today I’m going to be speaking about a few controversial things I know we keep
few controversial things I know we keep
few controversial things I know we keep talking about yes we need equality
talking about yes we need equality
talking about yes we need equality you know women need to get there but I I
you know women need to get there but I I
you know women need to get there but I I have a few thoughts and ideas around
have a few thoughts and ideas around
have a few thoughts and ideas around this I believe that as women we’ve
this I believe that as women we’ve
this I believe that as women we’ve achieved quite a lot quite a bit I have
achieved quite a lot quite a bit I have
achieved quite a lot quite a bit I have a story and that story occurred when I
a story and that story occurred when I
a story and that story occurred when I was growing up I don’t know how many of
was growing up I don’t know how many of
was growing up I don’t know how many of you would remember in the old days there
you would remember in the old days there
you would remember in the old days there was a popular Ghanaian drama series
was a popular Ghanaian drama series
was a popular Ghanaian drama series called a suffered a Z which I absolutely
called a suffered a Z which I absolutely
called a suffered a Z which I absolutely enjoyed however it was the theme song
enjoyed however it was the theme song
enjoyed however it was the theme song that didn’t do it for me you know and it
that didn’t do it for me you know and it
that didn’t do it for me you know and it went like I don’t know if you remember
went like I don’t know if you remember
went like I don’t know if you remember this the theme song we are girl we yes
this the theme song we are girl we yes
this the theme song we are girl we yes ever knows where we are going we know we
ever knows where we are going we know we
ever knows where we are going we know we will great you know I’m so glad you
will great you know I’m so glad you
will great you know I’m so glad you remember it was a fantastic drama series
remember it was a fantastic drama series
remember it was a fantastic drama series but I really didn’t like the theme song
but I really didn’t like the theme song
but I really didn’t like the theme song and in my childhood I assumed I didn’t
and in my childhood I assumed I didn’t
and in my childhood I assumed I didn’t like the theme song because it’s sort of
like the theme song because it’s sort of
like the theme song because it’s sort of you know marked the end of a lovely
you know marked the end of a lovely
you know marked the end of a lovely Sunday and my bedtime as a child and
Sunday and my bedtime as a child and
Sunday and my bedtime as a child and heralded the dreaded Monday morning at
heralded the dreaded Monday morning at
heralded the dreaded Monday morning at school however as I grew up I realized
school however as I grew up I realized
school however as I grew up I realized why I didn’t quite like the theme song
why I didn’t quite like the theme song
why I didn’t quite like the theme song it’s because I believe that we need to
it’s because I believe that we need to
it’s because I believe that we need to know where we are going we need to have
know where we are going we need to have
know where we are going we need to have a plan
a plan
a plan need to prepare we can’t just assume you
need to prepare we can’t just assume you
need to prepare we can’t just assume you know that yes we are going and heaven
know that yes we are going and heaven
know that yes we are going and heaven knows where we are going we must have a
knows where we are going we must have a
knows where we are going we must have a plan so I hope this is something we can
plan so I hope this is something we can
plan so I hope this is something we can all take take home I’m going to say a
all take take home I’m going to say a
all take take home I’m going to say a few stories and I will start with one
few stories and I will start with one
few stories and I will start with one such story I actually have a slide which
such story I actually have a slide which
such story I actually have a slide which great and I’d like you to just take a
great and I’d like you to just take a
great and I’d like you to just take a quick glance at the people you see on
quick glance at the people you see on
quick glance at the people you see on this slide I am sure you can make all of
this slide I am sure you can make all of
this slide I am sure you can make all of them out I’m sure you can see our chief
them out I’m sure you can see our chief
them out I’m sure you can see our chief justice Georgina Theodora would a very
justice Georgina Theodora would a very
justice Georgina Theodora would a very special person at this time I electro
special person at this time I electro
special person at this time I electro commissioner Charlotte oh say patience a
commissioner Charlotte oh say patience a
commissioner Charlotte oh say patience a channel of Barclays Bank Theresa May
channel of Barclays Bank Theresa May
channel of Barclays Bank Theresa May Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland Angela Merkel Chancellor of Germany no
Angela Merkel Chancellor of Germany no
Angela Merkel Chancellor of Germany no Cod RIA MD of Lowell enters an advantage
Cod RIA MD of Lowell enters an advantage
Cod RIA MD of Lowell enters an advantage group sure you see so many more the CEO
group sure you see so many more the CEO
group sure you see so many more the CEO of Yahoo we also see the iMF Managing
of Yahoo we also see the iMF Managing
of Yahoo we also see the iMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde so many more
Director Christine Lagarde so many more
Director Christine Lagarde so many more I could actually stand here for the next
I could actually stand here for the next
I could actually stand here for the next 48 hours going through a roll call of
48 hours going through a roll call of
48 hours going through a roll call of female achievers who have done so much
female achievers who have done so much
female achievers who have done so much so I believe that it’s about time women
so I believe that it’s about time women
so I believe that it’s about time women stop guessing themselves we have
stop guessing themselves we have
stop guessing themselves we have achieved a lot we need to stop guessing
achieved a lot we need to stop guessing
achieved a lot we need to stop guessing ourselves we have today so many women
ourselves we have today so many women
ourselves we have today so many women climbing atop the corporate ladder and
climbing atop the corporate ladder and
climbing atop the corporate ladder and climbing in their stilettos in their
climbing in their stilettos in their
climbing in their stilettos in their wedges in their platforms in their
wedges in their platforms in their
wedges in their platforms in their trainers
trainers
trainers and achieving great things and making
and achieving great things and making
and achieving great things and making such a positive difference we have women
such a positive difference we have women
such a positive difference we have women who are impacting the lives of so many
who are impacting the lives of so many
who are impacting the lives of so many women whose decisions when they take
women whose decisions when they take
women whose decisions when they take them have far-reaching consequences in
them have far-reaching consequences in
them have far-reaching consequences in their communities and across the globe
their communities and across the globe
their communities and across the globe now I have another little story to tell
now I have another little story to tell
now I have another little story to tell you a few years ago we had the
you a few years ago we had the
you a few years ago we had the unfortunate loss of our president
unfortunate loss of our president
unfortunate loss of our president professor John Evans a Tamils and he was
professor John Evans a Tamils and he was
professor John Evans a Tamils and he was interred at the Marine Drive in osoo
interred at the Marine Drive in osoo
interred at the Marine Drive in osoo which we properly call assumed JPAC my
which we properly call assumed JPAC my
which we properly call assumed JPAC my kids were eager to go and visit that
kids were eager to go and visit that
kids were eager to go and visit that become quite a bit of an attraction and
become quite a bit of an attraction and
become quite a bit of an attraction and in the words of my teenage daughter
in the words of my teenage daughter
in the words of my teenage daughter Andrea Mommy we have to go there I do
Andrea Mommy we have to go there I do
Andrea Mommy we have to go there I do not want to be social media bankrupt so
not want to be social media bankrupt so
not want to be social media bankrupt so we went and as we got there we were
we went and as we got there we were
we went and as we got there we were trying to park and suddenly this
trying to park and suddenly this
trying to park and suddenly this gentleman very irate comes out and
gentleman very irate comes out and
gentleman very irate comes out and speaks in the local language the
speaks in the local language the
speaks in the local language the language of Accra Ghana where nawa who
language of Accra Ghana where nawa who
language of Accra Ghana where nawa who need nama Paki
need nama Paki
need nama Paki you know so of course my driver was a
you know so of course my driver was a
you know so of course my driver was a bit perturbed and cause well this is
bit perturbed and cause well this is
bit perturbed and cause well this is public access and we can park here and
public access and we can park here and
public access and we can park here and the gentleman goes no you can’t mean war
the gentleman goes no you can’t mean war
the gentleman goes no you can’t mean war mean Paki oh now to translate what does
mean Paki oh now to translate what does
mean Paki oh now to translate what does irate man is saying who should move for
irate man is saying who should move for
irate man is saying who should move for you to pack he mows so he expects to
you to pack he mows so he expects to
you to pack he mows so he expects to park there and this public access is
park there and this public access is
park there and this public access is right in front of his house you know
right in front of his house you know
right in front of his house you know after calming nerves down in parking
after calming nerves down in parking
after calming nerves down in parking might take home from this little
might take home from this little
might take home from this little incident was that as women we need to
incident was that as women we need to
incident was that as women we need to learn to carve our own parts we cannot
learn to carve our own parts we cannot
learn to carve our own parts we cannot afford to be given anything on a silver
afford to be given anything on a silver
afford to be given anything on a silver platter it mustn’t be expecting quotas
platter it mustn’t be expecting quotas
platter it mustn’t be expecting quotas you know that we need a quota for women
you know that we need a quota for women
you know that we need a quota for women women we need a quota for women to do
women we need a quota for women to do
women we need a quota for women to do this we must build our own capacity and
this we must build our own capacity and
this we must build our own capacity and get there we must take our future into
get there we must take our future into
get there we must take our future into our lands and we must make sure that
our lands and we must make sure that
our lands and we must make sure that what we are able to now Park in the
what we are able to now Park in the
what we are able to now Park in the boardrooms in the seats of government
boardrooms in the seats of government
boardrooms in the seats of government and in the corridors of power have
and in the corridors of power have
and in the corridors of power have another little story and this evening is
another little story and this evening is
another little story and this evening is all about stories
all about stories
all about stories that’s so much you know that as women we
that’s so much you know that as women we
that’s so much you know that as women we begin to feel that well should I really
begin to feel that well should I really
begin to feel that well should I really be doing this you know but I want you to
be doing this you know but I want you to
be doing this you know but I want you to just think about how a man buys a pair
just think about how a man buys a pair
just think about how a man buys a pair of shoes and the men in this audience
of shoes and the men in this audience
of shoes and the men in this audience and I believe my husband is here too
and I believe my husband is here too
and I believe my husband is here too they get into the shop they go directly
they get into the shop they go directly
they get into the shop they go directly pick a pair of shoes try them on
pick a pair of shoes try them on
pick a pair of shoes try them on take a look stamp your feet look around
take a look stamp your feet look around
take a look stamp your feet look around go straight to the cashier and pick it
go straight to the cashier and pick it
go straight to the cashier and pick it up they make a purchase now here is how
up they make a purchase now here is how
up they make a purchase now here is how women buy a pair of shoes first of all
women buy a pair of shoes first of all
women buy a pair of shoes first of all we stand at the window and we look at
we stand at the window and we look at
we stand at the window and we look at all the shoes on display then we get
all the shoes on display then we get
all the shoes on display then we get into the shop and when we get into the
into the shop and when we get into the
into the shop and when we get into the shop we take five different pairs we
shop we take five different pairs we
shop we take five different pairs we look for color will look for style we
look for color will look for style we
look for color will look for style we look for with we look for height and
look for with we look for height and
look for with we look for height and then we sit and we try them out and then
then we sit and we try them out and then
then we sit and we try them out and then we ask the opinion of average shoppers
we ask the opinion of average shoppers
we ask the opinion of average shoppers how does this look we take a 12 here and
how does this look we take a 12 here and
how does this look we take a 12 here and there then pick another paying this is a
there then pick another paying this is a
there then pick another paying this is a sixth pay try it on and then decide
sixth pay try it on and then decide
sixth pay try it on and then decide which pair we are getting and then we
which pair we are getting and then we
which pair we are getting and then we make a purchase and when we make that
make a purchase and when we make that
make a purchase and when we make that purchase we’ve made the purchase because
purchase we’ve made the purchase because
purchase we’ve made the purchase because we know it’s the best fit it’s the best
we know it’s the best fit it’s the best
we know it’s the best fit it’s the best style
style
style it’s the
it’s the
it’s the best color and it has rave reviews so
best color and it has rave reviews so
best color and it has rave reviews so this is I’m sure you can deduce that as
this is I’m sure you can deduce that as
this is I’m sure you can deduce that as women we are very analytical in our
women we are very analytical in our
women we are very analytical in our thinking we take decisions not of the
thinking we take decisions not of the
thinking we take decisions not of the cuff we really look around us we seek
cuff we really look around us we seek
cuff we really look around us we seek the opinion of others and we take a
the opinion of others and we take a
the opinion of others and we take a decision we need to realize that women
decision we need to realize that women
decision we need to realize that women in position in in decision-making
in position in in decision-making
in position in in decision-making positions work so much better in the
positions work so much better in the
positions work so much better in the recent credits with gender report of
recent credits with gender report of
recent credits with gender report of September this year they did mention
September this year they did mention
September this year they did mention that the research showed that women
that the research showed that women
that the research showed that women companies that hire had higher
companies that hire had higher
companies that hire had higher participation of women in
participation of women in
participation of women in decision-making were more profitable
decision-making were more profitable
decision-making were more profitable they had higher margins so what are we
they had higher margins so what are we
they had higher margins so what are we saying this is who we are
saying this is who we are
saying this is who we are let us continue to toot our horns and
let us continue to toot our horns and
let us continue to toot our horns and let everyone know that yes we need to be
let everyone know that yes we need to be
let everyone know that yes we need to be a lot more in the boardrooms we need to
a lot more in the boardrooms we need to
a lot more in the boardrooms we need to be a lot more in all the decision making
be a lot more in all the decision making
be a lot more in all the decision making areas I have another story I was looking
areas I have another story I was looking
areas I have another story I was looking for a quick sandwich and went to the
for a quick sandwich and went to the
for a quick sandwich and went to the deli and met this renowned banker the
deli and met this renowned banker the
deli and met this renowned banker the deli
deli
deli he was absolutely frazzled grabbing
he was absolutely frazzled grabbing
he was absolutely frazzled grabbing sandwiches for sandwiches for his kids
sandwiches for sandwiches for his kids
sandwiches for sandwiches for his kids he had a bag of stationery on one arm he
he had a bag of stationery on one arm he
he had a bag of stationery on one arm he was trying so hard to juggle the
was trying so hard to juggle the
was trying so hard to juggle the stationery and the sandwiches he just
stationery and the sandwiches he just
stationery and the sandwiches he just picked up and had his phone on his ear
picked up and had his phone on his ear
picked up and had his phone on his ear telling whoever was on the other end
telling whoever was on the other end
telling whoever was on the other end I’ll be there in the next thirty minutes
I’ll be there in the next thirty minutes
I’ll be there in the next thirty minutes and I looked at him I knew he wouldn’t
and I looked at him I knew he wouldn’t
and I looked at him I knew he wouldn’t be there in the next thirty minutes so
be there in the next thirty minutes so
be there in the next thirty minutes so as women we tend to make excuses that we
as women we tend to make excuses that we
as women we tend to make excuses that we do too much that we are so inundated
do too much that we are so inundated
do too much that we are so inundated with work
with work
with work we have to juggle so much but believe
we have to juggle so much but believe
we have to juggle so much but believe you me it does not out preserve it is
you me it does not out preserve it is
you me it does not out preserve it is not men face it too so what we ought to
not men face it too so what we ought to
not men face it too so what we ought to be looking at is collaboration how do we
be looking at is collaboration how do we
be looking at is collaboration how do we collaborate we need to collaborate and
collaborate we need to collaborate and
collaborate we need to collaborate and create partnerships we are not in
create partnerships we are not in
create partnerships we are not in competition with men we must collaborate
competition with men we must collaborate
competition with men we must collaborate it is also important to realize that as
it is also important to realize that as
it is also important to realize that as women we need to have a very successful
women we need to have a very successful
women we need to have a very successful network of women behind us it’s so
network of women behind us it’s so
network of women behind us it’s so important they are the down times I was
important they are the down times I was
important they are the down times I was privileged to have a wonderful friend
privileged to have a wonderful friend
privileged to have a wonderful friend and mentor the late Eva loco and I
and mentor the late Eva loco and I
and mentor the late Eva loco and I really remember she would just call she
really remember she would just call she
really remember she would just call she would Skype the least thing she had and
would Skype the least thing she had and
would Skype the least thing she had and say congratulations you guys are doing a
say congratulations you guys are doing a
say congratulations you guys are doing a great job great job I just had this and
great job great job I just had this and
great job great job I just had this and he was so so rewarding it was so
he was so so rewarding it was so
he was so so rewarding it was so comforting to know that there’s somebody
comforting to know that there’s somebody
comforting to know that there’s somebody who got your back it’s important to have
who got your back it’s important to have
who got your back it’s important to have a great network of friends a great
a great network of friends a great
a great network of friends a great family that you can have that support
family that you can have that support
family that you can have that support from it’s so important otherwise is
from it’s so important otherwise is
from it’s so important otherwise is really difficult for us to stay in those
really difficult for us to stay in those
really difficult for us to stay in those boardrooms as women we tend to make
boardrooms as women we tend to make
boardrooms as women we tend to make quite a few excuses well it’s not the
quite a few excuses well it’s not the
quite a few excuses well it’s not the right time you know and you tend to get
right time you know and you tend to get
right time you know and you tend to get the few people behind you who would say
the few people behind you who would say
the few people behind you who would say no did you why did you do that let’s
no did you why did you do that let’s
no did you why did you do that let’s avoid those and let’s find women who are
avoid those and let’s find women who are
avoid those and let’s find women who are supportive and I’m grateful for the
supportive and I’m grateful for the
supportive and I’m grateful for the likes of my mom I am grateful for the
likes of my mom I am grateful for the
likes of my mom I am grateful for the likes of Zonta the likes of EWN and my
likes of Zonta the likes of EWN and my
likes of Zonta the likes of EWN and my wonderful friends who are always around
wonderful friends who are always around
wonderful friends who are always around to cheer you on
to cheer you on
to cheer you on so just as we’re deliberating on what we
so just as we’re deliberating on what we
so just as we’re deliberating on what we need to do and what we need to stop
need to do and what we need to stop
need to do and what we need to stop doing
doing
doing I’d like us I think um this evening his
I’d like us I think um this evening his
I’d like us I think um this evening his Excellency John Benjamin just conferred
Excellency John Benjamin just conferred
Excellency John Benjamin just conferred on himself
on himself
on himself prophets John Benjamin because I believe
prophets John Benjamin because I believe
prophets John Benjamin because I believe his prophecy that in this garden tonight
his prophecy that in this garden tonight
his prophecy that in this garden tonight there is our future first female
there is our future first female
there is our future first female president of Ghana and we must see that
president of Ghana and we must see that
president of Ghana and we must see that through who knows in a few weeks a very
through who knows in a few weeks a very
through who knows in a few weeks a very accomplished woman Hillary Clinton may
accomplished woman Hillary Clinton may
accomplished woman Hillary Clinton may just become the first female president
just become the first female president
just become the first female president of the United States of America and I
of the United States of America and I
of the United States of America and I was surely becoming my Ghana pest was to
was surely becoming my Ghana pest was to
was surely becoming my Ghana pest was to make it to her inauguration just to say
make it to her inauguration just to say
make it to her inauguration just to say you know world it’s about time thank you
”
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