Month: September 2024

In today’s interconnected world, the magic of collaboration has become more apparent than ever. The most significant societal challenges we face today, including healthcare disparities, require collective action. When individuals and organizations join forces, fuelled by a shared vision and a common goal, the possibilities for positive change are limitless.

Collaborations closing healthcare disparities in underserved communities

Naom Monari is the Founder and CEO of Bena Care, a company that offers low-cost care giving services for chronically ill patients in Kenyan communities. In a unique approach, Bena Care also trains women caregivers in rural Kenya further reducing the burden of cost on the familes of patients, improving the healthcare of patients while creating a stream of income for the women.

Collaborations fuel the mission for Bena Care as it allows them to provide a wide range of services without building new products or services from scratch. Naom explains “Partnerships and collaborations are one of the easiest ways we provide services and make them available to patients.” From training organizations to equipment providers and tele-consultation platforms, they have leveraged the strengths of various partners to deliver the best possible care to patients.

One such successful collaboration for Bena Care is with the Jomo Kenyatta University in Kenya. This unlikely partnership between a startup and academia led to a study on chronic kidney disease in a local county. Findings from this research have also led to the launch of mobile dialysis facilities for patients in remote areas of Kenya.

Changemakers making a difference through strategic collaboration 

Another changemaker who understands the power of collaborations is Zubaida Bai, President and CEO of Grameen Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending poverty through their ‘Invest in HER Power’ strategy. This model aims to provide the framework needed to ensure women can leave poverty forever by first breaking down gender and power imbalances at home and in their communities.

For Zubaida and the foundation, collaboration spans all levels, including the family unit. She states, “This involves engaging men as allies, training them to support the women in their lives, and advocating for financial institutions to treat women fairly.” It also means ensuring that women have the skills and support they need to succeed as entrepreneurs and leaders in their communities.

As a mechanical engineer turned social entrepreneur, she has spent her career developing products and systems that uplift women and address gender inequality with collaboration at the center. “By transforming systems for women together, we ultimately create better opportunities for everyone”, Zubaida concludes.

Connecting to amplify social impact

It is evident that alliances can significantly improve outcomes in the realm of social impact as shared by these changemakers. Our lighthouse initiative, Making More Health (MMH, see infobox), builds upon on this approach.

“Collaboration is an indispensable tool for building sustainable social entrepreneurial ecosystems”, says Dr. Christopher Imbaya, Senior Manager, MMH. “Through collaboration, we created our social business incubator program supporting early-stage social start-ups in Sub-Saharan Africa to increase our impact in underserved communities”.

With their innovative solutions and passion for change, how then do we bring together these changemakers and others like them to amplify their impact?

Enter Making More Health Together! The convention brings together diverse stakeholders invested in creating sustainable social impact. In doing so, it provides a platform for networking, knowledge exchange and creation of potential solutions, while opening opportunities for multi-sectoral collaboration.

Zubaida affirms this. “I believe that places like this which are intentionally orchestrated to get the right audience in place are spaces to have healthy discussions that plant the seeds for systemic change”.

For Naom who has attended previous editions, Making More Health Together presents a great opportunity to collaborate and learn from other entrepreneurs. “The biggest selling point for MMH Together is the collaboration that they pioneer. Every time we go to the convention, there’s such a big opportunity to connect with other social entrepreneurs and organizations around the space’’.

She adds, “we learn a lot from the entrepreneurs we meet there. There is an opportunity to get a glimpse of how other companies within the space operate and you can adopt the best practices. We’ve also learnt how to effectively fund raise as women founders. It makes your road to success shorter.”

Increasing social impact through collective action

The work of Naom and Zubaida through their respective organizations, serves as a powerful example of the impact of collaboration. It shows the power of collective action and calls each one of us to become changemakers in our own right.

Remember, when we collaborate, we’re not just solving problems, we’re also shaping a better world – one shared goal at a time. Are you ready to be part of creating sustainable solutions for pressing social challenges?

Then make sure to register for Making More Health Together 2024 – coming to Ingelheim soon!

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Making More Health Together is an annual global event that brings together like-minded people like Naom Monari and Zubaida Bai working together to achieve sustainable social impact. 

The convention is organized by Making More Health (MMH), one of our flagship initiatives aimed at creating healthy, inclusive, and sustainable communities around the world. 

MMH, a Boehringer Ingelheim initiative, began in 2010 as a partnership with the social entrepreneur network Ashoka. Since then, it has evolved into a many-faceted program, which is continuously forging new partnerships and developing innovative models to amplify social impact and improve healthcare in underserved communities. It focuses on equitable health and addresses issues like food deserts. MMH supports social businesses through grants and impact investments, providing them with the resources they need to scale their operations and reach more people. 

Explore Imagine: our sustainability story hub to know more.

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Originally published on GoDaddy Resource Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey here at GoDaddy.

Hey There, I am Jolie Gayles, a Technical Program Manager here at GoDaddy. I began my professional journey with GoDaddy in 2006, during which I was also pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Arizona State University. My initial role was a Quality Assurance Intern, where I was involved in testing and ensuring the quality of our virtual and dedicated hosting products. This position provided me with foundational experience in both quality assurance practices and the specifics of our hosting solutions.

Upon completing my degree, I transitioned into a full-time role as a C# Developer within our Internal Tools team. This position allowed me to leverage my programming skills to contribute to the development and enhancement of tools critical to our operations. My technical expertise and problem-solving abilities were honed during this period, leading to my progression into software development management.

In my management role, I focused on overseeing development projects, for our Legal and Cyber Security teams. My experience in this role deepened my understanding of both technical and managerial aspects of software development.

Currently, I am a Technical Program Manager, where I am responsible for leading cross-functional teams and managing complex technical projects. This role involves strategic planning, stakeholder communication, and ensuring that projects align with organizational goals and deliver value.

How have your past experiences prepared you for where you are today in your career?

Starting my career as a Software Engineer provided me with a solid technical foundation and honed my problem-solving abilities. This experience enables me to effectively communicate with engineering teams, grasp the technical challenges they encounter, and make well-informed decisions that balance technical feasibility with project objectives. Additionally, my role as a Software Development Manager deepened my understanding of the entire development process and refined my skills in coordinating large projects across multiple teams, ensuring seamless collaboration and alignment toward shared goals.

What has been one of your proudest moments at GoDaddy?

During my 18 years here, I’ve had the privilege of experiencing several memorable moments. One standout experience was joining our CEO at the time, Blake Irving, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at our Tempe office via GO Cart. I’ve also had the opportunity to organize and participate in various check-in events across the country for our holiday parties. Additionally, I’ve had the honor of speaking and mentoring at Stanford University as part of their Women in Computer Science program. These experiences have been incredibly rewarding and have created lasting memories during my time at GoDaddy.

What advice would you give to an individual who is interested in a career in Program Management?

Before formally stepping into the role of Program Manager, I earned my PMI (Project Management Institute) Certification. This certification was instrumental in breaking down the various responsibilities of a Project Manager and understanding how to execute them efficiently. It also underscored the importance of strong communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills, which are all crucial for success in this role.

Can you share the biggest learning you’ve ever received from a mentor or leader?

The best advice I received was from a previous leader, who always emphasized the power of being nice to people. While this may seem obvious, it has always served me well to treat my coworkers with kindness and respect and I think a lot of what helps me be successful.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I live passionately and embrace every opportunity to explore the world. I love traveling and make it a priority to hop on a plane and visit new destinations, especially those with stunning blue waters and white sandy beaches. I also have a deep appreciation for live music and enjoy attending various music festivals. Additionally, I’m a huge sports fan and love watching almost any sport, especially football… Go Cardinals! Also, anything I can do with my two-year old yellow lab, Penelope, as she is my favorite.

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