International Women's Day 2019 | Uche Pedro, Dr Ola Orekunrin, Colette Otusheso | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Empowerment, authenticity, and overcoming barriers for African women in leadership.

Transcript

[AUDIO TRADEMARK PLAYING] JULIET EHIMUAN: Hello, everyone. Welcome to Talks at Google. This is a special International Women's Day edition. The theme for International Women's Day 2019 is Balanced for Better. And the theme of our conversation is Women, Audacity, and Leadership. And I have three amazing and very audacious women on the panel today to... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤩 Empowerment and authenticity are key to overcoming challenges in male-dominated industries.
• ✊ Women leaders need to have confidence, impact projects, and a strong sense of self-awareness to navigate power structures successfully.
• 🤽 Special programs can help bridge the gap created by historical gender disparities but should ultimately aim for a level playing field based on competence.
• ❓ Vulnerability and sharing challenges are essential for growth and empowerment.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Uche Pedro start BellaNaija and grow it into a media empire?

Uche Pedro started BellaNaija from a passion for sharing African content and built a team to create and share diverse cultural content, leading to its success.

Q: Why did Ola Brown establish Flying Doctors Nigeria and what challenges did she face?

Ola Brown was inspired by a personal tragedy to start Flying Doctors Nigeria and faced challenges in securing funding, navigating regulations, and breaking into the aviation industry.

Q: How does Colette Otusheso use Accelerate TV to showcase positive African stories and empower young storytellers?

Colette Otusheso aims to shift the narrative about Africa by highlighting positive stories and providing a platform for young people to share their voices and stories.

Q: How do the panelists address the balance between providing equal opportunities and creating special circumstances for women in leadership?

The panelists acknowledge the need for programs to address gender disparities created by historical inequalities, while striving for a work environment where everyone is evaluated solely on merit.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Juliet Ehimuan moderates a panel discussion featuring Uche Pedro, Dr. Ola Brown, and Colette Otusheso, highlighting their journeys in media, aviation, and entrepreneurship.

• The panelists share their experiences of overcoming challenges, embracing vulnerability, and pushing for gender equality in male-dominated industries.

• They emphasize the importance of confidence, impact projects, and not compromising on personal values for success.