Women In News (WIN), an initiative of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), is hosting a two-day seminar in Gaborone in a bid to empower women in the male dominated media fraternity through mentorship, coaching, career road mapping and networking.
Officially opening the workshop, WIN Program Manager, Catherine Fulton, stated that they have realised “the lack of women in management positions in the media industry”.
Fulton indicated that the 2012 program was primarily focusing on “Developing leadership skills in the participants to the program”.
International coach and Executive coach, Suzanne Moll and Beth Oakes, gave the Freshmen (first time attendants), sophomores (second time attendants) and the graduates of the program tips and pointers on defining goals and meeting them. During their joint presentation, Oakes and Molls stressed that time management is imperative to execute a clear career road map and that through the WIN programme, all the participants are given an “Opportunity to broaden their knowledge base.”
First time Botswana National Coach, Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Confederation of Commerce Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM), Ms Maria Machailo Ellis, gave a presentation to participants on leadership in the workplace.
Ellis stated the importance of staying positive in the workplace despite the environment and working conditions one may find themselves in. She further stated that it was also important not to allow oneself to be overwhelmed by emotions in confrontational situations and that with time one would ultimately reap the desired rewards of the efforts that have been put into their work.
One of the graduates, Chandapiwa Baputaki, gave a stellar presentation on professionalism in the workplace where issues of personal presentation, basic etiquette and mannerism were raised and scrutinised. It was ultimately decided that an organisation mirrors its employers and it was the responsibility of every worker in the organisation from top management to uphold the highest level of professionalism and adhere to codes of ethics and company policies.
One of the Freshmen, Tebatso Kgakge, a Production manager, stated that, when attending this workshop she had hoped to get, “Fulfilment and how to balance my personal life and my career.” From a sophomore’s perspective Baboki Kayawe, a reporter, indicated that through the WIN program, she “developed focus and now I know what I want and what I want to achieve in the newsroom”.
Also aiding with the day to day proceedings and presentations were National Mentor for Botswana, Caroline Phiri-Lubikwa and Special Advisor for Botswana, Beata Kasale.
The next international WIN gathering is scheduled for December 2012 in Lusaka, Zambia, where there will be participants and coaches from Namibia, Botswana and Zambia.
