Skip to main content

Tag: catalysts of change

I cannot do it alone

Written by Julian Bañuelos-Uribe on . Posted in Blogs.

On October 4, 2023, CIMMYT continued its online seminar series — Catalysts of Change: Women Leaders in Science. The event featured a talk by Esther Ngumbi, an entomologist and academic at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

A riverside farm

Born into a small, rural community on the Kenyan coast, Esther Ngumbi grew up farming alongside her family. “I enjoyed the process of growing crops because I knew at the end of the season, we would have extra food for ourselves,” she explained. By the age of seven she decided she wanted to go it alone, and her father provided a small strip of land by the river, where she took to growing vegetables.

“Every morning I would sit there and just enjoy looking at this thriving cabbage patch I had,” she says. “And then one day the rains came. It rained for three days, the field flooded, and by the time the water receded I had lost my cabbages. The joy that had built was gone.”

“But this heartbreak continued,” she added. “Halfway through the season I would watch all our hard work go to waste.” Along came insects, drought, or flooding—all the stresses associated with climate change—and for her family it would mean no food. Ngumbi soon realized that this was not limited to her family’s farm: her neighbors, community, county, and country were all impacted by these challenges, leading to widespread food insecurity.

Feeding curiosity

“As a girl I was very curious,” said Ngumbi. “How do these insect pests find our crops? And when they find them, why aren’t our crops resilient enough to overcome these stresses? Little did I know that this curiosity would lead me into what my career is today: an entomologist.”

“But growing up in a rural village there were no role models; there were no scientists. There were no people I could look up to and be inspired to know that you could make a career out of entomology or that you could be a woman in science.”

Despite initially considering a career in accountancy, Ngumbi ended up studying for a BSc in biochemistry and zoology at Kenyatta University, where she immediately fell in love with practical research. “Stepping into the lab was such an exciting day for me,” she recalled. “I had so many questions, and I remember not wanting to leave because I wanted to answer all the questions I had grown up with.”

Later, extra-curricular experience at a local research center would feed her interest in entomology. The scientists she ended up working with ran a biological control program to assess how maize is impacted by lepidoptera pests, and the natural biological control agents that could be used to combat these. “How do plants communicate and call for help? Through releasing a chemical. I discovered that there is a wave of communication happening between our food crops and the community of organisms that associate with plants.”

Eager to learn more, Ngumbi went on to pursue an MSc before joining a Ph.D. program at Auburn University in Alabama, USA. “My parents had always told me that education is the gateway out of poverty, and they consistently encouraged me to go to the highest level. I knew I had to go to the top.”

At Auburn she had the opportunity to delve deeper into how plants defend themselves, and her successful research into beneficial soil microbes led to at least three U.S. patents. Following a few post-doctoral positions, she landed a role at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she currently works as an assistant professor in the Departments of Entomology and African American Studies.

Bringing others along

Ngumbi credits mentorship with getting her to where she is today. “At Kenyatta University my teachers saw a spark in me; I was curious and wanted to find answers. Mentors introduced me to scientists the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), so I could carry out experiments beyond what we were doing as part of my course.”

She recalled walking across the stage during her Ph.D. graduation ceremony, a key moment of reflection. “It was real that there were very few women like me in science. That I was only one of the many women I had grown up with that was privileged to have a PhD. And I wanted not to be the only person,” she said. “I wanted to make sure that I would leave open the same door I had walked through. That I would do my best to bring other women along.”

“I would step up to be a mentor. Step up to encourage other women. Step up to encourage other children from rural communities to say: you can do it, you can dream, you can follow your passions, you can be a scientist.”

With this in mind, Ngumbi ensures she collaborates with others in all areas of her research, incorporating young researchers into her labs and working directly with farmers. “I’m committed to ensuring that farmers who work so hard — especially smallholders — can grow crops and see all their hard work pay off.”

“I will continue to follow this journey of finding solutions to feed our growing planet, but I know that I cannot do it alone. We need all of us,” she added. “We still have very few women scientists — UNESCO estimates around 30% — and I hope that by the time I’m done with my career that number changes. But it’s going to depend on all of us.”

Ngumbi’s talk was followed by a Question and Answer led by Olivia Odiyo, a CIMMYT research associate based in Nairobi. The full discussion can be viewed online here. Spanish and French-language audio is also available.

Say yes, and figure out what gives you energy

Written by Julian Bañuelos-Uribe on . Posted in News.

CIMMYT hosted the 6th instalment of its online seminar series — Catalysts of Change: Women Leaders in Science — featuring Diane Holdorf, executive vice president and a member of the Senior Management Team at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Drawing on varied experiences from a diverse career in sustainability, Holdorf used her talk to emphasize the importance of saying ‘yes’ in the face of big changes, identifying what energizes you, being present at home and at work, and supporting others to succeed with their objectives.

Translating science

As the daughter of a geologist, Holdorf spent much of her childhood outside looking at rocks, an experience she credits with giving her an affinity for nature. “I found it was a way that really connected me and grounded me in my surroundings. What are we looking at? What are we looking for? What’s in the patterns and shapes of what we see?”

Holdorf talks about her childhood. (Photo: CIMMYT)

After deciding that she didn’t want to go into science, Holdorf opted to study public communications at university and was promptly recruited by an advertising agency upon graduating. “It was the first time that something big came up where I just said: ‘Yes. Yes, I’ll try it. Why not?’ And that theme of saying yes in the face of these big changes is one that’s proven to be incredibly helpful.”

However, having moved halfway across the country for the job, Holdorf quickly found that she disliked the role. “It was a really important lesson in learning what I didn’t value and what I didn’t want to do,” she said. “That came really early in my career, the idea that I needed to be way clearer in my convictions. What matters to me? What do I want to be working in? And that led me to go into environmental consulting.”

“Maybe not an obvious path, but my dad had been an environmental consultant,” she explained. “So, in some ways I’d fallen back into something that was a bit familiar, but that I could make my own.”

In this new role, Holdorf found she could put her communications skills to use in a way she found energizing, translating scientific and technical solutions into words that clients could understand or that project managers could frame and create workplans around. “Without realizing it, it grew into this role of being the translator between ‘what does the science and engineering tell us’ and ‘what are the business solutions that we need to use that information to solve for.’”

“I’ve learned that what really drives me and what gives me the most energy is working together with people to create the biggest impact and change we possibly can,” she explained. “What motivates me the most is trying to drive action on these extremely urgent challenges of climate, nature, equity, and in our food systems.”

Helping others succeed

“Leading with clear objectives and clear boundaries is really important,” said Holdorf. “And I don’t mean that in a rigid way. I mean knowing what I can accept when engaging with others, and what I will not go past. What areas of acceptance are needed for my integrity in a role.”

She noted that one of the things that has been particularly useful throughout her career — especially during the first 15 years, when she was often the only woman in the room — are the male colleagues who stood up for her, coached her and provided feedback on her work.

Pauline Muindi and Diane Holdorf engage in a conversation on women in leadership. (Photo: CIMMYT)

“And I listened hard,” she explained. “I asked for that feedback and really worked to incorporate it because I could tell that what they were telling me was meant to help make my role easier. That was a hugely valuable lesson because it taught me that if it was that important for me, it meant that I could in fact play that same role for others.”

As a result, she now encourages not only learning how to seek out mentorship, but also reflecting at every stage of a career, identifying opportunities to mentor others, and creating a stream of development and gift-giving.

“How do we ensure that our work helps others to succeed?” she asked. “Because often when we’re working in these spaces, we can only achieve our objectives by leading with and influencing others. It’s not very often that we have full control. But learning how our work can help others deliver on the goals that they’ve been tasked with actually creates totally different types of breakthroughs.”

Holdorf’s presentation was followed by a Q&A session led by Pauline Muindi, research support specialist at CIMMYT.

Show that you can thrive and excel in all environments

Written by Julian Bañuelos-Uribe on . Posted in News.

On August 29, CIMMYT held the latest installment of its seminar series on women’s leadership—Catalysts of Change: Women Leaders in Science. The online event featured a presentation from Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, an animal scientist by training, who has previously worked as policy advisor for numerous African governments and global institutions and currently serves as chair of the CGIAR System Board.

In her opening talk, Sibanda outlined the many and varied roles she has held throughout her career, including professor, farmer, and business owner. Discussing her early education in a segregated colonial Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia), her time as an undergraduate student in Egypt, or the challenge of starting a family alongside developing her career, Sibanda was keen to highlight the lessons learned at each stage of life and emphasized the importance of creating cross-cultural friendships, nurturing professional networks, establishing priorities, and promoting continuous learning.

A learning spirit

Sibanda has over 15 years of experience working as a governor at national, regional, and international levels, but it took some time to initially build her confidence in the role. She recalled feeling daunted during her very first meetings because she had not been trained, but her learning spirit helped carry her through. “I always looked around the room and chose my mentors—based on something I liked about their values—something I liked about the way they asked questions, or something I liked about their demeanor and how they engaged with others—and I started learning.”

This approach has garnered her a large circle of mentors—and friends—and having served on more than 12 different boards she now feels this is a space that she enjoys, particularly as there are still opportunities for learning. “I think it’s the spirit of continuous thirst for knowledge, for new information, that has kept me going.”

“And it’s all about integrity,” she added. “What people see in me is what they get. I’ve never had to be fake. What I know, I make sure I know very well. What I don’t know, I’m not shy to say I don’t know.”

Convince each other that it can be done

Having unpacked her life as a scholar, mother, working professional, and governor, Sibanda explained that her current focus is on giving back. For her, supporting the next generation of women in the workplace is a key part of leadership. She cited Graça Machel and Mama Mary Robinson as inspirations, both for their work ethic and their ability to connect with people at different levels. “But most importantly, they give it to other women,” she said. “They love mentoring girls and other women.”

In her own experience, some of the major obstacles she faces as a woman, a farmer, and an African are the specific biases associated with each of those three things. “Women need to be helped, they are disadvantaged; farmers are poor, especially if they come from Africa; and mothers need to spend more time at home and not be globetrotting to meetings.” To counter these biases, she explained, it is important to show that you can thrive and excel in all environments. “It’s not about either or, it’s about showing we can do it, regardless of the circumstances.”

“Women are natural agents of change, and all they need is a conducive environment. As women, we should be spending more time with other women, making sure we share our stories, our successes, and our struggles. The whole idea is to convince each other that it can be done.”

Sibanda’s presentation was followed by a Q&A session led by Ana Luisa Garcia Rivera, senior regional genotyping coordinator at CIMMYT. Watch the recorded session below.

Women leaders in science: reaching out to break through

Written by Julian Bañuelos-Uribe on . Posted in News.

On August 15, 2023, CIMMYT organized the third series of the Catalysts of Change: Women Leaders in Science virtual seminar for a conversation on advancing women’s leadership in science, showcasing a wealth of power-packed insights and success stories.

Featuring Catherine Bertini, an accomplished leader in international organization reform and a powerful advocate for women and girls, the TED talk meets fireside chat style seminar began with a pre-recorded message from Catherine highlighting how women as catalysts of change can play an essential role in breaking through gender barriers in leadership roles. “Each of us must define for ourselves what’s important to us. We should assume opportunities to lead and to improve. We need to reach out, look forward and say, I’m going to make a difference. We can all be a catalyst for change,” stated Catherine, the 2003 World Food Prize laureate.

CIMMYT Director General Bram Govaerts highlighted the importance of recognizing the immeasurable contributions of women leaders in science. “We want more women leaders in organizations like CIMMYT. Through the recently launched CIMMYT 2030 Strategy, we are taking one step further in ensuring that gender equality isn’t just a concept but a reality, he reiterated. “The CIMMYT 2030 Strategy leverages a systems approach to overcome barriers to achieving gender equity by providing more opportunities to hear and learn from current women leaders in all capacities,” explained Govaerts.

“Girls can do anything,” Catherine set the scene for her presentation, showcasing personal stories based on her remarkable career and leadership journey. She detailed her distinguished career of improving the efficiency and operations of organizations serving poor and hungry people around the world. Sharing behind-the-scenes insights and actionable takeaways, Catherine wanted participants to walk away remembering, “here are some of the things that I have learned that I’d like to share with you today: engage in meaningful networking opportunities; be intentional about the impacts you want to create; understand your own tolerance level; be grounded in your principles, and champion inclusive leadership by mentoring others.”

Natalia Palacios, a member of the Woman in Science group at CIMMYT, interviewed Catherine. “Catherine’s contributions have been instrumental in enhancing food security, nutrition, and gender equality. Her advocacy has shed light on the crucial roles that women play in food production, family nutrition and community resilience—areas that are aligned with CIMMYT’s mission,” said Natalia. Responding to Natalia’s question on proud moments, Catherine talked about the Trust Fund she created with her World Food Prize to support programs that increased opportunities for girls and women to attend school. “I created the Catherine Bertini Trust Fund for Girls’ Education. There are some wonderful stories of support we’ve given. I learned that nobody should underestimate their potential to be a role model,” she added.

Catherine also addressed questions from session participants on how to build inclusive organizations through a learning culture; tips to help employees adapt to new technology in the age of artificial intelligence (AI); and approaches to manage culture change: how to find the balance and address tensions and trade-offs.

The third session ended with closing remarks from Bram who expressed his gratitude to Catherine for participating in the Catalysts of Change Seminar Series, highlighting her incredible leadership journey and unwavering passion in accelerating the advancement of women in leadership. “This was such an inspiring conversation. There are two take home messages for me: let us appreciate the contributions of those who came before us; and we need more dialogue and to listen to each other much more,” he concluded, underscoring CIMMYT’s commitment to changing the leadership equation through greater representation of women leaders at CIMMYT and CGIAR.

To learn more about Catalysts of Change: Women Leaders in Science, click here to watch the seminar video or visit our website.

Closing the gender leadership gap: The power of women role models

Written by Julian Bañuelos-Uribe on . Posted in News.

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) hosted the first seminar of Catalysts of Change: Women Leaders in Science, on July 4, 2023. This exciting seminar series, which supports women’s empowerment, features inspiring women leaders who share their expertise and perspectives on today’s women leadership styles, extending insights into their own leadership journey, and shedding light on the extraordinary impact of women leadership transforming today’s leadership through their critical roles as catalysts of change.

Moderated by Isabel Peña, this first seminar featured Yvonne Ochoa Rosellini, a distinguished business strategy and finance expert who has advised CEOs of public and private companies in Mexico, the U.S., Argentina, and Spain in a wide range of sectors ranging from finance to biotechnology and agriculture.

Yvonne spoke on CIMMYT’s legacy of enhancing global peace and food security (Photo: CIMMYT)

CIMMYT Director General Bram Govaerts delivered the opening remarks and set the stage for the interactive TED style seminar series—highlighting the importance of recognizing the benefits of gender, diversity, and inclusion to further economic, social, and political progress for all—catalyzing the power of women in leadership and decision-making roles as powerful catalysts of change. It is clear that still a lot of work needs to be done to address the problem for women in science organizations as recently described in a Nature Careers Opinion Piece. This seminar series sought to connect people of all genders to be inspired to make a difference through advancing culture change toward greater gender equity, finding common ground in overcoming challenges, lingering gender-based obstacles, and showcasing role models to foster and accelerate women leaders’ transformation as catalysts of change.

Through TED talk style conference, Yvonne, an inspiring woman leader and a catalyst of change, who has attained various accolades throughout her outstanding career, shared engaging insights from her personal leadership journey and elaborated on the incredible experience as a catalyst of change in various industries. “To be the catalyst of change in our work and personal environments, responding eloquently to life instead of reacting to it. When we cease defining ourselves by what we do and live with ourselves as who we are, both at home and at work, we will live a personal singularity of sorts, only to become the leaders we wish to be. Because when we are true and upstanding to ourselves, others believe, care and ultimately will follow us,” she said. Yvonne emphasized the importance of what it means to be a true catalyst of change and shared reflections and perspectives on driving impactful change in today’s scientific community and mentoring people in organizations to be those critical catalysts.

Yvonne Ochoa Rosellini and Aparna Das discussed the vital elements of implementing holistic and successful diversity and inclusion programs (Photo: CIMMYT)

Next, Aparna Das, a prominent advocate for gender equality in the scientific community, interviewed Yvonne in a fire-side chat. The intensively engaging session discussed Yvonne’s inspiring experiences of becoming a woman leader in science. Aparna and Yvonne explored the challenges, prejudices, and hurdles faced by women leaders, the expectations that society places upon them, and shared valuable insights into how women leaders today can successfully negotiate work-life challenges while pursuing their career goals.

Following Yvonne’s thoughts, participants on the seminar actively participated in the Q&A session and asked questions about the role of leaders and organizations in providing support and opportunities to young women leaders when transitioning to the future. “Building a gender-balanced organization is really opening up to these conversations of career. Companies that have been most successful at getting women to participate are the companies that are thoughtful about not only policies to integrate women [into leadership and decision-making roles] but how we’re supporting people at work and the needs for work-life balance,” said Yvonne. She provided great insights on how these challenges could be overcome to advance women leaders––who continue to be vastly under-represented in decision making in all spheres: in the workplace, businesses, and communities––to positions of greater leadership.

The inspiring first session concluded with a power message from Yvonne addressing the importance of creating the space and time for reflection, learning to effectively advocate for personal goals and needs, and leveraging strengths to tap into the right resources. The time has come for women leaders to remain strategic, to empower themselves, to rise above the challenges and barriers to women leadership, and to push forward in building equitable and thriving work environments by embracing themselves as catalysts of change.

Wrapping up the seminar, CIMMYT Director General Bram Govaerts thanked Yvonne for sharing her inspiring leadership journey as well as her continued dedication to change. “As we learn by doing, as individuals, as teams, and as organizations, to do the right thing, this conversation really inspired us. With this we also kick off our Catalysts of Change seminar series with over 200 participants and this is just a start. We need to listen and lead by example to allow us to be catalysts of change to resolve tomorrow’s problems today” he added. Thus, foregrounding strategic moves in the learning journey to empower organizations such as CIMMYT to support the work of changemakers like Yvonne and Aparna and the communities they impact.

To learn more about Catalysts of Change: Women Leaders in Science, click here to watch the seminar video on our YouTube channel or visit our website.