Speech given by Maria Gabriela Hoch, Co-Founder & CEO International Doorway Women Empowerment Program, in VV GROW program in Managua, Nicaragua last tuesday (October 22, 2013) While I participed in Vital Voices Global Partnership Programs, first, I realize that self-confidence, networking, mentoring, developing new skills, identify my strengths and embrace them, was all I need to improve my professional and personal life. Second, I realized that when a woman understands her value and discovers her potential, talent is finally unveiled and we start creating something great for our business, society and the world. And third, I realize that that was the moment where the process starts… and my perspective on my personal mission started to transform itself and myself. I dedicated my entire professional life –at that moment, the last 15 years- to corporate communication for thousands of big companies, and then I realized that my true passion, my driving force -(what wakes me up every morning and gives me passion and strength for my work, what I truly feel from my guts) is to help other women to understand her own value and empower them to unveil their potential. I decided to create a business 100% focused on my driving force: To transmit the power of female leadership, mentoring and networking in a way that helps other young women to develop their leadership potential. I do this through: ➢ Vital Voices Argentina - Emerged as a way to Pay it Forward (returns for everything purchased / experienced), and as a genuine conviction of wanting to participate in the transformation of other women, as had happened to me more than 6 years ago. We worked hard and all the 10 women who participated in the VVGP programs were able to make an impact through mentoring and training programs for more than 3,000 women of our country. ➢ ID Womens Empowerment (ID WE) is an international leadership training camp created to unveil the talent and power of young women from around the world. By stimulating cultural exchange, mentoring and networking the Program allows women to take a step forward in their personal and professional growth, acquiring a transformative vision of their role, deepening their knowledge on female leadership and empowerment while living a life changing experience in a US University campus. As part of the program, women who wish to further their education can obtain scholarships to study in the US. Throughout an 11 day training that takes place every year (next edition from July 3th to 13th 2014 at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) Daytona Beach, Florida, USA) the program seeks to empower participants by developing their leadership potential. ➢ Female Leadership Book - Im writing a book about my life-changing experience from VVGP to impact on the largest number of women in my country and the region. ➢ Coaching for Women Leaders – I’m formally preparing myself to dedicate time to individual coaching for leaders. ➢ Consultant & Motivational Speaker - through my participation in various forums, conferences and seminars both nationally and internationally. I’m convinced that participating in networks like this one, sharing ideas and opinions, exchange problems and solutions with other women, mentoring and being mentored by peers, by each other, are the best strategy to develop ourselves, growth our business and empower and auto-empowering. Mentoring is important for all people, but especially for women because we come from centuries of being relegated to second and third level leadership, and that’s why we need greater empowerment. Having a mentor who guides you, helps you organize your professional challenges, and hears your ideas and suggestions is incredibly useful. I remember, at the Global Ambassadors Program in Cape Town, South Africa, I was pair with Anne Veneman, former UNICEF Executive Director. She was my mentor, and the best advice I received from her was to vocalize my goals and challenges one-by-one, step-by-step. She showed me how to think about my challenges and next steps in the short, medium and long term. To sit with her and make a map of my present and future career motivated me and helped me trust my mission and myself / vision. But maybe the greatest advice Ann gave me was the advice she never said with words; in the time we had together, I saw through her what it is to be generous, open, to empower other women, have high values, focus on friendship, and enjoy life and take care of your loved ones. To have had this exchange with an experienced woman is truly amazing, a gift. I’m pretty sure that in this very room its plenty of mentors and mentees! In fact, l rely all my weaknesses in my strengths: connecting with people who are experts in what Im not, creating and facilitating networks to empower me and empower others, communicating what Im good at, and reinforcing myself in those aspects I need to improve. The more confident I am, the more prepare I am, more powerful are my strengths. Always looking for partners, partnership, mentors, mentees, how I can empower someone and how someone empower me. For me, that’s the secret of the success… And keeping in mind that success is a journey, not a destination ... and that the journey is the most interesting of all! And last but not least: I realized that the POWER comes from within. The reason I love the word empowerment whose translation into Spanish “Empoderamiento”, is very ugly and at first sounds weird, but its meaning is essential for personal and professional growth of each one of us.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 18:48:57 +0000
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