I never expected my first African experience to be like this: Meeting the President fo Rwanda at the last day of Conference, Talking to 20 new people in average everyday, Having dinners with friends from 10+ countries.
Last month at Unleash Rwanda 2023, I was fully sponsored to fly to Kigali, Rwanda to attend this year’s Global Conference for 7 days. A simple truth resonated deeply: “Work alone, you work fast. Work together, you work far.” This event wasn’t just a gathering; it was a vivid tapestry of over 1000 changemakers from 136 countries, each thread representing a unique perspective to invent solutions for United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A Global Melting Pot
From diplomats to digital nomads, every interaction was a lesson in the vast potential of our global village. Spanning from college students to mid-level professionals and entrepreneurs, these conversations were eye-opening, expanding our view of what’s possible.
Among over 1000 talents, I teamed with 4 people from Bosnia, Uganda, Burundi, and Liberia. Guided by a social venture building guide, we went through 5 stages: Problem framing, Ideation, Prototype, Testing, Final Pitch. After an inspiring brainstorm, we decided to explore further of a critical challenge: integrating Liberian university graduates into a competitive workforce.
This setting sparked our project, reflecting our mantra: “It’s important to have a different point of view, but more importantly, to have a view of different points.” Our diverse backgrounds fueled a unique, practical solution.
Innovation Through Collaboration
While developing potential solutions, we were stuck most of us know little about situations in Liberia. Whereas after interviewing with several Liberian people we found just at the conference, we noticed the importance of local internet cafes to university students in daily life, a hub for after-school student activity. This experience was a testament to how limited resources can spark unparalleled innovation when diverse minds come together.
Beyond a Conference
Unleash Rwanda transcended the typical conference format. It was an immersive experience, emphasizing collective wisdom and action over individual achievement, and redefining teamwork in a global context.
Events like this are catalysts for personal and professional transformation. They’re not just networking spaces but launchpads for embracing diverse perspectives and reimagining our potential.
Opportunities For Women will continue to share such transformative events to empower, inspire, and support more women in their professional journeys and personal success.. Each is an invitation to step out of our comfort zones and engage with the world in a more meaningful, collaborative way.
Check out more opportunities here!
About the Author
Miao is the founder of Opportunities for Women. She advocates for promoting Youth in Work and elevating Women’s Role in society.
Selected as a talent for Unleash 2023, she led a multinational team in developing an innovative solution to boost the employment rate of graduates in Liberia. This impactful initiative was then selected for a social venture incubator program in South Africa in January 2024.