Marie-Therese Phido

Chief Responsibility Officer, Elevato & Associates, Business Columnist, Women Empowerment Advocate, Editor/Publisher Boundless Magazine, Non-Executive Director, IDMON, Sales & Marketing Strategist and Business Coach

WHAT FUELS ME?

Determination

Excellence

Vision

MY GREATEST INFLUENCE:

The values I learnt in Andersen. We believed in these values and lived them, especially when our leaders also portrayed these values in all they did.

 

MY TOP THREE ROLE MODELS:

  • Barack Obama – shattering the glass ceiling and becoming the first black man to become President of America
  • Mo Abudu – making great strides as a woman entrepreneur
  • Catherine Bickersteth – for her kindness and support to other women

 

IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS…..

 

THE AFRICAN WOMAN’S CHALLENGE:

Women Empowerment is very important to me, being the first of five girls and the mother of 2 girls and no son nor brother.  I believe women have been pegged and are only given feminine roles or quota roles in most establishments.  There is a lot stereotyping when women try to leave the perceived position that they have been given which is very unfortunate as they have a lot to offer.  Many women are also hesitant about entering certain fields supposedly designated for men e.g. STEM fields, because of the conditioning they have had all their lives and told that these are roles for men.  Men tend to sometimes deride and are unsupportive of the women we are determined to leave the status quo.  Read more !

  • The girl child needs to be trained from inception to know that the sky is the limit if they strive they can achieve anything they put their minds to.

 

 WHAT I DO TO RELAX:

Reading and traveling.

 

MY   –   I.C.E. [INSPIRE|CELEBRATE|EMPOWER] VISION

The African Woman is disadvantaged by the role society has placed on her.  She is meant to be seen but not heard most of the time.  She is also the one who bears the negative outcome of issues and challenges in her family and community.  The norm in Nigeria of today, in most families, is that most women are the breadwinner.

In view of these challenges, she needs to be celebrated and empowered.  Most women need to be educated to the highest level and supported to succeed in whatever they decide to do be it vocational or professional.

 

MY AFRICAN UNION PLANS:

Business Coaching and Mentoring

FINAL WORDS OF ADVICE:

Aim to get to the highest level of whatever you want to do and never be deterred by naysayers.