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Krissah Thompson Named The Washington Post’s First Black Female Managing Editor In Its 143-Year History

Krissah Thompson was named managing editor for diversity and inclusion at The Washington Post, making her the first Black woman to hold the title in the company’s 143-year history, The Grio reports. 

Thompson is a veteran at The Post, with more than two decades of service under her belt at the news publication. She holds a Bachelors of Journalism degree from University of Texas at Austin and a Masters of Journalism degree from University of Maryland College Park. Thompson has covered various topics from politics to culture with a special emphasis on civil rights and race, receiving multiple awards and accolades for her work.

Under this new role, the Emmy nominee will be tasked with “ensuring significant [and] consistent progress [in the publication’s] coverage of race, ethnicity and identity as well as improved recruitment, retention and career advancement for journalists of color.” 

Marty Baron, Executive Editor at The Washington Post, spoke about Thompson’s new appointment, saying, “This is a historic moment in American history and in race relations. It requires us to re-examine our coverage and concentrate resources on the issues of race, ethnicity, and identity that clearly deserve heightened attention.” 

As managing editor, Thompson will be responsible for spearheading newsroom efforts in recruiting, hiring, promotion, and mentorship. She took to social media to share the good news, saying, “I’m so excited I get to work!! A diverse staff makes our reporting better. We’re better when we have more perspectives and we can cover communities as deeply and widely as possible.” 

Congratulations Krissah!

Photo Courtesy of LaTosha Francis/The Washington Post

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Senator Kamala Harris Make History As Joe Biden’s Vice Presidential Running Mate

Started from the bottom, now we’re here!

Kamala Harris, the California senator who ended her bid for president earlier this year, has been selected by former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee to be his running mate. 

This historic nomination makes Harris the first Black and South Asian woman nominated for vice president by a major political party. 

“You make a lot of important decisions as president. But the first one is who you select to be your Vice President,” Biden wrote to supporters Tuesday afternoon. “I’ve decided that Kamala Harris is the best person to help me take this fight to Donald Trump and Mike Pence and then to lead this nation starting in January 2021.”

Born in Oakland and a child of immigrants, Harris, a Howard University graduate and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority Incorporated, is no stranger to being the first. In 2015, when she ran for the senate an Economist article highlighted her multi-ethnic background and rise to success billing her as the only contender in the race,  “daughter of an Indian cancer researcher and a Jamaican economics professor, she is the first woman, first African-American and first Asian attorney general of California.”

Harris has credited both her mother for immersing her in both her cultures and preparing them for the world, “My mother understood very well that she was raising two Black daughters,” she wrote in her autobiography The Truths We Hold. “She knew that her adopted homeland would see Maya and me as Black girls, and she was determined to make sure we would grow into confident, proud Black women.”

After graduating from Howard, Harris went on to obtain a law degree from the University of California, Hasting, then began a career in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. After becoming San Francisco’s district attorney in 2003, she served two terms as California’s attorney general becoming a trailblazer in the democratic party before a junior US senator in 2017. She gained nationwide popularity for her sharp question of then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and Attorney General Willam Barr in pivotal Senate hearings. 

Her presidential campaign, “For The People,” was met with initial enthusiasm, but as sentiment lagged she ended her candidacy in December prior to the Iowa primaries in 2020. 

Harris endorsed Biden in March saying that she would do “everything in my power to help elect him the next President of the United States.”

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Cancer Survivor Marries Supportive Boyfriend Who Was There For Her During Treatment

For many women, they are always single even while dating until a ring is put on their finger and taking marriage vows on their wedding day as the start of sharing each other’s struggles.

But for American couple, Jillian Hanson and Max Allegretti, by the time they were exchanging their vows at the altar, they had already overcome more than most couples face in a lifetime.

Hanson was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer at the age 25, and knowing the struggle that awaited her, she decided to put an end to their relationship, New York Post reports.  The pair became engaged on Hanson’s last day of chemo on and were treated to the wedding of their dreams free of charge on Friday, October 18. Photo: New York Post. Source: UGC Max loved her so much, and he was not going to leave her the time she needed him the most in her life just because she thought it was the best thing to do. “He told me he would never leave my side and he never did,” she said. By the time Jillian Hanson and Max Allegretti were exchanging their vows, they had already overcome more than most couples face in a lifetime.  The pair became engaged on Hanson’s last day of chemo on February 28, 2018 and were treated to the wedding of their dreams free of charge on Friday, October 18.

“This hardship made us grow closer together as a couple, and that is exactly why he is my person,” said Hanson “My hair thinned and fell out, and my skin turned white as a ghost but the love of my life remained by my side. He took care of me every day and reminded me how beautiful I was,” she added.

A venue was secured, hair and makeup services, a wedding cake, a photographer and a videographer free of charge for the couple’s big day. Photo: New York Post. Source: UGC Hanson and Max stayed together throughout her treatment, which began in October 2017 at Memorial Sloan Kettering hospital. Max traveled more than an hour each way to be with Hanson at her mother’s house, where she recovered between treatments. He also made sure to take his ailing girlfriend out to movies to normalise the situation.

Max loved her so much, and he was not going to leave her at the time she needed him the most in her life. Photo: New York Post. Source: UGC He later proposed to the woman of his dreams surrounded by nurses and family as the whole thing was caught on camera by hospital staff, which was the ultimate high for Hanson. But a shocked Hanson was in for one more surprise: Lauren Grech, a wedding planner whom she had met at a fund-raiser the year before, gave the couple one last treat: a pro-bono wedding. Grech secured a venue, hair and makeup services, a wedding cake, a photographer and a videographer free of charge for the New Jersey couple’s big day.

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Meet Londy Ngcobo, Global Ship Navigator & Africa’s First Female Dredge Master

When a 32-year-old South African lady becomes Global Ship Navigator and Africa’s First Female Dredge Master, breaking through as a Businesswoman and a Global speaker, the story is sure to make a headline.

Today we celebrate Londy Ngcobo with over 13 years of experience in the Maritime industry, which includes a background in Maritime Studies, International Merchant shipping experience, Advanced dredging from Netherlands IHC, and her current role as a Maritime Compliance Manager all which has led to her well-known title The BLACKMERMAID.

Londy is an award winner passionate about Women and Youth Empowerment.  Her wealth of experience has equipped her with the ability to focus on providing sustainable tools for women in leadership and all in walks of life.

She is also the founder of an organisation called Mamas Escape Club an Award-Winning Best Support Group providing tools for mothers to thrive through life challenges.

She encourages the youth to think outside the box, mentors the youth through her personal capacity, various institutional advisory boards and groups. Through her public speaking social events, radio/tv shows, blogs, podcasts. Londy has impacted lives by instilling bold global thinking and business agility to those who have had the privilege to see her in action.

Culled from Transportevolution

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Celebrating Maupe Ogun-Yusuf, The Inspiring TV Presenter & Producer

Currently, she is a Senior Presenter, Reporter and Producer at Channels TV, a nationally prolific independent television station and Nigeria’s 13-time TV station of the year.

She leverages on her experience, training and exceptional communication skills to deliver value in her capacity as a Supervising Producer and Anchor at Channels TV. She also produces and anchors the UNDP Dialogue Series and the programme- Hard Copy.

Among several other highlights of her career as a broadcast journalist, she led a team of young professionals in discussions with former United States President, Barack Obama and former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

In 2014, she led the ‘Young and Restless’ session at the World Economic Forum on Africa where she moderated the plenary session. She is also the co-host of the most-watched prime-time news and current affairs breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily as well as an anchor for the station’s flagship ‘News at 10′.

Esther brings her dynamic personality to the fore in her ability to connect to a diverse audience and inspire trust. She has received several awards and recognition for her commitment to excellence and professionalism.

In 2016, she received the British Council UK Education Alumni Award for Professional Achievement and in 2019, she received the award of Excellence from Nigerian Institute of Public Relations for Outstanding Television Broadcaster in the FCT. She is also a recipient of the Sun Newspapers Women Leadership Award and was named to the Future Awards Best 100.

Beyond professional commitments, she is passionate about development and impact. She was an International Student Ambassador during her studies at East Anglia University where she assisted students from varying backgrounds to acclimatize to academic work in a new environment. She is intentional about advocacy and has twice volunteered as the anniversary anchor for the “Bring Back Our Girls’ movement. She strives to utilise her platform for the promotion of positive causes.

Esther Maupe Ogun-Yusuf is a senior professional within the Media and Communication Industry with well over a decade’s worth of in-depth experience within the industry. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language from the University of Lagos as well as a Master of Arts degree in International Relations and Development Studies from the University of East Anglia, UK.

Before her current position, she was a News Anchor at Minaj Systems Limited where she cut her teeth in the media world and took on stimulating projects in television content creation and delivery.

When not working, Esther enjoys world politics, travelling researching and running.

 

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Ada Osakwe Makes History As The First African To Address The Graduating Class At Kellogg School Of Management

On Friday, 19th June, Ada Osakwe, award-winning food entrepreneur & investor, and Founder of The Nuli Juice Company, delivered the convocation address to the Kellogg School of Management Class of 2020. She is the first African to be given this honour and fourth black woman; following in the footsteps of outstanding Black-Americans Edith Cooper, Global Head of Human Capital at Goldman Sachs in 2017, Roslyn Brock, Chairman Emeritus of the NAACP in 2012 and media titan Oprah Winfrey, in 2011.

With a critical phase of their lives upended by the ongoing global health pandemic, the class of 2020 completed the last few months of their MBA degree Program virtually, instead of on campus in the classroom, and they will receive their diplomas in the mail or on their phones. Recognizing the need to offer extra inspiration at this extraordinary moment in history, in her commencement speech, Osakwe praised them for their bravery, resilience and courage!

For Ada, it’s important to believe in yourself to make it through challenging times: “So in your quest to thrive, there will be curve-balls thrown your way and you’ll have to take risks, it’s a given. But you’ve just got to trust your journey,” she advised the graduating students. As a Black-African, in her speech, Osakwe said she will always speak out against racial injustice and urged the non-blacks to also find their voices on this issue as allies to ensure there is more equality, tolerance and acceptance for all.

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#Rubygirls| “Nigerians Owe Their Hardwork And Persona To Their background” -Oluwafunmilayo Anifowose.

Oluwafunmilayo is a Fashion designer and fashion stylist.she came into the fashion world 8 years ago and has been working professionally for 7 years. She learnt the tailoring out of boredom during her WAEC holidays but eventually derived passion in fashion even though she has always wanted to be a banker since she was a child.

She styled the award winning Movie Director Jade Oshiberu to the  AMVCA awards 2 years ago and two of her collections was also on the show this year.
She worked as an assistant costumier on the Sugar Rush movie…
She is passionate about self reliance,independency and industrious.
She is also a chef and a model.
Oluwafunmilayo is a 200 level student of National open university.

She shares her “Ruby Girl” story in this interview.

1. Let’s meet you. Who is Oluwafunmilayo?

My name is Oluwafunmilayo Anifowose; a 22 -year old fashion designer from the western part of Nigeria;lagos to be precise and i’m the Creative Director of Oprah’s cut.

2. What made you venture into the fashion industry?

I got engaged out of boredom after concluding my junior school certificate and the economic state of the nation triggered my action.

3. You fancied being a banker in your childhood days. What made you drop it?

The unemployment rate in the country and the issue of job security and getting a job in nigeria has become worrisome

4. Apart from Fashion designing what other things are you involved in?

Interestingly I’m a certified chef from self reliance catering school and also a certified makeup artist but basically into the fashion business

5. What are the challenges you faced when you started out as an entrepreneur. Do you still experience them? And also how were you able to overcome them?

Basically family members and friends wanting me to do free jobs and i will always work every time with no profit after all the efforts

a) i still experience that sometimes but i stand my grounds never to mix business with pleasure anymore

b)My upgrade in the fashion game and my new personality helped in scaring them from approaching me with free job offers

6. What has the Covid-19 pandemic taught you as an individual, brand and business owner?

It taught me to always have a plan B;to always save for the raining days and the pandemic gave me an avenue to advertise my brand more on social media because everyone was on social media at that time because of boredom and they view and see whatever you post; i took that chance and it increased my client base

7. Challenges young Nigerian fashion designer face? How can it be mitigated?

The major problem young designers face is financial aid to enhance and setting up their brand….it can be mitigated if the government can set up institutions or platforms to help in securing loans and grants

8. What was growing up in a Nigerian home like for you? Did it in anyway contribute to everything you do now?

I believe its a well known fact that we Nigerians are a group of hardworking and highly motivated people and we owe that to the background and nurturing we had from our homes. This notion is a big part of who i am, the values and morals instilled in me by my parents is the backbone of everything i do.

9. If you were to be the President of Nigeria, what would you change?

I would change a lot actually but i think the most important and urgent change is the amendment of the Nigerian constitution which i think is not inline with the need and the reality we face as a country.

10. How do you juggle fashion designing, modeling, chef and studies?

I try not to be overwhelmed by my numerous activities by finding a balance between each passion.

11. Mention 3 women who inspire you and why?

My Mother,Mrs Folorunsho Alakija and Oprah Winfrey, they are goal getters and true definition of strong women.

12. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

I see myself already in my future,an international award winning designer, empowering and training thousands of people

13. If you were given the opportunity to address a group of girls five years younger than you, what will be your advice to them?

Never to relent and always remember you have gone too far to stop pushing.

 

 

 

 

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#WCW | Celebrating Ehime Eigbe Akindele , Founder Sweetkiwi Yoghurt

Ehime Eigbe Akindele is the founder of Sweetkiwi, a frozen yoghurt company, a go-to location for frozen yoghurt in Nigeria.

Ehime was visiting Nigeria from her station in Texas and needed to get frozen yoghurt. Unfortunately, there were no stores selling the product in the country.

That gave her a lightbulb moment: she decided to quit her job as a Bankruptcy Specialist at Citi Group, to start a frozen yoghurt company in Nigeria. That’s how Sweetkiwi was born.

She started off hosting a free tasting event and the reception was more than she expected. People were interested, and from then on, even before she began her plan to get a store and sell her products, she was receiving contracts to cater to events.

Her business began, and soon she opened her flagship store in Lekki, Lagos and then another, and then in 2018, launched its product offering in the US.

Her business started in 2011 and in 2014, the brand got its space to create the unique experience it intends to give customers.

Ehime is a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women scholar and holds a degree in Business Information Technology and International Studies from London Metropolitan University.

She also completed the Entrepreneur Management programme at the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan African University, Lagos and has certifications in restaurant management and dessert manufacturing.

Ehime is building two more brands – Beet Root and Činggis Mongolian Grill – to join SweetKiwi as part of her Your Way Foods.

Your Way Foods is “an International group of healthy food brands made with the best natural ingredients. We operate leading brands in the rapidly growing healthy-foods space, offering consumers great experiences with unique, innovative and fresh product offerings,” it says on its website.

Ehime is looking to kickstart her franchise program to grow the brand into other parts of Nigeria and the rest of Africa and we’re rooting for her!

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Tony Joy is Empowering Rural Women With Durian Nigeria

Tony Joy  is the founder of Durian Nigeria, a non-profit helping rural communities, especially women and children, turn waste to wealth and elevate their economic status.

Durian Nigeria trains women and children in a rural community – Imafon – in Akure, the Ondo state capital, to make jewellery, furniture cups, and cutlery from bamboo, as well as school bags, and packaging from waste clothes and water sachets.

Joy named her organisation after the Durian fruit, regarded as the “king of fruits” in some regions. The Durian has a very strong (odour) but tastes really good. Joy’s mission is to empower rural communities to see the beauty in what they call waste and transform it into a means of livelihood.

Durian is an offspring of Making a Difference Foundation which is a registered NGO in Nigeria that’s committed to using waste in creating solutions to social issues.

Joy started her journey in social development in 2015, by organising clean-up exercises in 8 states in Nigeria. She later decided that more could be done with wastes, and this drive led her to Imaafon community where she decided to spend time with the people and empower them.

Between 2018 and 2019, Joy has reached 337 people directly in the local community through trainings and grassroots outreaches with an operating budget of $30,000.

Over half of the participants of its training are currently earning 50% additional income every month, which translates to better livelihood for the women. More kids are now back in school because their parents now earn more to afford it and this has saved most girls from early childhood marriage, sexual abuse and drug abuse.

Durian has trained over 1,550 in vocational skills and through partnerships, has donated 100 back-to-school kits for the community. Because of the success of her work, Joy has been invited to replicate the process in 3 other communities across Nigeria’s south western states of Osun, Ekiti, and Oyo.

Joy, a rural development advocate was a nominee for the Prize for Community Action in the 2019 The Future Awards Africa (TFAA).

She is a Queen Young Leader (2015), an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society and a LEAP Africa SIP Fellow (2015/2016).

We celebrate Joy for indeed making a difference in the lives of rural community dwellers, and we’re rooting for her!

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Meet Muna Onuzo-Iyanam – The Startup Expert Giving Entrepreneurs Hope

Muna Onuzo-Iyanam, is  a brand and business strategist with over 14 years professional experience, working with diverse organisations as a consultant and learning and education facilitator to develop 360 degrees branding strategy, especially for startups.

She has coached and trained and mentored over 2000 Nigerian youths in the ABCs of business ethics and on the importance of image, branding and etiquette in business. Muna’s expertise include cross-cultural communication, human capital training and development, new/digital media and CSR strategy development and execution.

Muna is the founder of Gazzelle Academy Vocational Centre, a first-rate skill acquisition centre, approved by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) approved vocational centre which trains artisans and entrepreneurs.

Muna is currently the SA, Technical Planning, Research & Development to the Minister of State for Education in Nigeria.

Muna Onuzo is also a certified corporate etiquette, cross-cultural communication, international protocol and business image consultant. She is the Principal Consultant at Personnelty Fit Ltd. She obtained her Etiquette and Protocol certification from The Protocol School of Washington.

Muna holds a bachelors degree in Mass Communication from Imo State University and a masters degree in Media and Communication from the School of Media and Communication, Pan Atlantic University.

She’s the President of the Nigeria chapter of Foundation for Women in Film and Television – an International NGO spread over 44 countries. She is a sitting Board of Trustees member of the Society for the Performing Arts of Nigeria – an award winning NGO helping the Nigerian youth to live out their dream through dance and the Arts.

We celebrate Muna for her work in helping Nigerian youths develop both practical, entrepreneurial and employability skill that will give them a fighting chance to live a more productive life.

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