Speech

Closing Address to the attendees of The African Women in Agribusiness Network’s Leadership & Entrepreneurship Workshop

Ms. Cheryl Anderson, USAID Regional Deputy Director

 | Thursday, February 24, 2005

Ladies and Gentleman:

I feel sparks. Wow. There’s a great energy in this room. It’s the energy of female empowerment. Can you feel it? This network didn’t exist three years ago, look at you now! I’m so impressed. Thanks for having me here to experience it with you. I’m very flattered.

From an idea, a good idea, but nevertheless, just an idea, I see here today a network of very savvy business women -150 women from 7 countries.  I’m told you are just “finding” your communal voice. But trust me, you are there. I can hear you. And if you pick up the phone to COMESA, speaking in that strong, communal voice, I can guarantee you COMESA’s going to hear you!

African women have been disempowered for so long. Too many have internalized it. Too many believed that if they voiced their business needs they’d be laughed at instead of supported. Well for years business men worldwide have known that nobody gives you anything for free and especially if you don’t ask for it. That’s the way life is. Ladies: lobby for the regional and international policy changes you need to expand your businesses. If you speak in that one voice you will find you will get what you need to go forward.  

This network – your network - is at a critical juncture. Each woman here is standing at the same crossroad. You’re successful to the point of wondering which way to go. How do I expand my business? You’ve got growing pains. You are getting too big not to expand. You don’t want to lose the momentum. In business they say, momentum is everything.  

In real estate they have their own special motivational acronym. A.B.C.: Always Be Closing. You’ve had the wonderful opportunity this week to hear from real people, who occupy the really big offices at the highest levels of some of the most successful companies, like Africa Online and Wainanchi.com. Big names: William Edbe of Coca Cola. Peter Ondeng, former CEO of NEPAD’s Kenya Secretariat and an outstanding leader in economic development in Africa, to name but a few. These are people who have made their way from the ground up armed with nothing but a good idea.

And what did they tell you? They gave you a more important motivational acronym. ABP. Always be Planning.

I have to tell you I am very attuned to where you are right now.  In many ways I am at that same place. I’ve just recently moved into my position as Deputy Director of the Regional Office at USAID.  You’d think that would be a leadership position and of course it is. It’s a lot to aspire to, being a good leader. It’s a lot of responsibility.

Many of us have learned the hard way, what you’ve been told this week.

You cannot lead if you do not inspire.

You do not inspire without buy-in.

Without the buy-in of those you lead or those who want to give you money so you can lead.

People need to know that you are certain about not only where you are going, but how you’re going to get there.  People don’t need to believe you’ve necessarily been in their trenches. Only that you’ve been in your own. And that you made your way out. They need to know that you can lead them through the tough times as well as those sunny - but rare - days on easy street. That takes more than leadership. That takes management.

We all know about - and history is littered with - good leaders who have commanded respect, inspired loyalty and failed miserably. The reality is life’s great leaders have always been great managers as well.

Now, this is what I believe great management is about.  First and foremost great management requires clear vision. Not just the ability to see into the distance. But to see beyond the horizon. To anticipate. Not just knowing where you want to go, but seeing the potholes along the road that’s taking you there. If you can see what’s coming and know how to plan for it, how to deal with it, then you can make a great business plan about how to get where you want to go.  If you have that great plan, you won’t have to look very far for investors or partners. The merger of leadership and management makes all the difference.

But like any group that has needed empowerment in the past, remember: you’re empowerment comes not just from your ideas and your successes. Historically you must remember empowerment comes from working together and speaking in one voice.  

You’ve had so many people here this week that have inspired you to grow your businesses. But Ladies: As you consider growing your businesses remember: competition is good. Competition breeds ideas and success. I beg you. Now that I see how far you’ve come in so short a time, I’m reminding you: Don’t seek success at the expense of your sisters. Because without your sisters you are not empowered.

Speak in one voice. You and your sisters are confident now! You are motivated now. You don’t let even the memory of former disempowerment slow you down now. I’m so proud we fund AWAN. I’m so inspired by your success.

Great aerialists say “Never look down.”

I met a successful business woman who, at 75 years old, was a tremendous inspiration to me. To be successful at 75 as a woman in what was then the male-dominated New York Fashion world of the 1970s, you have to believe she had to fight many difficult battles to  get where she ended up.

One day I asked her: What is the most important thing to remember as a woman in business?  I was a bit surprised by the gravity in her eyes and her voice when she told me: “Never look back.”

So this is what I want to leave you with today. Go forward. Don’t lose the momentum you found this week. Don’t look back, don’t remember feeling disempowered. And most important. Don’t lose the love of your sisters as you go.

Thank you very much and good luck.