My name is Gnagna Mariann KONATE.
I am the founder of Axis Intelligent
Strategy, a consulting firm specialized in Customer Relation Management whose
primary mission is to support companies that want to put the customer at the
heart of their development strategy. We offer tailored solutions to clients, on
issues regarding Customer
Relationship, Commercial Organization and Business Development Strategies. I am a curious and passionate
woman, who loves to create and develop by herself. I strongly believe in knowledge sharing based on the fact that we all have
something to learn from each other. This is the main reason that made me join
Jokkolabs, a nonprofit initiative based in Dakar (Senegal) that gathers a community of innovating
entrepreneurs who
believe in values like sharing and collaboration.
Strategy, a consulting firm specialized in Customer Relation Management whose
primary mission is to support companies that want to put the customer at the
heart of their development strategy. We offer tailored solutions to clients, on
issues regarding Customer
Relationship, Commercial Organization and Business Development Strategies. I am a curious and passionate
woman, who loves to create and develop by herself. I strongly believe in knowledge sharing based on the fact that we all have
something to learn from each other. This is the main reason that made me join
Jokkolabs, a nonprofit initiative based in Dakar (Senegal) that gathers a community of innovating
entrepreneurs who
believe in values like sharing and collaboration.
I am a member of the CJD
Senegal (Centre of Young Leaders), a labor movement that accompanies leaders
and entrepreneurs that are willing to implement a responsible and durable
dynamic as part of their
enterprise strategy. I was elected President of CJD Senegal for the 2016 to
2018 term. Very fond of literature, I hold a monthly chronicle called “Objectif Qualite” in the Reussir Business magazine (www.reussirbusiness.com), which covers subjects related to
Customer Relation and Quality of Service, and a blog – “Freelance Dakar” – which talks about my experience
as an entrepreneur and where I can share some good advices.
Senegal (Centre of Young Leaders), a labor movement that accompanies leaders
and entrepreneurs that are willing to implement a responsible and durable
dynamic as part of their
enterprise strategy. I was elected President of CJD Senegal for the 2016 to
2018 term. Very fond of literature, I hold a monthly chronicle called “Objectif Qualite” in the Reussir Business magazine (www.reussirbusiness.com), which covers subjects related to
Customer Relation and Quality of Service, and a blog – “Freelance Dakar” – which talks about my experience
as an entrepreneur and where I can share some good advices.
WHAT FUELS ME?
· Assertiveness:
I believe everyone can change their destiny if
they believe enough in
I believe everyone can change their destiny if
they believe enough in
themselves and their ability to do so. And I
strongly believe in my ability to change my own and also to help others to
change theirs.
strongly believe in my ability to change my own and also to help others to
change theirs.
· Learning: I deeply believe in the fact that everyone has something to
bring to others and that we all learn from each other. I feel lucky to meet new
people and to learn from them every day, which helps me move forward in my life
and projects
bring to others and that we all learn from each other. I feel lucky to meet new
people and to learn from them every day, which helps me move forward in my life
and projects
· Sharing: I think the future of our economy, as well as our personal
development is based on the sharing and pooling of our intelligence and
resources.
development is based on the sharing and pooling of our intelligence and
resources.
MY GREATEST INFLUENCE
During my first years in a top
Senegalese company, I had an in-house mentor, who helped me realize that I was
capable of much more than I thought and that I could reach the top if I wanted
to. He taught me to go after my dreams. His passing left a big gap but I woke
up every day willing to move forward as a way to honour his memory.
Senegalese company, I had an in-house mentor, who helped me realize that I was
capable of much more than I thought and that I could reach the top if I wanted
to. He taught me to go after my dreams. His passing left a big gap but I woke
up every day willing to move forward as a way to honour his memory.
THREE INDIVIDUALS I CONSIDER AS ROLE
MODELS:
MODELS:
I have many people that I admire out there, who
do a wonderful job on helping people and fighting for a better society. So
today, I choose to pick those following:
do a wonderful job on helping people and fighting for a better society. So
today, I choose to pick those following:
– Michelle Obama – because she fights to give girls all over the world
their chance to find their (right) place in society
their chance to find their (right) place in society
– Barack Obama – because he believed in his dreams, that he could make a
difference
difference
despite his difference
– Malala Yousafzai: because she is all that at once ?
IN FIVE YEARS….
For the next 5 years, I plan to build a structure
that helps young graduates/unemployed Senegalese to develop their employability
and increase their chances to position in the employment world. The
unemployment rate is extremely high in Senegal and although there is lots of
speeches about self-entrepreneurship, our young people are not equipped to make
their way in the job market: a simple job search is like an obstacle course for
them because they were never taught how to do it (Senegalese schools are very
technical and theoretical) My goal is to train them to develop their practical
skills (relational, communication (oral and written), producing documents…)
and teach them how to market themselves.
that helps young graduates/unemployed Senegalese to develop their employability
and increase their chances to position in the employment world. The
unemployment rate is extremely high in Senegal and although there is lots of
speeches about self-entrepreneurship, our young people are not equipped to make
their way in the job market: a simple job search is like an obstacle course for
them because they were never taught how to do it (Senegalese schools are very
technical and theoretical) My goal is to train them to develop their practical
skills (relational, communication (oral and written), producing documents…)
and teach them how to market themselves.
I am discussing the project with some friends
that have the same will to move things in Senegal
that have the same will to move things in Senegal
THE CHALLENGES WOMEN FACE IN AFRICA
African women evolve in patriarchal societies in
which they are struggling to position
which they are struggling to position
themselves: they suffer from discrimination on
tradition and social norms, they don’t have equal access to land and credit and
they still do not have the same opportunities as men to complete their
secondary education or to choose the profession they wish.
tradition and social norms, they don’t have equal access to land and credit and
they still do not have the same opportunities as men to complete their
secondary education or to choose the profession they wish.
However, women represent a real opportunity for
the development of Africa: they provide a significant share of goods and
services across borders (trade), they are predominant in agriculture (the
majority of players in the agriculture are cultivators) … My belief is that
we cannot develop a continent by putting aside half of its population. We need to
combat stereotypes to enable women to access more opportunities and contribute
to the growth of the African continent.
the development of Africa: they provide a significant share of goods and
services across borders (trade), they are predominant in agriculture (the
majority of players in the agriculture are cultivators) … My belief is that
we cannot develop a continent by putting aside half of its population. We need to
combat stereotypes to enable women to access more opportunities and contribute
to the growth of the African continent.
HOW DO I UNWIND?
I relax by doing meditation (every day) and Zumba
(2 times a week). Meditation enables me to refocus and calmly go through hectic
days Zumba allows me to work out and it just makes me feel good ?
(2 times a week). Meditation enables me to refocus and calmly go through hectic
days Zumba allows me to work out and it just makes me feel good ?
WHY THE AFRICAN WOMAN NEED TO BE INSPIRED,
CELEBRATED AND EMPOWERED
CELEBRATED AND EMPOWERED
When we speak of women as a chance for the
development of Africa, it is not a simple word game: women are more reliable
than men to repay their loans, they produce 80% of food resources in the
continent, they are less involved in corruption cases and they devote a larger share
of their income to the welfare of their children and their community. The full
expression of Africa’s resources will depend on the development of education,
freedom and employment opportunities for women. And it is in this perspective
that we must push and celebrate all women who work to develop their
communities, so that they serve as models for all other African women, to help
them realize that their Gender is not a curse but – on the contrary – an
opportunity.
development of Africa, it is not a simple word game: women are more reliable
than men to repay their loans, they produce 80% of food resources in the
continent, they are less involved in corruption cases and they devote a larger share
of their income to the welfare of their children and their community. The full
expression of Africa’s resources will depend on the development of education,
freedom and employment opportunities for women. And it is in this perspective
that we must push and celebrate all women who work to develop their
communities, so that they serve as models for all other African women, to help
them realize that their Gender is not a curse but – on the contrary – an
opportunity.
IF I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AT THE
AFRICAN UNION
AFRICAN UNION
If I had the privilege to work in the Africa
Union – in the women advocacy and empowerment department – I would choose to
work to provide access to a complete education for girls but also for women. I
believe that education is key in strengthening the confidence of these women but
also in providing them with tools to truly develop and break the glass ceiling.
Union – in the women advocacy and empowerment department – I would choose to
work to provide access to a complete education for girls but also for women. I
believe that education is key in strengthening the confidence of these women but
also in providing them with tools to truly develop and break the glass ceiling.
FINAL WORDS
As an African woman, I regret that I didn’t have
real female role models in my life and all the people who have pushed me to
realize myself were men. We, as Women and Leaders, must ensure that young girls
grow up identifying with us and thinking “I want to be that woman when I
grow up” and not just dream of “doing as men”
real female role models in my life and all the people who have pushed me to
realize myself were men. We, as Women and Leaders, must ensure that young girls
grow up identifying with us and thinking “I want to be that woman when I
grow up” and not just dream of “doing as men”
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