In this intimate reflection, Ambassador Raychelle Omamo responds to a powerful letter from a young listener grappling with fear and self-doubt. She explores how fear shapes the journey of women in leadership—how it whispers, delays, protects, and sometimes propels.

Drawing from her own path and the stories of remarkable African women featured on the Power Panel, Ambassador Omamo reflects on how fear can be transformed into courage, clarity, and strength.

Quoted In This Episode: “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face… I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough.” – Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

“There is no way but through it, there is no choice but forward.” – Maaza Mengiste

“You may not be able to control the waves, but you can learn how to surf.” – Susan Jeffers

“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” – Audre Lorde

Music and sound effects courtesy of Epidemic Sounds and Pond5

Sound Engineer: Tevin Sudi

Researcher: Peggy Kalie

Social Media Manager: Lucas Ngao

Administrator: Sombo Olende

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Subscribe for more reflections, powerful conversations, and stories that shape Africa’s next generation of women leaders. Listen. Reflect. Reclaim your courage.

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Tatu Gatere, co-founder of Buildher, returns to dive deeper into what it truly means to build with purpose. From challenging "hustler culture" to redefining what expertise looks like in construction, Tatu shares her insights on innovation, leadership, and the cost of driving change. She unpacks the journey of creating Buildher as a community-driven solution, the surprises she's encountered working with women in construction, and the urgent need to advocate for safety and dignity on every worksite. We also explore what it takes to lead with vision — balancing discomfort, passion, and collective action.

Music:

Kora Melodies Afrobeat theme - courtesy of pond5.com

Echoes Sahara - courtesy of pond5.com

This is ECHOES. This is The Power Panel Podcast.

Sound Engineer: Tevin Sudi

Researcher: Peggy Kalie

Social Media Manager: Lucas Ngao

Administrator: Sombo Olende

Tatu Gatere is more than an architect —she is a social entrepreneur and a pioneer in a movement seeking to fundamentally alter the status of women in the construction industry, from the bottom to the top. In this episode, she shares how she's challenging gender norms and unlocking people’s power to drive a new kind of architecture that fortifies communities and advances social justice. If you've ever felt that women can lead change in amazing ways, this is one for you