AUTHENTIC, INCLUSIVE, IMPACTFUL, STRATEGIC, LEADERSHIP
These powerful words describe the focus of the WomenLift Global Health Conference in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (April 6-8, 2024). More than 900 delegates gathered to build networks and leadership skills, mentor, inspire, empower, and champion women leaders to close the gender gap in health leadership.
It was so rewarding to be surround by leaders, colleagues, and friends whom I admire. The event was more than a conference – it was an opportunity to participate in thought-provoking conversations and challenge traditional conventions of leadership.
Amie Batson, President of WomenLift Health, kicked off the conference by telling the crowd that good leadership looks like collaboration, authenticity, empathy, and comfort with ambiguity: “Who leads and how they lead matters.” Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand, said that elevating more women into leadership positions is a “no brainer” and “unless you have women in leadership, you don’t get the decisions or policy you need.”
I was blown away by the truth and vulnerability shared by Evelyne Opondo, Paurvi Bhatt, Olivia Velez, Alison Varco, and Brooke Cutler during their panel on the first day. Through their personal stories, they shared the link between caregiving, gender equity, and leadership. I walked away inspired by the caregiving movement and the strength and resilience it requires.
Of course, I attended as many sessions as I could on research and data for change. Standouts were the panel on gender equity and inclusivity in LMIC research mentorship, especially Dr Ogechukwu B Aribodor’s presentation on the Seeds of Leadership. There are so many parallels with the Thrive Fellowship we’ve been developing at Databoom. I also enjoyed hearing about ripple effect research from Hannah Berrian from Redress Liberia. I see potential applications for this methodology on some of Databoom’s projects.
The last day’s plenary focused on the role of male allies with reflections from Dana Hovig and Wessel Van den Berg from Equimundo. Wessel shared that one important way to give space to female colleagues is for men to physically step away from work: “It’s time for men to do the invisible work at home as part of male allyship in the workplace.”
Far and away, the best part of the conference was the opportunity for connection, and I got lots of it. Six of my 2022 leadership cohort sisters – Natalie Meyers, Olivia Velez, Samara Andrade, Susan A. Wang, Jacquelyn Caglia, and Lanice C. Williams – made me laugh and smile for three straight days. And then there were the colleagues I reconnected with after several years and the women I met from the other WomenLift cohorts from East Africa, India, and North America.
