Thank you to our clients for your continued support and sharing our 10 years success with us!

On May 5, 2003, Suzanne F Stevens set out to start her own training business with partnering company Environics Communications. Suzanne is the Chief Edge Optimizer & Founder of Ignite Excellence Inc. an internationally acclaimed training company specializing in influential communications for leaders, business and sale professionals. Ignite Excellence’s extensive training programs focus on how to influence, differentiate and engage more people and win more business. Suzanne and her team have trained on 5 continents to fortune 500 companies in multitude of industries including technology, finance, pharmaceutical, marketing, manufacturing, research, engineering, public relations, aerospace … and the list continues.

Ignite Excellence provides 12 comprehensive training programs in influential communication internationally. Programs develop skills in: Persuasive presentation skills, Influential sales communications, Influence without authority, leadership communications, negotiations, connecting with clients, project communications and more.To learn more about the programs and client successes visit:
www.igniteexcellence.com

Two years ago, Suzanne changed her business model and partnered with her husband to pursue investing in women in emerging countries. As a result she  licensed professional business people to train her  Ignite Excellence material while she travelled Africa for two years interviewing women leaders and providing Ignite Excellence solutions to organizations in Africa. In addition, she added on-line solutions to respond to the changing economy and to have affordable access to people in emerging countries who could benefit from the high caliber  influential communications www.igniteU.ca.

Since Ignite Excellence Inc. inception Suzanne has added several initiatives that focusing investing and developing future leaders in emerging countries. Wisdom Exchange TV: Host & Producer – interviewing African women pioneers to educate, cultivate and celebrate leadership -  www.wisdomexchangetv.com
Ignite Excellence Foundation: investing in tertiary scholarships for women in emerging countries:  www.igniteexcellencefoundation.org

Suzanne is also an international speaker, in addition to sharing influential communications strategies she also focuses much of her energy on cultivating conscious contributions through her initiatives and keynote addresses.
By hiring Suzanne F. Stevens, or investing in one of her online training solutions,  she donates part of her fee to your charity, her foundation, and much goes to continuing to offer the Wisdom Exchange TV, a mentoring site to future African women leaders for free.

Suzanne’s keynotes include: http://suzannefstevens.com/keynotes/

1. I AM HERE, Consciously Contribute™ from Any Situation. Inspired by African Leading Ladies
2. Diamonds out of the Rough™ Conscious Contributors’ Leadership Attributes. Inspired by African Leading Ladies
3. Explore YOUR  Edgeness^™ The Interaction between Discovery & Potential
4. The UnSales Sales™ Debunking 10 top Sales Perceptions
5. Presentation Oxygen™ Top Persuasive techniques to Breath Life into your Presentations

To learn more about Ignite Excellence Inc. and multi-edges of the Founder, Suzanne F Stevens visit:  http://suzannefstevens.com/initiatives/

We thank our clients for their continued support and sharing our 10 years of success with us!

Suzanne F Stevens and her husband, Michael K. Gingerich founded Wisdom Exchange TV in 2011 and traveled through Africa uninterrupted for twenty months. They have recently returned back to Toronto Canada from backpacking through Africa interviewing women leaders for Wisdom Exchange TV (www.wisdomexchangetv.com). This initiative is self-funded and is an investment in future women leaders. Suzanne is the host and co-producer of the first African focused web-enable platform to educate, cultivate and inspire future African women leaders. To date, Suzanne and Mike have interviewed 63 African women pioneers and Wisdom Exchange TV is being watched in 77 countries and growing!

Wisdom Exchange TV- Wisdom Exchange TV is a resource to help African women to learn, lead and succeed in life, business, and community.  It is a forum where women of all disciplines will be inspired from the achievements of pioneering African women in business, education, philanthropy and politics. These are the women that are the Change Agents of their communities, countries and continent. They will inspire us to stretch our vision of what we can do, and what WE can be. New interviews and Expert Perspective blogs are updated regularly with the insights of the women leaders of today for tomorrow. Wisdom Exchange TV is a free resource and has subscribers from over 50 countries, more than half of which are African.

Suzanne and Mike are continuing to interview African pioneer Leading Ladies as they are committed to this platform and investing in the change agents of Africa – women.

As a result of working in and visiting Africa over five years, Suzanne builds on her expertise in influential communications and uses conscious contribution insights and leadership lessons as a foundation for her two of her five keynotes:

I AM HERE, Consciously Contribute™in any Situation
Inspiring by African Leading Ladies 

Diamonds out of the Rough™ Conscious Contributors’ Leadership Attributes
Inspired by African leading ladies

Thank you to the pioneering African leading ladies who contribute so selflessly to being the change we all want to see in the world.

Golf is a sport I have always found expensive, unphysical, a waste of time, and something you can never perfect. If I was not going to make money at it, win at it, or perfect it, why bother? Ernie Els may not agree with my evaluation of the sport, but then, he does make money at it.

Then it occurred to me, being a professional speaker, that presenting has some similar elements to golf. You don’t need to be perfect to win. The more you do it, the better you get, and you often play against yourself, striving to improve with each game or in this case, with each presentation. The difference is a person can learn to present persuasively and make a living on the rewards of their successful presentations a lot faster than most can master the game of golf.

As a marketing professional, presenting persuasively can differentiate you, your offering and your company from the myriad of colleagues, products, services and competitors that are waiting in the wings silently hoping you’ll add a stroke.

So what can possibly interfere in the process of mastery? One of the biggest obstacles to overcome is fear itself. Fear is really just False Evidence Appearing Real. The key to dealing with fear is to embrace it, along with preparation and practice.

But with anything worth striving to achieve there are obstacles, the rough or sand traps, to overcome. During presentations there can be equipment problems, late arrivals, interruptions, noise or audience distractions…All of these barriers can be overcome with good planning and persuasive presentation delivery.

When preparing a presentation the more you know about the audience, and your equipment, the less likely these barriers will become crippling obstacles.

I am sure you have heard the mantra echoed by many experts in regards to delivering presentations – ‘It is not what you say, but how you say it.’ Although I agree with the general sentiment, I think what you say is just as important as how you say it. I believe audiences show up for the ‘what’ you say, they share it for ‘how’ you say it, which is ultimately the goal when conducting a business presentation. You want people to talk about your presentation, as discussion can leads to positive action.

What do you need to do to differentiate yourself?

1. Present with intention – this includes focusing all your information and your energy on the audience.

Your intention will gain the audience’s attention.

 How you will do it?

2. Ignite your edgeness ™ –This is pushing your edge of your comfort zone enough that you are more engaging presenter.

How do we find our edgeness ™ in business presentations? My program, Persuasive Presentation skills that Move Minds speaks of ten planning components to a persuasive presentation, and although you can ignite your edgeness ™ in most of the components, I will focus on a few techniques that make a big impact.

• Get personal, by being personal- Start your presentation with a personal story. It needs to be relevant to the overall objective of the presentation. This is a great way to relax you and connect with your audience on an emotional level.

• Saying it is so doesn’t make it true – Use evidence in your presentation to support the claims you make, ‘we are the best’ is your opinion not a conclusion.  To ignite your edgeness ™, firstly, you need to make sure you are actually providing the information that is relevant to this particular audience, not just any audience.

 Secondly, many people provide facts, charts and other data to try to convince their business audiences of their point of view. Try something more engaging, like stating a case study, an anecdote, or using a provocative visual as a prompt. Again, you will gain a more emotional connection with the audience.

• People build relationships, visual aids don’t- Aids are just that: they are an aid and should not dominate the presentation. So challenge yourself and don’t use them for the beginning and the end of you presentation. Because they help retention, in business presentations they should be used. However, once or twice during your presentation type the letter ‘B’ on your keypad, this will black out the screen and put all the attention you.  Being front and centre creates the perception of confidence, credibility, and control.

• Be inclusive, not exclusive – Eye contact is the most effective way to demonstrate intention. The key is who to look at, when to look at them and for how long. Ignite your edgeness ™ by talking to one person at a time. One thought, one person. Easier said than done, but whenever you have a natural pause, switch to a new pair of eyes. And please, don’t forget to look at someone.

• Gestures illustrate, so you illuminate – Are you standing in front of your audience with no personality, some personality or too much personality? Your gestures can be the key to unlock or control the energy you exude. Ignite your edgeness ™ by thinking of what you are saying and add the appropriate gesture. Gestures can be the best form of visual aid, and again, they connect you to the audience.

• Vocal variety creates vitality – If you want your message to be heard and understood, how you project, modulate, and emphasize is key. Ignite your edgeness ™ by taking the time to consider your key messages, and what you want your audience to remember. Rehearse those messages so they resonate and garner a positive response.

• Moving with purpose – It takes a real master to utilize movement with grace and purpose. The knowing where to be and when to be there can have huge impact on the tone and energy in a room. The audience is often completely unaware of your motives, yet they feel the implications. Your subtle movement will take control of the room. You need to challenge your perceptions of what is right and wrong in movement and start moving with purpose to engage each corner of the room.

• Therefore practice may not make perfect, but it will make you persuasive – You want to rehearse out loud! We all sound fluid in our heads.  Rehearse beyond where you sound like a ‘presenter; to the point where you are engaging in conversation with your audience. Practice is fundamental to ensuring that you are transferring your energy to the audience – in other words, demonstrating intention.

There are a number of ways of challenging yourself to perform better in each presentation. The key is to practice, demonstrate intention by ignite your edgeness ™, and evaluate your development. Like golf, if you don’t practice, challenge yourself and evaluate your stroke, you may get lucky with a good shot now and again, but you won’t know how to repeat it. With each presentation not only will your performance improve, but also your ability to persuade will be evident in the audience’s positive reaction. Now go ignite your edgeness ™!

Action: Pick one of these skills and start practicing it in every day communications. When you get up to the front of the room, it will be a lot more comfortable to use when you want to persuade people to a positive outcome.

Ignite Excellence Inc. is launching online, influential communications programs March 2012. The first program launched will be Persuasive Presentation Skills that Move Minds.  If you are interested in receiving a early-bird rate for this programs click this link  Influential Communication Program(s) Inquiry. Use the following code to receive the introductory rate WE050.

Visit our other Ignite Excellence Group of initiatives’ websites with corresponding blogs.
Suzanne F Stevens – Profiling women leaders who have pushed their edge to personal or professional potential from backpack to briefcase to boardroom
Ignite Excellence Foundation – Leadership, Advocacy, Education – following donations to scholarships for women in developing countries
Wisdom Exchange TV – A forum where women will be inspired from the achievements of African women in business, education, philanthropy and politics.
You Me & We – a husbands and wife’s journey through Africa in 2011/12
Ignite Excellence Inc. – Influence, Differentiate, Engage more people and more business – a training & development company

Spending a lot of time amongst professionals,  not to mention listening to interview grooming conversations with my nephews, I can’t help but share this blog from Leslie Everett a fellow professional speaker and a brand expert. If you are about to go on interview some things to consider…

Walking TALL for Students…
5 Tips for Interview Grooming

Whilst having clean hair and finger nails are obvious there are some other personal grooming tips you should think about before you go to an interview:

1. Go easy on the perfume or cologne -  you could be jeopardizing your chances If your interviewer has a dislike for that particular fragrance. Fragrance is very evocative and they may subconsciously give you a black mark.
2. Women should always wear some makeup. It’s been proven that women who wear makeup earn more then those that don’t. However, don’t go overboard. No garish colours or too bright lips. If you aren’t sure how to apply make-up visit a department store and ask at one of the Beauty counters. Bobbi Brown are great at creating a natural look. Choose your counter based on whether you like the way the assistant is made up, if she is very overdone chances are you will be too!
3. Don’t overdo the hair products and if you do have an “on trend” style tone it down unless you are applying for a job in a creative field. For women, if you have long hair and are likely to fiddle (or hide behind it) tie it back.
4. As with makeup don’t wear a bright colour on your nails save that for evenings out. Wear a light neutral colour or just buff your nails and leave them natural.
5. Whilst designer stubble and goatees may be acceptable in a creative environment, if applying to a legal practice or a financial institution a clean shaven look will be probably be expected.

Visit Leslie Everett for more information on personal branding http://walkingtall.org/

Remember personal branding increases the chances of being heard.

Volunteerism: the principle of relying on voluntary action (according to Oxford).

Volunteerism according to Suzanne F. Stevens:

• Giving your intelligence, insight, and time to a cause.
• A social phenomenon that provides opportunities to rub shoulders with diverse individuals with similar interests.
• Exposing yourself to learning new skills, industries, or perspectives.
• An opportunity to expand your horizons, your community, and your network of influence.
• A selfless act that demonstrates your commitment to giving and will bolster your professional image!

Volunteering is… well, what you make it.

I have the pleasure of working with several volunteers for a number of initiatives and it prompted me to think about the reasons people volunteer.

There are several reasons one may choose to donate their time:

• Develop a new skill
• Expand their Network
• Feel part of a community
• Heighten their profile
• Demonstrate leadership
• Add to their resume
• Pure altruistic reasons

The one sentence that we hear often about working with volunteers is “remember, they are volunteers”. What does that really mean? I assume it means that because they are volunteers we cannot expect much from them. However, when I look at the variety of reasons why someone would choose to volunteer, most of them will impact the impression people will have on you or your organization as a result of your participation.

I think anyone who puts his or her hand in to volunteer should be commended. However, I also think that if you are going to put your hand in, you really should consider why you are volunteering. What do you hope to gain from the experience?

Have a clear objective in your mind when volunteering; it will assist in making several decisions on your time allotment. For example, when something else that you perceive more important is scheduled at the same time as your volunteering time, your decisions will be easier. Another consideration is how you conduct yourself in a volunteering environment. Many people volunteer to enhance their professional careers, while interacting with other volunteers in ways that may jeopardize their professional impression.

Points to consider as a volunteer:

• Am I on time for the meetings?
• Do I actively contribute?
• Am I being open to others’ perspectives?
• Am I just offering advice or am I offering to implement (remember everyone else is also a volunteer too!)
• Do I continuously demonstrate respect for other volunteers?
• Do I see my task through to completion?
• Am I treating the opportunity as a casual commitment or professional contribution…(there is only one answer).

One of the best pieces of advice I can provide to a volunteer is to treat the opportunity as if it was your client, and each volunteer is a decision-maker. This will ensure that we continue to respect the process and not take anyone’s role or the opportunity for granted. Consequently if you don’t consider the above volunteer considerations, you may actually be breaking your reputation not making it – result sabotaging the actual objectives of why you chose to volunteer in the first place.

Keep in mind, if you make the commitment to your job and you get too busy, you wouldn’t just quit.

Action:

When volunteering, have a clear objective in mind on what you hope to receive in exchange for your time, insights, and actions. Communicate your level of commitment. Finally, treat the opportunity like a client; this will guide every interaction.

Wisdom Exchange TV has recently unveiled some compilation of Leading Ladies at a recent REDI Business women event in Swaziland. After completing 41 interviews in East Africa we have ventured to Southern Africa to start interviews in many of the countries again with the same goals:

1. Celebrate African women leaders
2. Educate future leaders with the strategies, tactics and leadership lessons of African women pioneers, trailblazers and leaders of many.

We share this short compilation of what makes Africa leading Ladies unique and their Words of Wisdom to other African ladies. African women are unique as they Live their Leadership Legacy; they are not waiting to be contributor to community, country or continent.

Please share this video with friends and colleagues alike, because the more people understand that African Leading Ladies are not only the Change Agents of Africa, they are the Change Africa needs, then we will see more women leaders in key positions who will have influence over many of injustices done to women in children in Africa.

If you are interested in hearing more about the keynote that talks about Living Your Leadership Legacy, inspired by African Leading Ladies, email us at info@suzannefstevens.com. Please note: this particular keynote was designed with the objectives of the event coordinator for an African audience.

On August 23, 2012 Wisdom Exchange TV celebrates our Fiftieth interview with African Leading Ladies and Leading Ladies who love Africa – it has been a true honour to interview 41 women from Eastern Africa (Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda) Several from Swaziland and now South Africa. There have been many highlights, but to learn them you must listen to the expertise of these women who are changing their communities, country, Continent!! These women believe “We need to be the change we want to see in the world” – interestingly Mahatma Gandhi said those words and our 51st interview is with Ela Gandhi this afternoon – his granddaughter, also a well respected peace keeper who lives by the same principle!!

Many of us entrepreneurs have the skill, the spirit, determination and as I said in my previous entry, the helping hand, to grow our businesses to be a profitable thriving enterprise…. Or not.

One of the challenges women have internationally, and has been emphasized in many African countries, is the overwhelming responsibility to the extended family and community, not to mention the role of mother, wife and career woman. Perhaps the biggest difference between women in Africa and women in the West is:

1. The responsibility to the extended family and community
2. The lack of presence of the husbands in many of the above stated activities.

As career women we have to have avenues to connect or we will be challenged to expand our knowledge, gain alliances, find suppliers and mentors to assist us to meet the ever change business environment.

Suggestions to make connections:

1. Associations:  If you are anything like me, you may want to figure things out on your own. I always like the challenge. This is not a bad approach but definitely limiting. My business did not become diversified until I joined a fantastic networking group called CAPS (Canadian Associations of Professional Speakers) and the GSF (Global Speakers Federation). Although I had been a member to many associations, it was not until I joined these two did I find the material I was learning was expanding my knowledge. For the fist time I felt like I was meeting peers I could collaborate with and learn from. Although most associations aspire to provide this type of network, not all of them succeed.

 Prior to joining an association it is best to be clear on your objectives. What do you want from the Association?  Suppliers? New clients? Knowledge sharing? To learning a new skill? To make new friends?  Establishing a clear objective will assist you with selecting the right association for your development.

• Visit www.wisdomexchangetv.com under “resource” tab to find associations you may want to join in your area.
• I recommend joining a couple different groups. One where your clients are and one for your own personal development. You may want to join a women’s association, which is a great idea. Do consider, however, if many of the larger businesses in your industry are owned by men, and your goal is to gain customers, you may want to consider a different association.

2. Linkedin – If you don’t have a profile you want to do this now. If you don’t do it, often profiles get created for you. Creating a profile is just a first step. Populating it with relevant information that positions you and your business is the second. The third is find contacts that you want to make.

 One of the best ways to connect is join groups. Once you join, participate in the conversation. I have often asked question of my Linkedin groups to help find a supplier, deal with a business challenge or to get recommendations. The more people see you, the more they will feel connected and answer your questions when you post them.

• Join linkedin Wisdom Exchange tv group we love to hear your opinion.

3. Facebook- Is another wonderful way to connect. You can create Fan pages and provide relevant information to your Fans. You can learn how to gain fans by subscribing to Get 10,000 Fans. I use my Facebook page for business (Five unique fanpages – Suzanne F Stevens, Wisdom Exchange TV, Ignite Excellence (igniteU), Persuasive Presentations, Ignite Excellence Foundation) and personal use. You may not want to mix the two up. I find by mixing my personal page and business page together, I learn the more personal side of my business associates. This assists me in deciding who I would want to collaborate with by gaining insight into their character. As business people we may include some ‘fun’ elements on our pages, but at this age the crazy party shots may no longer be appropriate. Safe to say, if you are comfortable sharing it with your mother, it is probably ok on your page.

 4. Join a club. Become apart of a professional club like Toastmasters or the Rotary club. Participate in a charity or a project that gives back to the community. These are excellent ways of getting to know people in a more casual setting. Often removing yourself from the business environment can provide for the best way to really get to know someone and ultimately to leverage each other sphere of influence.

5. Participate in Forums – There are many forums that may be available for your business besides linkedin. You may have to spend time conducting research on the internet. There are women all over the world who we can learn from. Here are some suggestions.

• United Success
• The International Alliance of Women
• Elite women of the world
• Wisdom Exchange tv

Action: These are some suggestion, but the best suggestion I can give you is join an association, but just don’t be member, get involved. Become a board member. This is where your networks will be the strongest and your learning expedited. Not to mention you will increase connections and therefore business collaborators.

Join us on Suzanne F Stevens Fanpage for latest suggestions on pushing your edge to personal and professional potential!

Traveling through Africa 2011/2012 – conducting Wisdom Exchange tv Leading Lady interviews

Suzanne F Stevens, is the Chief Edge Optimizer of the Ignite Excellence Inc. Group of Initiatives. As Keynote Speaker, Trainer, Coach, Host and Philanthropist, she inspires, develops and invests in people to push their edge to personal and professional potential from backpack, to briefcase to boardroom. As a trainer, Suzanne’s influential business communication training arms individuals and organizations to influence, differentiate and engage more people and more business. Visit www.igniteU.igniteexcellence.com for online influence university. Self-pace business training for your career growth!

Visit our other Ignite Excellence Group of initiatives’ websites with corresponding blogs.
Suzanne F Stevens – Profiling women leaders who have pushed their edge to personal or professional potential from backpack to briefcase to boardroom
igniteU - Online influence university. Self-paced learning to develop your business skills for your business success.
Ignite Excellence Foundation – Leadership, Advocacy, Education – following donations to scholarships for women in developing countries
Wisdom Exchange TV – A forum where women will be inspired from the achievements of African women in business, education, philanthropy and politics.
You Me & We – a husbands and wife’s journey through Africa in 2011/12
Ignite Excellence Inc. – Influence, Differentiate, Engage more people and more business – a training & development company

We are now in Southern Africa interviewing Leading Ladies is Politics, Philanthropy, Business and Education. We want to thank the wonderful Leading Ladies in East Africa who shared their insight, knowledge, determination and spirit with us – and in many cased your hospitality.

We had many highlights including interviewing  Bience Gawanas – Exchange launched November 29, 2011, Commissioner of Social Affairs for African Union. Although from Namibia, she really brought an Africa perspective to her interview. She challenges us as women to ask the most important question when it comes to cultural practices that discriminate against women – Why?

Interviewing Leah Ngini, although her interview is not aired yet, she is a woman who I treasure for many reasons, but one she came to Canada to speak at the Ignite Excellence Conference – where we raised $30,000 for a women leadership centre in Nairobi – called Leah Ngini Community center at Africa International University. Some of that money was also donated to the Ignite Excellence Foundation which provides scholarships for tertiary education to perspective African women leaders.

Another highlight was our first interview with an African women in Africa – Joanne Mwangi – Interview April 26, 2011 CEO & Founder, PMS Group. After interviewing Joanne I realized very quickly that my husband and I made the right decision to sell our home and come to Africa and celebrate African women leaders while educating future women leaders.

Other highlights included Norah Odwesso – Interview October 18, 2011 Public Affairs & Communications Director for Coca-Cola Central East & West
Africa, because she introduced women in the African Corporate world to Wisdom Exchange TV. She did not hold back and told us what it would take to make it in African in corporate leadership positions.

In Ethiopia we had the pleasure to meet Yetnebersh Nigussie – Exchange launched March 6, 2011Co-Founder, Ethiopian Center for Disability and Development (ECDD); Founder Yetnebersh Modern Academy. This young women cuts through the clutter and inspires us that although we have disabilities (in her case blindness) we have 100 times more abilities. We must focus on these. She also puts charity in perspective and how ‘giving’ is about the giver not the receiver. A truly inspiring young woman.

Another highlight in Ethiopia was meeting and interview Nigest Haile – Exchange launched March 20, 2012 Founder & Executive Director, Center for African Women Economic Empowerment. Author, trainer, and inspiration! A woman I have had the pleasure of working with on Africa Business Women Connected Summit that will focus on international trade for the top business women in Africa. Nigest’s insight on how to prepare you business for export is a must hear.

A very special time was spent with Tereza Mbire – Exchange launched January 24, 2011 Six time Entrepreneur, Uganda pioneering women business Advocate,
Presidential Advisor and UWEAL Founder. Tereza was the first African woman interviewed  that made it her duty to host us. This woman who is in her 70′s who has lived through so many political changes in Uganda gives the audience an opportunity to see what was and how to survive through anything. An accomplished woman with very accomplished children, she demonstrates your past does not need to dictate your future.

And our more recent interviews in Tanzania with Modesta Lilian Mahiga – Exchange launched May 1, 2012 Founder & Group Managing Director, Professional Approach Group, Lawyer & Human Rights. She takes a unique approach to being nationalist and empower youth to go beyond acquiring a degree. Again, a woman who tells it like it is and someone to watch as she transforms Tanzania… and who know where else?

Lastly our visit to Rwanda also had a couple highlights. Our interview with  Janet Nkubana co- founder of Gahaya Links, the producers of the ‘peace basket’ which being exported to US and Europe. I had heard so much of Gahaya Links success that it was nice to learn why they achieved their international status. She shares her strategies of how to manage rural artisans amongst so many insights to running a business, I could not get enough. (Stay tuned for interview launch date).

Another interview highlight in Rwanda was Zulfat Mukarubega, Founder & Legal Representative of RTUC, Rwanda Tourism University College. This highlight goes beyond the interview to our long conversations over dinners. Her spirit based on what her life has endured to what she has achieved with shear determination is mind boggling. I enjoyed her company and I got to learn from a person who is a different religion than many of the women we interviewed, different background and who didn’t need to go the traditional path to achieve her goals. A truly unique woman with a heart bigger than Rwanda. (Stay tuned for interview launch date).

Last but not least, our first interview with a dear friend Lois Show, Founder of WOW Safaris (Women in Leadership Development) www.wowsafaris.org, Kenya / United States. A missionary who loves Africa and goal is to share the beauty, talent and uniqueness of this great continent with the West all while having women of Africa and the West work hand and hand. She is also someone who opened the door for me to realize my love for Africa.

Every interview had a highlight, but these are the ones that rolled out off the top of my head as something that struck me personally. For you it would be something very different, someone else’s lessons, stories and knowledge.

One of our biggest highlights on a very personal note was our stay in Ethiopia. This is for many reasons. One, the country is absolutely beautiful, something we never expected. Secondly, and more importantly was the hospitality we were shown by Samrawit Moges Beyene – Exchange launched April 3, 2012, Ethiopia
Founder & Managing Director of Travel Ethiopia,  www.travelethiopia.com and Mulumebet Iori – Exchange launched ~ May 15, 2012
Founder, Byogenic Beauty Spot, http://www.byogenic.com and someone we didn’t interview, but is also a leading lady, one of our advertisers on Wisdom Exchange TV Genet Kebede, Designer & Founder of Paradise Fashion www.paradisefashion.net. These women gave us not only the traditional experience of Ethiopia, but treated us a friends, for that my husband and I will always treasure.

I cannot finish this update without mentioning one of the most important highlights, interviewing women leaders alongside my best friend – my husband, Michael Gingerich. He left his leadership position to follow my passion and vision and together we get inspired every day by the women we meet who have taken obstacles and made them opportunities.

Watch, hear or read the interviews and you will have your own highlights. For us each interview was unique and offered the viewer and us something different. WE want to thank all the women in East Africa for their contributions to Wisdom Exchange TV and to our vision of inspiring women leaders and future leaders in Africa with the talent, insight and knowledge of African women.

www.SuzanneFStevens.com
Join the conversation on Wisdom Exchange TV Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/WisdomExchangeTV

Leah Ngini, Founder, @ St. Christophers School

When I started my business, Ignite Excellence Inc., nine years ago I was a woman with a vision, passion, determination and a helping hand.  Without all four of these foundations of influence I know I would not have had the confidence or the means to pursue my passions of investing, inspiring and developing future African women leaders.

I think all entrepreneurs will agree, that those four pillars are necessary to get your business beyond start-up stage. The question is who is your “helping hand?” Is it a parent that believed in you? An uncle or aunt? A teacher, a business associate or a husband?

For me, when I started my business, it was a business associate that felt my ability was something he wanted to invest in. Many of the women that I have interviewed on Wisdom Exchange tv, however, had a much more personal helping hand – their husbands

In speaking to Leah Ngini, Founder & Managing Director of St. Christopher’s School in Nairobi, she says it is her husband’s continuous support “as the head of the household” that made her dream of building a school a reality.

Samarwit Moges, Founder & Managing Director of Travel Ethiopia says that her husband “is the force behind me.” She confesses that he helped build her confidence and recommended for her to branch out into her own business. He encouraged her to join clubs that would provide her with leadership skills.

Katherine Ichoya, Executive Director, FEMCOM and institution of COMESA, confesses her husband and children went to the United States with her so she could pursue higher education. “If you don’t have a family that supports you, you will go forward two steps and back one.”

Nigest Haile, Director of CAWEE (Center for African Women Economic

Empowerment) credits her families support and passions for ability to donate so much time to improving women in business making them export ready.

Jane Wathome, Founder, Beacon of Hope was able to pursue her passion to start a facility that would aid the welfare of women with HIV/AIDS. This philanthropic initiative could not be realized without the support both mentally and financially of her husband.

Other women interviewed on Wisdom Exchange tv that share where they received their helping hand, for some it was an investor, for others it was a relative and for others it was their sure belief in themself.

For me, after I started Ignite Excellence, the influential communication training company and decided to make a radical change to how to execute its mandate, it is my husband’s belief in my vision that had been the helping hand. He too supports the premise that by developing more women leaders in Africa it will provide helping hand to communities, countries and continent.

We all need a helping hand, someone to talk to, to share our frustration and to celebrate with. I can’t help but think back to my interview with Samrawit Moges, when she was talking about the support of her husband and he believed in her more than she believed in herself – I said it sounds like the key is to marry well!

Action: If you are a person with a vision that must be realized, it appears that many of the women leaders that succeed are the ones that have someone who believes in them as a wife, mother and perhaps most important as an individual. Picking the right partner will assist with your foundation of influence. This may seem so obvious, but often obviously forgotten.

Traveling through Africa 2011/2012 – conducting Wisdom Exchange tv Leading Lady interviews

Suzanne F Stevens, is the Chief Edge Optimizer of the Ignite Excellence Inc. Group of Initiatives. As Keynote Speaker, Trainer, Coach, Host and Philanthropist, she inspires, develops and invests in people to push their edge to personal and professional potential from backpack, to briefcase to boardroom. As a trainer, Suzanne’s influential business communication training arms individuals and organizations to influence, differentiate and engage more people and more business. Visit www.igniteU.igniteexcellence.com for online influence university. Self-pace business training for your career growth!

Visit our other Ignite Excellence Group of initiatives’ websites with corresponding blogs.
Suzanne F Stevens – Profiling women leaders who have pushed their edge to personal or professional potential from backpack to briefcase to boardroom
igniteU - Online influence university. Self-paced learning to develop your business skills for your business success.
Ignite Excellence Foundation – Leadership, Advocacy, Education – following donations to scholarships for women in developing countries
Wisdom Exchange TV – A forum where women will be inspired from the achievements of African women in business, education, philanthropy and politics.
You Me & We – a husbands and wife’s journey through Africa in 2011/12
Ignite Excellence Inc. – Influence, Differentiate, Engage more people and more business – a training & development company