Embrace the Mess!

Yale Women Give and Get Advice

Last week I attended a social event for Yale Women. Some of the twenty-five or so women had been Yale undergrads, while others had graduate degrees in law or medicine. A few were from the Yale School of Management like me. Several women had Ph.D.’s.

Two students joined us. Hiral Doshi, a junior, is the incoming vice president of the Yale Women’s Leadership Initiative. Rebecca Connelly, a senior, has been in leadership. I’m sorry I didn’t take a photo to share with you.

Our hostess invited each of us to offer advice for the two undergrads. Mine was related to my memoir – something I wished I had done: “Keep notes about your life.”

A diary or journal would have been helpful as I wrote Nigeria Revisited My Life and Loves Abroad.

One of the first women to respond said, “Embrace the mess! What happens happens.  Your long term plan will change many times.”

Another woman cleverly wrote down what we all said. I’ve asked the groups’ permission to include the whole list with their names, Yale affiliations, and class years. Pending that, here are two unattributed additional pieces of advice from alums to undergrads:

• Embrace the uncertainty of the future.  Don’t look back at options you’ve had and second guess the decisions you made.
• Things don’t always go according to your plan.  There are always many options.  Explore what you’re interested in.  Don’t be afraid to talk with people about your interests and options.

Everywhere I go I find Igbo connections! One woman medical professional told me she had been most fond of her Igbo boss, another doctor. One of the students, I believe Rebecca, has an Igbo roommate.

Part Four of Using White Privilege

I’ve shared Wiley Reading’s advice from the online magazine Everyday Feminism on using white privilege to support racial justice in the past three posts.

His advice so far: watch and record police interactions, speak to other white people, and fight voter discrimination.

The fourth is to use our economic power to support black-owned businesses and services. He says, “Lend economic support to black enterprise and patronize black businesses (not businesses that exploit and profit from black culture).”

This is not easy in mostly white suburbs like where I live – it takes commitment. He tells of one family’s quest to patronize only black-owned enterprises for a year and how difficult that was. I wonder if I could do that?

He has several links in his article to longer pieces that illustrate the challenges black businesses have faced over the past century and a half in this country.

I haven’t yet read Edward Baptist’s book The Half Has Never Been Told, but I imagine it also sheds light on the lack of black businesses.

Wiley Reading adds another way to help, “Get involved in Better Business Bureau politics and advocate for fair representation.”

Part Five comes next time.

Do you have suggestions to add?

Buhari inWashington

By the time I’m writing, Sunday afternoon Eastern Time, Nigerian President Buhari should be in or near Washington, DC, for his four-day visit. I wish I were going to the gathering with the Nigerian Diaspora in the U.S. on Tuesday.

But I wasn’t invited and I guess it’s not appropriate to just show up. And of course I’m not truly Nigerian!

I’m looking forward to reporting to you on the outcome of his visit.

Job Opportunities

I follow Zainab Usman’s blog, Zainab’s Musings. Every so often she posts fascinating employment opportunities relevant for Nigerians, other Africans, and people interested in Africa.

She just posted several. You can find them on her blog. The first is for an intern position at the UN Institute for Research and Social Development. I’ve never heard of this institute, but the UN is a labyrinth of departments, divisions, and other organizations and I’m sure I’ve never heard of most of them.

“The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) is an autonomous research institute within the UN system that undertakes multidisciplinary research and policy analysis on the social dimensions of contemporary development issues. Through our work, we aim to ensure that social equity, inclusion and justice are central to development thinking, policy and practice.

“They are interested in current graduate students or students in their final year of university. The deadline for applications is Sunday, 19 July 2015 (23:59 Central European Time). To apply, visit the UNIRSD website.”

Zainab also included this link to an initiative at the World Bank to hire Sub-Saharan Africans. The introduction says, “Employment opportunities will be in various technical areas and professional streams for talented and diverse young professionals and mid-career level professionals to contribute and grow their skills in a career in international development. . . a unique opportunity for exceptionally talented individuals with a passion for international development to contribute to solving some of the world’s most pressing problems.”

Do you know someone who could apply for one of these intriguing positions? Pass on the information!

Can You Believe?

I couldn’t resist sharing this picture that my friend Joanne Umolu posted on Facebook.

I can’t verify its truthfulness.

But I’ve seen motorcycles and motorbikes in Nigeria nearly this full!