Achieving World Peace
Dr. Shauli
Mukherjee
How to Plan Your Book for Success
Ruth Shalom
Kinyua Concetta Spitaleri
Olga Mroz
Dame of Honour
Powerhouse Global Icon
Prof.
PUBLISHER'S NOTE
Lady Anita Duckworth-Bradshaw
Powerhouse Global Brand Propagator
“You owe it to yourself to take action on the dreams and ideas that you have been given.”
- Anita Duckworth-Bradshaw
November 2020 we gave birth to this publication, and we set out to build a global presence. Powerhouse Global Stars highlights the brilliance of Entrepreneurs and leaders from around the globe. We are proud to feature the First Female President of Republic of Mauritius in this edition, and some of global leaders who are making positive contribution to the world. Our mission still remains to create global visibility opportunities for others.
We know that the virtual world has taken over how we do business, but it still serves the purpose of our mission. We would not have gotten here without your supportThank you.. As this is a quarterly publication, we hope that you and your contacts would take advantage of the opportunity that we offer by investing in our services. We have made it very affordable to advertise your business in our publication. Please get in touch so that we can also promote your business.
Lady Anita Duckworth-Bradshaw
Powerhouse Global Stars
INFLUENECE OF COLOURS ON OUR LIFE
PROF. OLGA MROZ
The current COVID-19 pandemic is a global problem. It has suspended our daily life and launched its mechanisms into the economy of the whole world. Changes have occurred in relations of the market system of labour, health care and education. The pandemic has seriously influenced the inner state of a person.
The introduction of restrictions on movement, isolation, lack of communication, closure of cultural institutions, theatres, concert halls and museums cause lack of positive emotional stimulus. These are significant factors, which
have negative affect to society and the whole world.
We can say that, a long polar winter has arrived across the planet in terms of visual stimuli. Due to that forced emotional hunger our autonomic nervous system suffers and the immune level decreases. Ultimately, by enhancing the immune response, we can save the universe. I discussed this question that worries me, with one of the leading German psychotherapists Dr. Galina Heinzelmann, who lives in Berlin.
Switzerland, receiving his qualifications in Lugano and Paris. All over the world he designs museums, yachts, interiors, etc. His interiors for hotels such as the Carlton Hotel St. Moriz, Eden Roc and Carcani in Ascona and others are recognized all over the world.
Carlo Rampazzi has won many international awards. What is his success?
He gives rooms and buildings an unusual flavour of soul. The colours that he uses in his works evoke positive emotions of people. Bright colors play the first violin in the creation of his interiors. He is an avantgarde and visionary. It plays freely with colour, creating unusual and harmonious colour combinations. At the same time, it allows you to reveal each colour separately. He does not let the furniture get lost against the background of the walls but achieves complete harmony. Carlo Rampazzi considers in his projects a great colour influence through the human eyes. He gives everyone a positive impulse that is so
Bright colors play the first violin in the creation of his interiors. He is an avant-garde and visionary. It plays freely with colour, creating unusual and harmonious colour combinations. At the same time, it allows you to reveal each colour separately. complete harmony.
necessary for the life of each of us. While in his atelier, I myself experienced the positive influence of interior colours. I felt a comfortable balance of colour, which helps to relieve stress and creates an atmosphere of work, as well as an atmosphere of calm and comfort. My conversation with Carlo was a constant stream of ideas and inspiration.
Considering the topic of the positive influence of colour on a person, I would like to tell you about the extraordinary international artist R.O. Schabbach. Acquaintance with him and his work grew into joint
projects and deep friendship. R.O. Schabbach has won numerous important artistic prizes and world records. His works are in Vatican Collection, The Royal House of Habsburg, The Royal House of Bahrain and Missoni Paris.
“The focus of my artistic oeuvre (works of art) is and always has revolved around the human being” - R.O. Schabbach. “Light and Love for World Peace“– is a joint project between the Artist and his wife, American rock singer Sherri Tylor. In 2011, the artist developed the concept of light art installations, created his own design of special projectors, which he is constantly improving with new technologies. For these colourful light art installations, the artist has developed a special picture configuration. He uses vibrant colours and combinations, which are also a kind of light and colour therapy. Colours evoke a cascade of positive emotions in people and restore inner balance.
Therefore, P.O. Shabbach helps people find peace within themselves and in their
environment. Nowadays, thanks to the improvement of technology, the artist can install light art on an area of up to 10,000 square meters. Light Art Composition has been successfully applied in psychiatry. This is how the artist used his Light Art Compositions on the facade of the new psychiatry building in Bernkastel-Kues, Germany. The artist himself describes his project as follows:
”Throughout my ongoing personal experiences with spectators of my Light Art Composition Installations, it is my hypothesis that that there seems to be a release of endogenous chemicals such as neurotransmitters. It seems to stimulate the production of happy hormones such as serotonin or opioid peptides, such as endorphins. This interaction of stimulants seems to play an important role in the process of perceiving and capturing the emotional part and intention of my art work”. Nowadays, the use of Art therapy has become more and more relevant. In the process of drawing, all the positive potential is activated, which is able to improve mood, push to
active and productive actions, and helps to overcome negative stressful situations in the workplace.
Drawing has a greatly beneficial effect on the nervous system. And the use of different colours even improves its performance.
As a director of Open World Program in Al-Khalifa Business School, I work jointly with my colleague Professor Dr. Milan Krajnc under the supervision of AKBS Chairman and Founder
H.E. Professor Sir Manuel Freire-Garabal y Nunez. We are working on a new project that aims to improve the teamwork and the working atmosphere in the companies. Under this project we will use the basics of the colour scheme, its meaning and influence on the nervous system. I am honoured to have a partner like Professor Dr. Milan Krajnc.
A new method that we offer for companies is Art therapy in the workplace. It will provide an opportunity to solve important topics creatively - to bring employees closer, improve the interpersonal communication, solve internal conflicts, awaken concentration and imagination.
Art therapy for creative design in the workplace is a relatively new method that we have developed based on individual art therapy.
This project will provide an opportunity to participate in the group painting “Emotional anti-stress colour Art drawing” primarily for the employees of the companies. While drawing, all participants will receive positive emotions, emancipation and trust for each other. At this moment, there is a complete disconnection from the negative influence of the environment. Based on this action, in a short time, the employees become productive and efficient that causes appearance of positive emotions.
The unification of individual participants, their creativity, communication, will create a healthy environment, that will increase and enhance efficiency of the company. We are looking forward to the implementation of our new project - “Art and positive emotions - key success.”
INTERVIEW WITH
ANGI PONDER REID (APR) POWERHOUSE GLOBAL STARS
PGS: Angi, so good to have you on today’s interview with Lady Anita.
APR: Thank you for inviting me to your amazing community.
PGS: Please briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
APR: I am Angi Ponder Reid. I am a passionate Essential Oils Specialist and a Certified Reflexologist, the creator of FLŌ Feet Love Oils, creator of The FLŌ Technique, a published columnist, an International Best Selling and Award Winning Author (Navigating the Clickety Clack, How to live a Peace filled Life in a Seeming Toxic World ). I am married to my husband Bill for almost 29 years. I am the mom to my 2 beautiful fur babies, Mork and Mindy. I am the proud Aunt to 18 nieces and nephews. I am blessed to be loved dearly by my friends and family, as I love them. I live in Lawrenceville, Ga. USA. I absolutely LOVE my Easy and
Relaxed lifestyle.
PGS: As a leader, what motivates you to keep serving irrespective of the challenges you may have to face?
APR: As a leader, I am motivated to serve because it blesses me as much as it does the receiver of my services. Giving and Receiving are the same energy. Whenever I feel down or blue, I get out of my
head and do something nice for someone else. It may be a simple “hello” or opening a door. It feeds my soul to serve.
PGS: Please tell us more about having a ‘done’ list as opposed to having a ‘to do’ list?
APR: The “to do list” stirs up feelings of urgency for me. The list governs my time. I know these things MUST BE DONE and they will continue to hang
over my head until they are completed. Appointments don’t go on my to do list, they are on my calendar.
Imagine seeing a magician successfully completing a magic trick and the music goes TA DA!!! That’s what I say when things are completed... Ta Done!!! Having the Ta Done list allows me the luxury of being spontaneous, to act upon the nudges I receive during
journaling and/or meditation.
I believe some people make a “to do list” just to show others what they have done or to document their time for themselves.
I don’t like to have a “To Do List”!!
I love having a “To Done” List!
As a leader, I am motivated to serve because it blesses me as much as it does the receiver of my services. Giving and Receiving are the same energy. Whenever I feel down or blue, I get out of my head and do something nice for someone else.
PGS: What would you say to someone who is trying to create a good life for themselves and others?
APR: If someone is “trying” to create a good life for themself and others, I encourage them to take the word “TRY” out of their vocabulary. When you want to pick a flower, you either pick it or you don’t. Imagine “trying” to pick the flower. What does that even look like? Make the decision to create a good life, ask people you admire for suggestions, pray, journal, expect things to be good, remind yourself that you are worthy of a good life. If you think you can or you think you can’t, you are absolutely right.
PGS: Please tell us a little bit about ‘The Flo Technique’.
APR: The FLŌ Technique is a workshop I created a few years ago. I combine the amazing benefits of Reflexology with the powerful effects of Essential Oils to provide others with the tools necessary to support their own well-being. I teach my students which oils to use on certain points of the feet to address certain health concerns. I also use these methods on my pets.
PGS: If you knew what you know now, what would you do differently?
APR: If I knew what I know now, I would have invested in more property and real estate for residual income, starting at a young age.
I would believe and trust in divine intervention and never, ever think something is a coincidence.
“Coincidence”= “Collaborating on an incident”
PGS: What is your message for world leaders?
APR: My message to world leaders is to LISTEN, PRAY (whatever their beliefs?), LOVE and SERVE from a place of GRATITUDE not a place of
PRIDE or ARROGANCE. They put their pants on one leg at a time, just like the rest of us.
PGS: Who would be your ideal lunch date, and what would be the topic for discussion?
APR: My ideal lunch would be at the beach with my best girlfriends! We would have good music, great fresh food, fun drinks, our oils (of course) and tons of laughter.
It’s tough to say what the topic would be, because we can cover a plethora of topics when we get together. After our time together, I’m sure the world feels a little lighter. We have
I would believe and trust in divine intervention and never, ever think something is a coincidence.
“Coincidence”= “Collaborating on an incident”
been known to solve a few of the worlds problems between us!
I would also like to have lunch with my dad and grandmother. I would ask them how it felt to transition and how they feel today. Would they come back if given the choice?
PGS: What would you say to your younger self?
APR: To my younger self, I would say...I love you precious!!! You are such a light! Never dim it for anyone. Comparison is the thief of JOY!!! Never compare yourself to others, for you don’t know their true situation. Hard work does not equal SUCCESS!
Have fun!!! You are worthy of EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL!!
You will bless so many people moving forward. Prepare to be blessed yourself.
PGS: Thank you for your time once again.
APR: Thank you for sparking these thoughts!
PGS: Please share your links. with us.
APR: www.feetloveoils.com
My.doterra.com/feetloveoils
Facebook: Angi Ponder Reid
IG: Feetloveoils
Perspectives on Achieving World Peace through Harnessing our Innate Humane Attributes
— BY DR. SHAULI MUKHERJEE
Of the many problems that we face today are actually of our own making – created by misunderstandings and can therefore be also corrected. One such type arises from the conflict of ideologies – political or religiouswhen people fight with each other for petty ends, losing sight of the basic humanity that binds us all together as a single human family. We must remember that the different religions, ideologies and political systems of the world are meant for human beings to achieve happiness. Every one of us wants happiness and does not want suffering. If we, as intelligent human beings, do not accept this fact, there will be more and more suffering on this planet. If we adopt a selfcentred approach to life and constantly try to use others for our own self-interest, we may gain temporary benefits, for sure, but in the long run we will not succeed in achieving even personal happiness – and achieving world peace will be completely out of question.
The world is indeed becoming smaller and smaller and increasingly more interdependent day by day as a result of rapid technological advancements, international trade as well as increasing transactional relations. Today we are so interdependent and closely interconnected
with each other that without a sense of universal brotherhood and sisterhood and an understanding and belief that we really are part of one big human family, we cannot hope to overcome the dangers to our very existence – let alone bring about peace and happiness. Although the increasing interdependence among nations might be expected to generate more sympathetic cooperation, it is difficult to achieve a spirit of genuine cooperation as long as people remain indifferent to the feelings and happiness of others.
I would therefore strongly advocate the power of compassion as one of the strongest pillars of World Peace. According to Buddhist psychology, most of our troubles are due to our passionate desire for and strong attachment to things that we misapprehend as enduring entities. The pursuit of the objects of our desire and attachment involves the use of aggression and competitiveness as supposedly efficacious instruments. These mental processes easily translate into actions breeding belligerence
as an obvious effect. Such processes have been going on in the human mind since times immemorial, but their execution has become more effective under modern conditions. So, what can be done to control and regulate these poisons in the form of our delusions, greed and aggression – since these are the poisons which are behind almost every trouble in the world today?
Love and compassion are the moral fabric of world peace. The rationale for compassion is that every one of us wants
I would therefore strongly advocate the power of compassion as one of the strongest pillars of World Peace. According to Buddhist psychology, most of our troubles are due to our passionate desire for and strong attachment to things that we misapprehend as enduring entities.
to avoid suffering and gain happiness. Whether one believes in religion or not, there is no one who does not appreciate love and compassion. Right from the moment of our birth, we are under the care and kindness of our parents; later in life when facing the agony and sufferings of disease and old age, we are again dependent on the kindness of others. So, if at the beginning and end of our lives, we depend upon others’ kindness, why then during the interim period should we not act kindly towards others?
The development of a kind heart does not involve the religiosity we usually associate with conventional religious practices. It is not only for people who believe in religion, but is for everyone regardless of race, religion or political affiliation. It is for anyone who considers himself or herself, above all, a member of the human family and who sees things from this larger perspective. This is a powerful feeling that we should develop and apply; instead we often neglect it, particularly in the prime of our lives when we experience and revel in a false and fabricated sense of security and invincibility.
When we take into account this larger perspective – the fact that we all wish to gain happiness and avoid suffering –a true sense of love and respect for others – become possible. Individual happiness ceases to
be a conscious self- seeking effort; it rather becomes an automatic and far superior byproduct of the whole process of loving and serving others. Magically, it also provides a calmness and presence of mind. Our lives are in constant flux bringing many difficulties and challenges in our ways. When faced with a calm and clear mind, even intricate problems can be successfully resolved. When instead we tend to lose control over our minds through hatred, selfishness, jealousy and anger, we lose our sense of judgement. Our minds are then completely blinded and at those wild moments anything can happen – even war. Thus, the practice of compassion and wisdom is beneficial for all, especially to those responsible for running national affairs, in whose hands lie the power and opportunity to create the structure of World Peace.
When we take into account this larger perspective – the fact that we all wish to gain happiness and avoid suffering – a true sense of love and respect for others – become possible. Individual happiness ceases to be a conscious self- seeking effort; it rather becomes an automatic and far superior by-product of the whole process of loving and serving others.
DR. SHAULI MUKHERJEE
With a purposeful career in the education space spanning over more than 20 years, Dr. Shauli Mukherjee has dedicated her life towards promotion of child-centric and activityoriented education.
A passionate educationist and a thought leader with a background of setting up and leading new age K- 12 schools, Dr. Mukherjee had been the Founder Principal of Adamas World School and STEM World School, the first STEM school in West Bengal. Under her inspiring leadership, STEM World School had been ranked and awarded as the 2nd best International Day School in West Bengal by Education World. Dr. Mukherjee ardently believes that the purpose of meaningful education is to develop lifelong learners, creative thinkers and responsible global citizens who are confidently equipped to face the challenges of an uncertain and constantly unfolding future.
All through her career in education, Dr. Mukherjee had actively contributed to and spearheaded the process of creating a personalized,
About engaging and stress-free curriculum for children of all age groups. She has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including NATIONAL QUALITY EXCELLENCE AWARD, GEM OF INDIA AWARD, PEERLESS ABP PRATIBHA SWIKRITI AWARD, SARVEPALLI RADHAKRISHNAN AWARD, GURUPNISHAD SAMMAN, GURUVARYA SAMMAN, NATIONAL EDUCATION LEADERSHIP AWARD in the category of commitment to excellence in education, (to name a few), WORLD PEACE AWARD 2021.
She is associated with premiere educational organizations across India and abroad in senior advisory capacity. As a highly prolific motivational speaker, she is regularly invited in numerous national and international conferences, summits, conclaves and events to share her insights on the futuristic and transformative role of education. She is currently working as the Director of School of Education and Dean of Students’ Affairs at Adamas University, Kolkata.
POWERHOUSE GLOBAL STARS
INTERVIEW WITH
CAMILLE TROTT (CT)
PGS: Camille, such an honour to have you on today’s interview with Lady Anita.
CT: It’s an honour to speak with you, Lady Anita. Thank you for the opportunity to share this time with the Powerhouse Global community of leaders.
PGS: Please briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
CT: My name is Camille, and I’m a wife, mother, and corporate executive turned entrepreneur. I currently reside in two countries, dividing time between Atlanta, Georgia (USA) and a British Overseas Territory, Bermuda Islands, located in the North Atlantic. I’m the president and CEO of Austin Communications, a leadership development and management consulting firm. In addition, I’m a certified speaker, coach, and trainer with the John Maxwell Team. I was recently appointed as the Global Chamber of Business
Leaders delegate to Bermuda. I also enjoy mentoring and collaborating with women in various business sectors. Prior to launching my consulting firm, I spent nearly 20 years of my professional life contributing and working with American businessman and philanthropist widely known for leading a diverse portfolio including the world’s largest home improvement retailer, professional sports teams and various businesses and a non-profit. This twodecade journey further inspired my commitment to provide mentorship, coaching,
and consultative guidance to growing companies and entrepreneurs through Austin Communications.
PGS: Thank you for serving at the recently concluded Powerhouse Global Summit.
CT: 2021 was my first year as an attendee and participant in the Summit. What a remarkable program that brought together great business minds, content, and opportunities. I was honored to be one of the speakers and join the panel of Women Shaping the Future of Business. Lady Anita
curated such an impactful and meaningful summit for women (and men) involved. I look forward to recommending the summit to others next year.
PGS: As a leader, what can be done to provide valuable tools for those who are on the transition to the position of leadership?
CT: I have found a significant advantage in having people that I have high regard for in my life. It’s essential to build intentional relationships with those that will encourage and challenge you. Identifying and establishing a relationship with a Coach, Mentor, and Sponsor are three actionable steps to support growth and transition. While they each serve a different purpose, they are all important components to your journey. As you move to the next level in your career or decision-making as a leader, it’s valuable to have others help as you move forward. I often share with my clients that while coaching relationships will help you focus on clarity, strategy, and implementation, it’s beneficial to have mentors and even sponsors that will
advocate on your behalf in the meeting rooms.
PGS: During the summit, you touched some important points on being a leader and leading well. One of the things you said were: Set aside your title, and measure your growth. Please throw some light on the above saying.
CT: I believe one of the biggest misconceptions of leadership is the connection to a title. My mentor, John C. Maxwell, defines leadership as ‘Influence’ – nothing more, nothing less. A fancy title does not make you a leader. I’ve worked with many support staff that exemplifies leadership at some of the highest levels throughout the years. Understanding that leadership is more than rank and position will provide the leader with a more significant opportunity to influence and impact their connections positively. As leaders, we should strive to grow daily and remember that it’s a journey and not a destination to a title.
At the Summit, I asked two growth-oriented questions with the audience to ask themselves daily: 1) What am I doing to
2021 was my first year as an attendee and participant in the Summit. What a remarkable program that brought together great business minds, content, and opportunities. I was honored to be one of the speakers and join the panel of Women Shaping the Future of Business.
grow myself? And 2) What am I doing to help grow others?
PGS: What are some of the challenges of leading in the current global climate (covid-19), and what are some of the steps to dealing with such challenges?
CT: Many businesses have experienced challenges leading in the era of COVID–19, but it has also provided opportunities for growth and advancement for those open to embracing change. In light of the uncertainty, the current
global climate has afforded entrepreneurs the opportunity to seek clarity to launch relevant businesses; and to help established business leaders to optimize by evaluating current business practices. For example, COVID has prompted me to coach many business leaders to pivot and innovate in a more productive vein—from outdated practices to bring their teams together, communicate more effectively, and even self-reflect as leaders.
PGS: What is your message for those who are struggling with low self-esteem?
CT: I would encourage leaders struggling with low self-esteem to build positive relationships and seek support within their network. Additionally, it is helpful to staff your business according to weakness and lean into your strengths. Many leaders are beginning to see the value in emotional intelligence— self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, and relationship management— to manage both ourselves and others for a healthy working environment.
PGS: Please tell us more about your business.
CT: Austin Communications, a leadership development and business consulting firm in early 2016. As a certified coach, speaker and trainer, one of my greatest passions is working with thriving entrepreneurs, businesses, and professional athletes to provide opportunities for their growth and development for themselves and their businesses.
Earlier this year, Austin
Communications began a strategic partnership with international business guru Larisa Miller of Phoenix Global to collectively offer business development management, coaching/training and leadership consulting. I also serve as the Bermuda delegate for the Global Chamber of Business Leaders based in the UAE.
PGS: What were top three books that changed your life?
CT: It’s difficult to narrow my list to only three books. I’d
start with Napoleon Hill’s book, “Think & Grow Rich.” This book talks about attaining a high level of success-consciousness. My family instilled in me that success is about more than achieving wealth. It was when a billionaire told me that I was rich, it confirmed the true meaning of success really had very little to do with money and more about values. Another book that has impacted my life, Exponential Living: Stop Spending 100% of Your Time on 10% of Who You Are by Sheri Riley. It’s a book that I highly recommend for anyone that wants to embrace the power of peace, clarity, and courage. This book was highly instrumental during my transition leaving from a high-profile corporate role to re-inventing me as an entrepreneur. I would also include John C. Maxwell’s book, “21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.” Regardless of your profession, this is a must read for any level of leadership.
PGS: Finally, what would you say to your younger self?
my younger self. As a child, I was a big dreamer. I’d say you don’t ever stop dreaming and believing in yourself. The journey ahead will not be an easy one, but your faith, family, and experiences will be instrumental stepping stones. You will make mistakes, and it’s okay; pick yourself up and keep going. Lastly, don’t allow anyone to define what success means to you. You pursue a life of love, giving, and positively impacting those you encounter. Most of all, be grateful and don’t take relationships for granted.
PGS: Camille, thank you once again for your contribution today.
to you and your entire team. I look forward to collaborating more in the future as we seek to empower and present opportunities. Thank you for all that you do supporting women and being a voice of leadership across the nations.
PGS: Please share your links with us
CT: Websites: www. austincomms.com and www. phoenixglobal.co.
Follow me on LinkedIn @ Camille Trott
Social Media @cltrott and @ austincomms.
CT: There are many things that I’d love to share with
CT: Lady Anita, special thanks
INTERVIEW WITH
DESZIREE RICHARDSON (DR) POWERHOUSE GLOBAL STARS
PGS: Desziree, we are so honoured to interview you today.
DR: I am grateful for the opportunity. Thank you very much.
PGS: Please introduce yourself to our readers.
DR: My name is Desziree Richardson; I was born and raised in Anguilla, British West Indies. I specialized in public speaking as a thought leader, transformational and motivational speaker, voice acting, event hosting, fashion, modelling, and much more. I use my voice as a vehicle to convey the message of positivity and empowerment. I do this to help change lives and to influence others positively.
I am also the Women of Heart Foundation, Face of Woha, and Women of Heart Awards founder. For an exceptionally long time,
I’ve always had a passion for seeing the continuation of women’s empowerment, a passion for seeing them at their best, their boldest, and their brightest. However, being the fourth child in a large family, I was used to seeing my mother
struggle to guarantee a life for her children. These youthful experiences have shaped me into the person that I am today. They have grounded me and opened my eyes to the various realities of life and life as a woman. As such,
I feel an undeterred passion for supporting, empowering, and celebrating women and young girls globally. I am an empathetic, kind and caring person. I feel a genuine desire and devotion to the wellbeing and welfare of my fellow human beings. I enjoy being a service to others and believe it is my sole purpose of sharing my story and wisdom to help empower positive changes in the lives of many people around the world.
PGS: The pandemic (covid-19) has challenged everyone to think and act differently from our usual normal lifestyle, and the cases of mental health and domestic violence are on the increase. As a leader, what are some of the measures needed to protect the vulnerable in our society?
DR: Life is not a linear journey; as humans, we will be faced with uncertainty as we journey throughout life. As a leader, you must be brave and true to yourself and people who look up to you even when it ponders heavily on your shoulders in moments of doubt. When faced with difficult situations like the
Covid 19 pandemic beyond your control, it is always a scary process. I believe nothing is permanent, and it is crucial to instill patience and inner peace in every human being’s mindset, which will help them overcome fear. However, considering that many in society are afraid of change. I would like to see more awareness on mental health and domestic violence and the support available to those who need it urgently. Therefore, this will include having more awareness on what support is available and how people can access it privately.
Moreover, I will place more schools’ measures to teach adolescents children about emotional intelligence, which help them cope with the imminent change in the future. As a society, I believe we all are involved in some shape and form. We can collectively understand the complexity of human nature to embrace who we are and how we can all support each other to get through the pandemic. I believe in creating more awareness of the support available for the vulnerable.
Life is not a linear journey; as humans, we will be faced with uncertainty as we journey throughout life. As a leader, you must be brave and true to yourself and people who look up to you even when it ponders heavily on your shoulders in moments of doubt.
When faced with difficult situations like the Covid 19 pandemic beyond your control, it is always a scary process.
PGS: Please tell us about your organization (Women of Heart Awards).
DR: Women of Heart Awards is a celebration of women making a difference in the world. A range of women entertainers will grace our awards. A celebratory bonanza of entertainment and inspiration as part of our yearly black-tie democratized space, diverse everyday women are celebrated for their exceptional
To accept life’s imperfections and to believe that they can become great because there is greatness in everyone. However, such belief will help them establish themselves in many ways by thinking that great things can happen. I never knew about self-love growing up as a little girl.
work. Women of Heart Awards is also a great forum to forge connections between likeminded women. Our network of leaders teaches and support women on how to empower themselves from within and find their voice, and become leaders and decision-makers through the stories we share and the work we do, geared towards promoting the values of excellence, generosity, and pride in the actions of women. as well as celebrating their achievements.
are the pillars of our hospitals, schools, and care infrastructure. They are also the managers in our offices, the dreamers in our creative world, and the beating hearts of our humanitarian sectors. In all these spheres, women’s light is central and undiminished, and WOHA aims to highlight and celebrate those women who go the extra mile every day of their lives. “I have always dreamt of this night.
PGS: What is your message for women who are struggling with low self-esteem?
allow you to become more responsible for your actions and your beliefs. My message is to have fun, smile every day, enjoy the beauty of the world, and you will find inner peace and confidence to overcome low self-esteem.
PGS: If you knew what you know now, what would you do differently?
Throughout the world, women
DR: To accept life’s imperfections and to believe that they can become great because there is greatness in everyone. However, such belief will help them establish themselves in many ways by thinking that great things can happen. I never knew about self-love growing up as a little girl. For most of my life, I had only known how to love and care for others. Moreover, loving yourself will only make you stronger and more appreciative of others, and you will most likely develop selflessness and warm-hearted nature. Therefore, it will
DR: I would say not knowing that you don’t need others to make you happy. You can create your happiness from within, and I would also say learning how to control my emotional intelligence. However, happily doesn’t mean that life is perfect but is the joy knowing that happiness is a decision and you can be as happy as you set your mind and soul to be. Having known these things would have helped me make better decisions at an earlier stage in my life. The choices I make now can only make me stronger and wiser for a positive outcome in my life choices. Let’s choose to be happy.
PGS: As a leader, what are some of the keys to staying
relevant in the marketplace?
DR: I believe patience and determination are two powerful forces that can propel you forward and excel you further in your leadership endeavours. Many leadership styles are associated with leadership. What makes you stay relevant is having the ability to being true to your values and your brand while being generous, gracious, and respected. As a leader, I believe in improving, uplifting, and supporting others is vitally important.
PGS: Who would be your ideal dinner date, and what would be the topic of discussion?
DR: The streams of memory causing through my head provide me a splendid vista from which to view the various instances in which the law of attraction had crystalized and moved my life. Being present in the audience and connected to such an empowering atmosphere with mindsets of world-leading experts, such as Oprah and Tony, meant a great deal to me.
my experience at Life -class in New York. It was phenomenal, emotional, spiritual, personal, and unforgettable. I am besieging with the vision of a more fulfilling life. Moreover, as a young girl, I had visions of working in the media with headphones on but did know the visions I saw would have manifested. I also had visions of being in the audience of Oprah.
As a dreamy girl being comforted by my future world as a media personality, I can proudly say that I am happy and grateful to have accomplished the dream I had envisioned as a child; although not knowing the source of these ideas, I had already known them to be fulfilling at a tender age. Fear has continued to play a constant role in my life, which I believe is an overall negative block to my success, and to witness such a dynamic presentation on the topic where is a fear concern had given me hope to succeed and overcome any barrier.
As a dreamy girl being comforted by my future world as a media personality, I can proudly say that I am happy and grateful to have accomplished the dream I had envisioned as a child; although not knowing the source of these ideas, I had already known them to be fulfilling at a tender age.
my dreams and ambitions. From a tender age, I was a big fan of the Oprah and the Oprah Winfred show. Even though we didn’t meet, I am still holding on to the vision of meeting, talking, and hugging.
So many words can describe
This experience opened my eyes to the reality of how to develop a powerful mindset to become successful and have
My ideal dinner date would be Oprah, and we will talk about the how the purpose of the law of attraction and how God had made it possible for us to have conversations on how do we know when it is divine timing and the importance of gratitude.
One of our main objectives at Women of Heart Foundation is to help people advance in life, and we have a particular focus on those individuals who are excluding from the best opportunities through youth, old age, illness, disability, or through challenging socio-economic circumstances.
I feel increasingly ready to make my giant footstep to my true destiny and watch it manifest itself in great abundance and gratitude. There are so many things to be grateful for in life, where gratitude is a concern. However, it is important to have gratitude in your everyday life, say thank you, appreciate, be grateful, and respect people. The word gratitude is the Master of Communication, which signifies the power of words when communicated, which gives others more value than what they ask for. I am also grateful to Oprah for the
positive influence she applied in my life as my role model, her true talents, the lessons taught, and the love and wisdom she shares with the world every day, and I would like one day to give her a big hug. I love her energy, authenticity, and generosity.
PGS: Please tell us about your businesses.
DR: The face of Woha, a platform designed to connect, support, and promote women to become leaders and instrumental in making the world a better place and connecting diverse women for a better cause. The Women of Heart Foundation’s launching is achievable because of my heart’s desire to help many people in need. We are a not-for-profit, charitable organization based in the UK and worldwide, which establishes to support women and children in various focused ways.
Specifically, we inspire people to get involved and give up their time to volunteer, and we also promote, educate, empower, and raise funds for
women and children here in the UK and under-privileged and remote countries around the world.
One of our main objectives at Women of Heart Foundation is to help people advance in life, and we have a particular focus on those individuals who are excluding from the best opportunities through youth, old age, illness, disability, or through challenging socioeconomic circumstances. We provide community support, bespoke events, and programs of physical, educational, recreational, and leisure time activities to bring about improvements in people’s lives and to develop their skills, capacities, and capabilities. We aim to enable everyone to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals.
Moreover, I have recently explored the fashion industry’s colorful spectrum, being the brainchild of creating and launching two fashion brands. The HappyMoodSwagger.com brand is from my personal experiences; it’s triggering your happiness wearing
something comfortable. My goal is to provide stylish, convenient, trendy, and classy products for all occasions and people, founded in 2020 and UptopSwag.com, providing various products that will expand your style collection and boost your quality wardrobe and confidence through fashion. My main goal is to accommodate your fashion needs wherever you are – in the park, at the gym, for a swim, and a casual outing with your friends.
PGS: I believe everyone has a message to share with the world, but so many people do not know how to convey their messages. As a public speaker, what are some of the tips to be confident on camera?
DR: I believe in executing an overall camera performance is knowing your topic sentence from the beginning to the end. How you look is also important, and what you are saying will impact the audience while speaking to camera. However, your smile is essential; It helps viewers to connect with your personality. Therefore, doing this and being your authentic
self, will also help you with the pacing and pausing of your words. Visualizing yourself as an expert before going on the camera will help boost your confidence. Moreover, looking into the camera will connect the audience to your warmth, build your credibility, and show up as a master in your field.
PGS: Finally, what would you say to your younger self?
DR: Things happened for a reason; my experience had given me the strength to overcome the challenges that I had no control of. Therefore, with a host of challenges I was facing and resolving, the creator has played an essential constructive role in my life. However, I can still witness full power as the icy hand of fear, particularly fear of success, draws me back. Moreover, I have somewhat managed to fully resolve some while others tenuously linger. I realize that I had to venture into the world and find a new place to become the person I am meaning to be, allowing the universe to recognize my talents and reconcile my inner world with my inner potential. To my
younger self, I would say to love yourself, learn how to say no in a healthy way, set boundaries, and believe in yourself more.
PGS: Thank you once again for your time.
DR: Thank you for the opportunity to share my story with your audience.
With love and gratitude. Desziree Richardson.
PGS: Please share your links with our readers.
DR: www.desziree.com (@Desziree00): https://twitter. com/Desziree00?s=08 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ desziree-richardson-b7140618 Facebook https://www. facebook.com/FollowDesziree
INTERVIEW WITH
CONCETTA SPITALERI (CS) POWERHOUSE GLOBAL STARS
PGS: Concetta, welcome to today’s interview with Lady Anita.
CS: Thank you for the opportunity given Lady Anita, happy to share my major life milestones with you today.
PGS: Please briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
CS: My name is Concetta, I am Italian, I live in Brussels, Belgium -the heart of Europe, I am mother of 2 fabulous children who make me prouder every day. I am a very active and creative business woman and I am always in search of opportunities to improve my true purpose and help those who are in need. I have held high-ranked positions within European leading entertainment, media, telecom firms for more than 15 years mainly in executive advisory roles to top executives. I held Vice President functions in the domain of Sponsoring, PR &
Events, CSR and Reputation for more than 8 years in the largest Telco in Belgium. It has been more than 8 years ago since I took the heroic decision to move from the hardworking Corporate world which had its comfort zones, to the harder but more rewarding world of entrepreneurship. This reflection gave birth to the creation of a concept with
long lasting, organic, water free floral art. My company RosaPiù was born. Its meaning is Roses and More…in Italian to honor my origins. RosaPiù specializes in long lasting floral art. We create floral arrangements made from stabilized flowers, greeneries, bouquets, plants, trees, green walls. We serve mainly B2B customers, we tailor make arrangements to
fit their style and budget. Our concept can make up to 60% savings.
PGS: As a leader, what would you suggest to those struggling to keep their businesses afloat due to the impact of the pandemic (covid-19)?
CS: Constantly reinvent yourself: building resilience is key. The world we knew before the pandemic has completely changed and only those who are able to identify the needs and invest in innovation and entrepreneurship will contribute to a better world. Productivity will be enhanced by continuous investments in technological innovation. This was already expanding before the pandemic now it is just be hastened by the economical, sanitary and humanitarian crisis. New needs have arisen. It’s up to us to identify them and invest in them.
PGS: Please tell us a little bit about your transition from a ‘C level’ executive to a global business owner.
was time for me to quit my corporate functions and have my own project where my innate creativity could come to life. The trigger was when I saw that in Dubai there were so many luxurious hotels with incredible floral arrangements but the local hot temperatures and the water from the fresh flowers resulted in an unpleasant odour that wafted in the air. Then and there the first idea came to me to create a concept with long lasting, water free flower arrangements.
PGS: What are some of the keys to staying relevant in today’s challenged world?
Constantly reinvent yourself: building resilience is key. The world we knew before the pandemic has completely changed and only those who are able to identify the needs and invest in innovation and entrepreneurship will contribute to a better world. Productivity will be enhanced by continuous investments in technological innovation.
CS: During a trip to Dubai with my children, I realised it
PGS: Please tell us a little bit about ‘Willow Thrive’.
CS: The lockdown period also allowed me to think about the real priorities in my life and how, having acquired all this expertise and experience, I could give back to the community.
CS: You have to be able to pivot at a moment’s notice, be innovative and creative to keep your model current and always be market fit. The ability to create new revenue sources, keeping customers happy and never stop finding new ones are all in a days work. Being an entrepreneur, you have to be self sustaining with the uncertainty of tomorrow always adapt and be innovative. It’s now that you need to prepare yourself for the “new normality”. When life will get to the normal rhythm it will go very fast and only those who have worked hard to be ready will stay relevant.
My strong bond with nature, my real values, my valued authenticity and my passion for environmental concerns pushed me to launch an initiative which gathered all these important pillars. This think thank brought to the birth of Willow Thrive: Resilience through concrete actions. Willow Thrive is the platform that creates an holistic, collaborative perspective on how the world should be. We aim at gathering entrepreneurs from different backgrounds and from all around the world. We aim to support them on tangible projects that promote diversity and encourage resilience. We turn the lessons and experiences we have had in life as an asset for those who are in need of concrete support, inspiration and hope.
Why the name Willow?
The Willow Tree is the symbol of resilience, resistance. When extreme weather conditions hit it badly: it adapts, it leans, it bows, it remains flexible and does not break. Therefore it survives. This is my story and the story of many women.
PGS: What makes you stand out from the crowd as a business leader?
CS: My life’s conviction has always been to work hard to become the best efficient version of myself. I learned very early that to be considered equal in predominant male surroundings, females should not and could not perform as good as men, so I decided to be better.
I am driven by talent and focus. I do not recruit based upon the ethnicity of the person but based on his/her skills.
This neutral gender, ethnic approach allows me to focus on giving the best chance to the best person for the need at hand.
At the same time I do not tolerate racist behaviors and therefore all ethnicities must have an equal chance.
PGS: What is your message for women who are currently in the valley of decision regarding the next step to living a fulfilled life?
CS: The life we all knew before this global pandemic does not exist anymore, therefore now, more than ever women must adapt and embrace this change. We must make a tangible asset out of it. My business journey was not easy but I feel it is because of all the challenges I’ve been through that I am here today in front of you all sharing my story. It is paramount to ask ourselves now who we want to be, what we want to change and keep. Covid has given us the opportunity to “reset” our life and make finally the changes needed to be happy or happier.
PGS: Considering the amount of work required to meet the need of those you serve. How do you create a work/life balance?
CS: I am driven by passion for whatever I decide to focus on. When I get into something, I give 100% of myself. My motivation is generated by
the support of my 2 fabulous children and nature is always close to me. I do value quality rather than quantity, but I work really very hard to get to results. There is no secret.
When I get overwhelmed by work or issues, I take a step back and go for a long walk in nature and there my inner peace is restored, and I am aligned again. It is not a problem to work hard or a lot, the key is to stay focused and keep balance.
PGS: What would you say to your younger self?
CS: It’s difficult to reply here, I have a high level of determination and passion maybe with experience you learn to think twice before acting, but would a life be worth living without that fire and enthusiasm which allows you to move mountains?
Sometimes I say “if I knew”, “if I had to get back”, then I realise that it’s the sum of all those experiences good and bad that made of me who I am today, that built this resilience in me, key to surmount any difficulty.
PGS: Thank you for your time once again.
CS: It has been a great pleasure to share a bit of my life journey with you. I am open to any person who would like to get in touch with me. Only by sharing we will realise that we are far from being alone and unity makes us stronger.
PGS: Please share your links with us.
CS: Concetta Spitaleri: +32475765432
LinkedIn Profile : http://linkedin. com/in/concettaspitaleri
Facebook Profile : https:// www.facebook.com/concetta. spitaleri.39
Facebook Page : https://www. facebook.com/RosaPiu/
Website : https://rosapiu.com
Instagram : rosapiuworld
LinkedIn Willow Thrive: https:// www.linkedin.com/company/ willow-thrive
FB: Willow Thrive
Instagram: Willow Thrive
HOW TO PLAN YOUR BOOK FOR SUCCESS
There’s a well known saying—fail to plan and you plan to fail. How does this apply to the world of book writing?
— BY KAREN INCE
The market is flooded. Thanks to the likes of Amazon, Ingram Spark, Smashwords or Lulu, anyone can write anything. Once written they can publish it in an afternoon. In 2019 more than 1.6 million books were published, worldwide. Sadly, this means there are thousands of poorly written books out there. It also means that many wonderful books fail to get noticed.
If you’re intending to write a book, knowing how to promote it will be important. However, there is no point in investing time, effort and money to climb that mountain, if what you’re carrying with you is badly executed. There may be a few exceptional people who can write an excellent book just by sitting down and writing. For the rest of us, the process is much quicker, easier, and more successful if we create a plan. I think of a solid plan as having three parts.
PART 1: THE PRE-PLAN
Here you need to ask yourself some serious questions, because the answers will inform a lot of what comes afterwards.
• Why are you writing this book? You need to have a strong personal motivation. There will be moments when you question why you’re
doing it, times when it seems difficult, when it would be easier to forget all about it. What is going to keep you going?
• What do you want your book to do for you? Will it open doors to speaking engagements? Attract new customers? Allow you to scale your business? The clearer you are about the purpose it serves, the better your plan will be to achieve that goal.
• Are you intending to approach a traditional publisher, or go the independent route? This may have a major impact on your writing; for example, it is possible for non-fiction authors to get a publishing deal on the outline rather
than the full text. Also, it simplifies your project plan (step 2) as some of the steps will be dealt with by the publisher.
• Who is your target reader? This is a crucial piece of information to have before you start, and to keep reminding yourself of throughout the process.
PART 2: THE PROJECT PLAN
This plan needs to cover the following areas: Your timetable. Do you have a specific date in mind for your book launch? Maybe there is an event coming up that you want your book to be ready for? If not, choose a date and put that in your diary as your launch date. Now you need to work backwards from that to have everything in place. Read on to get an idea of a realistic timetable.
First-time authors are often surprised by just how long it does take to write a book. Even if you can type fast, you will not type at a consistent speed. You will stop to think, go back and tweak the last sentence, delete passages, change things
around.
Most aspiring authors also have other calls on their time—family, work, household responsibilities. So they have to fit their writing time in around their other commitments.
Once the book is written this is only the first draft. You should be seriously considering editing and rewriting, possibly more than once. A realistic self-publishing timetable for a first-time non-fiction author would be at least six months, and preferably a year.
Your team. You need to identify your helpers well in advance. These may be people you pay, or, if you’re lucky, people you know who will do it for free or ‘mates rates’. But don’t skimp. It will make the difference between an okay book and a great book. You will need:
• At least one editor, preferably two for different parts of the process. An edit of a complete book will take weeks. You need to book it in advance.
• A professional book cover designer—unless you are a graphic designer
• A formatter. You can format the book yourself, but it
Your timetable. Do you have a specific date in mind for your book launch? Maybe there is an event coming up that you want your book to be ready for? If not, choose a date and put that in your diary as your launch date.
Now you need to work backwards from that to have everything in place. Read on to get an idea of a realistic timetable.
may be more efficient and effective to find someone to do this for you.
• First readers. These are people who read the book while it is in the draft stages and provide feedback to help you improve it.
• Printer. If you want hard copies, you need to decide who will print them. Turn around times on a print run can be three weeks or more.
Your Marketing Plan. You need a marketing plan that runs alongside the writing and
editing. You want people to be excited about your book before it comes out. Launch day should be a shout, not a whisper.
PART 3 – THE CONTENT PLAN
This begins with defining your subject area and target audience. It is better to be really specific about WHO your book is for. Move from ‘Anyone with an interest in investing,’ to ‘People starting out in stock market investments’ to ‘Young professionals looking for their first stock market investment.’ Why should you do this? Much
of the information included in your book will be interesting to many people, not just your twenty-something high-flyer. But you need to market it, and if you try marketing to everyone you’ll end up selling to no-one. You need to write it with your ideal reader in mind— it will help you decide exactly which information to include without trying to brain dump everything you know. It will help you choose an appropriate style and tone for the text. And it might be the first of many books, so you can choose a different ideal reader for each one.
Finally, we move onto planning the actual content. The more you can do at this stage, the easier the writing becomes. I’m quite linear, so I like nested bullet point lists. But visual representations such as concept maps or spider diagrams work equally well. If you have a preferred planning tool, use it. If not, experiment— you may learn something interesting (another bonus to writing your book).
There are three steps to this process:
1. Start with a high-level outline—think chapter
headings.
2. Once that is complete, and in a sensible order move on to second level outline—think section headings. Again, take a sense check when you have completed this stage. Is there information that is duplicated in two or more chapters? Should the chapters be moved around at all?
3. The third and final level— think paragraph synopsis. Here you are capturing in a few words what each paragraph will be about. It may turn out in the end to spill into two or three paragraphs, that’s not a problem. You just want an overview of the content. Again, you can then take a sense check of the entire book.
You can also run this past other people to get their feedback.
What have you included that isn’t needed? What have you missed? Is the information organised in a way that makes sense to them?
ABOUT KAREN INCE
The writing has now become easy. You simply flesh out each paragraph. It’s quick, and you have a map to follow. If you can only write in short bursts, you can complete a paragraph or two at a time, without losing track of where you are.
If you’ve been considering writing a book about your own expertise, then I hope that this overview has encouraged you to give it a go. Best of luck with your writing endeavours.
Karen is an experienced writer and author coach. She writes content for businesses and fiction for fun. She first learnt editing and proofreading in the early 1990s and has since honed her skills with additional training and a lot of varied experience alongside a successful career in business. She is a published playwright, and author of both fiction and non-fiction. As a qualified life-coach she brings her combined experience of business, writing, and editing to support aspiring authors through the process of writing and publishing their book. She lives and works in the beautiful cathedral city of Canterbury (UK) where she is active in several local community groups, including two writers’ circles, one of which she founded. When not working she spends time relaxing with family or friends or encouraging vegetables to grow in her back garden. To find out more, check out www.mrswrite.co.uk for writing and coaching services and www.brangaine.co.uk for editing services. Find her on twitter @MrsWrite2; @kazimee; @brangaine1. Contact mrswrite@mrswrite.co.uk
INTERVIEW WITH
RUTH SHALOM KINYUA (RSK) POWERHOUSE GLOBAL STARS
PGS: Ruth, good to have you on today’s interview with Lady Anita.
RSK: Thank you Lady Anita. Connecting with you for this interview was a serendipitous encounter. Nevertheless, I am grateful to you for extending the opportunity to be featured in Powerhouse Global Stars.
PGS: Please briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
RSK: My full name is Ruth Shalom Wambui Kinyua. I am ambitious, self-driven and a risk-taker.
At fifteen years old, I was fortunate to receive a full scholarship to a Swiss boarding school, Aiglon Switzerland. Born and raised wholly in Kenya with minimal multicultural exposure, it was a tremendous leap of faith to leave my high school midway, move to a continent I had never been to before and
switch educational systems. More so because I was initially offered a conditional oneyear scholarship. Thankfully, I thrived!
I completed my IGCSE during that first year (2012) and excelled in the two-year International Baccalaureate program. Selected to join the prestigious Global Scholars Program at Babson College, I moved to Wellesley, Massachusetts in 2015 to study entrepreneurship. Somehow, I managed to pack a lot into those four years. From being elected as a class senator in the Student Government, to serving as an Equity Analyst in the Babson College Fund (optimizing returns on a $4 million portion of Babson’s endowment fund) and graduating from the Honors
Program. I also completed an year-long program at the London School of Economics, two summer internships at Ernst and Young, a consulting internship at the Bank of Kigali, Rwanda and a summer analyst position at Goldman Sachs. Upon graduating in 2019, I took another leap of faith by moving back to Nairobi, Kenya. In 2020, I honoured my lifelong ambition by registering two ventures: Integrale Seers Advisory, a business accelerator, and The Maarifa Collective, a social organization.
PGS: You obviously have evolved into a global leader in your industry, what were some of the challenges you faced on your journey to leadership? (Could you rephrase the question- i don’t view myself as a global leader in my industry yet- I took a stab at the question anyway).
RSK: Doubt. I recently turned 24, and there are misconceptions about what is possible versus what is beyond the scope for young leaders. Certainly, age proffers experience, exposure and greater insight on the
complexities of this world. As a young leader, it is justifiable that one faces greater adversity. One needs to grasp the nuances, not only in your area of expertise, but also of the larger, interconnected and highly volatile world. That said, I subscribe to the belief that with infinite potential there are unlimited possibilities.
PGS: If you knew what you know now, what would you do differently?
RSK: Initially, I was timid, naive and reserved. Notwithstanding, I was able to power through the mental, cultural and emotional turbulence of life in advanced economies through sheer determination and grit.
PGS: Please tell us more about ‘Maarifa Collective’.
RSK: In December 2019, having taken a personal break to recharge, and realign my priorities, I recognized the oversized impact that education has had on my life. I decided to apply for a PhD program. Although my application was not successful, I identified the need to champion doctoral
In December 2019, having taken a personal break to recharge, and realign my priorities, I recognized the oversized impact that education has had on my life. I decided to apply for a PhD program. Although my application was not successful, I identified the need to champion doctoral training/ education for Kenyan youth.
training/education for Kenyan youth. The national average dropout rate for each doctoral cohort in Kenya is 90%, whilst the average time to completion is 6 years instead of 3 years.
Maarifa means knowledge in Kiswahili and so beyond expanding doctoral capacities, our overarching objective is to catalyze pathways to a growing local knowledge economy. Maarifa Collective views education and knowledge creation, particularly among youth, as a key driving force for sustainable development nationally.
PGS: What more could be done to support more women to take up leadership roles?
RSK: In their lifetime, women follow a unique pathway that needs to be aligned with the leadership mandate. If we start by fully understanding the intricacies of female livelihoods, we can put in place enabling systems and adequate supportive structures to bolster female leaders. For example, the statistics show that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate negative impact on women globally, does the recovery plan give prominence to redressing entrenched gender inequities? Maarifa Collective identifies that the current ratio of male to female PhD enrolment is 2:1. Women are underrepresented across all academic levels, (from Bachelors to PhD) and in all academic programs (STEM and Non-STEM); yet the World Bank indicates that the return to educating Sub-Saharan women is at almost 15% -one of the highest investment returns globally. To address the endemic nature of female underachievement, tailored solutions must begin at the root
level; targeting the pitfalls, the drawbacks and the upheavals that hold back female potential.
PGS: What were the top three books that changed your life?
RSK: Daring Greatly by Brene Brown illuminated the pathway to wholehearted living. The World’s Wife by Carol Ann Duffy is an anthology of witty poems that deconstruct gender norms and create a feminist reality. Unbowed by Wangari Maathai exposes the harsh realities faced by Kenyan females in their path to leadership.
PGS: What is your message for world leaders?
RSK: Decisions made at the global level have a trickle down effect on both current and future generations. In a power-hungry world, there is a growing need for restraint and peace-making (Shalom!).
PGS: What would you say to your younger self?
RSK: Life will constantly throw curveballs, know and honor your true self at every stage.
Keep your head up high as you go through every phase. I quote Winston Churchill, success is not final, failure is not fatal- it is the courage to continue that counts.
PGS: What is your message for the African Youths?
RSK: Agency. Resilience. Innovation. According to the UN, 75% of Africa’s population is aged below 35 years, and so we need to take personal and collective responsibility for our shared future, forge creative pathways to realise transformative realities and build momentum for the long haul.
PGS: Ruth, thank you for your time – much appreciated.
RSK: It is a privilege to share your time Lady Anita. Thank you.
PGS: Please share your links with us
RSK: 1. Integrale Seers Advisory: LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram
2. The Maarifa Collective: LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram
A SAGA OF AN ENTREPRENEUR
— BY ABRAHAM PAUL VATAKENCHERRY
The achievement could be likened to any level, be it miniscule or mammoth. There are a ton of uncertainties, but’s and dont’s any business visionary need to experience before the individual lands at a point where we must have a powerful interruption to know whether we have arrived at an answer customised for the need of paramount importance. There lies prosperity, as it where, be that as it may, as consistently fate has different designs for us. It fundamentally does not have to lead us to a characterised accomplishment as it briefly takes us to different elements in our routine journey of life which could have an unmistakable bearing on a prosperity rate in proliferating something of substance to the ever restless and anxious world.
Here it is featured by different components that are inalienable in any individual which draws out its natural and candid nature of being a business visionary to the fore.
A conflagration of umpteen elements can unite a great deal of uniqueness which plainly would not acquire originality, the basic spot viewpoint and pragmatic approach we adjust. According to numerous restless evenings structure a cardinal factor agonising over things which we thought where implausible could be brought out which could change the feature of the cutting edge world for which sacrifice ends up being the most vital perspective which a genuine business
visionary ought to foresee at the same time arrange for too. Multi dimensional highlights like a refined and drawn out methodology will foreshadow well when given sufficient weightage to an extremely slanted centre combined with a hounded tirelessness with an all round chalked out characterised objectives however would be experienced with a component of disillusionment somewhere down the line would be an exceptionally genuine and sober minded way to deal with received for a supported outcome.
Time the board as you probably are aware holds the key and is an exceptionally critical factor to observe with a carefully chalked out monetary guide with clear objectives to support it and the outcome could be the substance
of your steely purpose and assurance. We ought to be set up to face dismissal sooner or later to recognise what real achievement is made of. That way it additionally discloses to us the stark reality of life that achievement consistently includes disappointment inside it.Be it may our capacity to backlash and bounce back demonstrates to the world about our basic resilience which is such a lot of piece of regular daily existence acquiring the dominance to advance a triumphant marvel. Be that as
it may, in like manner speech, a business person is viewed as an individual who can be a gleaming and triumphant example of overcoming adversity can be all in actuality a melting away one to for the basic truth that individuals neglect to see his adventure to arrive at the peak of their prosperity stepping stool which is exhibited to the world in all actuality. This acquires the correlation with a chunk of ice a close to synonymous one. Here it depicts that it is so hard to comprehend what God
underneath whatever errant we take up to clean it off with comfort and along these lines leaves us intelligent over it.
This is in certainty a sharp pointer to the way that each example of overcoming adversity had constantly to a sizable portion of progress crediting their untiring endeavors to a ton of updates through disappointments.
ABOUT ABRAHAM PAUL VATAKENCHERRY
Abraham Paul Vatakencherry is a seasoned thoroughbred professional in top management for strategic alliances with a demonstrated history of working with a wide range of domain ranging from fitness to healthcare, immigration, international education, service industry, business consulting, etc. in short, he carries with him more than two and half decades of hands on experience and has donned many hats like assisting certain chambers of commerce and industry in India in top management positions and also finds mention in various advisory boards of organisations / institutions in both national as well as international ones, Possessing a strong inherent passion for corporate interaction with the student community in general, but not confined to it alone but open to a bandwidth from school to professionals augmenting their professional growth. He is armed with a post graduation in English literature and is an MBA in Marketing as well as Personnel Management. Apart from that he has undergone a certification course in Corporate Governance from the University of Sussex, UK.which clearly stamps his authority in any said field.
Now to add an another feather to his cap which is already rich in experience he has found his way through one inspiring article each in the Inaugural Special Monaco Edition of “ The Billionaire Chronicle “ from Monaco, launched on Oct 7th 2018 and in Inaugural Special Dubai Edition of the “The Billionaire Chronicle “ launched on Jan 10 th 2019 and his profile hitting the epitome of the popularity charts amongst the niche community of readers in it.
POWERFUL GLOBAL WOMEN FOUNDATION
SUPPORTING WOMEN AND CHILDREN GLOBALLY (03RD APRIL 2021)
Powerful Global Women Foundation in collaboration Royalty Kids Montessori School present A one day easter retreat for children and teenagers. Theme of the program was: The Total Child. The program includes reason for the season, cinema, POP quiz, music, baking and losts more. Mrs. Josephine, Phillip Itsuokor (Proprietress, Royalty Kids) was present as host. Over 100 children were in attendance during the program.
POWERFUL GLOBAL WOMEN FOUNDATION
CHILDREN RETREAT EVENT (12TH SEPTEMBER 2020)
We had various workshops for them during the gathering. We also gave facemasks each child that was in attendance. Over one hundred children attended the event. They were all fed as part of our tradition to do. A massive thank you to Ross Swan for supporting our mission.
This project was led by our amazing Vice-president (Mrs Josephine Itsuokor).
POWERFUL GLOBAL WOMEN FOUNDATION
COVID-19 PROJECTS
As part of PGWF mission to support more families during this challenged time, we have been able to hold two projects (one in April and the other on 13th July 2020). We distributed food supplies to several families and orphanage homes.
Our team lead by Mrs Josephine Itsuokor (Vice-president of PGWF) made these projects a success. We will continue to reach out to more families through the support of our global partners.
VICE PRESIDENT
MRS JOSPHINE PHILIP ITSUOKOR
Powerful Global Women Foundation (Powerhouse Charity) was founded in 20l6 in Nigeria, West Africa, by Lady Anita Duckworth-Bradshaw. The core objective of this organization is to transform the lives of women and children, through various projects centred around the need of the service group.
In 20l6 Lady Anita single handedly fed over 400 children as part of “project feed l000 children globally”, and held an empowerment conference for the women. Through this project, so many women have gone to do great things with the knowledge they gained from the event.
She recently held a life transforming event for women in Lagos, Nigeria as part of International women’s month celebration 20l8. The turnout was very encouraging. She is working towards supporting more families to keep their children and wards in school through” project back-to-school” starting in September 20l8.
We are seeking for global support from individuals and organisations who would love to be a part of this service to humanity.
To support us, please visit: www.powerhouseglobalwomen.com or email womanthepowerhouse@gmail.com or powerhouseglobalmag@gmail.com
CHARITY PROJECT: As part of our Global Annual commitment, we were able to successfully complete project feed the children 2019 mission. Over 150 children were fed at this year’s event. Powerful Women Global Foundation (PGWF ) is a charity set up by Lady Anita Duckworth-Bradshaw in 2016. The service users are women and children. To support PGWF, please email womanthepowerhouse@gmail.com
