FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Women Leading Change Program?
The Women Leading Change Program is a transformational leadership program created for mid-career East African women who aspire to positions of increasing responsibility and impact in their organizations and communities. The unique approach combines best practices in building new skills and shifting into more empowering mindsets. Graduates report powerful transformations within themselves resulting in improved relationships, increased leadership impact, increased confidence, and progress toward overarching life goals.
How do I benefit from the program?
When is the next program?
The Women Leading Change Program is a transformational leadership program created for mid-career East African women who aspire to positions of increasing responsibility and impact in their organizations and communities. The unique approach combines best practices in building new skills and shifting into more empowering mindsets. Graduates report powerful transformations within themselves resulting in improved relationships, increased leadership impact, increased confidence, and progress toward overarching life goals.
How do I benefit from the program?
- You will develop a deeper understanding of yourself as a person and a leader.
- You will clarify the change you want to see in the world, your community, and/or your workplace and develop a plan of how to begin to lead that change.
- You will build and strengthen skills and mindsets needed for effective and impactful leadership.
- You will build a strong network of like-minded women leaders.
When is the next program?
- August 19-23, 2024: in person at the University of Dar es Salaam Business School (Tanzania), from 08.30u - 16.30u each day.
- September to December 2024: virtual 60-min one on one coaching sessions (Please note: these are required to obtain a graduation certificate.)
Who will teach the program?
The in-person program (all five days of content) will be facilitated by the Amani Institute in Kenya, with expert facilitators Caroline Gertsch and Theresa Ojiambo. Special guest speakers include Dr. Neema Mori from the University of Dar es Salaam Business School.
Where is the program?
The in-person program (all five days of content) will be at the University of Dar es Salaam Business School (UDBS). Signs will direct you to the classroom once you arrive at UDBS.
The virtual coaching will be conducted either by Whatsapp audio or video call.
Will there be parking?
Yes.
What food will be provided?
The in-person program (all five days of content) will be facilitated by the Amani Institute in Kenya, with expert facilitators Caroline Gertsch and Theresa Ojiambo. Special guest speakers include Dr. Neema Mori from the University of Dar es Salaam Business School.
Where is the program?
The in-person program (all five days of content) will be at the University of Dar es Salaam Business School (UDBS). Signs will direct you to the classroom once you arrive at UDBS.
The virtual coaching will be conducted either by Whatsapp audio or video call.
Will there be parking?
Yes.
What food will be provided?
- Breakfast - everyday
- Lunch - everyday
- Dinner - Monday and Friday
Please watch the video below to hear alumni share their experience.
How is this program different from other leadership programs?
The Women Leading Change Program delivers profound transformation in two unique ways: through mindset shifts and coaching.
Mindset Shifts
Many leadership programs focus on new skills and behaviors. The Women Leading Change Program focus is on increasing self awareness and shifting internal mindsets. New skills and behaviors are like downloading a new app on your smartphone, you have the capacity to do one new thing well. New mindsets are like downloading a new operating system on your smartphone, you have the capacity to process more, make more efficient decisions, and simply operate more effectively. For example, a leadership program might include instruction on how to receive feedback. If the mindset around feedback is 'feedback from others means I am doing something wrong and I am a bad leader,' the graduate's behavior won't change despite the new best practices she has been trained on. If that same leadership program invited the participant to identify her disempowering belief about feedback and offered an opportunity for her to shift her belief about feedback to, 'Feedback is the secret to growing as a leader. Great leaders seek feedback every day so they can better understand their impact on others and constantly grow.' This leader would be very different upon graduation, they would seek feedback easily and not avoid it.
Coaching
As described above, our classroom training invites participants to see themselves and the world with more empowered mindsets. Research suggests that with this new perspective, about 10% of participants will go out into the world and change their behavior. Others will fall back into old patterns and habits. The Women Leading Change Program does not stop at classroom training. Upon completion of the classroom part of the program, participants are assigned a leadership coach. Coaches and leaders meet one on one for four one-hour sessions. During these sessions, coaches offer one part accountability and one part support for leaders as their commitments from class face contact with the complexities and challenges of the real world. With this support in place, gently keeping participants on target to achieve their commitments, the likelihood of transformation changes from 10% to 80-90%.
This is how this looks in an example:Imagine your commitment is to improve your relationship with your boss. You leave the classroom training feeling inspired and ready. And by Monday morning, without the positive energy of 29 other amazing leaders, some of your confidence fades. You don’t schedule a meeting with your boss. Then you attend a call with your coach a few days later. Your coach will ask: "What is your commitment? What is important to you about improving your relationship with your boss? What's one small step you can take in the next 72 hours? What does success look like? How will you use your values to have this conversation?" You may even decide to role play the conversation with your coach in order to prepare. Your coach will offer feedback on what works well and what else you might try. You leave the conversation refreshed and newly committed to your goal. And you know that in 3 weeks when you have your second conversation with your coach, she is going to ask how your conversation with your boss went. So you power through the discomfort and finally initiate the courageous conversation with your boss. Perhaps some parts of the conversation go well and some parts are still a struggle. On your second call with your coach, she will ask you questions about how the conversation went, what you learned, and what you will try for future conversations. Your coach is 100% in your corner to support your development.
What is coaching?
Coaching is a powerful leadership development tool. A coach's top priority is to support the Women Leading Change participant's goals. Some examples of participant goals are: I want to open a new business; I want to improve my relationship with my spouse and children; I want to find more work-life balance; I want to feel more engagement and joy at work; I want to apply for a promotion; or I want to live more fully into my purpose of serving children. These specific goals are designed fully by the participants and are not dictated by the facilitators or coaches. A coach brings questions to help leaders clarify their goals and break them down into achievable action steps.
A coach helps leaders achieve their goals via one on one confidential sessions. During these whatsapp calls, the coach primarily brings questions and reflections. [see example described above] A coach does not tell a leader what to do. A coach asks questions to give the leader space to hear their own thinking on a particular challenge. The leader has the opportunity to tap into their own wisdom and get more clear about what is important to them and how they will achieve their goals. The coach is an expert in using questions to draw out the intrinsic motivations of the leader. The leader is an expert in their own context, values, strengths, and goals. The combination of these two things in one conversation leads to powerful and transformational results.
Who are the coaches?
Women Leading Change graduates from Tanzania and Kenya who have specifically been trained in the International Coach Federation standards.
Will I earn a certificate?
Yes. You will receive a certificate upon completion of the fourth month of coaching. Your certificate will be provided and signed by the University of Dar es Salaam Business School.
What if I have a conflict and have to miss a day?
- Our training needs full participation from the beginning to the end, and we encourage you to prepare for full participation prior to the training.
- If you are unable to attend all five days of class and all four coaching sessions, you will not be eligible for the graduation certificate. As the content builds on itself, we request you kindly only apply if you are able to attend every session AND the four months of coaching.
What's the Welcome Webinar?
A Welcome Webinar is a one-hour virtual gathering one week before the classroom session. It gives participants the opportunity to meet classmates, facilitators, coaches, and administrators of the Women Leading Change Program. This can significantly decrease stress and increase excitement for the program. The Welcome Webinar also provides participants with clarity on what they can expect and what they need to do to prepare for the program. Participants have the opportunity to ask questions and meet their new sisters.
Will the webinar be recorded?
No. Participation is mandatory for the training and will assist in preparation to maximize a beneficial learning experience in the classroom.
What technology do I need?
For the in-person session, you only need to show up! For the coaching sessions, you and your assigned coach will decide if you want to do whatsapp or phone sessions.
A Welcome Webinar is a one-hour virtual gathering one week before the classroom session. It gives participants the opportunity to meet classmates, facilitators, coaches, and administrators of the Women Leading Change Program. This can significantly decrease stress and increase excitement for the program. The Welcome Webinar also provides participants with clarity on what they can expect and what they need to do to prepare for the program. Participants have the opportunity to ask questions and meet their new sisters.
Will the webinar be recorded?
No. Participation is mandatory for the training and will assist in preparation to maximize a beneficial learning experience in the classroom.
What technology do I need?
For the in-person session, you only need to show up! For the coaching sessions, you and your assigned coach will decide if you want to do whatsapp or phone sessions.
What is the cost?
The total cost of this program is USD 3,000 per participant. We have secured donations to cover the majority of this cost. However, each participant is responsible for USD 250, covering five-day tuition fees, course material, and four months of one-on-one coaching. The price may be paid by yourself or by your employer.
The total cost of this program is USD 3,000 per participant. We have secured donations to cover the majority of this cost. However, each participant is responsible for USD 250, covering five-day tuition fees, course material, and four months of one-on-one coaching. The price may be paid by yourself or by your employer.
Can I pay these fees in installments?
Yes. You can pay your fees in installments, however, the full amount will be due August 12th, 2024.
What are the Covid protocols?
Yes. You can pay your fees in installments, however, the full amount will be due August 12th, 2024.
What are the Covid protocols?
- Sanitizers will be provided.
- Masks are optional and will be provided.
Are travel and accommodation covered in the program fee?
No. Travel and accommodation for the in-person training are your responsibility. We have accommodation recommendations that come with a special rate for Women Leading Change participants.
No. Travel and accommodation for the in-person training are your responsibility. We have accommodation recommendations that come with a special rate for Women Leading Change participants.
Are there any scholarships available?
Yes. Scholarships are available to cover the participant fee and/or to cover travel, room, and/or board expenses. Applications are assessed on an individual level based upon need.
Yes. Scholarships are available to cover the participant fee and/or to cover travel, room, and/or board expenses. Applications are assessed on an individual level based upon need.
How do I apply for a scholarship?
As part of the program's registration process, you can submit a letter with your motivation (max. 250 words), the total scholarship amount you apply for, and a breakdown of these anticipated costs.
As part of the program's registration process, you can submit a letter with your motivation (max. 250 words), the total scholarship amount you apply for, and a breakdown of these anticipated costs.
Do I need to be fluent in English?
Yes please. The instruction and materials will be in English.
Yes please. The instruction and materials will be in English.
Is this course only for women?
Yes. We acknowledge the unique barriers women in East Africa face when leading change and this curriculum was specifically designed to address these.
Yes. We acknowledge the unique barriers women in East Africa face when leading change and this curriculum was specifically designed to address these.
Is this course only for Kenyans?
No. This course is intended for women from and living in East African countries.
No. This course is intended for women from and living in East African countries.
When are applications due?
22 July 2024.
When will I be notified?
28 July 2024.
22 July 2024.
When will I be notified?
28 July 2024.
Will I receive a selection letter?
Yes. If you are selected to attend the program, you will receive a letter detailing the expectations, cost, and logistical details. You can use this letter to communicate with your employer and gain approval for participation.
Yes. If you are selected to attend the program, you will receive a letter detailing the expectations, cost, and logistical details. You can use this letter to communicate with your employer and gain approval for participation.
Who is the target audience for this class?
Program participants are East African women leaders from entrepreneurial, business, banking, government, non-profit and other sectors who aspire to positions of increasing responsibility and influence.
Program participants are East African women leaders from entrepreneurial, business, banking, government, non-profit and other sectors who aspire to positions of increasing responsibility and influence.
Who can I contact if I have more questions?
If you still have questions, please contact Ms. Neema Harold, Women Leading Change Director, at +255 759 626 347 or wlc.udbs@gmail.com.
If you still have questions, please contact Ms. Neema Harold, Women Leading Change Director, at +255 759 626 347 or wlc.udbs@gmail.com.
Are you ready to apply?
Follow this link and complete the online form:
Follow this link and complete the online form: