To better leverage our on-demand training, One World also provides expert coaching and grant awards to help grassroots organizations achieve long term sustainability through transitions.

Akili Dada is using One World’s suite of services to ensure their organization can continue to help Kenyan girls become leaders in their communities. Akili Dada is an award winning leadership incubator, focused on girls and young women ages 15 to 35. One World’s online succession planning training course inspired Akili Dada to use succession planning as an opportunity to develop leadership skills across their team.

Akili Dada’s Executive Director, Joy Zawadi (pictured top right), identified her Finance and Operations Manager, Keziah Uimbia (pictured bottom), and her Head of Programs, Diana Njuguna (pictured top left), as strong successor candidates for a top leadership position. She worked with One World’s expert coach to help Diana and Keziah assess their strengths and skill gaps. When Joy went out on maternity leave, she appointed Diana and Keziah as interim leaders, providing a perfect opportunity to practice for a planned or emergency succession while receiving support from One World’s coach.

“I have seen firsthand how empowering my senior leadership to take up their space and make a meaningful impact on the organization creates a trickle-down effect, providing opportunities for their teams to take on new responsibilities and grow. This experience strengthens our belief in the leadership potential of young African women when given the right opportunities and support.” – Joy Zawadi

Akili Dada is using a Sustainability Grant from One World and expert coaching to identify strengths and skill gaps across their team and ensure they are ready for successions at all levels. They are also adding an apprentice component to their board, offering young women who have been through their leadership incubator the opportunity to serve in an advisory role, while receiving mentorship from senior board members.

The expert coach’s insistence on documenting with succession and transition planning, has been very helpful. We are working with our employees to create “a road map of their development” within the organization to assist with transitions. – Keziah Uimbia, paraphrased

Young Kenyan women are becoming skilled leaders, and organizations are building deep benches of talent to sustain them through transitions.

December 2023