IMPACT NOW: WHEN WOMEN LEAD BLOG
Leadership Growth—NYOTA: A Personal Story
Leadership is all about growth. Sometimes that means stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing new challenges. The goal of NYOTA, our collaborative initiative with Université Chrétienne Bilingue du Congo (UCBC), is to support women leaders as they develop skills...
First Module of NYOTA: Heartfelt Gratitude
The first module of the NYOTA program, “Time Management as a Female Leader,” concluded last Saturday. Dr. Rebecca Wasingya, a professor of economics at our partner organization, Université Chrétienne Bilingue du Congo (UCBC) developed and led the session. Rebecca...
Nyota Has Launched!
NYOTA has launched! Last Saturday's event was a delightful surprise and a great success. What I thought would be a simple session turned out to be a formal public ceremony, complete with an MC, the mayor, and other local leaders. UCBC leaders were among the more than...
THE STAR THAT IS NYOTA
What a delight to arrive in Beni, DRC, after a long (but smooth) journey. People often ask, “How long does it take to get there?” This time: 22 hours of actual travel (17 via air; 4 via road). 6 hours of “transit”—layover, border crossing, check-ins, and waiting. 3...
Meet Some of the Team!
Next week I head for Beni, DRC, to work side-by-side with the NYOTA planning team. I’ll also participate in the launch of this unique, six-month leadership development program designed with and for women in the Beni region. I’m excited to be back with people and at a...
NYOTA: Lighting the Way with Leadership and Cross-Cultural Partnerships
The NYOTA Leadership Program launches in just a few short weeks, on June 8. NYOTA, Swahili for "shining light" or "star," is a six-month program for women leaders in businesses and organizations in Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Members of the 20-person...
Breaking Gender Norms
Christen Price, Congo Initiative-USA board member, recently shared with me the Jack Katz TED Talk, "Violence Against Women: It's a Men's Issue." Watching this TED Talk was timely, as Impact Now and the Université Chrétienne Bilingue du Congo (UCBC) are developing the...
Managing Expectations
Navigating the intricacies of leadership expectations is sometimes like finding your way through a thick fog. In the dynamic world of for-impact organizations where passion meets purpose, understanding, managing, and communicating expectations is important for...
Three Ways to Manage Leadership Expectations
Over the past few months, we have delved into Brené Brown’s insights on emotions as outlined in her book, Atlas of the Heart, with a specific emphasis on understanding their impact on women's leadership. We've examined uncertainty and comparison. This month, we're...
Shaping Tomorrow—How Women Leaders Drive Change in the Democratic Republic of Congo
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a nation often marred by conflict and political instability, the emergence of female leaders signifies a beacon of hope for progress and change. Here are some women who are making an impact in DRC and why it is important to...
Empowering Women… Impact Now Collaborates with UCBC
As we mark International Women's Day 2024, Impact Now is excited to announce a collaboration with the Université Chrétienne Bilingue du Congo (UCBC): NYOTA Leadership Program—a women's leadership program in the Beni region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)...
Gearing up for Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day
They are just around the corner: Women’s History Month (the entire month of March) and International Women’s Day (March 8). And we’re gearing up for the day and the month here at Impact Now. Just a bit of background on Women’s History Month and International Women’s...












