In the second interview in our International Women’s Day series, we speak to Elizabeth Wamai, Commercial Finance and Business Development Manager in Kenya. In it, we cover Elizabeth’s journey in the industry so far, what #InspireInclusion means to her, and who the female role models are in her life.

“#InspireInclusion means valuing women’s unique contributions, amplifying their voices in male-dominated spaces, and ensuring equal access to opportunities and resources”.

I joined Inchcape in February 2022. As it was my first role in the automotive sector and I knew relatively little about cars, the learning curve was quite steep. However, a very supportive team of colleagues and managers provided the support and guidance I needed to build an understanding of the sector.

Being curious, trying to ensure I am an intentional, active student of the industry, and looking for ways to connect what I learn to my work has also helped. Since I began working at Inchcape, I have volunteered to perform tasks beyond the scope of my role, and this ensures I’m continuously gaining confidence.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is Inspire Inclusion. What does this mean to you? How can we, as individuals and organisations, foster a more inclusive environment for women?

For me, Inspire Inclusion means creating environments, policies, and ways of working that promote and encourage diversity of people and thought. We should always ask – Are we drawing on everyone’s expertise? Are important voices missing from our conversations?

It also means valuing the contributions of women and amplifying their voices, especially in very male-dominated industries. The same goes for ensuring equal access to opportunities and resources. As women, this requires working with male allies because we cannot do this alone.

Do you have any tips and strategies for balancing work and personal priorities while maintaining well-being?

My well-being is critical to ensuring I can successfully handle all the various responsibilities in my life. I am still learning. But a great strategy that helps me is identifying what things are significant to me and who I am as Liz. For example, my faith, family, health and friendships are things that I value outside of work. So, I make and protect the time required to nourish these things.

 I have embraced the power of community. I cannot do it all, so I get all the help I possibly can to ensure certain aspects of my life go smoothly. At the same time, I have greatly improved my time management and plan my days to make the most of them.

 I also make sure I take breaks. It is amazing what a walk can do for your mental health. Short or long vacations are important for me to recharge and come back refreshed. Finally, boundaries are crucial. I try my best to focus entirely on work in the office. But when I leave, I want to be fully present in whatever activity I am engaged in.

Who are some women who inspire you? Why are they inspirational?

My mother. Her wisdom, knowledge and selflessness inspire me greatly. I admire how she chased her dreams and achieved them while still creating such a wonderful and nurturing environment that enabled our family to thrive. She has also lived a life of purpose. Serving not only her family but her community, too. This has taught me to seek to live a life that is bigger than just myself. My circle of female friends also inspire me daily. They make me want to be better, build my character and focus on the things that matter. They keep me grounded.

Professionally, Indra Nooyi. I gleaned so much wisdom from her book My Life In Full. One of the things that stuck with me is the importance of resilience. Life is always shifting, and challenges inevitably come our way. Our ability to acknowledge the challenges, create coping mechanisms, be flexible, and pivot when necessary is critical. We also need to define what success means to us as individuals. We are unique. All our lives are unique. And so should our definition of success. Once we have defined what that means to us, we should passionately work towards achieving those goals.

Thank you so much to Liz for her time and inspiring thoughts on International Women’s Day and positive female role models. We will have more #InspireInclusion interviews coming up soon, so stay tuned.

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