Onica Mambeu, 36 years old, joined #SIGAWomen Global Mentorship Programme while completing her Masters in Sport Management and Policy development, at the Pan African University of Life and Earth Sciences, in Nigeria. She now works as a Provincial Coordinator in Manicaland for Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board.
Under the mentorship of Nomsa Mahlangu, Onica’s assessment of participation couldn’t be better, as she explained in this interview.
Learn more here. Submit your application until January 31st!
Why did you decide to participate in SIGA’s mentorship programme?
As a student studying for a sport qualification, I wanted to align myself towards the sports fraternity in my country, Africa and globally. Also, during the pandemic, I could not participate in any physical conferences, training, workshops or seminars. Hence the mentorship programme. I got the advert through a friend via WhatsApp, and I shared it with my classmates. They all applied for the programme, and the mentorship sessions we got from SIGA became more of a class routine. Even after the meetings we would discuss key takeaways from the sessions and remind others of tasks and deadlines.
What is your assessment of participation?
The participation is quite inclusive. Different speakers from all over the globe are part of SIGA, and the frequency was good. It gave me something to look forward to, especially during the pandemic when the world had changed the way of conducting business. Participating in the SIGA WOW, mentorship sessions, and group tasks was quite interactive. I didn’t really feel left out but rather grateful to be part of such a phenomenal group of women from all over.
Who was your mentor, and how was the connection between the two?
I was under the mentorship of Nomsa Mahlangu, a legendary sport administrator from South Africa, president for the Federation of the African Sports and University Sports (FASU), and director at the University of Johannesburg. I was lucky to be paired with someone from my region, the Southern African Development Community (SADC). We shared some mutual connections. I learned from her, and we still communicate even after finishing our mentorship programme. She is an amazing person.
What was the best thing the programme brought you?
My greatest takeaway from the programme was the ability to network, interact and speak amongst fellow women in Sport. Participating in sessions, in group tasks, and contributing in meaningful discussions boosted my confidence. In addition, they say your network is your net worth, and indeed I experienced it. Through my SIGA mentor, I managed to get a place to do my internship in my country. It is just amazing! She contacted her friend and colleague, Dr. E. Chidhakwa, the director of Sport in Zimbabwe, and she assisted me with an offering at one of the provincial sport offices. That is the power of networking! I know that without their assistance, it would be hard to get a place for attachment, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Do you advise other girls to enter the programmeme?
I highly recommend other young girls in Sport to be part of this programme. The topics learnt and discussed are diverse, and practical. If you are studying towards a sport qualification, there is no better platform to put your learnt concepts into practice. You learn from the best sport leaders, keep abreast of issues affecting the sport world, in particular women in Sport. SIGA has a way of just aligning you with issues that are happening in Sport globally. It became a safe place to share problems affecting women in Sport.
Do you believe this programme will help create more opportunities for women in the sports industry?
Certainly, I see more speakers coming in, organisations partnering with SIGA, universities, corporates, Non-Governmental organisations and so on. These integrations will help create synergies amongst women in the sports industry.
Did the programme change your professional life in any way?
Being a Sport teacher and school administrator for 10 years, I needed to change and to align more to the sport industry in my country. Through SIGA, I have managed to shift from education to the sport sector, which has always been my goal. Through the established networks at home, in Africa and abroad, I have created connections that are helping me propel in my career. I have also made friends with some of the fellow mentees and mentors from the programme with whom I learn from and share ideas and programmes. I would never have a chance to do if it wasn’t for SIGA. I have graduated now and look forward to more and greater opportunities ahead. I am grateful for the opportunity of being part of the SIGA family.
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Katie Simmonds, SIGA Global COO and Managing Director #SIGAWomen, invites women from all corners of the world to #StandWithSIGA and join the programme, either as a mentor or as a mentee. “It is a pleasure, passion and duty as a female in the sports industry to lead the SIGA Global Female Mentorship Programme for Aspiring Female Leaders in Sport. The high calibre of Global Mentors, from a diverse cross-section of the industry, shows that this movement is not only gaining traction but is needed. The current status quo of gender balance in the board room of sports organisations is simply not good enough. If we are to increase this, as women working in the industry, we have a responsibility to help the next generation of female leaders. Networking, exchanging valuable practical lessons and tips, as well as offering reassurance and confidence to the next in line is exactly what the programme is about. If you have smashed the glass ceiling g, take a step forward and join us!”
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Related news
SIGAWomen Global Mentorship Programme 2023/204 – Apply Now!
What makes #SIGAWomen mentors special? Find out and apply “I recommend SIGA Mentorship Programme to any woman who aspires to lead in sport” – Taylor Green “My mentor, SIGA leaders and SIGA have taken me under their wing” – Tarryn Horner “The SIGA Mentorship Programme changed my perspective on some subjects” – Inês Alves Caetano “#SIGAWomen Global Mentorship success stories include mentees gaining employment” – Katie Simmonds
Check out some confirmed Mentors and stay tuned for future announcements
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SIGA is the world´s largest coalition in the field of sport´s governance and integrity. Supported by more than 100 international multi-industry supporters, SIGA is an independent and neutral organisation whose mission is to bring about meaningful reforms and enhance the integrity of all sports through a set of universal standards operated by an independent and neutral body. SIGA is the only organisation to bring together sport, governments, academia, international organisations, sponsors, business, rights holders, NGOs and professional services companies, from every region in the world, around a common cause of fostering greater integrity throughout sport.
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