A Reflection on my Career Journey

Nancy led the Resonate Program Team to train participants in record numbers and built a team of strong facilitators. She is now working as the Youth Lead Envoy at Entity for Gender Equality and Women Empowerment (Rwanda Chapter) in Tennessee, USA. We all miss her and wish her well! Turikumwe!

My professional journey started about six years ago, but so far, 2019 has been the best year of my career. I had embarked on a journey to do the things I am passionate about: women’s empowerment. Working six months as a part-time workshop facilitator at Resonate allowed me to familiarize myself with the organization before joining it full-time in January 2019.

One of the highlights of my time at Resonate is the people that I worked with:  a team of supporting, intelligent, hardworking, and resilient women. They stand out for their values. I am so grateful for the mentorship and guidance that I received from my two managers, Norette and Claire. You are the best managers in the world! I have learned to set goals and achieve them under your guidance. My experience with you and the team taught me to be ambitious, trust myself, keep learning, and always ask for help.

With that inspiration, my time at Resonate was a positive learning experience. Working as a program manager was a high-risk position, not because I could not perform my duties but because all the organization’s activities turn around successful programs. Any single mistake would have affected the organization's impact on women and youth in Rwanda and East Africa. This position allowed me to hone my skills and explore my interests in a way that has always been both intellectually challenging and exciting. I gained skills in people management, project management, public speaking, strategic thinking, and risk management. It provided me with growth opportunities, such as meeting with Resonate partners, clients, and participants.  I was able to create professional and social networks and engage with the greater SDG5 community.  

So, that brings me to the present. Have I grown as a leader? Yes, that is for sure.

I want to highlight three important moments/projects that made me proud of Resonate. Firstly, at the launch of the Training of Facilitators (ToF) program in Nairobi, Kenya, I learned the importance and value of early planning, teamwork, and dedication.

Secondly, during the implementation of a Randomized Control Trial in partnership with CARE Rwanda and researchers from Georgetown University, Resonate trained more than 400 women and girls in the Nyaruguru district (Rwanda) in one month. This project helped me improve my planning skills, problem-solving, and communication skills. 

Thirdly, Resonate’s first ToF program with an international Non-Governmental Organization in Arusha, Tanzania. It was a cross-team project however I felt so proud that my colleague Delice and I completed the ToF and certified 14 facilitators in another country. We could not have achieved this goal without the dedication, teamwork, and a problem-solving spirit.

 To the new Resonate Program Manager: take the time to find out who you are! Make sure you become yourself. It is the best investment you will ever make, ask for help, and be flexible. Above all, have fun! Celebrate each milestone achieved, big or small!!!

Truth be told, I miss everyone at Resonate. On a more relevant note, I am thankful for you.