Businesswomen

"I feel that no amount of women's participation can be said to be enough."

"If a women is capable, deserving of a position of authority, then her gender should not be an issue. She should be judged on the basis of her ability and her competence and not because she is a woman."

"Seeing capable women holding positions of authority and importance in the country is very encouraging to young people, especially girls."

"Women must believe in themselves."

"Once I became an adult, I finally began to get a sense of who I really am. I think that I developed my talents much, much more when I became an adult, actually when I got married."

"No marriage is solid. There are always ups and downs. But we have learnt through those times and I was touched when celebrating my birthday recently, my husband stood up to make a speech and he said that I was a woman of substance."

"I love nice long walks, inspirational novels of influential people. I'm reading Kennedy - An Unfinished Life at the moment. And nothing beats listening to music and having tea with friends."

"Ik ben niet links, ik ben niet rechts. Ik ben recht-door-zee."

"Je bent geen ondernemer geworden om fulltime formulieren in te vullen."

"He will soon be claiming that the Resistance has liberated the world."

"There is nothing more comfortable than a caterpillar and nothing more made for love than a butterfly. We need dresses that crawl and dresses that fly. Fashion is at once a caterpillar and a butterfly, caterpillar by day, butterfly by night"

"Fashion is made to become unfashionable."

"How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something, but to be someone."

"In 1919 I woke up famous. I'd never guessed it. If I'd known I was famous, I'd have stolen away and wept. I was stupid. I was supposed to be intelligent. I was sensitive and very dumb."

"Youth is something very new: Twenty years ago no one mentioned it."

"Fashion is architecture. It is a matter of proportions."

"Nothing is ugly as long as it is alive."

"In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different."

"As long as you know that most men are like children, you know everything."

"Women think of all colors except the absence of color. I have said that black has it all. White too. Their beauty is absolute. It is the perfect harmony."

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."

"Success is often achieved by those who don't know that failure is inevitable."

"The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud."

"Fashion fades, only style remains the same."

"Don't spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door."

"Ask me who I don't dress!"

"I was a rebellious child, a rebellious lover, a rebellious couturière — a real devil."

"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous."

"The best colour in the whole world is the one that looks good on you."

"Chanel, General De Gaulle and Picasso are the three most important figures of our time."

"Throughout her long life, Chanel moved between two worlds, one real the other imaginary. Unloved, she lived for love. Despite her countless conquests, from English noblemen to Russian dukes, she spent years alone, work her only solace."

"Despite the work of a dozen biographers … Chanel remains an enigma."

"“If it is the will of God.”"

"“I used to belong to the school of thought that females in the Nigerian music industry were disenfranchised. However, knowledge, time, maturity and research made me realise it’s the effect of our traditional beliefs that the girl-child is positioned to play a second fiddle.”"

"“Subconsciously or unknowingly, it plays out in our attitude towards professionalism and commitment to work. The male artistes put in more to attain the heights they get to. I cannot say the same for the women and I am guilty as charged. There are lots of other distractions, both natural and artificial, but the bottom line is that if women put in as much effort as men do, there would be equal results.”"

"People mistake it for a guy's name or a nick name. Gift is my real name and that is where I got the G in Muma Gee, forget the fact that I added double ‘e’ to it, just as it sounds Gee but the G is just the G in Gift. For the Muma, the Jamaicans will call mother Muma and papa Pupa. The Muma in my name means 'do good' in my language."

"[It] is all about the African woman, her beauty and how she makes herself beautiful. An African woman is therefore not to be messed up with or looked down upon because she’s feminine. Even though she’s beautiful, she’s strong and has a sense of pride."

"One needs to take one’s time because good work takes time. But it must be worth the wait in the end."

"keep moving on and you will get there someday."

"My contesting for election has nothing to do with being face of the sports festival. My contesting election was inspired by the fact that irrespective of who we are as entertainers, I believe we can bring the required change into the system. I believe we have what it takes in terms of exposure and grassroots reach to steer the wheel of the nation right. I was motivated by this realisation to contest. I contested for the Federal House of Representatives under the Federal Constituency of Odiabidi and Ahoada East."

"I get that skillashy, effizzy, I'm sexy, afrotasticthat skillashy, effizzy, I'm sexy and afrotasticAfrican Womanmy body no be for sale ohoriginalI no dey sell ohI be African woman ooooriginal"

"I'm not really interested in building a reputation for myself. But I do care for what the company stands for. I believe in work and being connected to the world we live in."

"(Sitting at the Bar Quadronno in Milan's Quadronno district) I come here all the time! […] It's right next to my apartment, which is in the building where I grew up, and my mother is still there, on the first floor, and my brother is on the third floor, and it's right next to my children's school [...], and it's not too far from my office, and it's open all day and very late, every day. It's cute, isn't it?"

"If everyone wants to make things black, I'll make things red: it's stronger than me. Starting from this principle, I develop my thoughts, which I always express with shapes and colors. Never with slogans, because I believe politics should be approached in a more complex way."

"Cresciuta in Porta Romana, Miuccia Prada vi abita tuttora (risiede nello specifico in Corso di Porta Romana); non ci stupisce quindi che abbia deciso di aprire la sua Fondazione nell'adiacente quartiere di Corso Lodi."

"“Let us position ourselves strategically where our strengths lie along the value chain and we will be sure to reap the benefits of our endeavours.""

"The Chamber in the due course must operate an up-to-date resource centre that elimmintaes the "black box" mentality where information becomes available after a crash, adding that members should be able to access information at the click of a button. Focus in most advanced economies has thus been on ensuring availability of quality information that is relevant to its users."

"Remember, the most meaningful victory we win is over ourselves. Above all be disciplined. Be focused. Be committed and take responsibility."

"A fact is that in mining, men have been the most dominant. But when it comes to competence from both sides (male and female), there must be a de-emphasis on gender and an increased weighting on competence. It must be understood that in some cases what men can do women can also do. Fortunately, in my career within the mining industry, I have also been given the honour to lead the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, as president, an honour that was given to me as a woman for the first time"

"I believe there is a need for a deliberate policy to ensure that there is a greater representation of women in mining but that must not be at the expense of competence which also means that even men within the mining sector must come to an understanding that women too are equally good. For instance, at Mimosa, we now have female geologists, female metallurgists, and female surveyors. So sometimes it’s about how you move out from stereotypes. It is important to have essential guiding principles. In all one does, stay diligent, stay accountable and alert to your surroundings. Opportunity favours the prepared mind. Your future is hidden in your daily routine"

"Working in an industry that is mostly dominated by men has its own challenges. I realised I needed to make certain adjustments. I had to work on managing all the dynamics of gaining entry and acceptance into the big boys’ club. The pressure was real and sometimes the fear of failure could be all-consuming"

"In the end, however, I realised that we are not meant to compete with our male counterparts but complement each other. The workplace does not need more women trying to be men, it just needs more women. It is undeniable that women generally bring a humane feel to work, a feeling which cannot be underestimated in ensuring psychosocial well-being in the workplace and a value that has an immeasurable impact on long-term sustainability"

"As in any profession, your competence must speak for itself. De-emphasise gender, and over-emphasise competence, capability, result and productivity. Let not people see you as a woman but as a competent professional. One of my guiding principles is to learn as much as possible as you go along with every position. Value the process of learning rather than being the best. You need to intentionally plan your growth – you cannot meaningfully be part of what you are not fully knowledgeable about. I can safely say I am now a miner – in between I have been doing short courses on mining to arm myself. Zimbabwe School of Mines has very good courses. Success leaves clues. Find mentors and role models who have already achieved what you want to achieve"

"It’s not about women, it’s about the industry that accepts women as co-part of the industry. The focus must be on understanding that women can do it too in the industry. De-emphasise competency either way. We must move away from strait jacketing women and say simply because we are women therefore our competence must be put to us to say somehow your gender defines your competency. No, we are humans. So, competence must be understood by both sets of gender"

"Elizabeth has been a champion in community development by mining companies and this saw Mimosa transforming the face of Zvishavane through various community projects and empowerment projects. As part of that vision Mimosa has one of the best football clubs in Zimbabwe, FC Platnum."

""Ms Liz" as she is popularly known takes mentoring other women seriously."I am a living testimony of Liz's mentorship - you cannot be around her and remain the same."

"In one of her interviews she made the point that women have really never clamoured for special treatment in the workplace but rather for recognition for their strengths and expertise."

"Ms Nerwande, for instance, demonstrated her dynamism by ascending to the top echelons of both the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe(CoMZ) and Mimosa Mining Company – where she is the Head of Corporate Affairs – despite the fact that she didn’t have the technical background when she switched to mining a few years ago, she had learnt quite a lot about the extractive sector while consulting for some of the country’s leading mining houses. She has since transformed herself into an expert of note in mining matters. “The Iron Lady of mining”, has also passionately worked towards the economic prosperity of all Zimbabweans, regardless of their gender, while also uplifting women who are still burdened by the disproportionate costs of mining, through various corporate social responsibility initiatives."

"Masvingo Mirror, Breaking the glass ceilingː the case of Liz Nerwande. 21 March 2021."

"We should not look down upon ourselves. By domestic tourism we are saying this is the opportunity to enjoy as couples and as family where we can eat without cooking for ourselves or cleaning the house for a day or two."

"The reason why some shows do not last is that their main focus is on making money bu that is not the case with me.What i seek is to add value first in people`s lives with what I do."

"I am an ambassador of local languages and I want to show the world that we can do anything in our languages. I feel proud of local artistes who now create and promote content in our languages."

"My family supports the show but succession is not all about being on the show. I love what I do and would be happy for it to be more vibrant even after my departure hence there is need to cast the net even outside the family."

"It is difficult to teach anyone what I do. It has to be an inborn thing. The job sometimes requires one to think on their feet as there often no script. One has to understand the concept and the intended results."

"With more than 30 accolades under he belt Mai Chisamba is a motivational speaker at universities,marriage counsellor and a trusted voice in churches and organisations within and beyond borders."

"Women entrepreneurs have to work twice as hard to succeed... the best thing to do is to remain resolute, focused, ethical and preserve your integrity."

"My advice to women all the time is:"If you want a certain future, go out and create it. Conquer your fears as that is what enslaves most women. Opportunities are now galore. We just need to roll up our sleeves, lift our feet, and walk through the door as no one will carry us.""

"My greatest satisfaction is championing women economic empowerment initiatives in mentorship, linking women businesses to corporate supply chains for their growth."

"“Success depends on employees. For me knowing and connecting with my employees is very important.”"

"Conquer your fears as that is what enslaves most women"

"“Most of the women that we employ here are single mothers, we targeted them primarily because we knew that they were not going to get an opportunity from anybody and they would not be able to look after their children. So this is an opportunity for them to have a livelihood and to educate their children. We employ close to a thousand women now, about 900+ and to me that’s one of the happiest things I’ve done in my life as a person because I have impacted very positively on women who would have not have had an opportunity, who would be eking out a living and possibly even going out to sell their bodies to make a living.”"

"“never tire in well doing, because, in due season, you shall reap if you faint not”. “I believe that every good deed is a door opener hence I always try to be as good as I can to others, my word being my bond, as the key to my success is loving and connecting with people which are always the seeds of great things to come. I believe in playing by the rules all the time and most importantly upholding my personal integrity as this gives me good night sleep.”"

"“My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is start with an end in mind, know exactly what you want to achieve and start to work systematically towards the goal, exercising some patience. Know the industry you want to get into, its internal and external environment."

"“If you want a certain future, go out and create it. Conquer your fears as that is what enslaves most women. Opportunities are now galore. We just need to roll up our sleeves, lift our feet, and walk through the door as no one will carry us."

"Have a game plan and execute it with passion, determination and focus. Never mind that you are a woman. Do not think about that except as a competitive advantage. No one is going to give you anything on a silver platter. You have to work twice, thrice, five times as hard and do not lose focus. Work with your passion, it will keep you going and once you have a footing in your business, make the most of it and create the momentum and that will get rid of all the little challenges that may bog you down. Lastly, choose your team carefully and get rid of non-performers soon enough.”"

"The business idea was after the realization of a gap that I had noted in the market for a service and quality-oriented security services provider"

"Let me say that right from a tender age, I had always told myself and everyone that I was going to start and run my own business, which I always envisioned as a large business. I enrolled in an entrepreneurial development program in 1995 and this sharpened my entrepreneurial competencies. I learned elements like opportunity seeking, goal setting, business planning, networking, and more"

"I thought there was a gap in the industry. Companies that were there were not living up to the needs of the clients. The industry was renowned for wild cat strikes and guards generally were perceived as the lowly-paid in any sector. I wanted to change the perceptions and create a niche in which people could carve out a career and I knew I needed to go in with a different approach and that approach was going to make the difference, the people had to be key or central feature of the vision"

"I always knew that treating the customer as the boss was the key thing"

"And creating value, giving the best value… is the way we built loyalty"

"Success depends on employees. For me knowing and connecting with my employees is very important. I have done that very well"

"I have ensured that I aligned their personal goals with their business goals and that makes everybody go in tandem with each other. I try to know almost all my 4,000 employees: their families, their aspirations, their worst fears and so on"

"I have learnt that earning by working hard is the way to go"

"One of the key features in any business leader is execution… and it is a critical block in building a successful enterprise"

"Pay it off, don’t pay it forward. Or put simply: be frugal"

"The seventh lesson that I learnt is to always keep on learning. I believe in learning all the time, I’m a life-long learner… I also believe in re-learning, because there are always new things coming out. My kids are teaching me things today"

"In our company we believe in celebrating success because it creates, and maintains, momentum,” she noted. “Everyone celebrates even the little things that we succeed in doing, and we have a jolly good time. That is how people look forward to winning and being successful. Because they know there are rewards of celebration"

"For me, failure teaches self-confidence and tenacity"

"One of the things I noted in my country was that women were not getting the opportunity to get formal employment, in particular the many widows and the single mothers due to HIV/Aids. Today our company is arguably the largest employer of permanently employed women. We employ over 1,000 women, contributing at least 25% of our workforce"

"Target SME's and you target women because that is where they access the business sector."

"It has been said that everybody’s business is nobody’s business. This is not true with respect to productivity; it is truly everybody’s business."

"The most treasured resource is our people and, if their health deteriorates, productivity and excellence will become mere talking points and not achievable objectives."

"I no longer make recommendations; they are forwarded to me and I have to make the final decisions without hesitation. I cannot afford to procrastinate because decisions made in central banking have to be definitive since they affect the entire nation—the rich, the not-so rich, and the poor."

"We have to continue to attract foreign direct investment to help generate more fiscal revenue sources."

"A policy to cultivate SMEs can help to create jobs for the economy."

"I don’t think anyone who wants to succeed—male or female—should concentrate on hurdles because you will find them if you are looking for them, and I have been just too busy to spend time looking for obstacles."

"Africa has the resources to feed itself and the world. However, a quarter of all Africans experience the everyday reality of hunger."

"Media's role goes beyond entertainment or information sharing, they constitute a tool that has the power "to educate, to empower, and to inspire young girls to dare to break the mould."

"Something needs to be done to put an end to all forms of gender injustice."

"They must apologize to Africans for their patronizing attitude and organisational disregard for Africa’s peculiar development priorities whilst covertly promoting an unhealthy neo-colonial, quasi-imperialist agenda."

"Chronic underfunding was just one of ONE’s deliberate tactics to undermine the diligence and expertise of its Africa staff, many of whom were competent and suitably qualified women."

"Unproven and unsubstantiated allegations against me or any former employee in Africa are essentially part of a much larger crusade being sponsored by racist, anti-Africa elements within the ONE Campaign"

"They must apologize to Africans for their patronizing attitude and organisational disregard for Africa’s peculiar development priorities whilst covertly promoting an unhealthy neo-colonial, quasi-imperialist agenda. This is nothing short of utter disrespect for ONE’s over three million African members, who have warmly embraced its campaigns, projects and promises. The top echelons at ONE Campaign have never really tolerated open debate, especially with regards to its operatives in Africa. They may pander to the global ethos and ideals of ONE’s more famous co-founder but mostly white managers have essentially hijacked the essence of the organisation and replaced it with their myopic agenda"

"the international development community, including African finance and development experts, particularly those that have worked in similar charity organizations view my appraisal of ONE Campaign’s corrosive corporate culture, disdain for gender parity and disregard of meritocracy within its ranks as being symptomatic of many international NGOs ostensibly waging wars against Africa’s varied development challenges but in reality seeking to perpetuate the status quo"

"None of the former employees including me have been accorded a fair hearing. ONE’s global leadership team chose rather to embark on a campaign of calumny against me, as a scapegoat for its own larger inequities, with the organization playing the accuser, judge and jury, in utter disregard for the principles of fairness and probity. In my own case, I have handed over the matter to my lawyers. They all know the game is up as we are speaking up to protect our integrity and precious culture as true Africans. It is time for NGOs everywhere – not just the ONE Campaign – to accept and realise that every country, every people, every culture is capable of producing thought leaders who can and do deliver real change in their own and other contexts. Like always, expect blanket denial from ONE. That is how they operate"

"As the Executive Director for Africa, I was a firm and principled administrator and I struggled against the organisational tide throughout my tenure, knowing fully well that I had a personal desire and drive to create value for Africa"

"I was not there to be beautiful but to work"

"I was afraid to say anything – and I have never been afraid of a boss before. I was an object. And the person doing this to me was another woman"

"I have no doubt I was being bartered, being offered for sex,’ she said. ‘I know about these things, I am a married woman"

"I’m extremely excited about the work the new president of the bank is envisioning for the bank and the continent and for the bank and it’s such a great honor that he should ask me to come and work with him and really help to help implement this vision for Africa"

"I always feel that my calling is to my continent so in everything I have done, my focus has always been on moving Africa forward"

"I have been appointed to this position, obviously by a gentleman who understands the importance of equal opportunities for women… having been picked for this position I in turn have a responsibility to open doors and opportunities and mentor those who come behind us and as it is I personally stand on the shoulders of giant African women who went before me and created opportunities and opened doors for me"

"Women should participate in politics. Perhaps some women face resistance from their husbands but that should not happen because women can as well articulate ideas as much as men"

"I am the luckiest women on earth to have a supportive husband.When I am down he picks me up and when the goinggets tough, he always urges me to keep on going and strong."

"Non-English quotation."

"without peace there will never be development in Zimbabwe"

"the international peace day is an opportunity for communities to embrace each other’s differences, listen to each, preach tolerance and ensure the voices of the poor are heard"

"everyone should be involved if the country is to achieve true peace"

"We are talking about grooming young talent, the future of Zimbabwean sport. We are not supposed to wait until we have world-class players but we have to start from the grassroots"

"We need to be part of all the difficulties the teams would be going through and not only be part of the success story"

"As Government we are unable to fund everything but it is about thinking outside the box and approaching the corporate world"

"Tax incentives should also be introduced for the corporate world so that they can partner sport and our teams are fully resourced"

"I know that if someone is doing something good, I am more inspired by it than when I hear someone talking about doing something good"

"So, for these young ladies here today, to meet a Deputy Minister of Sport, who is also a young woman, is more inspirational than any book they could ever read"

"We have a special bond with Unity Day because it is on this day in 2010 that we placed the Mighty Warriors blazer on His Excellency President Robert Mugabe and asked him to become our chief patron"

"To our great joy, he accepted our request and we are forever proud to be associated with such a great and revolutionary man"

"Know your worth. Invest in yourself. Know your WHY, in everything you do be intentional. Do at least one thing with your end in mind everyday."

"The fear of poverty and being ordinary inspired me to be an entrepreneur"

"Winning Miss ZimWinning Miss Zimbabwe 2005 was a life changing moment for me as it opened doors I never thought I could go through. It was fulfilling and rewarding and proved to be a great platform for me to establish my career and brand.babwe 2005 was a life changing moment for me as it opened doors I never thought I could go through. It was fulfilling and rewarding and proved to be a great platform for me to establish my career and brand."

"Sometimes, Go slow to go fast! Entrepreneurs like myself always want to go fast, we love to build. But there always comes a time when you face adversity, pressure and challenges. Every decision and reaction can’t be made just as quickly. Learning to go slow to go fast only gives you great room for perception."

"Rest, reflect and meditate as often as you can. Taking time out to rest and re-energise provides for great foresight and minimises regrets."

"Don’t take yourself too seriously, we’ll make mistakes along the way, correct them and keep going."

"Intuition is a woman's most powerful asset. Intuition combined with logic makes for some of the most rewarding and accurate line of judgement."

"[I am] truly humbled and blessed to join the Young Global Leaders community and am excited to collaborate with my fellow YGLs on our shared commitment to shaping the global future"

"It's a great opportunity to represent Africa amongst globally talented peers, an opportune to share our context and collaborate with others in mutual exchange of knowledge and championing of causes important to humanity, globally"

"Great challenges can also be areas of great strength."

"We ought to tackle this problem [HIV/AIDS] and further improve our behaviour."

"I am very honoured that the United Nations Population Fund has realized the potential of what I could do in my country concerning the HIV/AIDS pandemic."

"I believe that through my determination and love for Botswana, I can successfully, through the United Nations Population Fund, accomplish my goal of seeing the HIV statistics drop and having the women of Botswana get the necessary reproductive health care and facilities they need."

"There is witchcraft all over the world. So I will not join the campaign that says there is no witchcraft, because that is the devil speaking. And when the devil speaks, he makes a lot of people powerless and intimidates them. So I am not going to be part of that campaign. There are witches and those witches have to be delivered as they come for it."

"When you cast out demons and use matchet or nail, then it is no longer spiritual. In our church, we do not even use olive oil. I don’t like it. There is a book I am writing on Inconveniencing the Devil. It is criticising the use of addictives. There are churches that ask people to bring cloth, oil and other things for prayers, we don’t."

"I have never had a scandal. I have members of my church who are in top positions in government. They should have reacted since. People should come to the church to see what we are doing."

"Believe in that but my only reservation is whether government will have the willpower and sincerity to implement it."

"I refused to compromise when I felt the publisher's approach conflicted with the values which underpin our readers and the role of the editor-in-chief in meeting those values in a truly authentic way. I am proud of what I have been able to accomplish in such a short space of time ... It had initially been my intention to build this important and groundbreaking edition of Vogue from inception to a mature magazine in line with others in the Vogue stable."

"Develop your mind. More than ever, there is so much to learn, so much to know, so many different things to do. The opportunities to be whoever you want to be have never been more accessible to those who pursue their dreams."

"Business [and] entrepreneurship, is not some intellectual or mental exercise – it takes everything of you to make it work – it is a life exercise. The more congruent the business is to who you are as an individual and what you value, the deeper your capacity to persevere and outlast."

"The key differentiator [between being good and being great] is whether that person is following their calling, if they are doing something they believe is part of their life journey … or whether they are just doing a job, or doing something because they believe that is what they have to do. Not everyone operates from the realm of understanding that life is about choosing … about putting your will out there and spending your life making it a reality. Not everyone realises that by not choosing, life chooses for you and that is never the ideal outcome. Those who become great are deliberately creating their life path as opposed to allowing life to happen to them."

"Entrepreneurship is far more a personal journey than it is a business journey. The extent to which you are willing to grow as a person, has a direct impact on your business because in the early stages so much of your business is about you. I believe that true success comes from operating from an authentic space and being true to your own goals and aspirations. If you try to behave like someone else, you deviate from that authentic space where your real power lies. Understanding of self, what truly motivates you, what your strengths and weaknesses are, building self-awareness are critical qualities. This is a skill available to anyone who seeks it – it’s about reflecting, reading, listening to yourself, exploring your hunches or ideas, even if they don’t seem like much."

"You will need a lot of perseverance to keep going. No matter how prepared or smart you are, the real test is the ability to keep going. As an entrepreneur, you will give and give and give so much of yourself, and after that… give some more. If you don’t know why you are doing it (which comes back to understanding of self), you will battle to make the kind of long-term commitment that will see you through the challenges."

"It is important to be close to the people and things that anchor you. For me it’s my parents, my family, my close friends to have a laugh with. Being reminded of who you are, and regardless of the circumstances, that someone thinks you are great."

"​It is about maintaining good health, physical strength and mental strength through healthy living, exercise and meditation. Negativity comes from the mind which is affected to a large degree by your physical health."

"Entrepreneurship for me is a personal journey rather than a business journey, which is why perseverance and humility go a long way. Entrepreneurship, especially at a young age, is an incredibly steep learning curve and learning every day is a very humbling experience because you have to acknowledge how little you know and perhaps how-not-so-smart you are, and still keep going regardless."

"Running a business will take up everything you think you have and a whole lot more after that. This is why it is very important to do what you love and not just pursue money. The pursuit of money provides little solace during tough times."

"Money really is not everything. It is a false comfort. Money will not stop a “real entrepreneur” from starting a business. Work until you have saved enough – find investors, ask friends and family, borrow. Money should not stop anyone from fulfilling their dreams. Money is an accelerator – whether you are going in the right or wrong direction, money simply accelerates you in the direction that you are already going in."

"We wanted to build solutions, not do telecoms wars."

"It starts with the conviction that something should be different, which is, I think, the beginning of entrepreneurship."

"I leverage my technology skills to then create a solution."

"I was never smarter than most people in the room."

"I had no more financial or social capital than anyone else in the group."

"I simply trusted that I have a legitimate perspective."

"I'm inspired by what's not been done before - bringing together fashion and original art."

"Nothing great ever happens in your comfort zone."

"Authenticity goes a long way, so keep being yourself and your art will speak for itself."

"The glass is either full or half empty. It’s all about your perception of life."

"Impossible is nothing."

"I wanted to show that it is possible to be a local person, in Ethiopia and in Africa, and to be globally successful."

"It is possible to deploy local resources while creating a market-leading global brand, and to do it all from scratch."

"If we want to have truly equitable societies, then we need to embrace equity on all levels. And that means women’s economic empowerment and the key to that is women entrepreneurs."

"Prosperity creation is the sole route to the elimination of poverty. And to create sustained prosperity, you have to create something truly world class."

"For people to be innovative... they don't have to really travel a long way or copy somebody's business idea. It's right there."

"Don't just make things, make things better. "Innovation is...improving the state of what was before.""

"“… the needle I am constantly attempting to thread: building exciting brands around our unique cultures, brands that become ubiquitous and impactful.”"

"“People are traveling a long ways to bring in different ideas into their continent and country to start a business. But my idea is, look at who you are as a person. How you grew up. Everything around you is a business idea. When you see a problem, find the solution. That will be a business idea.”"

"there is no blueprint when it comes to being an entrepreneur."

"“We’re selling an experience. We’re not selling a product. We’re not trying to fit in somewhere…the need is for you. It’s not massively produced.”"

"that one of the important lessons her parents instilled in her as a child was that there was no difference between her and her three brothers. While they did different kinds of work, she said there was no preference between girls’ work and boys’ work."

"that helped give her confidence in her contributions to society as a woman, and ultimately, what she is doing today."

"“For me, I never thought because I’m a woman I’m not going to do something, I’m not going to try it this or that. The way I see myself is… I’m a person. I am capable of doing whatever I want and I’m going to succeed because I’m going to be working really hard to be there each and every day. So, for African girls and women to say ‘I’m not going to be able to do this, I’m not capable of doing this,’ you’re killing yourself. If we are brave enough to go out to sell ideas to people, I think we can succeed.”"

"“I always reflect and think about the same thing: business is about solving problems. Trying to identify the singular most difficult situation would be doing a disservice to this simple fact: if you are not continuously encountering tough situations as an entrepreneur, and solving them, then you are not really in business. Encountering obstacles and overcoming them is my day-to-day existence.”"

"“I have developed a fine sense of my weaknesses, and I address those by building my team with people who have that strength I may lack. So I flip any weakness I may have and make it a strength … Weakness recognition, and a full embrace of that, is a powerful tool.”"

"“I think conventional wisdom is, by definition, the antithesis of entrepreneurialism, so I am probably on the other side of a lot of it.”"

"“I like to visualise my goals in my own private space. I try and make it as real as possible so it is almost tangible to me. That gives these goals an immediacy and realness both for me and for my team that allows people to really chase that idea or goal in a visceral way.”"

"“I am always engaging with people on my team, finding out what they need to make them better at what they do, and what makes them happier. This lets us have an incredible level of overall team happiness and leads to long-term team members…"

"“I began Garden of Coffee so that people everywhere can experience the magic of hand-roasted Ethiopian coffees, roasted at their source by Ethiopia’s finest coffee artisans."

"My driving passions as an entrepreneur are always about sharing Ethiopian cultures with the world and finding exciting ways to keep these cultures vibrant and fully relevant."

"I completed all my education here in Ethiopia, and I have NEVER lived anywhere else but Ethiopia."

"“We Decided to Create the Better Life We were all waiting for”"

"” Having grown up watching our family and neighbors struggling, we decided to create the “better life” we were all waiting for by harnessing our community’s incredible artisan skills and channeling them into a sustainable, global, fair trade footwear business. We have done that and more and we are proud to say that the soleRebels brand is being enjoyed by people in over 30 countries around the world.”"

"“We are doing well. We are trying to do $2m this year. In 2016, we are planning to do $20m. So that’s why we are working hard and we are trying to expand our working facility. The demand is here. It’s up to us to take that advantage and to make it happen,”"

"“Since we are a fair trade organisation people want to buy fair trade shoes from us but they want to buy at cheap prices. That I don’t understand. I know that running a business is not that easy and there is always a threat, there is always a risk that we are going to take, but I love it.”"

"“My driving passions,”"

"“are sharing Ethiopian cultures with the world and finding exciting ways to keep these cultures vibrant and fully relevant.”"

"“To me, very successful entrepreneurs have the ability not simply to come up with an idea,”"

"“but to exquisitely execute that idea over and over and make it into a living, breathing reality. The best entrepreneurs literally seem to live their companies.”"

"“I think the best companies and brands are built by entrepreneurs willing to self-fund their ideas,”"

"“My advice would be to build your idea piece by piece and get real and honest traction in the market with that idea while retaining as much equity as you can.”"

"“If you have a crazy idea, go for it! Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.”"

"“Love what you do, because without a genuine love and passion, you won’t be successful.”"

"“This gave me a good knowledge of the industry, which was extremely useful in terms of setting up the company and making it grow,”"

"“I knew that there were so many talented people out there who could do great things if only given a chance. However, due to extreme poverty, stigma, and marginalization,… many of them could not even get simple jobs. This was devastating for me, as I had grown up with them. They were my neighbours, my family members.”"

"“That’s why we have always said that this company is about maximizing local talent and local resources to create good paying jobs, that in turn would create extraordinary footwear,”"

"To succeed in life, it is important to build good relationships in your professional and personal life. Being open, positive, honest and sincere — help establish trust and rapport with your patients and their families. Always stay humble and grateful."

"To me, he was more than a father. He was a role model, a confidant, a teacher. His wisdom was never forced, but gently offered, always at the right time and always with kindness. He taught me the value of hard work, the importance of kindness, and the power of a good heart"

"No structure is too grand, or task too difficult. No dream is out of reach."

"When you give, you give from the heart. Otherwise, it’s a waste."

"Kahit yung mga failures, opportunity rin yun sa bagong magkaroon ng bagong opportunity sa lahat. [Even failures are also opportunities for new opportunities to come.]"

"Construction and development are as much about precision and heavy duty as they are about passion and heart."

"Ordinary woman lang ako. Ba’t nabigyan ng extraordinary opportunity? Bakit naman ako kailangan maging mayabang? Lahat tayo same eh. Wala naman Karen, lahat tayo equal. [I’m just an ordinary woman. Why was I given this extraordinary opportunity? Why should I be arrogant? We’re all the same. Nothing special, Karen, we’re all equal.]"

"I admire things like mountains and flowers, which only God can create. We can build bridges and buildings but only God can build a soft petal."

"This was an extraordinary opportunity to help others. I’m taking that opportunity as a blessing."

"I’ve always wanted to build a city where the standard of living for residents is above average, a city within a city that looks and feels like Singapore, where life isn’t perfect but the quality of life sets a standard in the Philippines."

"I’m very hands-on with my projects and personally visit the sites. I often meet with my clients, my engineers, and my staff in the afternoon as well, but I always make sure to be home for dinner with my family."

"I feel more fulfilled after I have accomplished something during difficult times. Challenges are really enablers for me."

"Recognising the work we do is encouraging and it is also a reminder that we are not doing anything in vain. It pushes us to greater heights."

"I was raised by a teacher and entrepreneur, who encouraged my siblings and I to be ambitious and pursue meaningful careers. After every school year, mom and dad would ask us what we wanted to do with our lives, and this put a lot of pressure on us to always ask ourselves why we were doing whatever we were doing."

"It is a great honour for the entire team working tirelessly to realise the dreams that we have ."

"As young people we want to be inventors," she told the onlooking heads of state ."

"But they face many challenges such as high cost of production, lack of access to energy and poor infrastructure. Technology can help reduce their costs and enable them to operate more efficiently."

"It was a lot of experimenting for us – we tried out so many ideas and at the end of it all we learned how to build mobile information systems – basically endless databases of relevant information, and build applications on top of that ."

"Aid is going towards the most vulnerable part of our needs, health, education as well as supporting agriculture, because those are the ones development partners have agreed on."

"Tourism can sustain its marketing on its own as it generates revenue. It is our largest foreign exchange earner and proceeds can be used to fund such initiatives."

"What keeps me pushing forward is to see what my ancestors went through, and I see that I am privileged."

"A country that sees itself as worthy of the global stage, that demands respect, and earns respect, because it has values and worth beyond just money…I think we are on a journey of building that."

"Every decision must be about those people. It’s also about service —not privilege or power, not recognition."

"If you serve people, you get results; you make them better off than they were."

"Most of the big companies are owned by men; let’s support each other as women so that we can also achieve such business success, This will not come easily, but it’s a journey we need to embark on now."

"The pursuit of excellence is a choice available to anyone from anywhere. No matter how bad the hand that faith has apportioned to you."

"A key role for a leader is to support and mentor the next generation of leaders and create an effective team."

"Credibility is earned. Result speaks loudest."

"There’s always a positive way forward."

"Never accept the status quo. However much the odds against you. You can always aim and achieve better."

"Never underestimate your potential to be among the best in the world."

"Aim high and stay focused on your goals. We are not a wealthy country but we’ve built a national airline, a national broadband fiber optic infrastructure with 4GLTE connectivity.."

"Leave no one behind. Be inclusive. Whatever you choose to do in life, always remember this: involving others in designing solutions that affect them will ensure ownership and ultimately sustainability."

"Stand for what is right and be willing to fight for it even if it’s not popular."

"Dignity is not granted, we have to claim it."

"In many fragile contexts, you will find corruption thriving because there is no rule of law, there is no order."

"A country has to be very clear about what it wants, and everybody else must be part of that. Rwanda did that very clearly. We defined what we want to do and where the priorities were."

"I think about the greater challenges that have been overcome by other people, and that helps me accept my challenge, deal with it, and focus on what is actually really important."

"I also wish for Rwanda to be a country of values. A country that sees itself as worthy of the global stage, that demands respect, and earns respect, because it has values and worth beyond just money…I think we are on a journey of building that."

"You can prove your concept in Rwanda and then expand to the rest of the continent."

"Additionally, the skills transfer in critical areas such as renewable energies and energy transition will undoubtedly contribute to the development of local expertise in the energy sector."

"“We are excited to extend our collaboration with the Basketball Africa League. With the great memories from the last season of the BAL finals still fresh in our minds, we are truly excited to find out what the next five years have in store for us"

"Our shared vision of a prosperous future is founded on the spirit of entrepreneurship, the exchange of knowledge and skills, as well as expertise. The New Times, August 07, 2023"

"The government has worked with renowned conservationists to reintroduce and rehabilitate the other national parks. You can actually see the Big 5 in Rwanda today."

"It starts with the product you are offering. In Rwanda we have national parks which are the most premium products. And so protecting them for long-term tourism is extremely important."

"The NBA does its Africa league in Rwanda, we are hosting the FIFA congress in March this year, and I think that boldness shocks the world, the world takes notice, and we start yielding from it."

"We have seen tremendous success and return on investment over the last three years and look forward to doing much more together. We are also glad to be part of shaping up Africa’s basketball growth story, not only through hosting The BAL games, but also implementing youth development and social impact programs.”"

"“The BAL has proven to be a great unifier, and we remain committed to showcasing the best Rwanda has to offer in terms of tourism, investment opportunities, talent development, Made in Rwanda products and much more to the world. With the BAL and other major events, Rwanda is the home for sport in Africa,”"

"We have introduced free online registration and reduced registration fees from 25,000 to 15,000 francs. We have also eliminated certain requirements like the notarizing of sale agreement"

"Every time in sports it’s about: “You can do it.” “You can make a difference.” “You can win.” “Reflect on yourself.” “What could you improve?” “What are your challenges?” “Where do you need to work harder?” Okay, you didn’t make it this time—try again. Be a good team player. Show fair play. Push yourself."

"If you want your child to be a great doctor, a CEO, a leader in any field, investing in their participation in sports will help them achieve that—even if they don’t end up as professional athletes."

"Sports teaches discipline, and that discipline takes you places. We’ve seen how consistency and discipline make a difference—not just in sports but even here in Rwanda."

"Rwanda had the highest YouTube viewership on the continent. That means all the investments we’ve made in sport here, all the infrastructure, all the effort—there’s a fanbase behind it, and they’re following and watching."

"Balancing family and leadership is hard — especially when your children are very young."

"It’s not easy. Leadership is a marathon, not a sprint. You need stamina. So, self-care matters."

"Sometimes you face situations and realize you don’t have all the answers. And that forces you to ask, to learn, to adapt."

"Motherhood is the most intimate school for leadership and keeps you grounded — sometimes kids ask questions that challenge you to think or research more."

"Yvonne Manzi Makolo, CEO RwandAir, says the air transport industry must continue to improve diversity"

"[Yvonne Makolo Cargo is of ever-increasing importance for the aviation industry, and as a landlocked country, we recognize the importance and"

"[The only disability in life is a bad attitude. Women Power Africa 's Post"

"the new freighter will play a significant role in RwandAir’s operations. “The delivery of our dedicated cargo aircraft is a huge milestone in RwandAir’s fleet expansion plans,”"

"I find it necessary that, from the beginning, you make it clear that you are not there to play; there is a reason why you are there and that you know what you are doing,"

"I think that there is some difference. I believe that women leaders are more empathetic, so they relate more to what’s happening in their teams’ lives. I think we have to be a little bit tougher, more assertive but we do have that soft side to us as well and in most cases, we manage to balance the two."

"I would walk into a meeting and I would be the only woman there. I find that it’s necessary that right from the beginning, you make it clear that you are not there to play; there is a reason why you are in that position and that you know what you are doing."

"I have learnt that the toughest thing about being a leader is managing people."

"I have also learnt that you come to work to do a job not to please people or make friends."

"I owe my success to simple perseverance, hard work and never taking anything for granted."

"I let my work speak for itself and endeavor to empowe and touch as many lives as I can positively."

"The Many Times Connie Has Left Us Inspired With Her Pearls of Wisdom, Choose serenity, courage, and wisdom in whatever you want to achieve."

"Exactly a month today and it still feels surreal. It’s always been said that legends never die"

"My love, my skatpie, never in a million years would I be in this position that I am today, speaking as I am today without your physical presence. Sho, I thought you and I were going to grow old together. That’s what I saw, that’s what I saw for us. That’s always been the dream. I never anticipated where we are today. God brought you into my life 20 years ago, and I anticipated another 20 years with you.”"

"We miss you so much, my love, but it is well. We are okay. We miss you so much."

"Female DJs, perfect your art… don’t give them a reason to disrespect your work. Practice makes perfect. With that said, wear whatever you wanna wear & dance if it’s your thing… They are talking because you’re shaking the industry. It’s our time."

"Being empowered is a choice; it is a daily decision that defines who we are and it is accessible to everyone. Meeting Your Power is a reminder that power is inside all of us, and that your journey to empowerment begins with you! - MEETING YOUR POWER – DJ Zinhle & Nokubonga Mbanga"

"You’re going to make a difference. A lot of times it won’t be huge, it won’t be visible even. But it will matter just the same."

"My Definition Of Success | Success is about setting goal and reaching those goals, they could be personal or professional goals. Success is personal and should never be driven by other people’s measures of success but your own and that is how the definition of success has changed for the over the year, just understanding that my definition and measure of success won’t be the same as that of the next person."

"Lessons I Have Learnt | Family is number one, you can have all the success in the world but without love, you will not be happy."

"The DJ and entrepreneur has not only committed to producing high-quality wigs at an affordable price but is also set on elevating women with her business."

"She says she hopes to largely employ women and help create an avenue for independence for them."

"Creating a culture of ambitious and strong-willed women requires solidarity among women, and especially the inclusion of men. From my childhood experiences I recognise that our existence is interdependent."

"African consumers are now recognising their own designers are as valuable any of the brands they buy globally,""

"as a young girl I always enjoyed the feel and look of clothing. Growing up in Soweto, you socialised at weddings and church – those were times when you could shine and put on your best outfit and I enjoyed that. I couldn’t sew to save my life at school, but when playing with dolls with my siblings and cousins, I had the fashion sense, in terms of knowing what looked good on the dolls. And the passion grew from there. So going into the fashion industry was an easy transition for me, because I felt I could make a difference by investing in the growth of industries that define who we are as a nation. The fashion and arts industry is important in that regard, as well as the way it employs thousands of people, such as fabric makers, seamstresses and beaders”."

"I never agonised about not practising medicine. I believe you need to find things that you enjoy doing and explore them to the fullest, but don't get stuck with them. I don't believe in this myopic view of our careers, where you have to study something and then you have to work in that career for the next 50 years. It's like buying an expensive hammer and for the rest of your life you've got to be hammering in nails. I really don't believe that. I think medicine, in many ways, prepared me for many other things that I could do. Passion, hard work, honesty and respect for others is something I carry with me wherever I go. I hope that in 10 years' time I will go into something else. I believe in reinventing myself as a human being. There are people who want to stay in a career and explore it to the maximum, but I like change."

"Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us."

"Change, and advocacy, by men and women begins within our immediate household and workplace environments. Patriarchy creates emotional scars that can only be healed through constructive dialogue."

"What is needed is political will—men and women who are sensitive to and committed to promoting gender equality for the overall benefit of society.""

"Empowering women must include men"

"It's an important cultural moment, recognition of black excellence and talent from Africa"

"I believe that strategic investment in women and girls will ensure we address the most pressing issues that face women today. Addressing women’s issues is part of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and Maverick’s impact will extend toward closing gender parity gaps"

"We remember and honour all those who have worked and suffered for the realisation of these rights and reaffirm our individual and collective commitment to work for a world where everyone is truly free"

"These technologies hold immense potential, not least for better inclusion, but they can also be disruptive, and could potentially put jobs at risk"

"The longer we wait, the greater the future costs are likely to be. On the other hand, there are opportunities in moving quickly now, and universities can play a catalytic research role in this area"

"Interacting with these themes, shaping them and being shaped by them, I feel there is a growing global sense that We need to put values and ethics back into how we think about our economic system, and how we understand the institutions that form part of them"

"is the potential synergies between these trends, the way they can positively reinforce one another, that really excites me, and makes me hopeful that we can recover lost ground and accelerate towards achieving the ever-elusive Sustainable Development Goals, and the overarching goal of a better and more sustainable future for all"

"As chancellor I would like to see the University of Cape Town grow even further as an inclusive centre of excellence, embedded in the society around us, nurturing compassionate citizens and helping to prepare Africa take its rightful place in a technology-oriented world"

"I want to pose this as the challenge for all of us, and for this university: to bring to all the challenges we face, and will face, the same sense of compassionate urgency that we saw during the fire, and that we have seen in those helping the poor and vulnerable during the [COVID-19] pandemic"

"Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come."

"Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of others. We’re running a different race."

"I have a new theory in life… what others may think of me is truly none of my business."

"“Let me tell you a secret. If you want loads of money… then give out money, I have never seen a giver lack.”"

"“…Without the training, people cannot be promoted.”"

"“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does, keep going.”"

"“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is how important it is to have a mentor when you start your business. There is knowledge I would not have had access to if it weren’t for my mentors.”"

"My presence at the Senate will further promote APGA ideology and acceptance of the Igbo nation by other states of the country."

"Thirty years ago this day, 4th Dec. 1988, I ventured in trepidation onto the grand stage of the National Theatre, Lagos, as a contestant in the MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN NIGERIA PAGEANT by Silverbird Productions. By the grace of God I won the contest. I was then a law undergraduate at the University of Nigeria. The rest, as they say, is history."

"Ojukwu’s personality transcends a political party. He means much more to the Igbo nation. He is the son of the ‘Rising Sun’."

"12 years in wait, 7 years after our wedding and 3 children later, the father of the bride said ‘Yes’!. Enugu was shut down by a mammoth crowd as people from far and wide, distinguished personalities from all over the country as well as all the governors of the south Eastern States stormed the legendary ‘Okwor’s Fortress’, the ancient stone palace of the late High Chief Gabriel Okwor Onoh, Father of Chief C.C. Onoh, to witness this significant event. It was nothing short of a carnival!"

"It is most unfortunate that Obiano decided to remove the picture of Ojukwu on APGA uniforms and replace same with his picture, just to drive home his statement that he would no longer tie the fate and fortunes of APGA to the memory of a dead man, obviously in reference to my husband."

"APGA is now like a secret cult, and this has reduced our once vibrant party to a shadow of its former self."

"Kanu’s release will further buttress President Buhari’s commitment to healing the wounds of marginalization felt by the Igbo nation."

"We must unite to achieve our common goal. I know you are concerned about what is happening at home. We, as an ethnic group, have been denied the presidency of Nigeria for so long. However, we cannot make progress by becoming internally divided, with some of our major stakeholders working against our collective interests. But we must not box ourselves into a corner. We must continue to build pragmatic partnerships and anchor our aspirations on strategic engagements, alliances, and negotiations which, while tapping into our collective goodwill and progressive agenda, will advance our political interests."

"Our own Barrister Bianca Ojukwu is one of our brightest and best in Igboland. She is our priceless jewel of inestimable value. A classical and celebrated beauty in her own class. She is a scholar in the best tradition. She is well brought Child, former Ambassador to Spain, former Miss Nigeria, daughter of a former Governor of the old Anambra State, Chief CC Onoh, wife of Ikemba Nnewi, former President of Biafra, a well-respected scholar, soldier of soldiers, IKEMBA Nnewi, Dikedioramma of Igboland, Onuo Onaa of Igboland. Bianca is a big fish, a jewel of inestimable value in Nnewi where I come from. Her husband Ikemba Nnewi was a lion and Hon Bianca is a lioness. Please know this and have inner peace."

"Rwanda is ready to export goods to the wider African market adding that no one should worry that some of the countries with the largest economies on the continent will give less value to the market."

"“We, as Rwandans, find that in the next 10 years, we will have tripled our trade with foreign countries,"

"We are now at an investigation phase. We are analysing what could be the benefits to Rwandans to have CBDC but also the risk not only to our economy but the sector depending on the form of digital currency we would issue."

"What is important is to look at financial inclusion because if you issue a digital currency, you shouldn’t be excluding your population, it has to go with closing the digital divide and making sure that people have the option to use it."

"We’ve been having a facility at the central bank for banks that can come to us and we do what we call a forex swap—when we lock in a rate that they can come in one year, two years, and they will get the dollars at that rate and they pay us a premium."

"Local banks… are also developing those instruments that they can extend to the private sector and even individuals."

"We’ve done a lot to make sure Rwanda is not easily impacted by global volatility."

"NBR’s work on meeting net-zero targets is embedded in the national policies and the robust institutional, legal and policy framework to address climate change, reduce biodiversity losses, and enhance adaptive capacity."

"The NBR is actively supporting the development of Rwanda’s Green Taxonomy as per the NGFS recommendation #6."

"Our involvement as new member of the NGFS Steering Committee, as well as contribution in various Workstreams, is a result of our commitment to play a significant role in the greening of the financial sector not only in Rwanda, but across the region."

"it’s important for countries to mobilize their own resources and be able to, you know, be in control of their own destiny."

"I think the key word for Africa is building Africa’s economic resilience."

"Whatever the World Bank is doing, whatever countries are investing in, are actually resulting to jobs."

"I think for any human being, it's good to not only have a very fulfilling career, but probably you spend a lot of time working, but have time for other things as well."

"People who take things for granted or feel that they're entitled instead of really, sort of, building on opportunities they are given and making the best of them."

"There are people who think that charity work is showing off,but it doesn't mean anything when you've done what you're supposed to do."

"I cannot say it has been easy, it all started from scratch as I managed the limited resources that I had (like time, money and personal relationships). But with determination, passion and motivation, self-belief, hard work and discipline, I managed to build my businesses without ‘getting bored’ because I enjoy what I do."

"I have not achieved much, neither have I achieved less, though I’m looking onto much more that is yet to come. But I can say I have so far improved on my communication skills and developed a good relationship with clients; I am running two businesses, I pay for my school tuition, and many more. The keenness that I have for the next level is the hope and confidence that keeps us in motion."

"Being in the fashion sector is fun because it requires a lot of creativity and being current, but most of all, you must have a sense of attraction. Who you are is who you attract. You have to attract people into your life and into your business and ideas. People need to understand that the greatest growth will always come as a result of finding people ahead of you who can show you the way forward."

"I have come to understand that it’s not all about you and your idea. My focus on my early business start led to just me, me, me. This was a lonely experience and it negatively affected me and my businesses. I’ve since changed and now, I continually make time for others. I look for opportunities to assist people and serve. This not only makes me feel better about myself but it helps my businesses. I don’t expect anything in return. Sometimes people you’ve helped will help you, other times they will not."

"I can’t say people have not seen it, but will just highlight it again; its adaptability and flexibility. It is good to be passionate or even stubborn about what you do. But being inflexible about clients or market needs will lead to failure. Entrepreneurial venture is not simply about doing what you believe is good, but also, making a successful business out of it. Market needs are dynamic, changes are a recurring phenomenon."

"Challenges and interferences in business are always there but my own challenge is marketing and customer loyalty. This includes, how to market to potential customers effectively and retain your existing customers, figuring out the right marketing channels, and knowing where your customers are and how best to reach them."

"Business is a battle of perception, focus, and marketing.“When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal; you do not change your decision to get there.”- ZigZiglar. That quote describes my success."

"I have one word for the young people; self-motivation, that internal drive to achieve, to produce, to develop, and keep moving forward. With self-motivation, you’ll learn and grow regardless of the specific situation. That’s why it’s such a fundamental tool for reaching your goals, achieving your dreams, and succeeding, in this journey we call life."

"I’m a scientist, you can see them blinking."

"I am one of those people who put 100% into whatever I am doing, so side hustles would never work for me. It has to be all in!"

"What COVID-19 has taught us is that health system resilience is the job of everyone."

"We are pleased to be a part of the Nyabugogo and Kayonza community and look forward to playing an integral part in providing world class financial solutions to the community. As part of the NCBA strategy of scaling up our retail network, we believe in bringing our services closer to our customers."

"with the financial strength, expertise, regional connectivity and expanded range of products and services, NCBA Bank Rwanda PLC is set to become a market leader in corporate, retail, asset finance, and digital banking within the region"

"This was a situation where somebody acted completely out of character and, ordinarily, with the labour law and our HR policy, this person should have gone through the disciplinary process which would have probably led to an exit or a very difficult end in terms of parting."

"So, our target for non-interest income is about 50 percent growth year on year but for the first quarter (Q1 2022) we are pleased to see a strong stability as in quarter four."

"We are very pleased to already bring down our cost of risk from 3.4 (percent) last year to 0.78 percent- which is below one percent this year."

"Because we continued to work with our clients and the Bank’s employees, especially through technology, we were able to reduce the cost that we incurred such as in advertising, travel, etc., so that there is a lot of money we saved."

"At the moment there is still a lot to be done in the country. We are going to concentrate on the local market for now."

"The power of NEPAD is the power of ideas and solutions it brings to the table. NEPAD and ECA have been working together closely on the MoveAfrica border system to harmonise systems, processes, and regulations in support of implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area. NEPAD has also been at the forefront to ensure that the single African transport market can take hold. It is time for Africa to have its own development institution."

"The health pandemic caught Africa, like the rest of the world, unprepared. Our insurance systems were not deep enough, and as a collective we’ve needed to come together to respond. Twenty years after the birth of the African Union, which was created to reinforce solidarity, the continent was tested."

"As we seek to access foreign markets we must also build and strengthen our own capital markets and increase efforts towards financial inclusion."

"I’ll be Diego_Twahirwa's wife by this Christmas."

"this is an opportunity to showcase Rwanda’s fashion industry to the international market, and a chance to create new avenues for them to gain regional and international markets for their products."

"To my people exciting times….” Designer& mental health advocate."

"May we all hear the voices of children, who are learning to be expressive under the best of circumstances, and are often completely absent when they, as I was, have been traumatized."

"What you see today is me, dressed in a cloak of healing, which is often forgiving and will be in production forever."

"The most important thing is truth, dignity, and that enduring Rwandan spirit – the spirit that must never die."

"Join me, as I stand here today and pray for every Rwandan, who is healing from a life left by the Genocide’s ‘visible and invisible’ scars."

"Let us condemn all the deniers of the Genocide against the Tutsi so we give dignity to the deceased and respect the survivors."

"The purpose of denial is to destroy truth and memory. The denial of the genocide against the Tutsi causes the gravest offence to survivors."

"I strongly believe that Rwanda has a very rich culture with an artistic side to it, and I am determined to put the country on the world fashion map."

"“If you told me today to start a fashion line, I don’t know if I would be as brave because the older you grow, the more you calculate what could go wrong or right.”"

"“It’s not who wears my clothes, it’s about what difference we are making in the community.”"

"“The ability to redefine yourself is a bold, daring and purposeful choice… No one can take your happiness from you or prevent you from being happy. No one except you, that is.”"

"“Designing campaign attire for our candidate, President Paul Kagame, during the 2024 elections was an honor. We wish him all the best.”"

"“No one can take your happiness from you or prevent you from being happy. No one except you, that is.”"

"“Redefining oneself is the epitome of growth and development. The woman who redefines herself is free because she has let go of her insecurities.”"

"“The ability to redefine yourself is a bold, daring and purposeful choice… No one can take your happiness from you or prevent you from being happy.”"

"“I prepare for the next step in my life — motherhood. I hope you love it as much as I do!”"

"“To those still carrying pain in silence: you are not alone.”"

"“Free Spirit. Control. Powerful. Feminine.”"

"“Yes, she is indeed wearing our belted Vintage dress from our Spring '22 collection! We love to see it #MadeinRwanda to the world …”"

"Homes were destroyed, crops lost, schools deserted. Just corpses, just corpses everywhere. On the streets, in the woods, in the wells."

"I didn't want to do anything more."

"They will be seeking to make on progress and gains made so far in the aspect."

"in the campaign to be rolled out, they will target multiple payment models as opposed to a specific platform as well as bring onboard financial institutions and telcos."

"I wonder if RTDA has stopped abusing the law and doing its own things, and whatever the arrears are, this shouldn’t be the case whatsoever."

"In fact, conflicts are the result of problems in families such as drug abuse, ignorance of the principle of gender equality, among others, and these affect children because parents are bickering and give no attention to their children."

"I have the responsibility to coordinate efforts to implement the FFRP’s strategic plan to execute the gender principle between men and women in Rwanda, continue to build capacities of women and give our contribution in empowering the Rwandan family as it is the foundation of the development of the country ."

"Lack of mobile laboratories for DNA tests is a problem. You realise that there are crimes that are not investigated because of such challenges."

"If there is a dispute on the valuation of the land or property, the dispute should be referred to other institutions charged with valuation within the appeal process. In such a case, people have to pay the property valuer."

"The financial capacity of many citizens limits them from taking this legal route and they are left with no choice but to accept whatever they are given."

"This is social problem of which parents have a big role to play if we are to address it. We are not ending here, our plan is to go across the country educating all communities to know that teenage pregnancies is a serious crime that negatively affects girls’ future and the nation at large."

"the choice of starting in Gatsibo was to address the problem within its roots in order to send a national message to all parents."

"Failure to involve the designated officials in contract negotiations casts doubt on the transparency and fairness of the negotiation process. As such, the district may unnecessarily acquire goods, services and works at expensive costs ."

"You knew the number of beneficiaries in the first case. How come you purchased what you didn’t need? I think this is a lie unless the support program was halted ."

"Our Excellence, the international community has rightly congratulated Rwanda for abolishing the death penalty. But I am forced to ask: why are our fellow citizens continually the object of extrajudicial executions? And, as our head of state, why would you condone such executions in your May 10, 2019, Rubavu speech? Your subordinates emulate you. At Mwiseneza's funeral, Chief Superintendent Innocent Iyaburunga blamed Mwiseneza for his own death..."

"“I just came out of a prison but my country still feels like a prison. And the prison guard is none other than the ruling party... dictating to us how to live, what to do and what to say.”"

"“I was not surprised by my arrest. I was kind of expecting it because of what I was doing in the country: if you dare criticise the government that is what happens, you get arrested, imprisoned or lose your life. I expected some form of retaliation.”"

"“I speak the truth, that the system is built on a lie. They simply do not want to be exposed. The lie is that everything is well in Rwanda and I just talk about [the reality] which is the high level of unemployment, the high level of poverty, the disappearances, the killings, all that, and they are not ready for that to be exposed.”"

"I request the president release me and my family.” “I am being victimised … because I have political ambitions.”"

"“I know that you are powerless to deliver a fair verdict and to give me bail. You are trying my case but the real power and decisions will come from the President’s Office, not from you.” “But I urge you to try the best you can and be fair.”"

"“After all the time, work and effort I put in, I am very disappointed to hear that I am not on the list of presidential candidates.”"

"“@PaulKagame why won’t you let me run?”"

"“This is the second time you cheat me out of my right to campaign.”"

"“I am very happy with the court decision. I am continuing with my political journey … everything I talked about in the past has not been resolved. There are still many political prisoners in the country.”"

"“Some of the statistics on Rwanda’s development appear to be cooked.”"

"“I am innocent and the charges are fabricated because I opposed the ruling party.”"

"“I know that you are powerless to deliver a fair verdict and to give me bail. You are trying my case but the real power and decisions will come from the President’s Office, not from you.”"

"“When time comes for leaders to leave power, they get excuses to stay and then say that it is the people who are asking them to continue to lead. This is a bad habit across the continent.”"

"We don’t work around it; we work through it. We don’t deny our feelings when they arrive or even attack us."

"Be honest about who you are and where you’re standing at the moment. Don’t rush, and have fun without focusing on the end goal."

"“There can be no equal future without the full participation of all women and girls everywhere and this is the generation to accomplish that.”"

"“Forcibly displaced women are agents of change, challenging the status quo and fighting for girls’ rights, and using their voices to demand equality.”"

"“Do not compare your step 2 to someone else’s step 10. Because immediately when you see somebody way ahead, perhaps maybe your age or not even your age, you immediately feel like you're not doing enough.”"

"“My end goal has always been to strive to become a better me.”"

"Rejection is absolutely fantastic because it is a moment of pause, evaluate and growth all at once and it's the biggest motivation your self can ever intake spiritual."

"“If you believe in something, be headstrong in something. Whoever is going to come into your life must be able to match that.”"

""Together we are much better, collaboration is key.”"

"“I have to learn to take failure in my stride, failure in work, and failure in relationships.”"

"Pouring more money in a broken system does only fund more inefficiencies, because often, we don’t think and act in results and learning outcomes are results."

"Leadership is about the decisions you make and the conversations you have. It is also about the time you give."

"At the end, if you think about Africa and the Middle East, there is a huge lack of leadership. It has to be integrated with ethics. Maybe the human side of leadership is the most important piece."

"Around 330 million children are in school, but not learning. There are bodies in classrooms, but not educated minds."

"Education has been a neglected child globally; it has been seen as a national problem and has not really attracted much attention. Outside of the education bubble, I do not think that people are really aware of the true scale of the problem."

"We need more financial resources directed at education because we have more children, and also because 21st-century skills are more complex than anything that has been taught before. On the other side, the way that we are currently spending money as a society on education is not bringing the results we want to achieve."

"Institutions…could support the development of the whole ecosystem through knowledge building or creating a taskforce with other fiduciary investors and the ecosystem of dedicated impact bond managers. They have big capacities to bring systematic change, in advocacy and conversation with governments"

"In Women’s Month, I will accept one or two speaking engagements, just as an opportunity for people to ask me the questions they never get a chance to ask,” she says. “Some people never see me; they’ll see me only in the newspaper or on television or hear me on the radio, and they have questions all the way from: ‘what was your life like’ to ‘were you always going to be a CEO’ to ‘what does your day look like’. These questions are not things you read in a newspaper, but once you are available as a female leader to answer those types of questions, it becomes aspirational for others. You break down the barriers. It’s not only aspirational, it’s an attainable aspiration. People see that there’s a person there – that person has done the following things to do that, and that person’s life feels and looks like the following…"

"For most of my life I knew about women who worked hard. From negotiating prices to dinner table conversations – there was no barrier for women. Women could do anything: They had a place at the table. You have to earn that place – Study hard, work hard and put up your hand."

"Was a teacher in a NYC high school and noticed absenteeism was a huge problem from the first day I stood in front of my students. I realized that parents, an essential partner to help get kids to class, were often uninformed, parents play major role in education besides we teachers."

"When a lot of other kids during breaks from school were playing or doing other fun activities, I was going to work with my dad, which maybe didn’t seem that fun at the time but I actually thought it was a pretty cool experience. Early entrepreneurship shapens mind"

"The last three years at Telkom have been intense, challenging, rewarding - overall an incredible and life-changing experience."

"It's true that past efforts have failed. There's been a lot of energy and a lot of great ideas, but it's been inconsistent."

"I've learned over the years that leadership is everything."

"I'm a very driven personality, there's no doubt about that. For success in bringing about this kind of change, you have to be pretty ruthlessly focused. I deal with intense stuff at Telkom and it's an enormous challenge and there's pain and pleasure. It's very exciting, but what if you fail? You can't fail."

"China has moved beyond the stage of imitation and has a growing community of designers and innovators."

"A visit to Shanghai begs an exploration of art, fashion, design, and technology."

"Chinese urban planning is legendary, and great thought has been devoted to public spaces."

"Learning some Mandarin can really change the overall experience."

"when they do understand, I’ve experienced more random acts of kindness in China than anywhere else."

"Leadership instability is the top challenge faced by many SOEs, and this was certainly the case at Telkom."

"Staff were quite probably going to say one thing, do another, and wait for Maseko to pass through."

"Eskom could not build up sufficient reserves to cover the costs of maintenance, replacement or new capacity."

"Eskom will have to convince creditors that there is commitment to good governance and a pathway to sustainability. Eskom’s new board is the most important first milestone. Next steps will be to urgently appoint a permanent CEO and round out the Exco in a way that demonstrates a new beginning. Eskom’s communication needs to be open, humble and give stakeholders a true reflection of the state of affairs whether good or bad."

"Stuck in a ditch on that lonely Lesotho mountain road, one can try to drive out of it, wait, or walk to the next village for help. One thing is certain. If the truck does not lift out of the ditch, it is going to be a long time before one is back on course to deliver services."

"Performance of tertiary education institutions will specifically need to be targeted. One option is to tie some part of the government’s institution grant to achieving improved governance, capacity, quality and labour market alignment."

"The fastest route back to economic activity, charted in a way that enables physical distancing, will always be the best one. It is always better to generate revenue, in companies and through tax, than it is to save companies or borrow for the shortfall."

"Young people should leave school with a recognised certificate, be channelled into post-school education and training, and then enabled to access to earning opportunities."

"The absolutely most important thing for us is that we should be investing in human capability. It is, I think, the most important ingredient to success in any high-growth developing country, and it’s something that we underplay so significantly in South Africa. I think it’s the reason we don’t make progress."

"One of the most important ways of growing, expanding and developing is to have easy movement of people between countries."

"You could see that one of the problems in the company, even though it wasn’t in a competitive market, was that people still had this idea like they were in a monopoly."

"Communications is everything for people. It’s the most fundamental thing. And people are getting cut out of communication if they’re not online. It is an incredible enabler, especially when you have an urban configuration like we do, or spatial configuration, where people are very far from opportunity. So it could be a game changer."

"I think that the key problem we face is unproductive ways of doing things. I don't think it’s the technical problem."

"If you walk away when things aren't going well, I can guarantee you it's a recipe for failure. Participation doesn't guarantee success, but that grip, commitment, and continuation step by step is what's going to make us win."

"People ask about growth. The only way to have sustained growth is actually to have inclusion. It is physically whatever anybody thinks."

"The only way to have sustained growth is by building human capability, and the reality is the economy. You know, economists, I guess, confuse people, and we're all trained to think about business, but it's not actually a bunch of businesses; it's actually a bunch of people doing a whole lot of things. It’s actually a human system, and that's how we need to treat it to move on."

"If everyone came out to tell a story of what people have done to them every step of the way, do you think we would be safe in this world or country (Ghana)??? Don't act like you are a saint when you're not."

"I don’t believe in the past, I only believe that whatever happened then should be able to make me strong and put me on the right path so that I can be a better version of myself."

"If I have to write a book, it will be one to empower people, to advise people. I don't think I want to give a memoir of how I have had sex or how many times I have had an abortion; it doesn't make sense."

"Don't say fix and not fix yourself! Change starts with us the youths. The old folks will leave, and when we hold the fort, we will account to everything we do! COURSE- Means the Direction, Route, Way, the journey!."

"You can be anything you want to be.......IT IS POSSIBLE! Just make up your mind, get at it, go hard at it, don’t give up."

"Once the man I am with is okay why I should bother about what others think? Whatever anyone says is no news to me so far as my man is okay with everything I do."

"I'm facing the biggest public shame ever in my life, but in the midst of the shame, the public ridicule, the insults, the trolls and the judgements, there's only one woman who has found the courage to stand by me and doing everything as a wife. Today I proudly celebrate you Mrs. Nkansah. If this is not an Angel, then I don't know who she is, if this is not every man's dream then I don't know what men want."

"I am strong in the midst of all this because of ONLY one person in my life, my powerful wife, VICTORIA LEBENE MEKPAH now MRS. OSAFO-NKANSAH. I was single and wasn’t finding real love. I never knew I would find a permanent place in the heart of one woman but guess what, I chose to marry the forever beautiful Victoria Lebene."

"I realised how limiting it was to run the residency under a private company. Raising funds was not easy and the residency only catered for artists by Undiscovered Canvas"

"I realised that my vision for the residency was changing. I no longer wanted to cater for Undiscovered Canvas artists only, but I wanted to work with female artists across the African continent. I wanted to create a powerful community of women artists, collectors, gallerists, investors who would consciously support each other."

"I am based in France for the past 12 years, and I have been running Undiscovered Canvas (promoting global investment in and profiling of African Art). My strongest impact has been to identify young and emerging artists from Southern Africa and introduce them directly into a mature market"

"To my son – don’t let anyone take you for granted. Always hold your head up high. Never stop believing in yourself."

"Just go forth and aim for the skies. I may not carry you in my arms anymore, but I will always carry you in my heart."

"You have given me so many reasons to be proud of the man you have become, but the proudest moment for me is telling others [that] you are my son. Love always, Mom."

"To the Tribe [family] that came to see him off, they say it takes a village to raise a child. Thank you very much. AmaNtungwa [clan name] ayabonga [say thank you]."

"When I was a small child, I looked up to my mother who taught at a school in Soweto, where we lived. I have always wanted to be the one standing in front of the class with a black board and some chalk in my hand and this is why my first degree was in education."

"The universe had other ideas for me though, and I now believe that my classroom is wherever I am called to speak, write, and add my voice. There are many ways to Impart knowledge, and my passion is to keep learning, so I can teach."

"To be a woman is to be soft and strong all at once, and there is beauty in this duality. We are strong enough to birth children, and nurturing enough to raise them, but we are also fierce enough to be leaders, businesswomen and captains of industry."

"I think mentorship is a key component of sharing knowledge and helping young women to reach their goals. There is really no reason why we should not be sharing our lessons to empower the younger generations"

"I think it starts with telling them they don’t have to change the way they look to be acceptable or beautiful. Young girls don’t have to have straight hair in order to look “professional”."

"Regarding representation, I think we have to use our power as consumers. Do your research and support the brands which are serious about representing you and people who look like you."

"GBV is a huge issue on our continent and in a world where patriarchal power structures still dominate. Male leadership is still seen as the norm, and men hold the majority of power. Patriarchy is a social and political system that treats men as superior to women – where women cannot protect their bodies, meet their basic needs, participate fully in society."

"Until this power dynamic is changed, women will continue to fall victim to violence. Our job as leaders is to push back against the oppression of women in all spheres, and to speak loudly about abuse. GBV will not go away if it continues to be cloaked in secrecy and shame."

"I think patriarchy is an issue all over the world, not just in Africa. Men have been running the world for so long that modern women have no choice but to take back their power."

"This doesn’t mean that women have to be disrespectful to their male counterparts, in fact, I have found that most men want to be helpful and they themselves are trying to manoeuvre and find their place in a changing world."

"We still respect the customs instilled by our parents. We still respect tradition, but we have to know when to say no, and push back"

"The modern woman is whoever and whatever she wants to be, because she is fiercely independent but also open with her vulnerabilities."

"She’s strong and stands tall but also gentle, loving and compassionate."

"There is no shame in being direct, being firm and fighting for what you believe, and it actually doesn’t matter if other people feel uncomfortable with your talents and your prowess."

"I was a very shy child, but whenever I had to participate in a pageant, I was forced outside of my comfort zone, which I feel is one of the biggest life lessons I learned from my mother. We only grow when we are outside of what is familiar and easy."

"We’ve always believed that our platforms are bigger than us. “Influence” comes with responsibility.... As couples, we need to create healthy environments within our homes to start having these hard conversations honestly. Change can only come when we face this head-on"

"We dated for about two years before we got married. When we started dating we both felt that we needed to give our relationship a fair chance. Building a new relationship is hard, and when it's done in the public eye it's 10 times harder."

"Women have been disadvantaged for a long time. My appeal to women is, they should come forward and show case their talents and skills."

"Encouraging people to become employers is one of the key elements to the growth of the private sector and the fostering of the entrepreneurial spirit."

"I really believe that economic emancipation through women is something that can turn this country around."

"The opportunity is out there. If I don’t put a road there, how do I harness the potential that is there. Debt, much as it looks high, it’s a debt for the future."

"If we do not position our industry to become a key regional player, we will be faced with high levels of imports into our country, which can lead to the death of local industry."

"When the procedures for starting a business and the licenses are expensive with tedious procedures, entrepreneurs avoid that cost by operating informally."

"In the medium term I see things improving mainly because of what we’re concentrating on as a government. In my ministry in particular, traditional exports will grow. Some of the things that we’re doing to enhance them is strengthening our relations with our immediate neighbors like DRC for example. Congo is in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) but they have not yet reached a stage where they can fully liberalize for us to trade freely."

"My challenge to them was to come here and don’t look on Zambia as somewhere where they’re just going to take their goods. “Look at Zambia as somewhere you can also get goods into South Africa” I said. And I’m happy to say that now Zambian honey has finally entered the South African market. The things that we’re trying to do to support industries such as honey, pineapples, cassava, are oriented to strengthen the value chain and to be able to produce for non-traditional exports. Within this context, the Tripartite is key."

"We should be signing another bilateral agreement with Angola, a country that hasn’t definitively entered COMESA yet. Trade between our countries is once more a normal tariff. When we sign this agreement we will be able to ensure that our industry here will have an export market. That bilateral agreement puts Zambia at an advantage because we can’t get our products into that market on a duty-free basis at the moment. Angola doesn’t produce much, and they want everything from Zambia: rice, sugar, fruits, vegetables and they also want chickens and eggs. They want everything, and here we are. If we can build up the capacity within our industries, we are able to use Angola as a market."

"When I was asked to go to Zimbabwe, there was one thing I was told; tourism."

"To show a different narrative of Zimbabwe, that there's beauty, invite people to come and spend money in Zimbabwe… show that Zimbabwe is powerful and incredible in its own special ways."

"I am not going to apologise for anything. What I will say is I did not know I was going to be at the State House, and I didn't know I was going to be in a situation that was going to look politically charged. Because, generally, once people have made a decision, you can't change their minds."

"I was never in this situation to be like, 'Ah, let me hurt people',"

"I remember the day I found out I was pregnant with Nema. I was so excited and scared at the same time. Being a mother has changed my life completely, and I'm loving every moment of it."

"One thing I've also learned about this journey is that when you're pregnant, you want to have a friend who is also pregnant, someone you can relate to, someone you talk to."

"Google is your friend, that sister who has a child is your friend because you want to talk about what's coming. That's why I started a movement called Mommy Diaries, where mothers come together and talk about all things motherhood."

"Dintle, for me, has grown tremendously as a person and I believe that she has learnt from her past mistakes. For me as an actress, I have grown with her, although she is younger than me but believe it or not we are similar in the things we have gone through."

"I love how they have written the storylines for her; the story has helped me as an actress to grow and it was so amazing to go through certain things at the same time as she was going through them.” One similarity she points to between her and her character is the drive to achieve their goals and get what they want"

"Being raised by a single mother had its challenges. I had a good upbringing but because we did not have a television at home I had to watch from our neighbours. Growing up in Bloemfontein was OK but there were no opportunities for what I wanted, but the fire in me kept me going."

"With some productions, should you get pregnant the possibility of you not working is high because they would have to change the storyline, so you have to plan your life around your career."

"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed but the mother, never. A mother is something new.""

"Being in a male-dominated environment means you must be, at the very least, twice as good as your male counterparts."

"People become and stay financially independent when they have a viable source of economic livelihood"

"People seem to think that you just turn up and open the mine and revenue flows, but it’s not like that. You have to invest billions before the first dollar even flows."

"Country people tend to be proud of their forebears, too. It’s the same for me. I am very proud of my forebears."

"Small business have more to fear from government than big business."

"But we should applaud ourselves where we have women in these positions because in some respects we have moved up, more so in the corporate world where there is more of a level playing field than in politics. This perhaps is because in politics the chances for women to make it higher up are harder."

"There are just so many complex issues that come in when women are vying for positions in politics – issues that usually suppress women all the time, but not the men."

"I would say, yes. You know, when a woman gets into a position of power, even me as secretary general of COMESA, a lot of people assumed it was given to me because “it’s time a woman led COMESA”. But the facts are that I did not get into this position as a token."

"But had it been a man taking up the same position, none of this would have come up. It is just taken on face value that men are capable and that’s why they get into these high positions."

"What you can achieve or what you are capable of is taken away simply because you are a woman."

"The assumption is always that if it’s a man, he will succeed and a woman will struggle and fail. This mindset needs to be changed and done away with."

"The skills and abilities anyone brings to a job are what matter, not because you are a man or woman."

"We have many women now leading big financial institutions, which many people never imagined a woman could lead."

"For example, we know cases where if a woman just raises her voice to make a point, she is often told she is hysterical or aggressive, but when a man does the same it’s accepted as being assertive."

"All women have to be aware of the pitfalls and these stereotypes and should equip themselves with the knowledge, experience and a lot of confidence, so that when they engage you in a discussion, they see past the woman and notice the person who is ably positioning herself and is able to deliver."

"As a strong advocate of advancing women in all positions, from boardroom to politics, I however also believe that while quotas are welcome, we have to be careful not to just put women in positions for the sake of filling the quotas. We have to have women fill these positions because they are qualified and capable of doing the job. Because if they are not, then we create a situation where it’s like, “look we gave a woman a chance but she couldn’t do the job”. So we have to make sure women are ready when the quotas come, because we are able, we are capable, we are qualified and have the right skills."

"I think that issue starts with education, because you can only empower women financially once they are educated. They need to be empowered with knowledge, be given resources including training, to sharpen their capabilities. And by that I mean at all levels – even at the most basic level. For example, if a woman is trying to set up a small stall, it is important to empower them with some financial literacy."

"Solutions don’t just lie in the boardrooms run by managers, they can start from the grassroots. And solutions that are technology-based are great because you can reach more people."

"Once women are able to have this strong base, they will have a much stronger voice to speak up against exclusion."

"My belief is that where there are programmes supporting women in more practical ways, in terms of policy, deliberate structures and frameworks that enhance their commercial activities or financial inclusion, access to credit and more, the result is that women do even better and succeed at all levels of society."

"Firstly, the sky is the limit. They should believe in themselves, but also they should equip themselves with quality skills and education. They have to be aware that they cannot just dream and hope it happens. They need to be ready and equipped with the right skills when that big opportunity comes calling."

"But I think it is important for all women who have succeeded and achieved in their own right, to find the time to mentor and create reality for this future generation."

"I also believe that no matter at what level of your career, as a woman you have to have a good balance between your work life and your family life."

"Even as we juggle both worlds, we have to stay true to ourselves – remain the strong and able woman that you are – and always remember we will never turn into a man. Stay true to yourself and achieve what you need to achieve, and get your job done."

"I think a new African woman is confident, assertive, brave, proud and ready to accomplish anything in any field. And the current generation, unlike in the past, have an added advantage of real-life inspirational examples of women who have achieved so much."

"It is important to address systemic, structural and financial challenges that hinder young people from realizing their potential and take advantage of opportunities presented by COMESA and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)"

"As we gather here today, we must remember that we have a responsibility to honor the legacy of those who lost their lives in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and ensure that we never forget the atrocities that were committed. It is our obligation to work towards a future where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their background, religion, and especially ethnicity."

"I am confident that through the latest digital developments, our customers will transition into best-in-class financial services. By increasing provision of capital to businesses for quality investment, we will also continue to support Rwanda's ambition to foster a private sector driven economy."

"We work with former street vendors, former housemaids and other vulnerable women in society to boost their livelihoods."

"In Rwanda, it’s difficult to find particular children’s clothing, especially after the second-hand clothing ban. I wanted to be a part of it and help fellow women at the same time."

"Before venturing into politics, I was widely known as an accomplished businesswoman and a trade economist."

"I am an accomplished Business Woman, a Trade Economist and Good Governance Advocate. In the course of my sterling career spanning over two decades, I have garnered extensive experience in advising Governments at various levels on policy issues with special focus on Sustainable Economic Developments, amongst others."

"We believe that it is critical to invest in children’s minds, equipping them with life skills that will help them become successful in life."

"He is not just a Kamba kingpin but a National leader -who has followings inside and outside Kenya. Therefore he deserves respect and admiration ."

"You know he is a very heavily built man, he came and told me how can I lose my title and you are the Minister for Lands ."

"I had to make a decision about whether I really wanted to be a lawyer or to pursue media."

"I work with leaders from all walks of life. The goal is to help them understand the power of personal narratives and organizational narratives too."

"The more I watched television, the more I understood that this thing actually shapes the world that we live in."

"I made a decision very early on that I was going to use my career in media and storytelling for good, so for me it is about the impact of the work that we have done."

"1994 was the most impactful year for me. The country was transitioning to democracy and because I had become such a fan of television, the psychology of the media became obvious to me even at that age."

"That’s when I thought, media is what I will do, but for good. If there are more of us doing good, with this platform and this tool, maybe by changing mindsets and getting people to see the similarities between themselves rather than the differences, then what kind of world could we build."

"You have to believe so strongly in what you are doing, to be so dedicated to it that you are willing to make the necessary sacrifices."

"Draw inspiration and courage from you own dreams and passions and never slack on them."

"There were so many friends who laughed when they heard about the bamboo bike idea. Some people will definitely discourage you, but one thing I've realised in life is that you have to be focused. People never understand your journey because it is not theirs to understand."

"Why child, I haven't had time for marriage. Men are a nuisance anyhow, now aren't they? They're just boys grown up."

"Looking for nuggets is like hunting for a whisper in a big wind. You have to have an occupation to fall back on while you’re searching for a strike."

"Every man I met up north was my protector, and any man I ever met, if he needed my help, got it, whether it was a hot meal, nursing, mothering or whatever else he needed. After all, we pass this way only once, and it's up to us to help our fellows when they need our help."

"When I saw something that needed doing, I did it."

"There's no such thing as friendship between men and women, if it's not the girl who's excited, then the guy's the guy who's excited, if someone says they both don't have feelings, there's bound to be someone who denies it, pure friends of the opposite sex are bullshit."

"We achieve freedom when we let go of the weight of societal expectations, and when we find our people – those who love us, care for us, and hold us up when we start slipping."

"Many women lose all the privileges of a free woman when they get married and what they gain is nothing compared to what they lose."

"I feel most free when I am myself, stripped of all pretences, lounging naked on my bed, my boobies freely rolling to wherever they choose to land, my belly relaxed and soft, my thighs apart, my hands wherever they may choose to lie. With no one around me, I am my most free self."

"I spent years avoiding sex with guys because I didn’t want anyone to gossip about me. I wish I had realized sooner that no matter what I did guys would claim to have fucked me every which way under the sun."

"Today I feel like my best sex life is being lived in my imagination. I’m a lot more free in my mind than I am in my body. I dream and fantasise a lot but I don’t necessarily create the kind of experiences that would allow me to enjoy the feelings that I think about."

"I have learned over time that relationships require work. When you’re younger, you have a sense of love as being magical and so relationships happen in that particular space of magic, and it’s easy to feel that’s all one needs, but now I know that relationships require work, and constant work. The desire that is in the relationship also needs to be nurtured, and thought about, and reentered and reimagined."

"I’ve learnt to ask myself every day, Are you happy today? And if the answer is no I make a change."

"Not everyone’s gender identity matches the reproductive organs they were born with therefore you have been reclassified as a birthing person rather than a mother. Now are you ready to try chest feeding?"

"It's terrifying and I've had to navigate it all through nine months of ­pregnancy. I created a social network for women, myself included, where we can relax on the ­internet away from death threats and toxic male behaviour."

"We wanted to do equity crowd funding, which would allow women to have ownership in a start-up and have investment in the financial world. No equity crowd funding company would work with us, saying the trans issue was like an open wound."

"It's always been you can't discriminate against anyone except when you can … (because it is) for a positive reason for that group. Female only spaces have existed for such a long time and there has been no controversy in it."

"My goal is not to strip anyone of their rights. My goal is to make everybody's rights clear. If we can get clarity on this hopefully it will stop the fighting between women and trans activists. Let's try and find positives to move forward."

"[Giggle was intended to be] a little corner of the Internet where women from all over the world could have a refuge away from men. It could be for serious reasons, very superficial reasons, or very practical reasons. It would be a place without harassment, 'mansplaining', 'dick pics', stalking, and aggression, and other male patterned online behaviour. A place to vent and get advice from other women and find out what was happening in the real world in a female-only environment."

"[N]ever in my wildest nightmare did I think there was anyone saying men are actually women if they just say it."

"[W]hat's the point of even having a category of woman in law if it's not defined as 'biological adult human female' if it's just a category any man can become. [...] It's meaningless."

"I don’t think it's kind to expect a woman to see a man as a woman."

"[From a series of posts on X/Twitter] I'm being taken to federal court by a man who claims to be a woman because he wants to use a woman-only space I created. [...] There isn't a woman in the world who'd have to take me to court to use this woman only space. It takes a man for this case to exist."

"[Statement in court ] I wanted to create a safe, women-only space in the palm of your hand. [...] It is a legal fiction that Tickle is a woman. His birth certificate has been altered from male to female, but he is a biological man, and always will be. We are taking a stand for the safety of all women’s only spaces, but also for basic reality and truth, which the law should reflect."

"Unfortunately, we got the judgement we anticipated. The fight for women's rights continues."

"If Tickle wins, it will establish that males have a legal right, not just to the female sex category, but to all female spaces, including hospital wards, sports facilities, domestic violence refuges, rape crisis centres, and prisons."

"Sex is discriminatory, it always has been and always will be ... biological sex must prevail"

"[A] small group of people have taken it upon themselves to declare that I am not who I know I am, and they have set about making my life miserable. This case, and the unlawful and discriminatory exclusion from the Giggle app, has stolen the last three years of my life."

"While there are a number of trans-only apps and straight women don't demand access to, say, the gay dating app Grindr, activists want Giggle removed from the Apple platform. They claim its software reads black women's faces as male. Grover says her users are women of all races from 88 countries and this is a vicious slur. Their true motivation is her female-only policy. It enrages a movement whose idea of activism is getting domestic violence refuges defunded for remaining single-sex; which can’t abide women having one damn thing."

"My confidence is that he’s been somebody who has been tried and tested at some point and found diligent and also found acceptable."

". I believe that everything that happens in one’s life is for a purpose. For those of us who believe in Jesus Christ, I believe it was the way it was destined for me."

"A day begins a story"

"You do not know the price of stability until you have been faced with either breakups or uncontrollable situations that could affect the unity of this country."

"The legislature just like any other thing is evolving, graduating and maturing and in doing that, it is coming up with quality legislations better ways of handling issues and ensuring that there is amicable, understanding between the three tiers of government."

"These laws that we have made, all we need do is to ensure that between we the lawmakers and executive the implementers and of course, the judiciary, the interpreters to ensure that there is a harmonious relationship amongst the tripod."

"I am not a lawyer but if keep quiet to some certain things it means that you are in agreement to all those things."

"The government will press ahead with the generalization of mandatory health coverage, financial assistance to needy families, and will launch the generalization of the pension system, as it also continues the reform of the health and education sectors."

"We are also counting on the confidence of local and foreign investors who always maintain the pace of their investments to create employment opportunities and strengthen growth."

"In addition, the award of the organisation of two mega football events, the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025 and the 2030 World Cup [shared with Spain, Portugal, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay], constitutes a great opportunity for our country, and should certainly further energise our territories and have a great impact on growth and employment."

"Morocco also braces for the launch of major infrastructure projects as it prepares to host the 2030 World Cup and as it continues post-earthquake relief along with reconstruction of homes and facilities destroyed by the recent floods."

"we have chosen to provide targeted subsidies by the state so that there is no impact on the entire economy. (...) I am referring here to transport or electricity, for which we have maintained prices at an appropriate level so that there is no impact on growth."

"What we want now is to maintain the pace of reforms. To gain credibility in these reforms and have funding, we must maintain this pace which allows us to reduce the budget deficit annually."

"The most important thing for us is that the intervention and the program are very rapid so that these disruptions do not affect the performance of businesses and the economy of the Kingdom."

"Today, this institution is no longer able to fulfill these roles efficiently, leaving an organizational void that has had a certain negative impact on the exercise of craft activities and on the attractiveness of the products and services offered to consumers. The text therefore aims to generate certain positive externalities for the future of the sector."

"This sector has just been attached to the Ministry of Crafts and we have discovered a promising sector. Indeed, the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) sector, although recently institutionalized, plays an essential role in the socio-economic chessboard of the country, particularly through cooperatives, associations and mutual societies that work as close as possible to the population concerned."

"The Government has therefore taken charge, through a proactive approach, of the promotion and structuring of this sector. The Ministry has operationalized strategies articulated around several axes: reform of the legal framework, upgrading and strengthening the capacities of ESS organizations, support for marketing, establishment of partnerships with the various stakeholders for better coordination of actions and convergence of programs dedicated to the sector. Thus, on the legislative side, the Ministry presented Bill No. 12.112 relating to cooperatives which was adopted by Parliament on July 16 and 2 bills relating to fair trade and the social economy which are currently being studied."

"Indeed, we believe that the implementation of this text is likely to increase directly and indirectly, through induced effects, the share of the craft sector in the national economy. The structuring of the sector and the recognition of qualifications will undoubtedly facilitate the emergence of a new climate, more conducive to the exercise of craft activities. This will generate, we hope, significant gains in productivity and attractiveness for the Moroccan craft product."

"The aim is to provide the Moroccan cooperative movement with a legal framework that is both flexible and coherent."

"Lithium is found in Africa and there is a demand for batteries at the continental level in Africa because 40 million electric cars are needed by 2030. These cars need batteries and Africa can manufacture the batteries. To achieve this, however, there must be interconnected policies and industries. Countries should give incentives to the private sector to add value to these green minerals."

"Building the capabilities of young people and arming them with technology is one of the ways to play a role in strengthening the private sector for manufacturing, which enhances investment and human development in Africa."

"African countries must develop the experience of trading local products at the continental level in order to increase their trade, and implement the Continental Free Trade Area Agreement."

"With regard to enhancing the provision of job opportunities, the president said that the private sector must have a role in developing skills, education, and promoting digital technology among young people as this enhances human development on the continent."

"Ufot Ekaette was exceptionally patriotic to Nigeria’s cause."

"I am passionate about youth development and as a person who has always been an activist, I’ve always been about seeing young people using their gift to empower themselves into bettering their lives to contribute to society."

"It’s about hard work, sacrificing family time, always making sure that you do more with less and making sure that you change the lives of people. So, the uncertainty was there – you ask yourself whether it was the right decision or not."

"Sport can create jobs, contribute to the economy and deal with several social ills that we have in our communities. That is why when this opportunity was presented to me, I accepted it with both hands because I understood the role that I had to play as an MEC."

"The uncertainty also creeps in when you start asking yourself questions on whether the work that was started was going to continue without you. I’ve already made up my mind that I needed a new path and a path that would make me grow not only as a politician, but as Onicca as a whole."

"I had to make sure that it was not just about me but about catering to various people and their pallets. I finally met with the head chef for Green Lounge who was also equally passionate but not very keen about healthy eating."

"Everything that we need for healing, God has provided. After the whole world was taken by storm by the pandemic, I had to sit down and figure out what I could do as an individual with the gift of healing that God has given me."

"We had to combine both our skills with me being a nutritionist and getting a chef who has been working in five-star restaurants in the US. It was a good combination for the times when I am being overly sensitive about the health aspect of things."

"There are numerous barriers, I mean the issue of funding was a challenge for me. The business was almost self-funded. The biggest challenge is always the issue of access to funding more than anything."

"Women are lagging in terms of leading in the hospitality industry. We need to encourage women to take up space because the future is female."

"The ingredient for excellence is that I teach my staff exceptionalism. I have gone to tons of restaurants, and this is what I’ve always been teaching. I used to tell my staff that many people start catering because it’s a business that does not have a lot of challenges. So what kept us in the industry for such a long time is because of what I call exceptionalism and being able to be different in your offering, in your approach and paying close attention to detail."

"A helping hand can surely make a significant difference; a helping hand touches and can change lives."

"A school is to a child what a minerals refinery is to precious gems."

"Women should not have to make a choice between work and the wellbeing of their children."

"I believe in the power of music to bring people together."

"My academic and professional life was characterized by the little word 'minority'"

"Having had the opportunity to mingle with the brightest and smartest people in the global technology capital – Silicon Valley, via Skylight Communications, Ebay, and now Senior Technical Manager at Google, my heart continues to burn with a mission: “Helping minority groups, especially women and disadvantaged people, access not only to better education, but also to quality complementary education.”"

"My life lesson of always being a minority and always struggling to stand out wherever I am, even in my professional career, has been my inextinguishable inspiration."

"My dream is to use Seven Advanced Academy to build a community of standard experts from Silicon Valley first in my country, Cameroon, and then in Africa. The world-class Tech engineering community will attract the Top Multinationals to invest in our country in no time, and that’s essentially what is missing for the time being."

"“When I was 7, my mum always told me: the best way out of poverty is quality education.”"

"My own experience of discrimination inspired me to become the activist that I am today."

"Even though I was forcibly married at the age of 16, I fought to finish my studies before having my 3 children."

"The main challenge we face now is a lack of information. Disability is still misunderstood by many, and there are people who have persons with disabilities in their homes but don’t know how to help. Conferences like this allow us to learn from one another"

"the government is proposing a tax waiver on essential disability health supplies through the implementation of the Community-Based Disability Inclusive Development (CBDID) Strategy 2025-2035."

"During Ramadan, people eat together regardless of their wealth. I am so grateful to the management of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority for organizing the Iftar dinner for Entebbe Muslims. I also thank the Authority Director General for joining Muslims to break the fast"

"poor communication is a major barrier preventing people with disabilities from reaching their full potential"

"Let me say a few words about Ruth, the inspiration for this initiative and whose life comprised multiple facets. She was an activist, a revolutionary, a woman, a mother, a journalist, a writer and an academic. In addition to these attributes, she espoused and lived a set of values that continue to shape our country today and are deeply embedded in our Constitution and our aspirations. These values include non- racialism and non-sexism, a sense of justice and fairness that puts the interests of the poor and ordinary people ahead of self-interest; the commitment and courage to not only stand for what is right, but also to stand against what is wrong."

"It is Ruth's sense of justice that continues to inspire millions of South Africans today, even as we increasingly live in a world where injustice prevails and material benefit is idolised. Ruth's struggle and our Constitution should inspire all of us to continue the fight for a more just world, where the provision of high quality public education to all children must take the highest priority."

"Ruth fought for a world in which all people, irrespective of race or gender, had equal opportunities, a world where children from both rich and poor families would have access to the best education and the best work opportunities. Despite all of our problems and challenges as a society, we should remain steadfast in our commitment to build a South Africa in which opportunity is shared more equally, where hard work and effort trump the shadow of history."

"Ruth used her education and her enquiring mind, analytical thoroughness and personal courage as tools in the struggle against apartheid and colonialism, and in working for a world committed to fairness, justice and the advancement of people. She read voraciously. She studied all manner of topics. Ruth is credited with writing books on diverse topics ranging from Mozambican migrant workers to Libyan politics."

"Public education of the highest standard for all children is critical for democracy to flourish, and was integral to the liberation struggle, as lack of education is the greatest exclusion there can be. I fully support and endorse the establishment of a trust that funds scholarships to support young women from less advantaged backgrounds who show academic potential. Tonight I would like to add my voice to those of many others in congratulating the young women who have won scholarships to study at this wonderful educational institution. Jeppe Girls High, through the Ruth First Jeppe Trust, has set an example of how communities can come together to provide education for all, not just the privileged few. We need many more of these initiatives so that the ugly shadow of our apartheid history is eliminated from the lives and opportunities of our children."

"I demand that the world community should help me to come in touch with my son Saif al-Islam, who has been isolated from all members of our family from the moment of his arrest,"

"The widow of ousted Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi has urged the United Nations and the European Union to help her recover the remains of her husband and their son Mutassim."

"she maintained a low profile during the early stages of their marriage, but she became a public person following the release on the license of Baset Ali al-Megrahi in 2009. Also, she went on to organize a party to commemorate the anniversary of the the1969 Libyan revolution that ushered Gaddafi to power."

"she became the Vice President of the African First Ladies organization following her election in 2008 at a meeting of African Union leaders in Sharm al-Sheik in Egypt. Her ascendancy to the seat was bizarre because she was not present at the meeting nor has she ever participated in activities that concern the organization."

"Safia Farkash's diverse interests, strong family bonds, and unwavering support for Gaddafi shaped her intriguing and complex legacy, making her a figure of both admiration and scrutiny."

"Safia Farkash, the influential wife of Muammar Gaddafi, led a life of resilience, loyalty, and controversy, leaving a lasting impact on Libyan history and politics"

"She is often seen as a symbol of loyalty. Safia's unwavering support for Gaddafi is a defining aspect of her legacy."

"Her influence on women's rights is notable. Safia's advocacy for women's education and opportunities has had a lasting effect."

"For any person to fully rise in leadership or successful journey,they must have three people, a mentor, a coach and a sponsor."

"Through Lean Management I have learnt that there is shared responsibilities and shared Leadership which ease problem solving."

"A mind of a leader translates the problem in a way that will eliminates the problem in its totality."

"You choose what hat to wear, I can be in a leadership hat, father hat, a mother hat and all the others, all at the same time."

"Many girls don't have the same upbringing,they are brought up in a way that they feel that they deserve to be treated with inferiority because of their gender."

"There is a lot of work to be done because still do not trust leaders to be female because when I was appointed to be the CEO, people predicted that CCBRT will not last for more than three months."

"There are several kind of wastes,such as waiting, repeatedly motions,since you learn new inventors every other day."

"To be an entrepreneur is such a powerful thing"

"You're going into the unknown. You're not sure your investment is going to come back to you, but you believe so much in these ideas and you're so passionate about what you're doing so you just go full force. So it shows you're ready to take on anything, and work for your success"

"I have a very strong willpower, and have overcome so many things in my life through sheer determination and drive. To many, that might feel like the definition of 'empower' but for me, I really feel empowered when I'm with a community"

"You need the support of the people you love in life"

"I'm just really, really loving my world"

"I'm very, very grateful I stumbled into this path in life"

"I stayed home and meditated—basically just reevaluated a lot of things"

"Then you see comments online, and people judge you based on a limited perspective. It’s hard to see opinions that create a false narrative of who you are"

"An actress who wants to wear my clothes has to come, we have to talk, have a coffee. I have to understand why she would come to see me, and not someone else.With Jarrar, there is no fantasy of finding herself in a harsh spotlight, nor the desire to dress a specific woman:I don't have a muse. I'm claustrophobic, I refuse to lock myself into a prism."

"bring to Lanvin the harmony and consistency of a fashion designed for women, a fashion of our time."

"Lightness is very important, even in extremely fluid tuxedos, extremely light. It is important to be in a nice comfort but with good appearance."

"It was important for me to express a very broad femininity through this beautiful proposal that required a strong decision on my side to close my house. This is a strong gesture I offered to Lanvin, to be fully there. With this first fashion show I could establish the new codes of Lanvin of this new era that I open"

"I am everything that my heart desires to be. I am a woman, an artist, a lover of life and most importantly, a woman living a purposeful life. I am thankful for the gift of life and the chance to do what I love"

"From an early age, I learnt to have courage after seeing my community protesting and fighting against apartheid."

"Today, I am a fearless and driven artist because I was always surrounded by like-minded people"

"I love that I draw my strength from the strong women who fought against oppression and marched in 1956"

"I love that I am liberated and have the freedom to be a phenomenal woman because of the strides they took"

"I embrace my emotions, weaknesses and strengths. I love being a woman"

"I have a mother who is very passionate about the arts and she has always been very supportive of my craft. I believe parents should support their children but the most important thing is that as a child you need to work at making your parents understand your craft. Convince them that this is not just entertainment, but is like any other career. Your parents will take it seriously if they see you take it seriously"

"I realised that children nowadays don’t read because they enjoy it, they read because their teachers or parents tell them to. I want to change that. Through reading, the children are stimulated and their minds are broadened because reading inspires you and takes you places"

"With the book club, I wanted children to be inspired more because children are reserved and they cannot express themselves. That is why you find children being abused, but they don’t tell anyone about it because they cannot express themselves"

"I want to see more children, not only reading books, but being able to turn the books into plays and writing their own books because I think children would enjoy reading books that are written by their own peers"

"most South Africans love Sne Mtshali. Especially I think that our plus sized queens will start getting off their shells. Living their best thick lives"

"Well as a performer who finds privilege in being able to tell stories of the roles I’m blessed with, I feel like how dare I be anyone but the character once the director has said action"

"I love how brave she is in her skin, how she’s not ashamed & afraid of her voice & thoughts. She knows what she wants and she goes for it. She’s not afraid of saying; No and doesn’t give a hoot of what people think of her. She lives her life according to her rules"

"Role with the punches, always keep your head up high. Don’t ever forget your crown and most of all stay humble"

"It's a day which the team and I have worked incredibly hard to try to avoid but the board and I believe that this is the most responsible course of action to take."

"My heart goes out to the staff affected, and we are talking to them today to try to work out how best we can help them"

"I wasn't sorry to lose my SAGG [Slimming and Good Grooming organisation] back in the 80s"

"It'd been a very fraught involvement. I'd worked very hard, my first marriage was wrecked. I gave everything and I got gallstones."

"But everything is for a reason and through suffering gallstones I discovered the hip and thigh diet. I think the Lord put his hand on me. That I discovered low fat, I honestly believe came from the Lord. I can't deny that. I was chosen to spread the word."

"I think mine is more acceptable, it rolls off the tongue better. But it certainly reduces the whole area. More from the seat than the hips, to be honest."

"because I'm from a family where food was a very important and enticing temptation. But I didn't enjoy it much at home. Only when I left I enjoyed it, when it wasn't prepared by my mother. I became a compulsive eater – it was gluttony. Before I was born again."

"Selecting the best eating plan to help you lose weight is very much down to the individual."

"No one diet is more popular than another. It is all down to personal preference."

"It is important for us to find a form of exercise we enjoy so that we keep doing it."

"The advent of the internet, internet shopping and mobile phones all mean that we can run our lives without moving around as much as we used to. I really don’t know where it will end unless people take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing."

"I did more classes around the county and it just grew"

"It went from talking about how to make the most of yourself to actually doing some exercise"

"The wonderful thing is that most of my class have been coming to me for at least 30 years, if not 40 years."

"When the credit crunch came, it seemed like a perfect storm."

"Human nature puts people on a pedestal and we like having someone to look up to."

"One of the hardest things when our company went into administration was that someone else could use my name."

"Our mission is to centre those textures, not just accommodate them. Realistic curl pattern matching is essential to self-expression, confidence, and cultural affirmation — it’s about creating hair that feels like you, not a compromise.’"

"We hope to see a shift from performative inclusivity to systemic change — in funding, product innovation, and education. The future should prioritise safety, sustainability, and representation not just as trends but as standards"

"Building trust with a community that’s been historically overlooked takes time, especially when you’re challenging legacy norms with better product standards, biotech innovation, and authentic representation.’"

"Customer service isn’t just about resolving issues. It’s about relationship. Trust. Sometimes the most powerful insights don’t come from a dashboard, they come from what someone tells you at their front door."

"“I was so young that instead of feelings of sadness the challenge of having my hair done professionally became normalised.”"

"“I loved the closeness and comfort of my mother’s touch as she performed the ritual of gently brushing and braiding my hair. But as I got older and started using home relaxer kits to make my hair more manageable, there were naturally disasters, including burns.”"

"“With Ruka, I wanted to bring the joy back to Black women as they explore their hair, from the very start.”"

""“We’re on a mission to treat outsiders as insiders.”"

"We can’t continue trying to solve this problem from the grave. Figuring out what went wrong after somebody dies can’t be our best approach.”."

"On the challenges relating to childbirth, I don’t think that we’ll get anywhere without accountability and transparency."

"It is not just about policies; it’s about making sure that folks are aware of those policies and uphold them.”"

"we know if we get it right for those who are being most harmed, we’ll get it right for everybody.”"

"I think the barrier to doing incredible things has been lowered by technology, which has started to reduce inequality."

"It’s really hard to wake up every day and fight patriarchy, which is why I am so exhausted. I honestly want to see women make loads of money so we can all just invest in other women and shift the power dynamics in business as well as in our homes and families."

"Engineers design our world and our society, and if we don’t have women at the design table, we exclude 50% of the population."

"“We are thrilled to open WomHub and provide a space where women can grow their businesses and hopefully make more money,” our mission is to empower women to pursue their passions and achieve success on their own terms.”"

"“ For women who are breastfeeding, we’ve got a wellness area where women can do yoga, meditation and prayer. We’ve also got what we call the junior engineer hub. It’s basically a co-play space for kids that when you are working, your kids can co-play in the space and also learn about STEM and tech,”"

"“I think this is so important because none of this means anything unless we can move the capital into the hands of women so that they can grow their businesses. And so, this is why my business partner and I have been so focused on raising the venture capital fund so that we can start to not only create the spaces for a woman, literally and figuratively, but give them the capital that they need to thrive,”"

"Women have been largely excluded from an industry that literally designs and supports the building of cities, countries and the virtual world. When women are excluded, we have a world that was not built for us and we see gender bias persist in everything from infrastructure to virtual safety. The way we combat this is through bringing more women to the design table."

"I’m blessed to have a network of incredible women entrepreneurs and team members who inspire me every day to get up and fight."

"With WomHub, I’m particularly excited about our work supporting female founders, especially given the lack of capital that goes into female-founded businesses as well as a general lack of support."

"I think the barrier to doing incredible things has been lowered by technology, which has started to reduce inequality. Before, you needed an Ivy League education, where now you can learn cool things online from those institutions, tinker with technology and develop cool things, connect to others and have your voice heard, and that excites me for young women in STEM."

"“Don’t take life too seriously. You don’t need to figure things out right away. Figure things out along the way…“"

"I started making cropped tops and scarfs for myself to wear and I was surprised to find that my friends liked them and asked me to make some for them. I never thought that I would make clothes for others, or even start my own clothing company, but that started to change after realising how people appreciated my work."

"In Rwanda crocheting and knitting are not developed even though we have schools to learn from. The machines we use here are outdated compared to current machines on the market today. Our work would be much easier and faster if we were well equipped but they are very expensive."

"I get discouraged by people who say that crochet is outdated and for people who are not educated. However, it gives me strength because I love it and know that it is worth doing. I have also been able to give jobs to people who help me during the crocheting and knitting process."

"I got into the STEM field because I started working as a secretary and fell in love with Information Technology."

"I also saw for myself whilst working as a secretary that, all the IT consultants were really being paid well."

"As a secretary i was earning only 10% of the salary of an IT Consultant, so i made used of the technology tools available and slowly with the guide of some professionals, i got equipped with the right technology skill sets and within months, I established a career in STEM."

"Being named as one of the 100 inspirational women in the world by BBC in 2015 is a great achievement."

"Being a co winner of the Reach for Change and Tigo’s Digital Change maker’s award in 2016 is another achievement."

"Empowering over 10,000 elementary school children with basic programming skills in Ghana directly or indirectly is another great achievement."

"When i started family, it was difficult to put projects together without interruptions."

"I had to work extra hours both day and night to make up."

"As a founder of an NGO, we mostly rely on support both in cash and kind to expand to many other communities."

"We lack a lot of resources that can enable us to scale and tinker a lot."

"We have learnt to overcome them by introducing more computer science unplugged activities."

"My advice is that girls must ignore pressure to pursue a different field."

"They must capitalize on technology to learn new skills or improve on their skills."

"Technology is reinventing the world."

"Kids need new skills to prepare them for a successful career in the future but the current ICT (Information Communications Technology) curriculum does not include them which is quite alarming."

"This is where Ghana Code Club comes in."

"It is a volunteer led, after-school digital fun club that equips children between the ages of 8-17 years with coding skills."

"We have piloted with five schools and are ready to be launched into the majority of schools in Ghana during the first quarter of 2016."

"I always dreamed of leading a team of IT professionals in creating cutting-edge solutions for Africa."

"This passion emerged when I worked for an IT firm in Accra back in 2000 as a secretary."

"I admired the IT consultants so much, especially the only lady among them."

"I remember I took home only about 10% of what the IT professionals earned at the time."

"I wanted to enroll on an HTML course (HTML is the standard coding language used to create webpages) but the little money I earned I used to take care of my siblings. Instead of waiting forever, I decided to teach myself any way I could."

"I got in touch with a web designer who for a small fee introduced me to the basics of HTML."

"I practiced any time I got the chance and within weeks, I was designing my own websites."

"With more confidence in my skills, I took out a classified ad promoting myself as a virtual assistant and took on four clients, including one web-based telecom company in the USA."

"In 2004 I was able to resign as a secretary, rent an office and eventually hire people to provide additional support."

"I was so grateful and so happy with my progress that I wanted to do something to empower others with the kind of skill set that got me this far."

"I registered the NGO, Healthy Career Initiative in 2007 with the objective of empowering students with the skill set they will need to thrive in the 21st century but unfortunately it remained relatively inactive due to my heavy workload."

"I got married and had children and things slowed down even further as I realized I needed to work from home and be there for my kids when they needed me."

"One day, when my boy was 5, I was searching the internet for a simple programming platform to start teaching him and came across a blog about kids learning to code in the UK and the kind of things they were building that triggered my enthusiasm for my inactive NGO."

"I wanted Ghanaian kids to create the same exciting digital stuff kids in the developed world were creating."

"Things like interactive stories, websites, games and animation."

"I put plans together and Ghana Code Club was born."

"The best part of my job is being in the classroom with the kids feeling empowered that they have created things that can be used by another person from any part of the world."

"The smiles on their faces make me feel wonderful and hopeful that these kids will go on to develop the digital footprint of Ghana and Africa and impact the world as a whole."

"Technology is the catalyst to development in every country so Ghana also needs to emphasise its importance and steer resources towards technological advancement."

"Every home should have access to a computer and the internet."

"Then if kids can get trained in the right skills, the country will breed more entrepreneurs, innovators and problem solvers who are needed in every ministry to develop logical thinking."

"We aim to launch into 20 or more schools within the first quarter of 2016 reaching not less than 20,000 children."

"We also hope to organise an inter school competition to see the impact of creativity, problem-solving and collaborative skills within our code club members."

"We then hope to establish a training centre that will assist deprived children who in one way or another wish to participate in our code clubs but are unable to."

"We are always looking for support and donations to carry out our plans successfully!"

"I would like to acknowledge the partnerships with government and their regulators."

"They offer policy guidelines and directions to support and broaden the national policy agenda through the hospitality industry."

"We want to thank the government and we look forward to more fruitful collaborations to grow the hospitality industry to its exceptional level."

"Our lives have always been service and what you can do differently to improve the dynamics."

"Despite Ghana’s challenges in 2014 in terms of currency depreciation, investors have remained interested in the country and it remains a safe and secure investment destination."

"Political stability and streamlined investment procedures, Ghana possesses a robust legal and regulatory framework."

"The World Bank’s 2014 “Doing Business” report, Ghana ranks as the best destination in West Africa in terms of the ease of doing business."

"The country also placed second in Africa and 10th in the world in The Economist’s 2013 list of fastest-growing economies."

"At this stage investment activity from Brazil and other South American countries remains relatively limited."

"Other regions of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia have already demonstrated significant interest."

"South Africa, for example, has registered approximately 100 projects since the 1990s, and looking to Asia, India remains one of our top 10 foreign investors to date."

"This can be done in a few key ways."

"The country can support investment outside of these hubs and spread industry throughout the country by putting in place critical infrastructure in these areas. ‎*Ghana can strengthen its investment promotion strategies in targeted sectors and industries that have a comparative advantage in areas outside of Accra, Tema and Takoradi."

"Gold refining in the Ashanti Region, rice milling in the northern region or tourism training in the central region."

"The government has already put in place location based incentives for companies that invest inside and outside regional capitals."

"The GIPC actively encourages, promotes and facilitates investments both into and within Ghana, and we work to do this in a number of ways like ensuring awareness of investment and business opportunities."

"The GIPC is also celebrating corporate excellence and successful enterprise building through initiatives like the Ghana Club 100 awards."

"Part of our strategy for 2015 focuses on promotional efforts targeting specific investments from these countries."

"We are collaborating with their diplomatic missions in Ghana, as well as Ghana’s missions abroad, to gather relevant information on interested investors."

"We are also on the lookout for programmes that allow us to promote the country."

"The GIPC is focusing on establishing the optimal investment environment as well as encouraging larger investments."

"Although fewer than in same period of 2013, the second quarter of 2014 saw 47 new investment projects registered with GHS42.68m ($16.27m) in initial capital transfers and a total estimated value of GHS1.01bn ($385.01m)."

"India accounted for the most projects, with nine, while Mauritius registered the largest project, at $100m."

"Investors are guaranteed unconditional transferability of dividends and net profits after tax to their home countries."

"Transferability of payments for loan servicing in the case of foreign loans and royalties and other fees in respect of technology transfer transactions."

"From making known your intention to invest in Ghana through to business set-up, we accompany you all the way."

"Under our investor relation services, we make sure that the business is smoothly established and all linkages to the various relevant government agencies are established."

"GIPC engages with all governmental agencies at various levels to provide support to the foreign investor."

"Key among these institutions are the National Development Planning Commission."

"The Ghana Revenue Authority, the Registrar General’s Department, the Ghana Immigration Service and the Ministry of Finance."

"Remains a delicate issue and the GIPC land bank helps investors to find the appropriate land for their use."

"We also provide access to the Catalogue of Joint Venture Projects."

"This is to those investors who are looking for the right local partners to implement their project."

"We make available information on Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects. *These are usually large scale projects that government is seeking investments for."

"We encourage local entrepreneurs by finding them the right foreign partners in order to create growth."

"Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which is the basic framework for the governance of the country, offers guarantees of protection to investors and their investments."

"The GIPC Act guarantees against expropriation as well."

"Expropriation is allowed only in the national interest and must be accompanied by fair and adequate compensation."

"We offer commitment at the bilateral level to protect investors and their investments."

"The GIPC is mandated to encourage and promote investments in the Ghanaian economy through the negotiation of Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITS) with interested countries."

"Government gives the right to the investor to take Ghana to arbitration in any of the selected and pre agreed dispute settlement forums."

"Ghana has concluded more than 21 BITS."

"Ghana can boast of a premier location to do business on the African continent."

"Conditions present include political stability, a growing economy, increasing consumer demand, accessibility to the wider West African market and viable local partners."

"I will take this opportunity to invite potential investors from all over the world."

"Investors in Ghana have recorded average profits in excess of 35 per cent of their total investments."

"This is a huge return that I urge potential investors to take advantage of."

"I, Estellina, the wife of my lord and husband, the honourable teacher master Abraham Conat (may he see offsprings and length of days, amen) wrote this Epistle on the Examination of the World with the assistance of the young man Jacob Levi from Tarascon in Provence, long may he live, amen"

"My aim is to democratize technology."

"Ethiopia’s youth have no lack of ideas, energy or ambition,but they can’t fulfil their potential alone. What we see in Ethiopia is a lack of co-creation centres where like-minded people can come together and create and innovate."

"More than that, it’s about equipping kids to cope in the 21st century,It’s about problem solving, analytical thinking and self-learning, as well as digital literacy. It means understanding how the internet works, how to get information from it, how to identify wrong and false information, how to keep your privacy and make sure your data is not being used. We think these are really important lessons, especially in this day and age."

"The girls get the coding education but also other skills and the necessary knowledge to keep themselves away from problems – or at least be aware enough to report them."

"It doesn’t matter if you went to a great university – what matters is if you have a computer, access to the internet and the drive to achieve."

"I think now they understand the value of the quality of the education that’s provided, and the enabling environment for entrepreneurs in Ethiopia. It’s a struggle every day, but we have seen a lot of progress."

"Teaching young girls coding and seeing them become confident and inspired reminded me of how I felt when I started coding."

"The biggest thing we have in Africa is a young generation. So if we train the young generation in tech, we’ll be able to build something that is everlasting."

"Parents have an expectation of what you should be — if you’re a good student, you’re a doctor, you’re not an engineer or in the computer science field... They haven’t seen any female being in STEM and being successful."

"But the sad thing is, even if they want to, they won’t be able to apply it after they finish their high school education."

"Technology inspires you. Having that feeling of freedom and being able to do something gives you that sense of accomplishment and that sense of accomplishment drives you to do more things that you love, more things that excite you."

"The boys imagine more, they want to do something that’s big and inspired, the girls they really want to help their community from the core."

"Unless you really are in the industry, there is no one to look up to in technology."

"Who can solve the problem of a female if she cannot tell you the problem, and find her own solution?"

"Early childhood development is the best way to build our future, because today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders. We must guarantee that they are able to fulfil their potential"

"for all children in Argentina to have equal opportunities, regardless of where they are born or the circumstances they live in."

"Jill Biden is an incredible woman, who is always thinking of improving the future of the people in her community great contributions and was able to promote many positive changes from her vocation and commitment to education, her experience as a combatant's mother, her role in helping women prevent cancer and their participation for women's equality ."

"I am very grateful to have the opportunity to come to this country with Mauricio representing Argentina. It is an honor and a great responsibility that I take with great enthusiasm"

"We talked about our roles, our countries with so much history and ties in common, and also about what we live as women and as mothers of two girls. I felt very comfortable and the conversation flowed naturally"

"Sometimes things happen You ship the wrong wine, or the label was scuffed. The people I work with in Argentina care so much. I say, ‘Let’s figure out how it happened and not let it happen again. Then we have to move on.’ It’s the perspective you get from being a doctor. Was a small child hurt? No"

"“We make sure everyone is thinking about it all the time.”"

"I am from a fourth-generation Italian family. My great-grandfather, Nicola Catena, came from the Marche to Argentina with the very specific desire to plant vineyards and make his own wine because his father and grandfather made wine in Italy. I was born in Mendoza and my father had started working with his father when I was born. But my father wasn’t sure if he wanted to be a professor of economics and try and save the Argentine economy (which I’m glad he didn’t as that would’ve been quite difficult!), or if he wanted to work with his father and the winery."

"Victoria Has your family been involved in wine for a long time?"

"I grew up going to the winery with my father and grandfather; I remember that winemaking was a man’s world. My father always equally encouraged myself, my sister, and my brother to study hard and there were no greater expectations for boys over girls, which was rare. At that time in Argentina the idea was that if you were a man, you needed a good job that paid a lot of money, and if you were a woman, you needed a good husband. And it’s not that long ago! But my father had great expectations. In the end my grandfather was more likely to take my brother to the vineyard and I would take care of the dogs. That was my ‘side-door’ into the winery, to hang out with my grandfather. But the winemaking was reserved for the men, and in my generation that was my brother."

"I honestly had no intention of going to work for the family winery. I studied medicine and I wanted to be a travelling doctor helping people all over the world, which I got to do somewhat. I did have a career as a doctor but always part-time because I was also working for the winery. When I was going to school, I didn’t think that people making wine were making a big difference in the world because, to me, those jobs were as a teacher, as a doctor – you had to be in service."

"But today I manage our winery which provides jobs that elevate Argentine wines, and we are helping our whole region with all the research that we do and share. Then there’s the joy that wine brings to people. I honestly think that I’m making a greater impact as a winemaker than as a doctor. Back then I thought I would drink the family’s wines rather than make them. However, the moment that I decided that I wanted to work with my father was when I started going to France with him because he wanted to check out the competition. I had studied French since I was quite young and in the wine world it can be quite useful. He invited me as his translator, and I fell in love with drinking wine. I still thought that I was going to be a doctor. Finally, my father asked me to go to this wine event, the New York Wine Experience. He said, ‘Laurita, nobody here speaks English, you have to go.’ So I managed to trade some shifts at the hospital and I showed up in New York where we were the only South American winery."

"I remember being in my booth and people walking by and seeing Argentina and just being ignored. Back then in the mid 1990s, it was all France and Italy and Spain. I saw my father’s dream of putting Argentina on the wine map as almost impossible! I called him and said, ‘Papa, I have to come and help you because you need so much help.’ Of course, my arrogance as a young person came through and my father was thrilled! I think he pretty much would’ve put me in charge of the winery right there and then."

"I like science and I like people. It’s a great profession because you have instant gratification. You also see a lot of suffering but you can make a big difference to people’s lives. Also, I did emergency medicine so you’ll have a parent that brings in a child who is hurt. The parent is terrified, the child is crying and within an hour I’ve fixed the child. I’ve fixed the parent. Everybody’s happy. It’s the most incredible feeling."

"Winemaking takes a lot more patience because you have to blend the wines before they make a really great wine and that’s 10 to 15 years. You also must research and study and wait for a while to see if the wines can age well. I loved medicine because it felt like I was making a difference all the time, every day, every minute that you’re working. I actually said to my father, ‘Papa, why didn’t you tell me wine was so great?’ Because it’s science and there’s people. He said that if he’d told me to go and work with him then I wouldn’t be working with him now. It was important that I came on my own. That’s something I’ve discussed with other family wineries. You should wait for people to come on their own."

"“Public services are needed but must change.”"

"“It must no longer indulge in sensationalism and ‘TV of pain’.”"

"“For Rai there is a risk of Big Brother via Google, YouTube, Facebook.”"

"“Spreading the culture of quality is the first calling card of public service…”"

"“I don’t much like how she is portrayed. I love the normal woman. With her capacities, skills and professionalism that can and must emerge. One should not focus exclusively on beauty.”"

"“The best way to fight the mafia is knowledge.”"

"“As a businesswoman, I feel responsible for the people around me. I feel a great social responsibility for all I have been given, and I believe it’s my obligation to give it back.”"

"We have lived these last three years with more dynamism than the previous ones. My grandson and I built a factory that will produce 2,500,000 tones of cement per year. We invested 250 million dollars in this project. Alejandro Bengolea (Vice President of Loma Negra): We decided to build this factory in the year 1997. From 1997 until now, the investment projects and the plant cost nearly 450 million dollars. This will be the most modern plant of the entire Southern Cone. A.L. de F: On the other hand, this project includes a factory that we built in Ramallo in association with the Techint Group. This is a milling plant and its dimensions are smaller. It also has an information center for the constructors. We have clients of all sizes and also particular people that want to build their houses. This is also an experimentation center with trucks that go trough the entire country. We have some factories in Catamarca, two in Olavarría, and five in Barker. The company has also other ones in Zapala, San Juan and Paraná."

"Yes, we continued with our investment plans. This plant will be ready by March. This is a young country that needs infrastructure. The construction is the mother of all the industries and it also promotes a lot of work posts. This is also a large country. That is why we need transports. We have built this plant thinking about the future. Once the political reliability settles down, Argentina will be able to receive investments from all over the world because this is a peaceful country without any cataclysms."

"We have made a joint venture with ANCAP, an Uruguayan company that produces petrol and cement. This association is very convenient for us because we are going to manage this plant and also sell cement in Brazil or in Buenos Aires. A.B: On the other hand, we have some investment projects with ANCAP because we want to update the plants. We have also thought about exploiting the Uruguayan zone of the Treinta y tres orientales that has great beds of limestone. Then, we are thinking about expanding to the Brazilian South from there. Our alliance with ANCAP also has a regional expansion objective. On the other hand, we also have international expansion plans."

"We are optimists because this is the first time that we are thinking about building a factory outside the country."

"I do not want to say it because this is a secret that only three people know."

"I cannot tell you this by now."

"It could be."

"We do not know it yet because we will be starting this project in one or two years from now. We have now to inaugurate this new plant that produces very well. We have just tested it. On the other hand, we want to maintain our personnel because we have almost a mythical relationship with them. We respect each other. This is not the first economic crisis that Argentina has suffered but, certainly, this is the worst one. A.B: This is the longest one and we suppose that the end of this crisis will not have such a tall peak as the Tequila had. One year after we got over this crisis, we sold 25% more. The end of this one would be more gradual with a development of 4 or 5 %. A. L. de F: The increase could be higher; perhaps it would reach the 8 or 10%. During the previous crisis, the country needed constructions. And again, the construction industry will play an important role in reducing the unemployment rate. The actual presidential secretary, Nicolás Gallo, created a General Infrastructure Plan that meant an important source of employment. A.B: This plan requires an investment of 25, 000 million dollars in a proportion of 5,000 million dollars per year. This was a very aggressive plan that covered the entire country and summed more than 150,000 work posts."

"The objective of the expansion plan is to complement a macroeconomic risk of an emerging country and a developed country. That is how we will be able to balance the incomes and the cash flow avoiding- in this way- the cycles that we have as an emergent economy. It is also necessary to increase the access to capital. The Loma Negra´s plants are operating in world class. The operational levels are the same or even better than the most advanced plants of the world. We use self-conducted equipment that compares us to the best practices. We know how to produce cement and we are adding services to that. We consider that the information technology is very important too. Our customers are able to consult their accounts, order and buy through their pages using the Lomanet technology."

"Petrol is a global factor... A.B: We have not thought about an expansion into the petrol sector, but into the cement industry, in order to add value to our operations. The cement quality will be smoothed in the future. That is why the difference is in the logistics and in the field of IT, matters that occupy the distribution channel. We are now seeing that the competence is not only between the big cementing groups but it also includes the distribution channels. That is why we are aiming to build a logistic network. We built a very important logistic network that is based on strategic alliances with transports. On the other hand, we count on intelligent software that is a leading case in Latin America because it operates with an advanced distribution system."

"I am still one of the principal industrial voices. I have lots of friends that belong to the actual administration and I was also very close to the politicians that belonged to the previous one. The ex president, Carlos Menem appreciated me a lot. It has been a long time since I know De la Rúa."

"We are now building four dining rooms for a school that is very near here. The children are staying all day at school. We have invested 5,600 million pesos on Education and this figure represents the 27% of the total budget. Then, other 29% are for Health and 31% go to non-profit organizations. We want to help the most humble people. The people that decide to feed poor and hungry children in their dining rooms usually use to enlarge their homes in order to be able to do it every day. I contribute with them because I think that these are the real non-profit organizations. There are newspapers that offer a free space in which these organizations can communicate its necessities and also their phone numbers if the readers want to help or contribute with them. We prefer to deliver the money directly. I gave 500,000 dollars to the United Nations when they were collecting for the hungry children from Bosnia. On the other hand, I bought lots of houses for the homeless people. Loma Negra employs people that fought in Malvinas. We also work with disabled people. We teach them how to do the work."

"The museum is under construction. My interest for the fine arts began in the year 1978. I started to bring culture and whenever I bought a painting I have always succeeded!"

"I would tell them to never lose their hopes and to love their fellow men. This is what my live is based on. NOTE: World Investment News Ltd cannot be held responsible for the content of unedited transcriptions."

"Thank you Dr. Artist Tewodros Kassahun for supporting our effort to build the creative economy for the generation to come."

"I believes we can grow as a continent regardless of our several challenges and barriers, to disrupt the tech scene on a global scale."

"I used to constantly find myself at the office late at night and challenged by transport hurdles while heading to my home. I used to feel unsafe while taking a taxi…the driver also asks you to pay more than two times the price they charge in a day."

"Women-owned business are growing in number; now we need more young girls to access the finances to make their creative ideas happen.""

"“Nigeria is a huge and young market, so there is great potential for helping people move from where they are to that next step, whatever that next step is for them. Being able to help somebody get to that next step is something that we really care about and something that we are excitedly looking forward to doing in the country.”"

"In the next fifteen years, I believe technology and finance will change the lives of millions of girls across the world, like it changed mine and that of my friends Barbara in Uganda, Ndeye Awa in Senegal and Lorene in Kinshasa - women who today are also helping to educate girls by teaching them to code.""

"one imperative solution is to educate entrepreneurs on understanding basic business principles. They need honest mentoring in order to scale their businesses - this is really lacking at present.""

"Who see Africa as an investment frontier and want to explore the market."

"The vision is shared as we to want to have partners coming to Africa and doing business in the continent."

"Data is a currency in African."

"I think for years we were not able to measure progress but now we can."

"The only reason to create a company, for me, is to pioneer and lead and define, redefine, solve problems, and drive change. That's the reason to be in business. For me, there is no other reason to be in business. As far as I'm concerned, making money is just a byproduct.https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauraannaparker/2024/08/14/few--fars-visionary-co-founder-sarah-dusek-is-pioneering-a-female-first-sustainable-travel-movement"

"When you invest in a woman, she invests in her community, she invests in her family, she invests in the world in which she lives, and everything changes around her. https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauraannaparker/2024/08/14/few--fars-visionary-co-founder-sarah-dusek-is-pioneering-a-female-first-sustainable-travel-movement/"

"“What we've seen is what an extraordinary community can be born amongst the female entrepreneurs who've been invested in, which is so exciting to see because they've become their own sort of cheerleading squad for each other.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauraannaparker/2024/08/14/few--fars-visionary-co-founder-sarah-dusek-is-pioneering-a-female-first-sustainable-travel-movement/"

"The idea is: Can we protect this unique area while also creating jobs? Can we provide sustenance for many of the hundreds of families who live in this area? Can we create opportunities not just for employment but also for engagement with a larger community by buying from local producers and suppliers, using their products to connect them to our guests, and creating a cultural exchange? https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauraannaparker/2024/08/14/few--fars-visionary-co-founder-sarah-dusek-is-pioneering-a-female-first-sustainable-travel-movement/"

"I'm thinking about how we do more. How do we invest in the planet? How do we create solutions to environmental issues? https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauraannaparker/2024/08/14/few--fars-visionary-co-founder-sarah-dusek-is-pioneering-a-female-first-sustainable-travel-movement/"

"I am building a company because I want to invest in saving the planet, and I want to take people on magical adventures as a sideline. https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauraannaparker/2024/08/14/few--fars-visionary-co-founder-sarah-dusek-is-pioneering-a-female-first-sustainable-travel-movement/"

"“If this business was going to last and build something of value, significance, and impact, we had to go big or go home.” https://africanbusinessstories.com/sarah-dusek-co-founder-mp-enygma-ventures-scaling-visions-from-startups-to-venture-capital/"

"Women are often afraid to fail. Yet to succeed in entrepreneurship, we must recondition our minds to embrace the concept of failure. How do we now wrap our arms around the concept of failure as not only a requirement for innovation but the pathway guiding our journey toward success? https://www.lionessesofafrica.com/blog/2024/4/14/thinking-bigger-a-pitch-deck-formula-for-women-who-want-to-change-the-world-by-sarah-dusek"

""We must be prepared to take big risks and not play it safe if we are to make big things happen. If your idea barely works, just about works, or is average, it's time to reiterate and pivot."https://www.lionessesofafrica.com/blog/2024/4/14/thinking-bigger-a-pitch-deck-formula-for-women-who-want-to-change-the-world-by-sarah-dusek"

"Do not settle; instead, take the time to learn from the valuable information the market is telling you, adjust your products or your approach, reiterate over and over and over again, and most importantly, do not give up until you get the breakthrough you believe is possible. https://www.lionessesofafrica.com/blog/2024/4/14/thinking-bigger-a-pitch-deck-formula-for-women-who-want-to-change-the-world-by-sarah-dusek"

"It was shocking at first, we also had a huge drop in our revenues at the beginning which has since picked up very nicely. It’s hard to remember now, but there were a lot of uncertainties back in the spring of last year. We didn’t know how long it would last, how deep we would fall.”."

"leadership is a team play”, and it is crucial to build trust, focus on how people perform together, and empower them with confidence and autonomy."

"we decided and declared that we would not put anybody on temporary or permanent leave despite the fact that we lost revenue in the beginning. This made employees realize that we really wanted to be in this together.”"

"In a complex world with a lot of uncertainty, leaders have to embrace what seems to be opposing traits to succeed. On one hand, they have to act like heroes, exuding confidence, while on the other hand, they have to be humble, be able to take advice, and change course. In sum, they have to be humble heroes"

"Being a good listener is about creating a situation where people feel comfortable telling you things. A lot of that has to do with demeanor. The best listeners project openness, patience, and a sincere curiosity to hear the other person’s story. You need to ask the right questions, pick up on little Easter eggs hidden in the conversation, and also detect subtle, nonverbal cues about how the person is feeling or what they may be holding back. I go into detail about how to accomplish this in my book"

"But listening is a skill, and like any skill, it takes practice. Some may have more natural talent for it, like playing a sport or musical instrument, but we all can, and should, put serious effort into getting better at it. Your effectiveness and happiness depend on it. Good listeners are not only good doctors, they are good human beings."

"I believe I was quite brave and dared to do new things. I wanted us to be the best at developing and, not least, adopting new technology. I have contributed to get us to where we are on the subsea realm – including developing a complete subsea factory [at Åsgard] many years before anyone else. When you ask me to look back at my time in Equinor, that’s something I am proud of,""

"Then I got to talk to most of the people there. That was very important to me. I don't miss the all-consuming job, but I miss the people. I get quickly attached to people around me. I am still in touch with many of my former colleagues and employees,”"

"I was the only female in most of what I did at the time. I've never been afraid of it, but it's apparent that it wasn't good with so little awareness around gender balance and diversity,”"

"Life is about connecting with people and how can we do that? These 3 abstractions connect every human being on earth love, time, and death. We long for love, we wish we had more time, and we fear death.” I think if we all lived our lives with this in mind, we would move forward in so many ways."

"started really thinking about what I wanted to do and how I could best impact other people’s lives. I concluded that telling my story about racism issues I have dealt with as well as providing support to other people experiencing MS challenges would be a great start."

"I remember feeling a distinct sense of unfairness at the fact that many hardworking people, especially women and small business owners, were excluded from the formal banking system because of factors out of their control."

"I have been motivated by a desire to enact a change and to create pathways to financial independence and stability. In time, this led to my professional journey into finance and the birth of eShandi."

"Through technology, we could streamline operations, enhance customer experience, and offer a comprehensive financial ecosystem that addresses diverse financial needs."

"we invested in secure, scalable platforms and leveraged local talent to ensure our solutions were reliable, user-friendly, and adaptable to our customers’ needs."

"We hope to foster a more inclusive financial landscape that supports sustainable growth and economic resilience for all, thereby playing a role in unleashing a new generation of solid and sustainable economic development in Africa."

"Our mandate was to transform the city and resuscitate it. *For the last so many decades, the city had degenerated in service delivery, in infrastructure, in basically every area because of poor administration."

"When the law was changed and the KCCA was created, it was done with the intention of addressing the challenges the city was facing."

"We came in to put Kampala back on its feet."

"We are also working on social issues, such as the welfare of the people in the city. We are looking at creating jobs for low-income families and we are looking at improving household nutrition through agriculture programs."

"We have been creating workspaces, building markets and creating jobs. We’ve set up an employment services bureau for the youth."

"Our target is to plant a million trees within the next five years."

"The idea is to make Kampala attractive, which it wasn’t before."

"It was more like a transit point for other parks of Uganda."

"We are working on making Kampala an attractive destination in and of itself for business, for tourists, and for people living and working in the city."

"We are already a role model."

"We have received a lot of interest from other municipalities in Uganda."

"Rural-urban migration is going to continue to be a challenge, as long as the other urban centers in the country are not providing similar opportunities."

"We hope that by government working with other agencies will be able to address this."

"The government is already looking at placing industries outside Kampala."

"The working population is attracted to these alternatives."

"A lot of countries and organizations are interested in what we’re doing."

"We have had the opportunity to address Kampala’s issues and highlight Kampala’s progress all over the world."

"It was scary, some of us were attacked, some of my staff were physically beaten up."

"It made me realize that if they're willing to put up a fight this big, that means what they're losing is also very big."

"That even gave us more determination and made us resolute to fight for the benefit of the citizens."

"When we're entrusted with leadership, we're entrusted with responsibility to make change where change needs to be made."

"I don’t know why Ugandans congratulate people on government jobs."

"It’s not a privilege. It’s a responsibility. I’m not one to celebrate appointments."

"would rather celebrate when I have finished my assignment well and people are appreciative of what I have done."

"I think it is a Baganda thing where people think “Ogudde mu bintu."

"That you are suddenly going to get rich."

"You lose money by being in public service."

"You lose business, you lose your social engagements."

"It’s a sacrifice because you don’t have time do something else."

"My take home is about Shs21m. That is after tax, so it cannot be 46m with taxes inclusive. Because people are so used to saying I get 46m, maybe someone should give it to me."

"I’ve been with WSI for just under one year."

"We wanted to be best in class in this exciting industry, to provide a really helpful service to our clients and to make a real and positive difference to their bottom line. WSI is the perfect match and their track record, their warm and helpful attitude to us while going through the on-boarding process, and their depth and breadth of industry knowledge was extremely attractive to us."

"Blu Flamingo is fortunate enough to be based in 5 countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. We can tell you many things about each of these amazing countries that you might not know, but we’ll stick to our headquarters in South Africa for this one."

"For example, did you know that in South Africa, we have an annual fish migration that is so huge it can be seen from space? Between May and July every year, millions of sardines travel in vast shoals from the cold waters off South Africa’s Cape Point up to the coastlines of the northern Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal."

"This annual event is called the Sardine Run. The shoals are so incredibly big 15km long, 3.5km wide and up to 40m deep that they can be seen by satellite. In their wake you can see hundreds of birds, sharks, whales and dolphins, all eager to feast. It’s a great tourist attraction and opportunity to see nature at its most impressive."

"I am very much enjoying my visit in Kenya. I only wish it were longer. And it’s been like a wonderful appetizer, so I will have to come back for the full meal and see more of the country."

"And I am very excited by the potential to deepen and strengthen our partnership and friendship, which goes back 50 years, for President Obama, who is a son of Kenya, to be able to help Kenya move towards fulfilling its potential. And I wanted to come to Africa and take an extended trip early in my term because I think Africa is such an important place of the future."

"Even on this trip, I have had a very productive and mixed agenda of meetings."

"I have met with people in government, people in the parliament. But I have also met with women working to improve productivity on farms in Kenya which, as you know, really affect women since women are 70 percent of the farmers in Kenya, as in the rest of Africa."

"I’ve learned that it’s all about balance. I am not perfect and will never be perfect at everything, but I do the best I can and keep on moving. Its very tough, but I believe that women have the innate capability to handle it all.The modern African woman doesn’t have to choose between a career or a family."

"Each day, I strive to be better than the previous day and move a step closer to the goals ive set for myself. That’s enough for me because life is not a race, and I understand that the only person I’m in competition with is myself."

"Everything I have done in the past three and a half decades has been driven and motivated by a humanitarian vision. In the late 90s, I published the first in-flight magazine called Kabo, which promoted the beautiful side of Sierra Leone and was used by the National Tourist Board for promotion. I also initiated the first Women of Excellence Awards to recognize and celebrate women from all walks of life, especially in the aftermath of a bitter civil war which impacted women and children the most."

"I founded the Pink Charity Fund, a breast cancer awareness program providing screening facilities to women with low income."

"Besides,And then came football. Football has always been a part of my background, but projects like the Women of Excellence Awards and the Pink Charity Fund were more visible."

"The FC Johansen story is one of the most powerful and inspirational stories, especially in using football as a tool for change. It involved underprivileged kids from the streets having trials in famous football clubs. This is just a natural progression for me as these initiatives are aligned with my humanitarian vision."

"Football for Change and Reform is no different from all the other projects that I have embarked on. It uses football to empower the girls; it is about rehabilitation, transforming their lives to get them back into society. Through football, we all come together. This is the power of our beautiful game."

"I didn’t know about the political structures.I didn’t know what it was to build a career as a football administrator to becoming an FA president or anything like that, let alone FIFA."

"These were just displaced kids as a result of the war in the neighborhood, and all I wanted to do was to get these boys off the streets at night, get them at home where they should be, get them off the streets in the morning and during the day, put them in school where they should be."

"For me, it was very obvious that they lived and dreamed for their football, so that was my focus, and this was all I was about."

"David Beckham’s coming to Sierra Leone and these boys meeting him wearing the FC Johansen shirt with a number seven, Beckham, all of that was just an amazing time for us. The kids were amazing and then I realized that, you know what? This is so powerful, we could actually change our story in a big way, in a bigger way."

"It became a big reality,.and I think that was the time it dawned on me that, you know, I think I can actually do something really big for my country through football."

"The core business philosophy of owner management is still deeply ingrained in our culture. We believe in empowering exceptional people, giving them ownership and trusting them to deliver. This ethos continues to attract talent, which we're very proud of. When I joined in 2018, a company-wide survey showed that this culture is still very much alive and valued across all our jurisdictions."

"I joined FirstRand for the opportunity to get into banking. I was also drawn to the opportunity to work closely with Alan Pullinger, whom I held in high regard. It was a compelling and exciting opportunity that leveraged my experience with risk and compliance. Alan's sponsorship was also a factor, but I always operated with the mindset that I was there to learn. I'm grateful for the board's decision."

"While it's crucial to use every opportunity to learn, I was never complacent. I focused on doing my best rather than being preoccupied with leadership succession."

"Jacques has been leading FNB for 10 years successfully. He has now been given a new mandate to develop future business models. He is a builder. We are counting on his skills to build something new and exciting."

"Johan has been on the board for several years. I've observed his interactions with Alan over time. It's always interesting to see someone transition from an executive to a non-executive director role. Johan has been quite mindful of this. I've worked with him in a different context before, and I believe having experienced bankers on the board is crucial. They challenge us constructively, and I look forward to working with them."

"I had done some vacation jobs at PwC during my studies and when I signed up to do articles, so I had a two week advantage over most people in my group. During articles I gained great experience in the financial services sector, especially working in insurance, working with firms like Fedsure, African Life, Alexander Forbes and Regent Life."

"During articles I used to win the awards for the most productive employee in my group and billing hours is what counts at a firm like PwC."

"During the last year of articles I was given a lot of responsibility, because I was always dedicated to ensuring I add value and go the extra mile for the client. The quality of the companies I worked with on audits was high and I worked with some really smart PwC people, some of whom I am still in contact with now."

"Initially it was myself and Pierre building web prototypes and games. We tried to make video games for CBT for 9 months, things like interactive fiction prototypes for dynamics of engagement. They all had so much dialogue it made sense for us to move to chatbots. Pamela Fox stepped in as our head of engineering and helped rebuild the stack."

"My background is in clinical psychology research and I reached out to the best in the field. We all agree that our work doesn’t scale. Athena Robinson, a former Stanford psychiatry professor just joined as our Chief Clinical Officer. Other than that, some of my other colleagues or friends have joined too — people who really care about mental health issues. It makes for a really great workplace — this idea is bigger than any of us. When you look at the data and what people share, it’s so personal and you don’t even hear things like this in human therapy."

"At the end, we always ask: How are you feeling, better, the same, or worse? We look at the failed transcripts and try to troubleshoot on what went wrong — we try to minimize people feeling worse. It’s hard to figure out what we can do for those feeling the same. When you get it wrong people are not shy about telling you — when a button doesn’t cover everything users want to say, users will tell you."

"We also use standard search metrics, like precision and recall. For example, to detect people in crisis, we prefer recall search methods over precision as we want to be overinclusive and to identify anyone who could have a problem so we can refer them to human counselors or a help hotline."

"We learn all the time and have learned to keep track of our learning. If you have two buttons, they should represent genuinely different pathways. If there is no natural response or utterance, we use an emoji as an easy button filler. We’ve learned a lot about images. We used to have a black and white image of a bomb and we found it was triggering for certain people, so we had to remove it. Generally I like the black and white images. Many people really dislike minions. There’s a lot due to personal taste here — some people are into videos, others aren’t into it. We have veered away from videos, but we may make some to help teach people difficult techniques. When people are upset, they can only process a little — so our language and scripts have to be really short. We find it easier to have many chat bubbles with 1 or 2 lines — we try to keep it lean and bouncy. There’s almost a rhythm to it — there are a few flows where we can capture help."

"Some users want to be served something else. We always issue an invitation to engage in a conversation. There’s no assumption people want help. Some people just want to chat, they don’t want help. So we try not to explicitly ask people what they are looking for. There really isn’t a lot of open chat away from buttons in Woebot. People may want a past video or lesson."

"The only strategy that we’ve done is press — that has been reasonably successful. Interestingly, we got far more conversations as a result of blog article reviews than mainstream press. Bloggers just seem to find us. The tongue and cheek name helped and launching with data and the study helped. Some of the other mental health bots are less than useful and possibly dangerous — so having actual data from a study was important."

"The first is to just ask people if they want to converse. I’m not sure if we’ve nailed the invitation. Some of our push navigations were like “beep boop” — we are trying to understand the re-triggering schedule. [Note: Checking in to see what someone’s mental health is is a great reason to re-engage — Woebot naturally does this.]"

"It was a nice to have a paywall at first to get validation that people would pay for it. We had a decent conversion rate, but I wanted to gather data. Direct to consumer will be the longer term model. People were emailing us saying this is less expensive than our therapist; they were the ones who valued us the most. Convenience was a huge value proposition."

"It’s all completely de-identified and anonymized data — nobody in the company can ever see anyone’s Facebook profile. It was to protect the user and to protect us. The guiding principle is transparency. There is no open ended generative conversation — everything is scripted. We want to launch an app to have more privacy."

"We use AWS Lambda and NodeJS. Our app will have an animated Woebot tied to NLP that can respond to verbal language with animation. We do our analytics in house as we move to HIPAA compliance for our apps. We don’t want a 3rd party looking at data. We built a dashboard over the summer. It’s hard to find really good data scientists and AI people, and Android engineers."

"We are planning an iOS and Android app so people have extra privacy and to be HIPAA-compliant. There’s a good reason to keep it with text and to NOT do it in voice. You cannot see a negative thought in voice, but in a text chatbot you write it out and this externalization helps you overcome it. Messenger was a great launch platform — they make it easy to create and launch a bot. Users loved our prototypes there and we decided to launch there as it was easy."

"I really like ParentSpark — it helps parents with parenting. Their storytelling is great. It’s a mom coaching her kids and they help you as a parent. I also like Jeyant for medical screening; they have over a million users and screen for Zika and other diseases. PullString has done some nice character-based chatbots like Dr. Who. The Mabu chatbot, with eyes that follow you, is neat and I think IDEO designed it."

"The reason why I am where I am is because someone mentored me and helped me."

"Before being a mom, I was career driven and I was selfish person, but I have been a lot more selfless."

"Because when we tell our stories, we make room for all stories."

"I believe as creatives, our biggest responsibility to create work for ourselves and others."

"Most mining companies, government and big businesses do not procure from local women-owned businesses. Yet, I resigned from a well-paying job to create a private business in steel and metal manufacturing. I’ve hired four women in my company so far and I want to create more jobs for rural youth and women"

"[I’ve connected with] women’s networks and learned that for women to succeed in the industry, we must not be afraid to take risks"

"I embrace change and adapt easily"

"everybody assumes that because I am black, I must speak isiZulu! I’m of South African descent, but the bulk of my experience has been in a totally different environment, culture and work ethic entirely."

"For me, resilience is not about how you fall, but how you get up"

"Financial advice has traditionally been a paper-heavy, face-to-face business"

"The move towards digitisation, both on the side of insurers and advisers, is playing a major role in driving down the costs of doing business while delivering better client experiences"

"The only way we’re going to meet these challenges is to transform – and that transformation must start with driving greater diversity and inclusion across the industry"

"Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there!"

"Have and own your voice as a young, ambitious woman, and do the work you need to, to be able to take your seat at the top table."

"Right now, our world and our people need a resilience revolution. And we, as women, are perfectly placed to lead it"

"Appoint more female professionals to increase gender equality and build trust"

"we must embrace greater diversity in our workplaces. In our thinking. In our levels of representation in gender, religion, race, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation and education"

"I’m driven by my love for life and by always striving to do the best in all I do"

"In my field, I’m passionate about how we ‘show up’ when people are at their most vulnerable and how we can ease the burdens of some of the most difficult realities of life."

"I think many women suffer from self-doubt and this is not because of their own doing"

"Women should be coached to put themselves out there, to have and own their voices, and to take up their seats at the table"

"One should have the business acumen and patience to build a sustainable business, rather than looking to make a quick buck"

"From a young age, I was taught to wake up early, work hard, never give up and never doubt mysel"

"Never stop giving, and they never stop giving you back..."

"When you love what you're doing, it just kind of falls into place. You cannot naman accomplish anything kung hindi ka rin naman disiplinado...You have to also work to go back to your fighting form, you can tackle more roles, di ba? And then also, it's basically keeping what always works and what's always right for you, and for the industry still there maintaining it, and changing what you feel...Parang tuluy-tuloy lang, and as long as you're devoted to it, you never stop giving. I'd never stop giving, they never stop giving me back also. Wala, I just love what I do, e. I may not like the business all the time, but I really love what I do."

"I was in the right place at the right time and I still don't know why because I'm still here. But always, as the years went by, it was a fact that [became] stress to me. [Because] it's not just for myself, it's for... Parang every time...every time I'm able to touch somebody, just like a person, by a song, a concert or a movie, and then I realize, what I'm doing is something to someone, then you realize how big a responsibility it is."

"My smiles that are really from my heart of hearts, they're the ones reserved for my kids, 'cause they're the only ones that can bring them out."

"Cooking gives me an unexplainable satisfaction. It really takes away so much stress. You're physically tired when it's a very long day and you made so much, but I think it's a reward you can't quantify. I'm like that. It's really the simple joys that make me happy.""

"I'm not gonna sell that one thing so important to me: that's my credibility."

"If you blow out someone else’s candle, it won’t make your light shine brighter."

"Whatever I go through now in my life, I will still come out strong, willing and happy to work."

"Whether I deny or admit or give a reason and say something else, they will always believe what they want to believe. I said it many times, there is no perfect marriage."

"I always watch my shows and fail to understand where I get some of the things I say or responses I give during the shoot."

"One has to understand the concept and intended results."

"I love what I do and would be happy for it to be even more vibrant after my departure, hence there is need to cast the net even outside the family."

"Society, particularly families, remain the core focus."

"Covid-19 affected us a lot, but there is always a silver lining in every difficult situation."

"What I seek is to add value first in people’s lives with what I do."

"I believe the long success of the Mai Chisamba Show is a result of delivering valuable content to the viewers."

"It’s late for people to be blaming the parents and police."

"One thing I’ve learnt in my career is to always focus on the positive things. I believe that’s one thing that has brought me this far as people love the fact that I’m always positive minded."

"I don’t want a situation whereby when I’m gone, my grandchildren or children will say I didn’t have time for them."

"It’s not an abomination to move with the times as a nation."

"We need to advise our children but consider their interests first and foremost."

"What we may have failed to do should not be imposed on our children."

"We need to guide our younger generations."

"Celebrities cannot afford to be egoistic due to fame. We’re servants to the public and if we become carried away, we trigger our own downfall."

"You bite into your own fame if you don’t respect and appreciate your followers. Be available to the public. Let’s be available. Icons should not think anyone asking for them is looking for favours."

"It’s the grace of God, one needs to be consistent in their chosen vocation. Nothing in life comes on a platter."

"Parents, guardians and society at large must be responsible to use social media platforms for the benefit of our people."

"We’re the source of inspiration for our children without being indifferent or denigrating them."

"Hindi madali lalo na kapag ikaw ang naagrabyado, be kind, no matter how others act. Don't let bad people change your good heart. (“It’s not easy, especially when you’re the one who has been wronged. But be kind, no matter how others behave. Don’t let bad people change your good heart.”)"

"Don't confuse money with true richness."

"Wag maging gahaman. Mayaman ka nga, marami ka namang kaaway. Hindi sukatan ang pera sa tunay na yaman. Baka mayaman ka nga sa mata ng iba, pero wala kang tunay na kaibigan. ("Do not be greedy. You may be rich, but you will have many enemies. Money is not the measure of true wealth. You may appear wealthy in the eyes of others, but you may have no real friends”.)"

"I’ve learned that when we are in pain, it’s easy to say things we don’t mean. Pero hindi ako 'yun (But that’s not who I am). I refuse to let anger or hurt define me."

"“Hindi na kailangan pang magsisi sa nakaraan. Ang mahalaga ay natuto ka (There's no need to regret the past. What matters is that you learned).""

"“Be with good people, cherish real friends, and set boundaries.”"

"“Kinolekta ko ang bawat isa at ginamit sa pinakamagandang paraan — naging lemonade, lemon pie, sabon, at pampabango. Ano ang sunod? Binenta ko sila lahat at pinatunayan ang aking kakayahan! Hindi ako nagpatalo. Hindi madali pero kinaya at kinakaya (I collected each one and used it in the best way possible — it became lemonade, lemon pie, soap, and perfume. What was next? I sold them all and proved my ability! I didn't give up. It wasn't easy but I did it and I'm doing still it).”"