London Day 3

“If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” — Jennifer Boussuge

The morning was packed with training on human resources and financial management, featuring Kathleen Holland’s performance management workshop and Global Ambassador Jennifer Boussuge’s top 10 elements of financial management. Special guests Andrea Sullivan and Jennifer Becker from Bank of America walked through the bank’s funding spectrum and human resources issues from a regional perspective.

It was a wake-up call for Aline Kamakian, our restauranteur mentee from Lebanon. She’s going to make some changes when she gets back to work.

“I’m going to focus on three things,” she said. “Productivity, setting an example for my employees by leaving the workplace earlier, and using key performance indicators to measure the output in my restaurants.” This change, she says, will help her track and use benchmarks for improving her business.

Branding, networking and media trainings in the afternoon provided Velma Saric with immediate takeways for her peace NGO in Sarajevo.

“The most important thing I learned about networking is how to have self confidence to approach key stakeholders, government officials and top level executives,” she said. “My self confidence in networking was something that needed to be significantly improved.”

Galina Melnikova of Russia, Velma’s mentor, is convinced she’ll get there. “This is what I have learned from her: If you really believe in what you think is right and best, go for it, and don’t think about the obstacles and barriers. You will overcome everything with your courage.”

After more one-on-one mentoring sessions the day closed with a viewing of the MAKERS documentary Once And For All by Dylan McGee and an impromptu folk guitar performance by trainer Allison Shapira.

Thursday: Women, Progress and the Global Economy streaming live 15:00-17:00 GMT. Join the conversation on Twitter at #WomenLead. 

Check out the gallery.

Join the conversation this week in London, tagging @VitalVoices and @BofA_News using the hashtag #GlobalAmbassadors.  

Above: Laura Cox Kaplan and Meryam El Ouafi 

Photography: David Hume Kennerly