Becoming a high-performing woman in the 21st century requires a blend of personal growth, professional excellence, and emotional intelligence.
This was the submission of Mrs Yemisi Rotimi, CFO, of Leadway Assurance Co. Limited while addressing women as a guest speaker at the 9th anniversary of the Women Without Border International Foundation (WWBIF), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), with the theme ‘Becoming a high-performing woman in the 21st century’ in Lagos.
Mrs Rotimi opined that the 21st century has ushered in unprecedented opportunities for women across the globe, from breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated industries to taking leadership positions in government, business, and society, women are increasingly making their mark in all spheres of life.
However, according to her, while progress is being made, the journey toward becoming a high-performing woman in today’s world remains complex.

Mrs. Rotimi added that high-performing women must strive to excel across all facets, maintaining balance and resilience while pushing boundaries and breaking barriers.
She also highlighted key traits of self-awareness, resilience, continuous learning, and goal-setting as contributing factors to a holistic approach to high performance.
Speaking further on strategies to engage in for becoming a high-performing woman in the 21st Century 1 to include: “developing a growth mindset, setting clear, measurable goals, prioritising health and well-being, networking and mentorship, embracing failure as part of success, and cultivating self-compassion.
She explained further: “Women with a growth mindset embrace challenges, learn from criticism, and are not afraid to make mistakes.
“A high-performing woman knows exactly what she wants to achieve and sets clear, actionable goals to get there. These goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
“High-performing women recognize that their physical and mental well-being are crucial to their success. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and mental relaxation are fundamental to maintaining high performance.
“Building a strong network of supportive individuals is one of the most effective ways to grow professionally.
“Women who perform at high levels understand that failure is an inevitable part of the journey.
“The pursuit of excellence should not come at the expense of personal well-being or happiness. High-performing women are kind to themselves, recognising their achievements while also giving themselves the grace to rest and recharge when needed.

Earlier in her welcome address, Mrs Yemi Idowu, WWBIF convener stated that the foundation, which is an ethical non-profit organisation, was established with a mission to build women’s intrapreneurial/entrepreneurial capacity, as well as engineer new neural pathways for women in today’s fast-paced business community.

The foundation also as it’s a vision to build both mental and emotional fortress for women via the creation of a knowledge-driven playing ground that viciously attacks the dysfunctionality and conventional reasoning that plagues women in our world.
According to Idowu, “WWBIF’s passion is to build a community of women who are confident in their capability and deliverables, who are willing to develop the ability to generate their own money in their chosen career and or business and attain financial stability and independence that will enable and empower them to look forward to a future devoid of worry and anxiety.
“We are out to reinforce the values of today’s woman through faith, family, finance and future; and this is intending to create the future we desire,” she said.
Highlighting the achievements of the NGO so far, she revealed that the foundation has built a community of women who support one another to grow in all areas.
“We have seen women filled with the hopelessness of their situation becoming a beacon of light to others, sharing the inspiration that delivered them into a world of endless possibilities and opportunities. Lifelong relationships have been formed in nine years, building among us, a strong cord of love and camaraderie.
She also pointed out that a network of business opportunities is built for women to advertise their products and services on the platform and that they connect with other women for business collaborations, mentoring and support provision.

All the women present went home with goodie bags containing products from sponsor including Nature Gentle Touch and Fresher’s Foods Ventures. While the anniversary cake was supplied by Cake Slices Bakeshop & Academy.