Leaders Coaching Leaders

Feb. 17, 2009 – “I am the only woman in a faculty of males at the university where I work,” shared Amal Daghestani of Jordan (pictured right) during the CEDPA Alumni Coaching workshop held last week in Washington, D.C. She is not alone.

It is common for women, especially from developing countries, to be the first women in their departments in leadership positions. According to a World Bank survey, there are 26 men for every woman in senior management positions in sub-Saharan Africa and 62 men for every woman in East Asia and the Pacific.

Women who overcome the obstacles and attain positions of leadership find they are often at a disadvantage because they lack role models to provide advice and guidance.

For more than two years, CEDPA has paired seasoned women leaders from its cadre of more than 5,200 alumni with recent CEDPA graduates through its innovative Alumni Coaching Program. These coaches, who are experts in their fields, are trained to provide guidance and advice to the new alumni, helping them to reach their personal and professional goals.

Sinforosa Ada and Miranda de Jesus were part of the first Spanish language coaching workshop held during the same week at CEDPA headquarters.

CEDPA’s coaching model is unique for women leaders in development organizations in that it recognizes the potential impact of a neutral resource outside of one’s organization for professional growth during periods of prosperity, as well as during challenging times.

Amal joined the CEDPA Alumni Coaching Program because she wanted to use her experience and wisdom to help other women leaders succeed. She was joined in the workshop by 24 equally courageous and generous women leaders from 15 distinct countries around the world including Angola, Brazil, Equatorial Guinea and Pakistan.

The workshop prepared these women for the different coaching scenarios they may face by instructing them in the use of proper coaching techniques such as dealing with cultural considerations, using non-verbal cues and providing supportive communication.

During the workshop, the coaches also completed an inventory to determine their personal coaching style. The information the inventory revealed is crucial to understanding how their actions and reactions can affect their relationships with their clients. The coaches learned that sometimes an asset in their own professional life may be an impediment in a coaching session.

“I realized that maybe I don’t need to be so thorough,” explained Amal after taking the coaching style inventory. Her thoroughness, which has always been an asset to her in her professional life at the university, could be an impediment during a coaching session. Coaches often are asked to suggest options or solutions for situations, but trying to list every option may be overwhelming to a client and to the coach.

Armed with the tools and techniques learned in the workshop and the CEDPA Coaching Handbook providing CoachAids and other advice that will help them during their year-long coaching commitment, Amal and the other new coaches will join CEDPA in supporting the continued learning and growth opportunities for alumni and the promotion of meaningful interactions among women leaders around the world.

Learn more about CEDPA’s Alumni Coaching program and other workshops.

  What is RSS?