. A woman who is a Gen Z, just a sister. Like, see, lazima, you wish mama yako leo. Leo ni any woman. Ato mama mboga. Any woman. So I'd love to know, are there policies that you feel... that need to change because I understand as women we have this in this you're in a space where and as you've said corporate type but now we're in a space that we feel some policies need to be maybe come a year live yako una feel I It's just been one year with my baby. And when I get back, I never know when I'll come back. I think that's something that should be on the table on every person who is either running an organization or thinking about the future of women, really. Because a young one, we are advised to breastfeed a baby for the first six months. So that means you're here with her. But there's some people who ask women to go back before six months. I know women who have gone after four months. So that means the baby is not what we are advised to do. We're not meeting those needs for the baby. So I think, personally, I've always said we should have two years. I agree, I agree, that's true. Because we are raising the next taxpayers, we are raising the next leaders, we need to pass on our values, apart from the child being there. And you will see even a baby with their dad, with their mum, is different. They want their dad for the first 10 minutes, then they want you forever. So how can we do that and raise really good quality human beings for the future when you're asking us to run back to work and do work stuff? be a good balance. And I think two years is not too much to ask. It's not too much. It's reasonable. It's reasonable. So for me, I think a good full paid maternity leave, minimum of nine months, that should be the bare minimum. But then we should look to a year or more. So in the UK, for me, I was paid the first nine months and I had an option to extend my leave, but that was unpaid. So that again brings its own financial, if you're not fully, I don't want to talk much about mums because there is a lot of mums. I think before you're a mum, you need to pangar yourself in every way, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and above everything, financially. Because that eases the transition from being a lady or a woman where you're looking to do a single tune as a talker to. I don't know what to do. I haven't been able to do anything. and so many things on and just not being able to so from maybe a two house income earners to just a single one so I think financially and the time to raise a baby to where you can then now comfortably leave them in the care of somebody else and go and But when you're too early, emotions and all hormones have not crashed out of your system. How can you then do an adequate job when you are partially at home and partially at work? That's true. Vanessa, I know you said your workspace is perfect. Like, you have nothing much to complain about. But I'm sure there are a few things you'd love to enhance so that we maintain gender equality. Are women the same? I think. They are, but there's a caveat because there are some women who are like scared. I don't know if it's an organizational thing or it's a woman's thing. Scared of men? They are scared of even the spotlight. I do public relations and communications. This is doing presentations. This is talking to the client face to face. And I have some, one of my friend is scared of that. So she'll do a really good job. She'll make a very good pitch deck and everything. And then a guy would take the... She would take the credit because although I've done the work, I'm scared to stand there and present it. So the girl would be like, ah, let me do it for you. So once he does it, all the credit goes to him because now he becomes the face of that. So I don't know. I wouldn't say it's organizational. It's more personal because it's the men taking advantage. Like I'm saying you're scared to do this and I'm good. I don't want to do the hard work. But you, you're willing to do the hard work and sit in the back. So I'm going to take it up for you. And any time you do a presentation and you become the face of that, people don't see who put in the hard work behind the scenes. It's the person who stood there and gave the presentation that will be seen as the person who's doing the job. Why don't we have, like, a sort of... Why don't we have, like, a group to help this woman who is scared of doing the presentation? Why do we have that gap? I know. Why do we have a guy coming for the pitch deck going to do it, and yet we have women in that space? I think it's because... Way back to, I think, the upbringing. I suffered with the same because upbringing, growing up, there is a gap in the way the women are raised and the way the men are raised. Men, they're just being boys. They can climb that tree. They can do this. So they're enforced. And so that's why they're so happy to just take the spotlight of somebody who's really worked hard. And women want to almost work hard quietly. And if you shine more than anybody else in the house, You're almost about. And I think we should move away from there. But from when your mum raised the girl to know, no, you go be a go-getter, be the face, be talkative, it's fine. I think talkative, being a woman, and I'm a talkative woman, was, it's like, I was always told, and I would try, I would really try to be quiet for 10 minutes. And then he can do it. So I had to talk. So now when you grow up where you are made to feel timid or your lead is put on you, then even when you are so good, and as I said, I suffered with imposter syndrome because I was... Made to think maybe you're not good enough there. Maybe you're overthinking this. You're not as good. So raising women to know you are good, to know you're worthy, to know you can do it. And if you see, because we are not all born very extroverted. If you see a child is a bit samey or shy, address that. Take them to people who talk, let them experience and really identify what they're good in and help them. do that more until Sasawajiamini because I think even if we had mentors to talk to this lady it's a lot to unfold. It's really a lot. Luckily like I said I had a group of women who helped me and I found that you mentioned community at our workspace actually the ladies come together. because uh we like to party so you work hard and we party hard so you'd find uh on the on the fridays we once you know when you drink you let loose and you talk and then you tell people your problem so during that time we find that we come together so much and uh two of our bosses are women so they've created a safe space for you to come to them but some are scared so with me and a couple of my friends it's we try to push her like you just Just go and say it. It's okay. I won't laugh because he's scared. What if I mess up? Just go and say it. Just say it at least once so that people know that you exist. Because otherwise, you have this big name, but there's no weight behind it. And then you find like, so all the boys are going to take the credit and you're just there. So I ask her, what's your ambition in life? And she says, I want to be a partner. For you to be a partner, you have to. Sometimes we're all scared. You might be even scared starting this because you don't know how it will end up. But you just put yourself out there because you never know what will happen. And what's the worst thing that could happen? Honestly, what's the worst? What's the worst thing that could happen? Have the audacity of a white man. Yeah. Period. Guys, the fear of being perceived is... Like, we'll set you back so many things, it will deprive you of promotions, it will deprive you of so many things, and it's just the fear of being perceived. Thank Yeah, so they say, like, you're the most talkative girl in the office, so what? Like, as long as it's actually for the good, it's actually okay. As long as your numbers are matched, you as long as you're meeting your KPIs, as much, as long as your role, you're doing so well in your role. so The numbers can speak for themselves. Have the audacity of a white man. much. You know how white men, even when they sit in a room full of black people, they'll be so audacious. They'll say what they think. They'll like speak to do the same thing. Um, men. Mentors are there. Mentors can really help, by the way. But it's really hard for your mentor to come and. Force you to speak that thing out. It actually has to come from within. So if your numbers are adding up, if you're meeting your KPIs, if everything is working quite okay, the only thing that's left now is to get over the fear of yourself. It's now to beat yourself. Like there's this phrase I really like that says, because when you get over everything that's... here in your mind, then you're able to conquer so many other things. Yeah. And I feel like we as women, we are scared of failure. So maybe for her, she's scared of failing, but you need to fail a thousand times so that even the one time that you get up, we hear your impact. Yeah. So fail over and over again. It's important to fail. You fail forward because I've done like 10 pitches that were all refused. Then I used to cry to my mum, I don't know if I want to do this, I'm quitting, okay, I'm not going tomorrow. I remember one day I woke up and I was like, you know what, I'm not going. I told myself, so I continued sleeping and then my mum's like, you're not going to work. Why should I go there? I'm always failing. I'm like, you know what? Get up. Go face your fears. Because as much as I was failing, all the right people were seeing my effort. Yeah. So anytime there was an opportunity, they were like, Vanessa, do this. Vanessa, do this. So I was like, why am I failing and they're still giving me opportunity? Because once you put yourself out there, God makes everything work out for you. So just put yourself out there. Yeah. And I love that you guys are sharing this because most of us, even... Some of us here, like even me included, we all suffer with imposter syndrome. It's real. I don't think it ever goes away. Does it ever go away completely? I don't think it does. Every new level, every new step, you must feel some type of way. You learn to live with it. I think you learn to live with it right now. You learn to live with it. Because now my next question was going to be, how can we, like for that woman who is out there, has this brilliant idea has has this thing that is burning but because of i i need to find a lot of i need there's uh as you've said there's that lady pitch deck i'm a the other woman who are missing promotions missing great opportunities because Because I know that if I speak, you will be with me. and you're where i am i'm comfortable i can i can stay here I think I can stay here for a while, but there's room for much. Tip two, moja moja, apart from your fall forward, something ya kufanya, atas kia kesho, by the way, I'm going to read this deck. Wacheke, wasicheke, shauryao. We can go with you, Helen, as Vanessa. Thanks. I think for me is when I see women in those roles that I want. And I then tell myself, that could be me. So now I address what's making me not be them. So every time I see a woman and she's doing what I know I can do, or that fire is burning, that is a wake-up call for me. And sometimes it's short-lived and it burns when I see the next one. But it has made me go to so many... Like, cross so many bridges because of being inspired by that. Or just knowing you're actually sitting on your legs. You need to stand up now. You need to keep moving. You need to jog on when I see other people doing it. Because they're those women we see. Aki, you know, I'm a host show. I'm a host panel. I'm like, Celestine, I can beat that woman. But when it comes to your day, Aki, you shake. Oh, yeah. Chic. I'm like, every time before I start this show, I get nervous. I have done this over three years. But every time I see the audience, they say, you're doing what you're supposed to do. But you see, as you said, they've seen it. Next time, they won't do it. You know? We're just fine. We keep on improving day by day. I torture myself with those people. So if I see that woman and then I forget, I'll put it back and I sit myself there and torture myself, see them, watch them do what they're doing. And I think, why? And I have so many, a billion things that makes me, this is why you can't do it. And then I watch and I say, I would like to know her story. I would research the woman. I would find out how many they are filled. And I'm like, you have no excuse now. That's true. I love that. I love that. I have a persona, honestly, that I put on when I need. So I am Vanessa. But sometimes, like you said, you're nervous, even if you've done this for tears. I get nervous a lot, too, and scared. But sometimes I just feel like there's a part of me that I tap into. And I'm like, I'm that girl. is whatever so sometimes you just need to put on you see that woman that you look up to just wake up and say i'm her you know what i am beyonce so what let me just stand there i don't care what you hear what you say but this is it and once you get out of there you did it i think put on that persona i know there's someone you look up to so much or there's that future self that we're always looking up like the best version of me should look like this. For me actually it comes with shoes. I'm obsessed with heels. So when I have a presentation I just take a comfortable pair that I know is hot because that's like the persona is going to channel from that and then I walk in and I'm like hi this and this and this and this and I'm sweating, but I'm like, I've done it. Yeah. I love that. I love that persona. Yeah. And as you said, I wish I could. And then you tend to live with that thing. Yeah. Let me give you an example. I had back, I think back in, I don't know if it's college or my high school, those questions that are asked, you know the answer, but you can't answer. You tell someone in front of you to answer, even if they tell you something bad, because you will say, what is wrong with me? Yeah, I mean, They have clapped you on a clasp, and that is my answer. Sayang. So I know how it feels when you don't do it. So just do it. It will be short-lived. If you fail, you will never know how you will fail. So it's a learning experience, no matter how it goes. Maybe looking ahead, what do you see the future of women in work now that? And are you going to do back podcast again? Are you still doing it? So you're doing both? So Siku, you have a job, and Chana, you're shooting. So I schedule the days. I'm off on weekends. So on weekends, I mostly focus on things I love to do, creating content. Thank I'm passionate about girls and mostly teenage girls, so hanging out with them. Could be church, could be pad drives, could be charity drives. So that's what I do during the weekend. you Um, and, um, on that point where like push yourself, I'd say the, something I really so say to myself, and this was after a very embarrassing moment, I really said a lot on my podcast. I grew up in Meru. much. I didn't grow up in Nairobi. And I went to this very bougie primary school and I was this. baby girl from meru with a very heavy accent and um one day everyone is so silent and i just call out loud and i'm like jackie walking bucket young and everyone just burst out laughing Thank you. and i was like okay guys so um like explain to me like a child what meaning What are you saying? Jackie and me? Jackie and? We can't be that different. which school are you in um it's it's a school in imbu it's called sacred hearts um okay yeah so i'm like i can't see the different guy and my primary school for your information is the neighborhood schools that i was in before i went to this school so it's a school where your neighbors are your i mean your classmates are your cousins your cook me auntie deputy auntie so no exposure whatsoever and then going to this new space and i remember that was like very embarrassing for me and people started saying That was my nickname for the longest and I didn't understand why we even like had to go for preps and all those things. So first exam failed terribly from a girl who's been overachieving in her neighborhood schools and carrying gifts home to this girl who's number 70 something. I'm just going to my mom. I'm like, I don't like this school. I just want to go back to my school where I can shine. My mom is like, nah, we paid so much school fees to be there. So remember, I just sat to myself one night. And then decided, I'm going to change the narrative. And the only way I can do this is go back to performing. Red like crazy. All of a sudden, it got changed from there. That Miru girl, who then went into drama. Who then, and as I act, like who then, I can do all these things. Changed the narrative. And I can't forget that moment for me, by the way. Cousin. I'd say it was the most embarrassing moment. Nowadays, I don't think there's anything else that can be as embarrassing as that. I used to think on my podcast, but you guys need to remember, I didn't come from Nairobi. If you say bucket, that's where I came from. But yeah, so the worst thing I'd hate to see on anyone is for you to... Give up or die without executing an idea that you had in your mind. Imagine the day we won't talk about you and we won't even know about that idea that you had. We'd rather say she started something, but it was short-lived because she wasn't there to carry it through. But imagine the day you start telling your kids, I could have been promoted here and here, but I did not. And here I am now. So for me, the last thing I said is for me to die or for me to end my legacy without achieving, for me to actually get my ideas with me, let me just put them out. Thank Like I said, the worst can happen, by the way. The worst can happen. Thank You can start your podcast and then you have money to continue your YouTube. Happened to me a couple of times. And I'm just very genuine with people. you I'm like, guys, I hit a very hard place. And yeah, financially, this thing was straining me. you. very So I took a break. I even did like audio for the longest time because I was like me but yeah, the worst can happen, but, but you can move past the worst. much. There's something else after the worst. So yeah, about the future for women, I'd say the future is definitely bright for women. Women have gotten to this point where there's more to them than being a mom. There's more to you than being, I know that, I know being a mom is like, The biggest achievement to every, like, it's, it's, I don't know, like, I can't even, yeah, I'm not even a mom. I've not even thought about it. I want to be a mom one day, but I know, like, I've not thought about it at the moment. So, but aside from you being a sister, aside from you being a mom, aside from you being a wife, what else do you bring to the table? And you'll be surprised what women bring to the table so much more. There's so much more. Very diverse. They can be anything. So I think I like the fact that there's more to what we're seeing as different as from the women who used to just go to the office in skirts because they've been programmed. My mom, I keep wondering, are you going to the office with pants? She's just like, hey, man. And this is like a proper corporate body. My mom is like a proper corporate body. Just recently, I'm like, mommy, what do you think you can wear? like official pants to work it's okay like imagine it's totally okay you can wear a very stylish top and a pants without your suit here skirt suits you look okay mom and people will think you're professional so um we are breaking i'd say we are breaking the the norm one One achievement at a time. I really like to see what women are doing out there. Women are achieving so much more even outside the corporate world. Hustling, look at Sele, look at the subscribers. Look at what she's built for herself. Look at other content creators. Look at other people, even in fashion. Like... Look at all these other people. There's so much more to women. And I can only hope that by the time our daughters, our younger sisters are getting into corporate, they're getting to have The same seat at the table with men where they don't have to compete their way at the top like we have done, like our parents have done. Yeah, so I think the future is looking bright. So come home a couple, not anything, and you're not playing your part. You're not playing your part. You're not playing your part. So please get up, honey. Thank you. Thank you. How does the future look from where you're seated in that space that you're in? Women working internationally. I think we're going places. I think we're breaking, I will echo what you've said. And I think it's because, I'm not sure if you've heard of the phrase, when women lead, communities thrive. And I think now people don't want to go backwards because they've given women chances and women are making breakthroughs in areas, in every sphere, as you said. So I don't think anybody wants to go backwards. Back then when... Fathers would not educate their daughters. And I think maybe they didn't give that a chance. And now you educate women and they're doing better than the sons. And so who now would sit back and say, oh, you're a girl, stay home. Your younger brother needs to go to school. Nobody's doing that anymore. So I think in every sphere, women are being given a chance. And once you give a woman a chance, you don't look back. But I think we've also had the phrase. The biggest enemy to a woman is a woman, so I think women we still need to support each other. Feminist does not mean you have to work in an office. Being a feminist does not mean you empower a woman to be employed. No, you empower a woman to do what she loves and that's the true meaning of a feminist. I'm a big feminist and it's a woman to tell me what do you like and I support them. Come up in what they're doing, dictating or telling a woman, you have to be like a man to empower them. That's old-fashioned, it's old school, it's killing women. I think we need to empower women to be the best they can be in what they want to do. And with that, I think we're going to break barriers that have not been broken before. I love that. Vanessa? Yeah. I think the most powerful people I've experienced all my life are women because I've been raised by a single mother, my principal was a woman, my bosses are women, I've seen women presidents just seen so much power being held by the feminine and I don't think we have to compete with men because I think we're kind of better than them but I won't say that out loud. Anyway, I just think women are incredible and if you just embrace your individuality, the best thing you can bring to the table as a woman is your authenticity. I don't need to be like her. She doesn't need to be like me. I don't need to be like you because her coming, you coming out as the best you, that's when you show up in your full power. Even in the corporate world, be you. I remember one time my boss was like Because, like, with that hair... The client may not take you seriously, but there is more than this, even as I, because when I show up like this is because I'm comfortable like this. I don't want to feel down that I don't deliver. So when I show up like this, it means I know I'm here not to play. So I would say the next couple of years, it's going to be a whole new world, especially for women. There's going to be women presidents. There are going to be women owning companies, closing the biggest deals, which they already are. There are going to be young women taking up political. Post, even in the country, there's a big future for women, but you have to believe in your womanhood and you have to be authentic in who you are. You cannot show up just because you look up to someone. Don't try to be them. Take the parts of them that inspire you and try to cultivate them in your own way. You have to show up as you fully so that you can embrace your womanhood and be the best that you can. Yeah, I love that. Wow, I love that, being authentic. it's it's biggest superpower yeah i love that because most of us we tend to look we look like maybe let's say oprah i want to be like oprah then i'll be like oprah so it can't yeah there'll be a mix there'll be a mix up there'll be something that is not okay now uh maybe to end it we know in two days time guys we're going to be celebrating international women's day a message to all women beautiful women and In all areas, it doesn't have to be in the corporate world. Even in the markets. Like we are celebrating you on these things. Because those people do a lot of work. You know, when you're in this, when you're in that space of yours, you're comfortable, you can do your best. Until you get rid of the markets, you stop being so heavy. You cut yourself, you know where. So we are celebrating all women, be it the drivers, the three of us. Be it the nurses, be it the cleaners, all of you, we're celebrating you today. So maybe one last word for them as we celebrate this day. First of all, I want to wish you all International Women's Day. You're valued, you're capable, and you're just amazing. What I would like to leave you, my parting shot is stand in your power. Stand in your power and stand boldly and be ready to let them see whatever. Thank you. I love that. Marcy? I think I'd first of all like to say that International Women's Day is not a day to ignore the men. Amen. Amen. Feminism is not about putting the man down or the boy child down. It's actually just trying to empower women just as equally as men have been empowered before. So this is not a day to say, Oh, I don't like men. Oh, yeah. I beg, anyway, I'd say to all incredible women, sometimes it doesn't always feel like you're beautiful, it doesn't always feel like you're capable, you have those days where you're doubting yourself, you have those days where you think you're not enough, which is okay. It's okay to be in that space. It's okay to feel like I'm not enough sometimes. People do feel that all the time. But what really matters is if you're going to stick to that space or if you're going to get out of that space. It's okay to be in that space, but not too long. Just don't overstay there. Yeah. There is this thing that I think it says, do not overstay in the wrong train and then like don't catch the next one or something like that. So don't overstay in that space. And I'm really, really passionate about corporate. So I really also like to say, maybe you're feeling it's, you know, it's another year. It's actually, it's a new month. I think we'll be like in a new month. And you're thinking. It's another month at my toxic workplace. It's another month depressed. It's another month unemployed. It's another month confused. All those things. And one thing I can tell you is that it's your year. Imagine it's your month. It's your year. You can write it and rewrite it however you want. Yeah, that's what I just say. So regardless of what you're feeling, just make sure you don't overstay in that space for long. It's okay to be there, but. It's just this time. When you leave, you have to go back. And yeah, hopefully you don't ever get back to that space where you're feeling like you're not enough because in reality, you are. I love that. I love that. I feel like I'm that woman. I'm taking notes. I'm like, I won't overstay there, guys. As you get older, dust yourself and move. Helen? Happy International Women's Day and men, we welcome you to the table because you're also raising a woman, you're raising a girl and we need you to know that women now are not women 20 years ago. So we need empowered women and who can deal with the pressures that come and especially in the corporate world, it's not a bed of roses. So you might have a driver job and you're thinking, I would like to be in corporate. It's not a tea, it's a green on the other side. It has its own challenges. So for me, I would say if you're doing something, you love it, you're comfortable, be best at that job. So aim to go higher because I know people change jobs or you see somebody in corporate and you think, oh, they sleep on a bed of roses. No, no, no. There's a fair share of its own challenges. But even in that challenges rise above it. Like she said, she's. channels in her inner persona and goes delivers and you look back and you say that's me and next tomorrow you come and you do even better so I think men welcome to the table raise brilliant strong bold women and I think with that will progress and somebody who is in a job who thinks I want to be opera or I want to be the best anything don't be the best to you because one of the women that I most admire is Wangari Madai and if you look back she was way ahead of So what's your word of doing in... 50 years, they will say, ah, Sele was ahead of her time. But you were so worried of doing that thing. Yet it's what will make people remember you for it. So do what you feel. Push those borders. Just be you. Be strong. Be bold. And keep doing. Keep moving. Don't joke. We're not just joking. We're running now. Don't mark time. That's as you said. Don't overstate that. Mark timing. If it's things that you can change, change that mark time. Joke and then run. Because women are running now. I love it and the fact that you guys uh you're telling me about the corporate world I can tell you that this side knows Kali not Raisi. So balance everywhere like some of us we tend to admire the corporate side yeah we are like I don't want to be an official and when I wake up at 8 I go to the office because I look like Stanley Cup I came to know that you had left, that you had broken this law, that you had broken this, a month gone, like no work for that month. So by the time you were thinking of saying that your people were in Kando, Please, sometimes appreciate that. You never know. But thank you so much, women. I have a small token, a small gift for each and every one of you to celebrate you for coming. Thank you. I'm sure by the end, I know there are a few women out there who will say by the end, because of this episode, I am going to do this and this and this. Like your words have not fallen into you know, like those seeds of the sower. Trust you me, there's one or two and that's enough for me that's enough like that's enough i don't need ten i just need one woman who will say because of mercy I have learned a lot and I am proud of it. so i have a gift shall we look under the chair no yeah my my gift is up here thank you But to appreciate you ladies, you can give that one is for you and to tell you how special you are. I know even you sometimes you feel like, thank you so much. So this is my small appreciation to you. You're beautiful. I enjoy your day, whatever you're doing in that space. Gen Z. Thank you so much ladies. Thank you. That's my token. They're beautiful. And we dedicate them to you guys. Thank you for coming and thank you for your words. Thank you for having us today. Thank you. We'll see you again. See you. And you're doing a good job yourself. Yeah, I know. Yeah. Yeah, so guys, that's it from us today. Happy International Women's Day to all women out there. And we'd like to end our show. I was like, I want to share my word with you. Bye-bye. See you next week. Bye. Thank you so much. Bye. Bye.