What happens when you drop six women leaders in rural northern Ghana?
I know because I was one of them. We were part of a new program to connect Canada’s philanthropic women leaders with the women and girls impacted by Unicef Canada’s programs. It was only six days but in that brief time I know this for sure:
- Women philanthropists are powerful when we speak up and invest in the things we decide are important. We have the power to influence policies and programs for the people who need it most.
- While infrastructure is needed (homes, clinics, schools), shifting norms is also important and is the “long game”. We need to invest in programs and organizations that are up for this difficult task if we are to move the needle.
- And finally, leadership. I grew (and I know others did too) as leaders through the experience. We were well outside our comfort zone and visited communities you’d be hard-pressed to find on a map. It can be too easy to slip into comfortable in Canada. What happens when you disrupt that completely? You discover reserves of compassion, clarity and strength you didn’t know you had. And who wouldn’t want more compassion, clarity and strength as a leader?
Comfortably Unsettled 