This blog post was written by Megan Henderson, our Communications & Events Manager.
Agnes & Rachel at our breakfast roundtable, “Inspire Inclusion: Invest in Women.”
On the 7th March, just before International Women’s Day, we hosted a breakfast at the Simmons & Simmons offices in central London with Agnes Gitau, a partner at GBS Africa. Alongside our Co-CEO, Rachel Lindley, Agnes held a roundtable discussion, which navigated the social, economic and political outlook for eastern Africa and the importance of investing in women, especially against the backdrop of ongoing global geopolitical uncertainties. Below are a few excerpts from the breakfast:
“It is often easier to assume that advocating for and or promoting sustainable development is solely for the developmental experts, I used to think that too, I now know that every single one of us, no matter what our profession is, plays a crucial role in this journey. We all have the power to make a difference.” - Agnes Gitau
“I am really pleased by the work Five Talents is doing 25 years before the theme of investing in women was ever thought of. So, really we’re supporting women because we know the remarkable contribution already they have in our society. But also knowing that if you are investing in women you are investing in community.” - Agnes Gitau
“I’m a very impatient person, my colleagues know I like to run everywhere, which is an interesting thing to say for someone who works in development because development is slow, it takes time. But I find I get very impatient waiting for governments, waiting for the private sector, waiting for the African Union, waiting for climate change action to happen. One thing we can all do today is support one woman to start a business which will change her whole community. So, please do tell somebody else about Five Talents, consider supporting us, and go about your day with a little bit more hope for the future in your hearts.” - Rachel Lindley, Co-CEO of Five Talents
If you’d like to listen to the breakfast in full you can follow along in the audio file below.
Today, for International Women’s Day, think about how you can Invest in Women and Inspire Inclusion - maybe by becoming a mentor to women, supporting women’s organisations, or sharing Five Talents with someone new.