Mexico Day 1

The first day of the Global Ambassadors Program mentoring forum in Mexico City opened with a morning strategic planning and human resources management session for mentees only led by trainer Kathleen Holland.

The workshop focused on evaluating a range of strategic planning elements — from identifying business focus and performance analysis, to envisioning goals for growth and building key actions plans to meet objectives and track results.

Reporting back to the full group after breakout discussions, mentee Grace Foster-Reid (pictured at top) highlighted the power of involving the right employees in business planning.

“I make honey in Jamaica. In planning, I involve even the people who do the mundane everyday tasks. From the person who makes the honey sticks all day, who has a special skill, to the people selling our honey in the stores. They relate to customers in ways that I can’t.”

In the lead-up to the trip, mentees participated in a number of training webinars facilitated by Vital Voices to polish their business plans and leadership skills. This first day was designed to build on that learning and to fully prepare mentees to make the most of the week with their mentors, beginning a solid foundation for ongoing collaboration after Mexico City.

While the first half of the day was dedicated to business growth planning for mentees, the second half focused on communications and media skills they need both to market their businesses and to articulate the importance of mentoring and women’s leadership in expanding women’s economic opportunities in the region.

Vital Voices creative director Aaron Kisner led a workshop on storytelling and a local public relations team worked with the group on strategies and tips for managing effective, persuasive media interviews.

Global Ambassadors convened separately today for their own orientation, and all expressed a strong desire to learn as much from their mentees as they have to share.

“We should provide role models for younger women,” said Gema Moreno, a Global Ambassador and partner at Deloitte Mexico. “I will learn a lot from these energetic, enthusiastic women.”

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Photo at top: Micky Wiswedel