12 women graduate from inaugural Women’s Leadership Program

12 women on Thursday graduated from a 10-month Women’s Leadership Program (WLP) designed to sharpen effective leadership skills and provide participants with the clarity to define and achieve their personal and professional goals.

The program is designed and facilitated by the co-creators of 25 Influential Women Leaders Award. They are Founder and Chief Executive Officer of NICO Consulting Inc Michelle Nicholas and Lyndell Danzie-Black – Managing Director of Cerulean Inc.

“During each session over the last 10 months we engaged, we learnt, we connected,” Nicholas said while delivering remarks at the graduation ceremony on Thursday at the Cara Lodge Hotel, Georgetown.

She noted that every curated session gave participants the opportunity to be authentic, explore deep self-awareness, abide in commitment, advance their outstanding interpersonal skills and build on their ability to influence others positively.

Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Shamane Healdley said that the program has been “extremely empowering” as the graduates were exposed to a program which was designed for the participant’s holistic development.

“The program incorporated personal and professional development lessons, which were used as a tool towards leadership awareness and fulfillment,” she said.

“We were able to learn through training, coaching, and group and individual assignments and ofcourse our community service activities to help to forge bonds and connections, not only with each other but our communities as well,” She added.

Headley highlighted that the program provided the opportunity for the participants to connect with each other, exchange experiences, and learn from each other while forging their own leadership journey.

Delivering brief congratulatory remarks, United States Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch encouraged the graduates to continue learning, sharing, growing, and helping other women within their communities.

“The United States is committed to increasing women’s empowerment through investment, through financing and through support to help women realize their full potential and achieve economic empowerment through these are other similar initiatives,” she said.

Meanwhile, British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller reminded the graduates of what she described as key pieces of advice, that is to claim their seats, call out and support other women, and get a mentor.