Every year for the past 14 years, The Fortune- U.S Department of state Women’s Mentoring Partnership selects a few professional women from across the world and engages them in a three-week mentorship program. The program, which is a public-private partnership between Fortune Most Powerful Women, the U.S Department of State and Vital Voices Global Partnership draws on the expertise of America’s most powerful and accomplished leaders (women) to enhance the leadership and business skills of selected persons.
Activities involved include skills trainings, networking events, panel discussions and a ten-day mentorship with top female executives and their teams. The aim of the program is to equip selected mentees with critical leadership skills that they can in turn, pay forward by giving back within their communities.
This year, Nigeria’s Sarah Inya Lawal has been paired with mentor Dina Powell, an investment Banker with Goldman Sachs who once served as Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Sarah is the Founder of Africa Children’s Creative Network, an NGO that aims to celebrate African children in general and creatives. She is also a talent manager, producer and business development manager and the founder of Ascend Talent Management. Other Mentees are Val Jusufi, Silvana Gonzalez, Sarbinda KC, Ranjana Naik, Manohari Abeyesekera, Lwazi Manzi, Ljiljana Vukelic, Lerato Thekiso, Karthini Mahendranathan, Innocentia Dogbe, Hend Osama, Hanna Hieronimczuk, Glenis Yee, Catalina Maria Alvarex, Anna Aulchenko, Akshi Khandelwal Bhutani, Dorcas Amakobe and Saadatu Abdullahi of Nigeria too. Saadatu uses her initiative, Open Arms Institute to enhance the chances of children with learning disabilities in Kaduna, Nigeria.
Mentees were selected from countries including Bosnia and Hezegovina, Colombia, Egypt, Fiji, Ghana, India, Kenya, North Marcedona, Malaysia, Poland, Russia, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Congratulations to Her!