NETWORKING IN HEELS EVENT INSPIRES AND GUIDES WOMEN ON THEIR JOURNEYS

The “Networking in Heels” event, hosted at the Golden Tulip Westlands few days ago was a transformative gathering that celebrated the empowerment and resilience of women from diverse backgrounds. Orchestrated by the visionary CEO of Networking in Heels, Violette Wambua, the event served as a dynamic platform for inspiration, networking, and the exchange of empowering narratives. The distinguished lineup of keynote speakers, including Lilian Atho, Muthoni Matu, Everline Kamau, and Serah Katusya, brought a wealth of experience to the stage, sharing their unique stories and profound insights with the eager audience.

The atmosphere within the Golden Tulip Westlands was palpably charged with positive energy as Lilian Atho- CEO RealTime Global took the stage, expressing her admiration for the meticulous organization of the event. “I think you’ve done such a good job. The attendance is fantastic,” she remarked, setting an encouraging tone for the evening. Lilian recounted a recent encounter with Violette, underscoring the pivotal role of creating spaces for women to connect and grow relationships in the bustling city of Nairobi. “It’s so hard to meet people in Nairobi. So, it’s crucial to open spaces for women to meet each other and grow those relationships,” she passionately emphasized.

Lilian Atho- CEO RealTime Global

Lillian took the audience through a journey of self-realization. Having quit teaching career as a secondary school English Teacher to start cooking Chips for sale initially. Many people including her father though that she had made a wrong move by leaving Teacher’s Service Commission (TSC) where a monthly salary was guaranteed as a teacher to unknown entrepreneurial career that by then no one knew. Today, Lillian has more than seven (7) Companies all under RealTime Global with companies spread all over the world. She has offices in South Africa, Texas Office in USA, China, Dubai and Nairobi here in the country.        

Following Lilian, a speaker referred to as “the doorbell founder” took the audience on a journey of profound transformation in the year 2023. Serah Katusya, CEO of Belva Digital, having spent 16 years working for WPP, she made the bold decision to quit her job in search of inspiration. Uncertain of her next steps, she found unexpected serendipity in an early retirement opportunity offered by WPP. This newfound freedom allowed her to explore her passions and intentionally choose her path forward.

Reflecting on the gamut of emotions she experienced during this period—fear, doubt, excitement, happiness, and optimism—she emphasized the importance of trusting oneself amidst the external noise and discerning what information to absorb. Her journey became a testament to the value of leaning into discomfort, trusting one’s instincts, and leaving space for the divine to guide the way.

The speaker underscored the significance of time and debunked the illusion of control. Urging the audience to take bold steps, she emphasized, “If you get a moment to make the choice, just go and do them. Right? We don’t have time. And for sure we have no control.” To complement her narrative, she recommended the book “Halftime” by Bob Buffet, which guides individuals through a midlife reassessment of their career and life choices. Additionally, she encouraged attendees to surround themselves with individuals who uplift them and to embrace uncertainty as a pathway to growth.

Serah Katusya, CEO of Belva Digital

Agnes Matu, Crywan Enterprises CEO, a seasoned entrepreneur in the alcohol sector and a mother of five, offered a unique perspective to the forum. With over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience, Agnes shed light on the challenges she faced, underscoring the need for resilience in the face of adversity. Her entrepreneurial journey involved overcoming financial obstacles and navigating the intricacies of the competitive alcohol sector. In a heartening address to the audience, Agnes declared, “I’m here tonight to encourage most of you that you can start at any stage of life. You don’t have to start a business in your twenties or thirties or forties. You can start a business at any stage of your life.”

Agnes Matu is CEO, Crywan Enterprises

The event also featured a speaker who recently underwent a life-threatening surgery. Everline Kamau, Territory Manager of VMWARE was candid in her own way. She cuts an image of those women and especially the single women even if she got divorced at an early age but nevertheless, that has not hindered her from pursuing her cause especially fighting alcoholism at earlier years of her life that threatened her marriage life. She’s a divorcee but shared experience in such an inspiring way to other women in attendance. Sharing her experience of recovery, she highlighted the importance of embracing vulnerability and authenticity. Recommending impactful books such as “Mindset,” “Originals,” “Emotion,” and the Bible, she urged attendees to embark on a journey of self-discovery, emphasizing the strength that lies in embracing one’s unique qualities.

Everline Kamau, Territory Manager of VMWARE

Violette Wambua managed to bring all those women under one roof and it was such a night full of inspiration and motivational to other women in attendance. The stories shared will no doubt go a long way in impacting their life’s and those of others. Violette thanked her husband Lenny Mungai who was also in attendance for travelling with her on the journey to revive Networking in Heels. The event was Emceed by two super powerful media personalities Victoria Rubadiri and Mercelline Maroma. 

In conclusion, the Networking in Heels event served as a powerful beacon of inspiration and empowerment for women navigating the intricate landscapes of their professional and personal journeys. The narratives shared on stage echoed themes of resilience, self-discovery, and the transformative power of embracing one’s authentic self. As the event concluded, the women departed with a renewed sense of motivation, strengthened connections, and a deeper understanding of the importance of community—a lasting impact that will undoubtedly resonate in their professional and personal spheres.

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