As I look back at the journey I have travelled, more particularly over the last 18 – 24 months, one thing is very clear.  There has been a tribe of fierce & fearless women who have mentored & inspired me, holding me accountable to the goals that I have set.

Why you might ask? Mentors believe in you – they have faith in you & push to be better.  They also encourage you to keep moving when things get tough.  Mentors are honest with you – they give out doses of ‘tough love’ & tell you to stop whining when it is necessary!  Mentors open up their networks & link you up with people who will help you succeed & achieve your goals. Ultimately a good mentor helps you towards your vision by helping you align your actions with your goals.

I met Ciiru Waithaka, MD Funkidz Ltd on ‘tarmac’ – the term used for the pick-up area where we collect our kids after school.  Our boys became friends before we did.  I mean, I knew of her – we have a mutual friend who had told me about her, and that she was an exceptionally successful woman in business that I should get to know, but I got to know her over a series of play dates, swimming galas & sport days. Little did I know then what a profound impact she would have on my business and how she would change my life!

Ciiru – Wanjiru Waweru Waithaka – is a Creative serial entrepreneur. She is the CEO of Funkidz Limited, an exciting, innovative children’s brand that designs and manufactures targeting children from age 0-16 years.

I managed to chat with Ciiru and ask her about her leadership journey;

Ciiru, my blog is primarily about my leadership journey & the lessons that I am learning.

What would you say is your no. 1 leadership lesson?
My Number 1 leadership lesson is that it is not about power, but about taking responsibility, adjusting the sails of the ship when we can’t change the direction of the wind. A good team is your greatest asset in a business. Many people talk about access to capital, equipment etc, without a good team, the rest does not matter.

How important are mentors to the leadership journey?
The RIGHT mentors are very important, though mentorship is often misunderstood. Mentors are supposed to listen, suggest, share their experiences in situations that may be similar but are not supposed to tell you how to run your business. They are a guide, they are a sounding block. For mentorship to be beneficial, the mentee needs to be honest, vulnerable, willing to take feedback and willing to put in the time . Both mentee and mentor need to be committed to the process.

Male or female mentors – or both?
Definitely Both.

Last question – boots or high heels?  Which one is truly YOU?
Lol!!! In my head its heels, in reality boots are ME and I am boots!!! 😉