The Opportunity I Almost Didn’t Take: Naomi Wanjiru on Learning to Bet on Herself.

 Sometimes, an opportunity does not arrive with a grand announcement. Sometimes, it is simply a link shared in a WhatsApp group.

That is how Naomi Wanjiru, a Tribe Leader at Tribe Thando, came across Inspire Her Afrika. What caught her attention was the opportunity to join a women’s initiative centred on mentorship, a community built around women growing, supporting one another, and creating meaningful impact. She decided to take the chance.

What followed was more than a mentorship experience. IHA challenged some of Naomi’s ideas about growth and success, gave her space to explore passions she had previously kept at a distance, and taught her that rejection does not have to be the end of the road.

What made you decide to apply for IHA?

Someone shared the application link in a group I was in, and I immediately became interested. What caught my attention was that it was a women’s initiative that offered mentorship. I have always loved women, seeing them win, grow, and support one another, so the opportunity spoke to something that was already within me.

Interestingly, by the time I saw the opportunity, I had already made a promise to myself: I would start taking chances on opportunities that came my way. So, I decided to apply. I remember reading the application instructions carefully. One thing that stood out to me was the encouragement to be authentic and avoid using AI. The application was lengthy and required a lot of introspection. It was not something I could simply fill out quickly.

I genuinely wanted to get in, so I put my best effort into answering the questions honestly and thoughtfully. I had to sit with myself, reflect on my experiences, and articulate things about myself that I had not always taken the time to examine. And then I got in.

What did IHA challenge you to rethink about yourself?

Looking back, I think IHA challenged me in ways that went beyond mentorship. Before joining, I was quite rigid in some of my beliefs, particularly about what growth and success were supposed to look like. My version of growth was very school-guided. I believed in studying, getting qualifications, following the expected path, and eventually arriving at some clearly defined destination.

But I have realised that growth is much bigger than that. I am learning to embrace my passions more openly and, more importantly, to turn those passions into action. I am allowing myself to explore the things that genuinely excite me, including my interest in law, women and girls’ empowerment, mentorship, and creating meaningful impact. I am no longer waiting until I have everything perfectly figured out before I give those interests room to grow. That is something I am genuinely proud of myself for.

When did you realise, “Maybe I actually belong here”?

One of the moments I thought, “Maybe I actually belong here,” was during our Tribe meetings. I love women. I love seeing women win, and I love interacting with women, hearing their stories, and learning from their experiences. Being part of a community where women could connect, encourage one another, and simply show up as themselves was incredibly fulfilling. I realised that I was not just participating in the programme; I was part of a community that aligned with something deeply important to me.

Meeting my mentor was another special moment. When we first e-met, it felt like an immediate “I’m home” moment. We clicked almost instantly. I have grown to love her and genuinely look forward to our sessions. What I appreciate most is the way she gives feedback and corrects me with so much grace. She challenges me while still making me feel supported, and that has made the mentorship experience particularly meaningful.

What has taking a chance on yourself taught you about rejection?

IHA has also changed how I think about rejection. I have learnt that a “no” should not be the end of my pursuit. A rejection does not mean that I am not good enough or that I am not worthy of a chance. Sometimes, it is simply a cue to keep looking for what works for me.

There will be opportunities that do not work out. There will be doors that remain closed. But that does not mean I stop knocking. I apply again. I look elsewhere. I keep moving. Most importantly, I have learnt that I have to bet on myself first before expecting other people to take a bet on me.

What would you tell the version of yourself who was hesitant to take the opportunity?

If I could speak to the girl who was about to apply, I would tell her: Apply anyway. And if you are rejected, apply for another opportunity. A “no” is not a reflection of your worth. It is not proof that you are incapable. It is simply a reminder to keep searching for the place, opportunity, or community that is right for you. There is so much better ahead of you, so take the chance.

Sometimes, what looks like a small decision to fill out an application can open the door to a version of yourself you had not yet met. For me, Inspire Her Afrika was that opportunity; and I am grateful that I chose to bet on myself.

 

Beyond the CV: The Things I’m Learning That School Didn’t Teach Me.

 For Aminat Shittu, a Tribe Leader at Tribe Amara, graduating from Obafemi Awolowo University felt like the beginning of a straightforward journey into the professional world. She had the academic credentials, the confidence, and the determination to take on whatever came next. But stepping into the world of work taught her something school could not: knowing what to do is not always the same as knowing how to navigate the spaces where you have to do it.

Through Inspire Her Afrika, Aminat is learning to be more intentional about her career, manage her commitments, navigate professional spaces, and understand that building a career is not about trying to be everywhere at once.

What is one thing about navigating your career that school never prepared you for?

I have always prided myself on being a top-notch early-career starter who would take on the world whenever and however I wanted to. Why? I graduated from the best ‘Oba Awon University’, OAU. I always thought my time in school had already prepared me to become the best among my peers, ace interviews, and show the world what I was made of. The truth and reality couldn’t be further apart. Yes, I graduated from one of the best universities in Nigeria. However, I still wasn’t much different from my peers from institutions of the same calibre. While my knowledge of what was expected to enter professional spaces was top-notch, navigating those spaces was the real question, whose answer kept lurking until I stumbled upon the IHA Mentorship Programme.

Early-career starters can be compared to young seedlings needing adequate sunlight, water, pruning, weeding, and delicate attention to bloom, lest they wither before they are able to flourish. I never knew that you didn’t need to be everywhere as an early-career starter, but rather be intentional about your path and then research the necessities to get there.

What professional skill have you developed through IHA that you didn’t realise you needed?

I thought being able to juggle several commitments was what I needed, a trait that had been imbued in me since my school days. So, fresh out of school, I wanted to juggle multiple things, hoping one would stick and then make everything better.

Time management was also one of those things I thought I had mastered until reality dawned and the checks needed balancing. I began to realise that being busy is not necessarily the same as being productive. Sometimes, the more important skill is knowing what deserves your attention and being intentional about where you put your energy.

How has IHA changed the way you see yourself professionally?

After an intense introverted phase, the community of young women seeking answers about their career paths not only drew me out of my shell but also motivated me to keep striving.

Being surrounded by women who were also learning, asking questions, and figuring out their own paths reminded me that I did not have to have everything figured out at once. IHA has also taught me lessons I could not have learnt simply by graduating from university. The programme has provided several mastery sessions on imposter syndrome, moving beyond the first role, and entrepreneurship, among other topics. These sessions have helped me think beyond simply getting a job. They have encouraged me to think about how I show up, how I grow, and how I intentionally build the professional life I want.

What are you learning about building a career beyond what is written on your CV?

I am learning that a CV can show what you have done, but it cannot tell the whole story of who you are becoming. Academic achievements and qualifications matter, but they are only part of navigating the professional world. You also need to understand yourself, communicate effectively, build relationships, manage your time, and be intentional about the direction you want your career to take. I am learning not to confuse doing more with moving forward.

Sometimes, growth means saying no to things that do not align with your path. Sometimes, it means slowing down enough to understand what you actually want. And sometimes, it means stepping outside your comfort zone and allowing yourself to be seen.

What is one thing you wish more young African women were taught before entering the professional world?

I wish more young African women were taught that graduating from university is not the end of learning.

There is so much to learn once you enter professional spaces, things that may never appear in a lecture hall or on an examination paper. You have to learn how to navigate people, opportunities, expectations, uncertainty, and even yourself. I am still learning these things myself. But perhaps that is the point. I entered IHA thinking I needed to prove that I was already prepared for the professional world. I am leaving the experience with a better understanding that preparation is not a destination. There is always more to learn, more to unlearn, and more room to grow.

And beyond the CV, I am learning how to become the professional and the woman I want to be.

 

The Career Question I’m Still Figuring Out: Nokwanda Rutendo B Nkala on Finding Clarity One Step at a Time.

 Before joining Inspire Her Afrika, Nokwanda Rutendo B Nkala carried a question she rarely said out loud: Did I choose the right career?

As a civil and water engineering student and a leader in Tribe Ewa, she had every reason to feel certain about her path. Yet, beneath the textbooks and conversations about the future, she found herself wondering whether she had chosen engineering for the right reasons and what it would take to discover the purpose behind her career. Through mentorship, Nokwanda has not necessarily found all the answers. Instead, she has learned to ask better questions, take the next step even when she is afraid, and trust that clarity can come with the journey.

Before joining IHA, what career question were you struggling with?

Before I joined Inspire Her Afrika, I carried a question I rarely said out loud: Did I choose the right career? On paper, I had every reason to be certain. I am a civil and water engineering student, a field that builds bridges, brings clean water to communities, and shapes the very ground people walk on. It is noble work. And yet, over my textbooks, I would quietly wonder whether I had chosen it for the right reasons, or simply because it was the answer expected of me. The questions multiplied. How do I choose an area of specialisation when I do not yet know who I am becoming? How do I discover my God-given purpose when it does not come with a label? What do you do when you are not passionate about anything? And the heaviest of all was: Why does it seem like everyone around me has figured it out except me?

In lecture halls and group projects, my colleagues spoke about their futures with a confidence that left me breathless. Their dream companies, their five-year plans, their decided specialisations. I sat among them feeling like the only one still standing at the crossroads.

Has mentorship given you an answer, or has it helped you ask better questions?

Then I met my mentor, Mary Nwanua, and everything began to shift. Mary told me something I have held onto ever since: “Do things even when you are afraid.” She encouraged me to reach out to people already far ahead in the engineering sector and ask them how they made it, what mistakes they made, how they overcame them, and whether they, too, had ever felt like they did not know what they wanted. Well, even the most established engineers had once stood where I stand. Certainty, it turns out, is not a prerequisite for a meaningful career.

In one of our meetings, the topic was discovering your purpose. Mary advised me to pray and ask God to show me, and to pay attention to what my heart is drawn to, what breaks my heart, and what fills me with excitement and fulfilment. She told me to look at my own experiences. What are the things I have endured that I would never want someone else to endure? Which group of people am I drawn to? I learned that purpose is not only found in what you love. Sometimes, it is found in what you have suffered and now long to heal in others. And, most importantly, I learned to trust that God guides me.

What has surprised you most about figuring out your career?

One session challenged me deeply. We were asked to draw a career map. At first, it felt almost impossible. How do you map a route when you do not know your destination?

But I chose to focus on becoming a water and irrigation engineer, not to close myself off already, but simply to begin somewhere. I am still discovering which area I want to specialise in, and I have made peace with that. Through the programme, I have learned to set short-term and long-term career goals, craft a CV and application materials that will speak for me when I graduate, and, most importantly, build a personal and professional brand that is consistent and will represent me well in the years ahead. These are not small things. They are tools I will carry for a lifetime.

Have you changed your career plans since joining the programme?

I have not yet changed my plans or goals. I am still the same civil and water engineering student, grateful for the path I walk. But in a deeper sense, everything has shifted. I no longer believe I must have my specialisation decided by tomorrow. I no longer measure my worth against the confident speeches of my peers. I stopped asking, “Why don’t I have it all figured out?” and started asking, “What is the next faithful step right in front of me?” Clarity will come as I walk this journey.

What would you say to another young woman who feels like everyone else has figured out their career except her?

To the young woman who feels like everyone else has figured out their career except her, and I know she is out there, because she was me, I want to say this: You are not behind. Comparison is a thief that steals the joy of your own unfolding. The colleagues who seem so certain are often just better at hiding their questions. Your winding road is not a flaw. It is your story being written in real time. Do not rush to answer a question God is still allowing you to live.

So, what is the career question you are still figuring out?

I am no longer afraid of it. I hold it with open hands, choosing my specialisation when the time is right, chasing passion that grows rather than arrives, building my brand one faithful step at a time, and trusting that the One who gave me my purpose is in no hurry to hide it from me. I am still figuring it out, and perhaps that is the point.

 

Things We Wish Someone Had Told Us Earlier

There are some lessons we only learn with time, and sometimes, we wish someone had given us the heads-up sooner. In the latest episode of the Inspire Her Afrika Podcast, members of Tribe Thando and Tribe Adese come together for an honest, relatable conversation about the things they wish someone had told them earlier. The conversation explores life, career decisions, self-discovery, expectations, growth, and the realities of navigating your 20s as a young African woman.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: Watch the full episode on YouTube

What Nobody Sees Behind the Ambition: Titilope Odulaja on Success, Comparison and Learning to Live.

 From the outside, people often tell Titilope Odulaja, a leader at Tribe Thando, that she is lucky. They see the opportunities she has had, the things she has achieved, the many things she takes on, and the ambition behind what she is trying to build.

But behind the ambition is a young woman who thinks deeply, carries questions privately, wrestles with comparison, and is learning that building a meaningful future should not come at the cost of experiencing the present.

What might people assume your life looks like right now, and what don’t they see?

From the outside, people often tell me I am lucky. They see the opportunities I have had, the things I have achieved, the number of things I take on, and the ambition behind what I am trying to build. Sometimes, I think people see me as someone who has it together. Someone who is ambitious, capable, and always moving. What they do not see is how much is happening in my head.

I think a lot. Sometimes too much. I am constantly thinking about what I should be doing, what I could be doing better, what I want my future to look like, and how to balance all the things I have committed myself to. I can be physically present and still mentally occupied by ten other things. I also do not always talk about the pressure I feel. I tend to process things privately, especially when I am not yet ready to talk about them. So people may see the ambition, but they do not always see the uncertainty, the pressure, or the amount of thinking that sits behind it.

What has been one of the hardest things about trying to build the future you want?

One of the hardest parts of trying to build the future I want is that sometimes I feel like I am the only person who can fully see it. There have been times when people close to me did not understand what I was trying to do or why I was making certain decisions. It is difficult when you want people you care about to understand your choices, but they cannot always see what you see. Sometimes I have had to stop explaining and accept that this is my life to figure out.

Being intentional has also meant making difficult decisions about relationships. I am someone who values relationships deeply, so recognising that some relationships may not fit into the future I am trying to build can be painful. Sometimes you want to hold on because you care, but you also have to be honest about whether the relationship still fits where you are going.

Have you ever felt like you were falling behind your peers?

I have had seasons where I felt like I was falling behind my peers. What has helped me is changing the way I look at comparison. When I see someone doing something I wish I had already done, I try not to stop at the result. I ask myself: What made this possible for them? What did they do? What opportunities did they have? What social or economic advantages did they have? What can I learn from their journey? I do not really want to envy someone’s results without understanding the work, opportunities, and circumstances behind them.

So I have started categorising people differently. There is someone I can learn from. Someone whose journey I can study. Someone I may want to become like in certain ways. And someone whose path is simply different from mine. That shift has helped me remember that we are not all starting from the same place or working with the same resources. Two people can be the same age and have completely different circumstances, networks, opportunities, and responsibilities. So sometimes, what looks like being behind is simply being on a different timeline.

How has IHA changed the way you think about success and your own timeline?

My time in Inspire Her Afrika has helped me understand this even more. Before IHA, I think I had a more general idea of success. Being part of this community has made me think more intentionally about what success means to me as an African woman. One thing I have taken seriously is competence. I do not just want to achieve things. I want to become genuinely capable of doing the things I say I want to do. IHA has also helped me appreciate growth more. Every week, through the learning, activities, conversations, and reflection, I can see small ways I am becoming better than I was before. That has changed how I think about my timeline. I do not have to rush simply because someone else appears to be ahead. I can move at my own pace while still taking my growth seriously.

What are you currently learning to give yourself permission to do?

Perhaps one of the most important things I am currently learning is that I am allowed to enjoy my life while building it. For a long time, I have associated being intentional with being productive. There is always something else to learn, another responsibility to handle, another goal to pursue. Sometimes, I have felt that if I am not doing something productive, I am wasting time. I am learning that this is not true. I am learning to give myself permission to have fun. To explore the world beyond work. To have conversations that do not lead to an opportunity. To rest without feeling like I need to justify it. To experience life, not just prepare for the future. I am still ambitious. I still have a lot I want to do. But I am beginning to understand that ambition should not require me to miss my own life.

What nobody sees behind the ambition

Maybe that is what nobody sees behind the ambition: I am still figuring it out too. I am learning how to carry big dreams without allowing them to consume me, how to admire other people’s journeys without abandoning my own, and how to build a future I am proud of while still allowing myself to live in the present. And maybe that is what becoming looks like.

 

Things We Wish Someone Had Told Us Earlier

There are some lessons we only learn with time, and sometimes, we wish someone had given us the heads-up sooner. In the latest episode of the Inspire Her Afrika Podcast, members of Tribe Thando and Tribe Adese come together for an honest, relatable conversation about the things they wish someone had told them earlier. The conversation explores life, career decisions, self-discovery, expectations, growth, and the realities of navigating your 20s as a young African woman.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: Watch the full episode on YouTube

From a Quiet Group Chat to a Community: What Tribe Adese Taught Precious Aboje.

 Apparently, you can be in a group chat with people you barely know, barely talk to, and still somehow end up feeling like you belong there. Who knew? That has probably been one of Precious Aboje’s favourite surprises from her time with the Inspire Her Afrika Mentorship Program. When she first joined Tribe Adese, she expected little more than a WhatsApp group for sharing information and keeping up with deadlines. Instead, the experience introduced her to the unexpected ways community can shape you: through collaboration, different perspectives, and little moments that push you beyond what you thought you could do.

What was your first impression of Tribe Adese?

When I first joined Tribe Adese, I wasn’t expecting much. In my head, it was just another WhatsApp group for sharing information and keeping up with deadlines. And, to be fair, the group chat did a very good job of being quiet. Sometimes, you could drop a message and hear absolutely nothing. But once a deadline started breathing down our necks, everybody would magically appear. It became funny after a while because you already knew the pattern. Someone would finally say something, another person would join in, and before long, we were all contributing. We might take our sweet time getting there, but somehow, we always got the work done.

What did working with your tribe teach you about differences?

One of the surprises that came with working with my tribe was realising how different we all were. We had different careers, personalities, countries, and completely different ways of looking at things. I remember one of our time-management tasks where we were putting the final document together. The way the group designed and arranged everything was so different from what I had pictured in my head. But it worked. And that was the funny part: my way wasn’t the only way.

Was there a moment when your tribe pushed you outside your comfort zone?

I became a co-host for one of our caucus meetings with Oreva. I volunteered just a few minutes before the meeting, which was probably not the best time to discover that I was going to be nervous. We didn’t even have a proper plan, but we figured it out and got through it. Afterwards, Oreva called me, excited about how well we had done. She told me I was a good co-host and said we were going to be partners for life. I was smiling like, “Wait, I actually did that?”

How did your tribe help you discover leadership in yourself?

A few weeks after the mentorship program started, our group leader left the programme, and nobody volunteered to take over. Then our coordinator messaged me and said she thought I would be a good fit. Me? Group leader? I was nervous, but I said yes. Looking back, I think that is what I will carry with me from Tribe Adese. Not some big, dramatic moment, but all these little moments where I found myself doing things I probably wouldn’t have done on my own.

What has Tribe Adese taught you about community?

I went into IHA thinking community was simply people coming together to share information. Now, I think it is people bringing different experiences, ideas, and strengths into the same space and somehow making something work. Even when everyone takes their time to reply. And maybe that’s the beauty of it. We don’t have to be the same, or even always be in sync, to still move in the same direction.

Things We Wish Someone Had Told Us Earlier

There are some lessons we only learn with time, and sometimes, we wish someone had given us the heads-up sooner. In the latest episode of the Inspire Her Afrika Podcast, members of Tribe Thando and Tribe Adese come together for an honest, relatable conversation about the things they wish someone had told them earlier. The conversation explores life, career decisions, self-discovery, expectations, growth, and the realities of navigating your 20s as a young African woman.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: Watch the full episode on YouTube

From Waiting for Opportunities to Creating Them: Maureen Irene on the Woman She’s Becoming.

 When Maureen Irene first joined Inspire Her Afrika, she was working her nine-to-five, navigating her routines, and trying to figure out what the future would look like. She knew there were things she wanted for herself, but some of them felt distant.

Today, through mentorship, community, and her experience as a Tribe Leader in Tribe Amara, Maureen is beginning to see herself differently. She is becoming more confident, intentional, organised, and, most importantly, more willing to create opportunities rather than wait for them. We had a chat with Maureen about her journey as a mentee and Tribe Leader, the confidence and leadership she is discovering in herself, and how the programme is helping her become more intentional about creating opportunities and the woman she is becoming.

Who were you when you first joined Inspire Her Afrika, and who are you becoming now?

When I first joined Inspire Her Afrika, my life felt fairly ordinary. I was working my nine-to-five, going through my routines, and trying to figure out what the future would look like. I knew there were things I wanted for myself, but there were also obstacles that made some of those things feel distant. I was not necessarily lacking ambition; I simply had not fully understood how much I was capable of.

I joined Inspire Her Afrika because I saw it as a platform where young women could grow, learn, connect, and become more intentional about their lives. I wanted to be part of a community that would challenge me to become better, and I did not realise how much I would discover about myself in the process.

What is one belief about yourself that has changed since joining the programme?

One of the biggest changes I have experienced is confidence. I have become more confident in my ability to learn, lead, and pursue things that once felt beyond my reach.

There was a time when I would look at certain opportunities and think, “Maybe I am not qualified for this,” or assume that some things were simply not meant for me. I am beginning to understand that being qualified is not always about already having everything figured out. Sometimes, it is about being willing to learn, take initiative, and permit yourself to try.

Has there been a skill or quality you once thought you lacked that you’re now beginning to see in yourself?

My experience as a Tribe Leader made this especially clear. I did not initially see myself as someone who naturally possessed leadership qualities. But as tasks were assigned to us, I had to organise my tribe members, communicate, coordinate, and make sure that we moved forward together.

We completed the tasks we were given, and at the end of the boot camp, receiving my certificate was one of the moments when I felt genuinely proud of myself. I was proud not only because I had completed the programme, but because I had shown myself that I could lead my tribe and see something through to the end.

What has your mentor or tribe helped you discover about yourself?

My mentor, Anne Mwangi, has also helped me see opportunities differently. One thing I am beginning to understand is that I do not always have to wait for someone else to create an opportunity for me. There are needs around me that remain unaddressed and problems people are still seeking solutions to. I can help create those solutions. I can create opportunities for myself by recognising problems, developing the skills I need, and having the courage to start.

My tribe has reinforced that mindset. It has taught me that challenges do not automatically mean I should stop. Sometimes, I simply need to find another way forward. I have also become more intentional with my time. Balancing my nine-to-five with IHA responsibilities, personal development, and courses I had previously left unfinished has taught me the importance of organisation. I have completed courses that had been pending while still managing my work and other responsibilities. I am learning that growth does not always require having more time; sometimes, it requires making better use of the time and resources I already have.

If someone met you before IHA and met you again today, what difference would they notice?

If someone who knew me before IHA met me today, I think they would notice that I am more organised, intentional, and confident. But more importantly, I think they would see a woman who is more willing to take initiative. The woman I am becoming is someone I want my younger self to be proud of. She is willing to take initiative, intentional with her time and resources, courageous enough to pursue opportunities that may not yet exist, and determined to create solutions where she sees a need. I am still becoming her. But I am no longer waiting for permission to begin.

See What Happens When African Women Stop Waiting for Solutions?

What happens when African women stop waiting for solutions and start creating them? You’re about to find out. Join us at the IHA Annual Pitch Fest: Solutions for Afrika by African Women. Watch young African women from the Inspire Her Afrika Mentorship Program pitch bold ideas and impactful projects they’ve built to solve real problems across the continent. They’ll take the stage, share their vision, compete for project awards, and spark a new wave of innovation.

Date: Saturday, 12th September 2026
Time: 12:00 PM WAT
Venue: Live on Zoom

Come to support, get inspired, and you might just discover the next big idea worth investing in.

Register here: https://luma.com/vmetc76b

Uneasy Lies the Head That Wears a Crown: Fatima’s Journey as a Tribe Leader

 “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”

We’ve all heard the saying. But what happens when the “crown” is not just a title, but a responsibility to show up for other people, make decisions, and lead even when you are still figuring things out yourself? For Fatima Muhammad Bashir, a Tribe Leader from Tribe Ewa, leadership during the Inspire Her Afrika Mentorship Programme has been as much about learning as it has been about leading. When Fatima first joined IHA, she thought she knew what mentorship looked like. She had experienced it before during a web development programme, so she came into the programme with some idea of what to expect. But IHA had other plans. We had a chat with Fatima about her experience as a mentee and Tribe Leader, the unexpected lessons she is picking up along the way, and how the programme is helping her think differently about her career and herself.

Looking back at when you first joined IHA, what do you wish you had known then?

When I first joined Inspire Her Afrika, I thought I already understood what mentorship looked like. I had experienced mentorship before during a web development programme, so I came into IHA with some idea of what to expect. However, I quickly realised that IHA offered a different kind of mentorship. At IHA, mentorship went beyond completing a project. It opened conversations about CVs, job searching, personal branding, financial management, and how to position myself for opportunities. My mentor is Nigerian and currently works overseas, and we both have healthcare backgrounds. She also works in public health, which made it easier for us to connect and for her to understand my interests and career goals. Her experience also gave me a broader perspective on the possibilities within public health.

What is one opportunity you took during the programme that pushed you outside your comfort zone?

Interestingly, I think the journey started during the boot camp, even before the mentorship itself began. At that point, I did not know anyone in the programme. I was meeting women from different places and backgrounds for the first time, and that pushed me outside my comfort zone. I had held leadership roles before, but those experiences were usually with people I already knew, such as classmates, friends, or people from my community. IHA was different. I had to learn how to introduce myself, participate in conversations, and work with people I had never met before. This challenged me to become more confident, visible, and intentional about how I presented myself. And then came the Tribe Leader role, which brought another layer to that experience. It wasn't just about participating anymore. I had to think about how I showed up for other people too.

What is one moment or challenge that taught you something important?

One of my biggest discoveries was the connection between technology and healthcare. I already knew that I wanted to combine the digital skills I was learning with my healthcare background, but I did not know exactly what that could look like. It was my mentor who introduced me to the idea of digital public health. Before then, I did not even know that this was a field. That conversation helped me put a name to a possibility I had been trying to understand. It made me realise that my different interests did not necessarily have to exist separately. Sometimes, you don't need someone to tell you what career to choose. Sometimes, you simply need someone who has walked a little further ahead to point out a possibility you didn't know existed. However, discovering new possibilities also came with its own questions.

I began asking myself deeper questions about the kind of career and life I actually wanted. I value flexibility, creativity, and having time for things I enjoy, such as drawing, sewing, and sketching. There have been moments when everything felt overwhelming, and I needed to pause and ask myself whether the direction I was considering would truly fit the life I want to build. I have come to understand that this uncertainty does not mean I have failed or that I have to have everything figured out immediately. Sometimes, growth means discovering what you want, discovering what you don't want, and being brave enough to reconsider your direction. What matters is that I now feel more confident that I can become the person I envisioned for myself, even if I am still figuring out exactly what that looks like.

One thing that challenged me was keeping up with deadlines for task submissions. I also learned to use tools within Google Workspace, such as Docs, Sheets, and Calendar. These may sound like simple things, but they became valuable skills for me. I was also introduced to areas such as financial management and job searching that were beyond what I initially expected from a mentorship programme. So, if you are considering applying, don't just come in hoping to receive mentorship. Come ready to participate in your own growth.

And beyond the mentorship itself, what made the IHA experience stand out for you?

Looking back and also forward, I am grateful for the many spaces IHA created for us: the mentorship sessions, Tribe Leaders' meetings, caucus meetings, and the opportunities to learn beyond the main programme materials. I especially appreciated the young and intentional approach to mentorship and leadership. It made the experience feel like more than a programme; it felt like a community. And perhaps that is one of the things that make the experience memorable. You are not just sitting through sessions and checking boxes. You are meeting people, having conversations, asking questions, discovering new possibilities, and sometimes seeing yourself differently in the process.

What is one thing you would tell a woman applying for the next IHA cohort?

Do your best and be intentional about your growth. Do not stop at the facilitator's videos or the main resources provided. Explore the additional resources because there is often so much more to learn. Ask questions, show up for the meetings, and take the opportunities, even when they make you uncomfortable. You never know which conversation, resource, or experience might introduce you to a completely new direction. If I could start again, I would tell myself to be more intentional from the beginning and to take every opportunity seriously. 

Currently, what is your biggest lesson from IHA?

My biggest lesson from Inspire Her Afrika is that you do not have to have everything figured out before you begin. Sometimes, you simply need to be willing to learn, step forward, and allow new experiences to show you possibilities you could not see before. And perhaps that is what the crown really represents. Not having all the answers, but being willing to learn while you lead. For Fatima, the IHA journey has been about more than adding another experience to her CV. It has been about becoming more confident in her ability to lead, discovering new possibilities within her career, and learning that uncertainty does not have to be the opposite of growth. Because sometimes, the most important part of finding your direction is simply being willing to take the next step. And sometimes, you discover the person you are becoming while you are busy learning how to lead.

 

Written by: Fatima Muhammad Bashir

Collated by: Marvelous, for the IHA Team.