“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire”. WAKE’s Tech2Empower programs removes allows us as advisors to remove our daily ways of working and to collaborate freely with other peers in data and tech and solely focus on solving for the needs of the non-profit. For the non-profit, they are able to benefit from different points of view and get to see quick outcomes in the time that we spend together. As an advisor, the experience is so enriching as it allows you to take in the local culture, to make impact in a meaningful way and to learn more about yourself and others in a very human way. In the end, the non-profits and advisors form a natural relationship given the common areas we are looking to refine, evolve and in some cases solve for them.
In late October 2018, I participated in the Tech2Empower program organized by WAKE (Women’s Alliance for Knowledge Exchange), anon-profit organization founded by Trish Tierney and Heather Ramsey. WAKE’s overall mission is to amplify the work of gender and social justice activist sand their organizations by connecting them through new networks, tools, training and resources. My cohort included women from a wide variety of well-known companies such as Google, Salesforce, VISA, Symantec, Mobile Iron, and Accenture, and one thing we all share is a passion for girls’ education and women’s entrepreneurship. It was energizing to be able to inspire and learn from each other as well as our female business owners and it was deeply meaningful to see that a holistic approach to entrepreneurship—rooted in connection to family, community, and nature—can drive powerful business outcomes and make dreams come true. Here are my three biggest take-aways:
When we all work toward the same purpose, we can do amazing things. In service of WAKE’s mission, we were broken into smaller four-person teams dedicated to a particular female entrepreneur. My team was assigned Rebeca Guadalupe, whose small business Qadosh Organicos sells organic, locally sourced granola and energy bars using the highest quality of organic ingredients to deliver better health outcomes. We could feel Rebeca’s passion from the moment we met her.Rebecca works with her sister Damaris and they were both extremely thoughtful about every aspect of their company. Rebeca started the business to support her husband’s fitness regimen and as a reaction to two health scares that occurred in 2014. Their goals are to raise awareness about nutrition as well as support their local community and economy. Qadosh is Hebrew and stands for blessings and we could feel how eternally grateful they were for the continued health they have had over the past four years.
Rebeca’s purpose became our purpose and we spent two intensive days getting to know her business and the products they create. First, we held in-depth discovery sessions and an on-site visit to a local café carrying Qadosh Organicos. On Day 2, my teammates Kate and Stephanie launched www.Qadoshorganicos.com and streamlined the branding across their social channels. Kanika—another teammate—and I developed a marketing strategy that outlined the company’s vision, mission, core values, competitive landscape, revenue goals, product summary, a SWOT grid, a from-to assessment, and a chart describing what they should start, stop and continue. Kanika created a sales action plan that was focused around how we could increase market penetration specifically in Cusco. We will continue to adviseRebeca and track her performance over time. As a united team free from any friction or constraints, we were able to make all this magic happen in just two days.
Curiosity allows us to learn from each other, honor tradition, and drive innovation. Each day of working and exploring was intense, and Antigua Casona, where all the WAKE volunteers lived, was a welcome respite. The fire pits were the hearth around which we gathered to unwind, reflect and discuss our day. We really got to know each other through deep conversations; the women spoke of a range of life accomplishments including surviving cancer (twice!), leaving abusive intimate relationships, learning to speak five languages fluently, and proving that it’s possible to study in a body cast after back surgery. Each volunteer came to openly share their views on life, family and their own personal pursuits. While we all came from prestigious companies and are accomplished, it’s the personal stories of strength and resilience that I found most impressive and inspiring.
The WAKE team did a great job of incorporating the right balance of work and fun. The fun activities really helped us explore the Cusco region, meet with the locals and bond with each other. One of the highlights was meeting a group of women creating beautifully hand-woven textiles at an NGO called Away. I have a deep affinity for any artisan who is constantly honing their craft, and these women have spent lifetimes becoming experts at a traditional craft handed down from generation to generation. I was further amazed at how they used local, natural ingredients to create gorgeous, vivid colors of rugs, scarves, shawls and blankets. There’s no manual or blueprint for the unique patterns that they weave every day, and without their work, this knowledge could be lost forever. These women are educating their communities and the world with their work, and in doing so, keeping their culture alive.
Recognizing the people who help us, all that we have, and what we can share with others One thing I’m always grateful for is delicious food—and not just because the food I ate inPeru was out of this world. Cooking for others is a way to show care, sharing a meal is a way of connecting to other people regardless of language, nationality, or background. This is one of the reasons that Antigua Casona and the gracious people who worked there will stay with me forever. Sergio andPedro Luis, who managed the restaurant, did everything they could to make us feel at home and took the time to get to know everyone personally. By the second day, they had served us wonderful food and memorized all of our names. I was struck not only by their kindness, but by the fact that their gratitude and appreciation for us inspired such a strong mutual feeling for them.
After we had finished up our volunteer work with our entrepreneur Rebeca, she and her husband Paulo invited us to their home for dinner. On that lovely evening, we met Rebeca’s mom, dad, and niece, and spoke at length about how appreciation for family and community drove the development of Qadosh Organicos. Beyond her parents, Rebeca has immense gratitude towards older generations. Aside from Qadosh, her big dream is to develop a hospice in Peru where no elderly person will ever have to die alone. Her appreciation for the support of her family, community, and our team of WAKE volunteers breeds an authentic generosity that comes through is all that Rebeca does—whether it’s her business, the beautiful homemade dinner she prepared for us, or the money she regularly gives to elderly people on the street.
In the final part of the WAKE program, we had the privilege of spending the afternoon at the Global Active Learning School, one of the most progressive private schools in the area. We were there to speak to groups of girls about our professional achievements with the goal of inspiring them to aim high for their own futures. There was one eighth grade student, Camila, whose wide-eyed enthusiasm for our presentations reminded me just how important our stories are and how lucky we are to be able to deliver them. As I spoke, I realized just how far I had come in my career and how many people supported, guided, and mentored me along the way. Sharing my knowledge and experience with these girls sparked a deeper reflection on how much I’ve benefited from the generosity of others and how grateful I am for the unexpected twists in the path to where I am now.
During this visit, I happened to meet a fellow Accenture colleague from our London office who was on sabbatical and contributing his time to this amazing school. Seeing what he was able to share with these kids thanks to Accenture made me very proud.
More than anything, this trip taught me how rewarding it is to help make someone’s dreams come true. It was even more fulfilling than I anticipated to work with a diverse group of brilliant women to support the dreams of visionary female entrepreneurs in Peru. But there’s one more wise and amazing woman whose dream came true through this trip: my mother-in-law. After the WAKE program ended, I accompanied her to Machu Picchu—a trip that has been her dream for 40 years. It was a gift to be able to share this experience with her and I will always treasure those memories. While our trip got off to a somewhat inauspicious start—we were met with unrelenting rain when we arrived—by the time we got to the mountain in the morning, the sun began to peek out and it turned into one of the sunniest and clearest days I’d seen. We experienced Machu Picchu with blue skies and felt like we were walking among the clouds—a fitting way to end this trip.
Since this trip, I participated in the Tech2Empower USA trip in 2019 + Nepal in 2023 which was a 3-year journey in the making. I am fortunate to be on the Board and 2024 is the first year for me. WAKE has continued to broaden my thinking, meet other like-minded women who have become close friends and to satisfy my desire to learn and travel.
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