17 Students Complete ‘She Leads’ Programme
Seventeen female high school students recently celebrated their completion of the She Leads: A Real-World Readiness Programme.
A spokesperson said, “Students from BHS, The Berkeley Institute, and Warwick Academy spent a week together learning how to create meaningful, happy and successful career lives, culminating in a day of presentations on their experiences and takeaways.”
Of her experience in the programme, Y11 BHS student, Nyah Roberts, remarked, “I really enjoyed the WeSpeak Boot Camp. It helped me to feel more confident in advocating for myself. My mentors were really helpful in leading me to find my voice during the workshop. I also found the session, which focused on learning how to differentiate relationships, very interesting. Ms Matthie, Ms Paschal, and Ms Aguiar from the Family Centre were very insightful, and it’s a lesson I will carry throughout my life.”
Year 12 Warwick Academy student, Nh’Lae DeRoza, added, “I’ve learned new skills in how I can be an effective leader. I was a little shaky at the start of the programme, but my confidence grew throughout the week, and I felt myself getting more comfortable. I made some great friends and really enjoyed myself.”
The spokesperson said, “HSBC and BHS formed a partnership in 2019 to deliver She Leads: A Real World Readiness Programme, inspiring and equipping young women with the tools and frameworks to take ownership of their education, careers, and lives. She Leads was created by BHS alumna, Christie Hunter Arscott ‘01, award-winning advisor, speaker and author of the book ‘Begin Boldly: How Women Can Reimagine Risk, Embrace Uncertainty and Launch a Brilliant Career’.
“The programme was created as an extension to the ‘I Lead’ Leadership Framework, launched by BHS in 2019, to deliver the leadership framework beyond students at BHS. The week-long series of workshops and speakers is designed to cater to girls’ learning styles, focusing on empowering, inspiring, and connecting participants while teaching them the tools to navigate the challenges of the real world.”
Christyn Simons, She Leads Coordinator, stated, “She Leads provides girls with a great opportunity to be exposed to what real female leadership and empowerment looks like. The conference introduces them to women in leadership as well as to real information and experiences to help them build their own leadership journeys. It was a pleasure to be part of curating this experience for the senior school cohort, watching them open up to new people and experiences, stretch themselves, and grow with each day of the programme. The goal is for this to have been an investment in not only their individual futures, but in the future of women in leadership!”
The spokesperson said, “This year’s workshops with invited speakers included:
- ‘Mindfulness and Yoga’ – Tiffany Paynter, Treehouse
- ‘Your network is your Net Worth’ – Danielle Paynter, Founder of the NAB App, and Director of Corporate Affairs at Bacardi.
- ‘Investing 101: Teen Edition’ – Makeba Outerbridge, LOM
- ‘Building Your Resilience Toolbox’ – Rishée Paschal, Tana Matthie & Beatriz Aguiar, Family Centre
- ‘Dressing Sustainably for Success’ – Donna Smith, Orange Bay Company
- ‘Healthy Relationship’ – Gabrielle DeShields, The Coalition for the Protection of Children
- WeSpeak Boot Camp with Kayla Petty, Sarita Ebbin, Tanya Bule, Julie Butler, Georgina Francoeur, Ronisa DeFontes, Kisha Tyrrell, Devika Bourne, Natalie Chiaramonte, Lashonna Smith, Kristin Alexander, Jenna Gerardo, Dr Crystal Clay, Pat Phillip-Fairn, Christy John, Melody Parris, Norma Nielsen and Patrina Paynter.
- ‘Mind Your Manners: Etiquette Matters’ – Janita Burke, Founder of Kairos XXII Productions
- ‘HSBC Financial Literacy Workshop’ – Selita Daniels and Nicola Bromby, HSBC
- ‘Inner Strength & Pilates’ – Akilah Beckles”
Legend Stevenson, an S3 student at the Berkley Institute, said, “Overall, I learned a lot about public speaking, and it deepened my She Leads experience, as my comfort level grew. I made many new friends and learned a lot of networking and leadership techniques.”
Joy Yammine of BHS added, “We learned about finance and how to manage our finances, which was really insightful. I am on the debate team, and the public speaking session was really helpful in developing my debate skills. It was cool to meet other people from different schools, and I look forward to staying in touch with several girls”.
“We are so grateful to HSBC for funding this important real-world programme for high school students. This is an ideal age to have a significant impact on their growth and development, empowering them to invest in themselves and acquire the tools to achieve their goals. From yoga to friendship, they learned concrete strategies to use when faced with decisions, rejection, and life’s hurdles that must be overcome,” remarked Carol A. Swainson, Head of School.
Judy Doidge, HSBC Executive sponsor of the programme, added, “HSBC Bermuda is pleased to again be the Lead Sponsor of She Leads. This programme bridges the gap between the knowledge students gain in the classroom and real-world experience, which is often so vital for success. Every year we are encouraged to see the next generation find their confidence, their voice and be empowered through this programme as they finish high school and begin the next step in their journey. HSBC strives to support initiatives such as She Leads that provide members of our community with the skills and knowledge to thrive in a global economy.”
