Thread by @diaryofa9jagirl

My first boss, when I was in Oil&Gas was a woman. I hope she sees this tweet as I’ve never written about her this way before.

In honour of #InternationalWomensDay , I’m writing this for and about her.

It was 2008, I got this amazing job as a receptionist at an Oil&Gas firm.

I realised the MD of the company was female and this didn’t make me feel some type of way, I was there to do a job. So, I did my job. I told myself I’d be the best receptionist ever.

Every day, I’d watch this woman walk past the reception desk, looking expensive, and simple.

I loved it so much. She would wear a t-shirt tucked into wide pants and then adorn her neck with a tennis necklace and diamond studs. She was tall and preferred to keep her weave short. I was impressed but what impressed me most was her work ethic.

When I was allowed to,

I’d listen to her in meetings, and watched how firm she was with clients but still respectful. And at times when needed, she was playful as well -if it resulted in making her client relationships easier.

I watched everything she did and copied her.

Eventually, she noticed how hard I worked and promoted me. At every opportunity she got, she’d tell me, “Ifedayo, you can have anything you want. I promise you,anything at all. Just work hard, just continue as you’re doing, you’ll see.”

I made so many mistakes as an ops officer,

still, that never stopped her from giving me bigger tasks and trusting me with bigger assignments.

Initially, I was worried that she was piling too much on me. I later found out that that was how she also learned- She was ALLOWED to make mistakes and wasn’t condemned for them.

She trusted me as a contributor to the business and ALLOWED me to learn on the job. I saw what a woman can achieve, just by watching her. I knew I was CAPABLE of becoming even more.

When I left the company, her words never left me, “you can have anything you want, you’ll see…”

Oil&Gas was dominated by men. However, she made me realise that you’re a human in business, not a gender.

Aside from my mama, Mrs. Gladys Amaefule was the first woman that cleared the path for me.

There’s a special place in heaven for women who show other women HOW to do it.

Tag the woman who cleared the path for you in your career.

Today, we celebrate them.

Happy International Women’s Day.

❤️❤️❤️

#DANG