Gutsy Experience 1.0 Recap - The Gutsy Woman Network

Gutsy Experience 1.0 was a blast, and we are reliving every moment of that day. Organized by The Gutsy Woman Network and hosted by the incredible Odera Collins, this 2023 July 22nd event was an empowering celebration of women’s strength, wisdom, and collaboration.

From the heartfelt stories about finding purpose to quick tips on balancing business with self-care, Gutsy Experience 1.0 was packed with so many unforgettable moments, and it’s not one we will forget anytime soon. Our speakers and panelists overdelivered (best put as overshared) on everything. Whether building confidence or mastering teamwork (without losing your sanity!), this recap will leave you feeling inspired and ready to take every challenge as a stepping stone to something greater.

Knowledge Bits from Our Speakers

So if you’re intent on learning to embrace your “why,” prioritizing mental health, or collaborating like a pro, these Gutsy Experience 1.0 highlights contain all the juicy details, speaker insights, and lessons learned. Keep reading to learn how to live boldly, work smarter, and own your story.

Her Story with Mrs Oby Okeke

Mrs Oby spoke on the concept of strength. She said:

There’s nothing you pass through that is without a purpose.
In every situation you are presented with, ask yourself, “Why am I here?”
The clarity and peace you seek to find come from your purpose.
Understand why you are called and what your assignment is. If you don’t understand why you are called or the purpose for which you are there, you will not fit in, and you will not find peace with it. You need absolute peace to withstand the storm because the storm will always be there.
Understand what you want to do and why you want to do it before you share it.
To venture into any business, it should be profitable and impact lives.
No matter how much you earn, you will always feel frustrated if you don’t have a purpose.
Business is not a place of emotions.
You have to put your emotions aside for the greater goal.
There is nothing God brings before you that you cannot handle
Choose a place of strength; understand that life will come with drama, but you must stay strong.

Panel Session 1: The Woman, Her Career, and Clarity

What does it take to build a career that is both fulfilling and successful? In this powerhouse panel moderated by Her Worship Obiamaka Buofu-Nwachi, Miss Happiness Amaka Okorie, Mrs Chiaku Ekwueme, and Chimfumnanya Nwandu dropped truth bombs on balancing passion with purpose.

Miss Happiness Amaka Okorie

Once you can find a need or a gap, you have a business
There’s a place for passion and love, but you must balance your business and what is fun.
Time management is important. Delegate roles and with authority
You may not find someone who will do the task exactly as you wish, so you must be patient with your employees and ensure they understand your brand vision.
Find a gap in your industry or workspace and fill it
Never stop your journey because of a downfall
To find clarity, take the first step. It becomes clearer after that

Mrs Chiaku Ekwueme

Have a goal in mind and keep to it
You need a support system
Be open to constructive criticisms

Chimfumnanya Nwandu

You can’t get the reward if you don’t put in the work
Have self-respect. If you have self-respect, you will care about what you’re submitting or delivering.
Understand that the God who created you is excellent and his breath is in you, so don’t do “normal” work. Think through your work. You have a great destiny, but your attitude will get you there or not.
Have competence, get a mentor, go for training, and get certifications
Have love. You owe it to yourself to deliver good work, created with love
Have a growth mindset
What structures do you have to keep you accountable? Plan your week.
Your inability to respect yourself makes you unable to deliver quality work.
Start building from where you are
Don’t underestimate service. By serving, you can find out what you’re naturally good at.

Panel Session 2: The Art of Self Care (Beauty & Confidence)

What if true beauty wasn’t about fitting into a mold but becoming your own kind of beautiful? Moderated by the radiant Divine Chidimma, this panel featuring Dr. Odurukwe Somfee Pamela, Chichi Gift Egbule, and Mrs. Anita Izuwanne was a masterclass in rewriting the rules of self-care. Forget the crash diets and skincare pressure, skip the self-medication and book those check-ups, ditch phone addiction, and set guilt-free goals. These are the small, fierce choices that make up self-care.

Dr Odurukwe Somfee Pamela

A fit body is made up of 80% feeding under strict control and 20% exercise
Do what is suitable for your body type and size. You can be skinny or very skinny and still have health challenges relating to your body size. Stick to maintaining a healthy lifestyle
Perform regular check-ups like routine breast exams and other feminine health checks
Stop self-medicating; stop getting medications from drug stores without getting tested or consulting a doctor.
Your friend may have had a similar illness with the same symptoms, but you may not have the same condition.
Cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is commonly sexually transmitted, but you can get the cervical cancer vaccine (HPV vaccine) between 9 and 25 years.
Do slim teas work? Yes, some are helpful.

Chichi Gift Egbule

Stick to a moisturizing body cream.
When it comes to your body and skincare, don’t let anyone pressure you, don’t feel depressed, and be beautiful in your own space.
Be your own kind of beautiful.

Anita Izuwanne

Set a limit for your phone usage
Wake up early
Accept assistance where necessary
Plan your day
Set realistic goals

The Art of Self Care (Prioritising Your Mental Health)

Chimfumnanya Nwandu - Dr. Ugwuamaka Vienna Aneke

Mental health isn’t just “fixing” yourself, but also about reclaiming your story. Dr. Ugwuamaka Vienna Aneke didn’t hold back in this soul-stirring session. She spoke on childhood wounds, societal pressures, and even politics that affect our mental wellness. She urged us to nurture our “inner child” and own our messy, unique journeys. Healing isn’t about becoming perfect, it’s about showing up and prioritizing you.

Mental health is not the absence of mental disorders
Factors like your genetics, emotional skills, environment, economy, and politics can affect your mental health.
The musician that sang “This is a man’s world” added, “It wouldn’t be anything without a woman.
The mental health of a girl child is already at stake before or by the time of her birth.
Many mental health disorders are linked to adverse childhood experiences.
The inner child is a part of an adult that never grew up.
During adolescence, a person starts seeking individuality and identity. It is also where self-esteem and body image issues are most common.
Adulthood is one step at a time. It is a journey, not a destination. In this stage, you will meet many roads and crossroads on career, relationships, and other decisions.

The Diverse Ways to Collaborate with Jasmine Naza Onyia

You can’t say you want a mentor but won’t give that person breathing space. You don’t have to like or comment on all of your mentor’s social media posts. It is disrespectful to be in your mentor’s space all the time.
70% of the time, collaborations fail because the ideology of partnership is lost
Pick an objective first before deciding whom to collaborate with
The rules of collaboration: Build relationships first, gain trust

Types of collaborative systems

There are different ways to collaborate, including:

Team (offices)
Network collaborations (online)
Public-private partnerships: Involve yourself with the bigwigs in other industries
Strategic cofounding: Look for investors
Montor-mentee collaborations

Stages of Collaboration

Forming stage
Establish boundaries
Interest matters
Clarity of purpose
Plan
Make result-driven goals
Performing stage or execution
Adjoining stage: Don’t say Goodbye; say we’ll see each other again

Fireside Chat: The Power of Collaboration

Ever heard the saying, “Teamwork makes the dream work”? Let’s upgrade that: “Collaboration makes the dream unstoppable.” Moderated by the dynamic VJ Promz, this fireside chat with Nasa Aniagolu, Decky Chinomso, and Mrs. Neme Agbai cracked open the playbook for turning “me” into “we.” They spoke on aligning values over ego, ditching drama for laser-focused goals, and serving truth about trust. Oh, and that tired myth that women can’t collaborate? Wrong. All you need is boundaries, communication, and a dash of self-love.

With the power of collaboration, what would have taken so long to achieve could be achieved within a shorter time frame.
Core values matter when choosing who to collaborate with. You must make sure your core values align. If your core values do not align, you will have many conflicts.
Communication is a major key in collaboration. Learn to express your emotions, thoughts, and ideas. While expressing your emotion, put the other person’s emotion into consideration. Don’t be so rational with your words.
Understand this: your business lives and personal lives are entirely different. Don’t mix it up!
Regardless of whatever is happening in your lives, especially disputes, when it comes to collaboration, put it aside and make sure the set goal(s) is met.
You must bring something to the table as a collaborator. Failure to do so will get you removed or replaced. Be Valuable.
How do you build trust with those you are collaborating with? It takes time to build trust; just as it takes to grow, it doesn’t happen overnight. That is why it is important to collaborate with people whose value systems align with yours. It makes the journey a whole lot easier for everyone. Trusting one another also helps you figure out your strengths and weaknesses sooner.
How do you manage relationships, especially between women? First, build self-esteem as a person. Second, understand that there will always be misunderstandings; it is inevitable. It is up to you all as a team to decide if you will allow your issues to break you or strengthen the collaborative bond. Third, know your boundaries as individuals and collaborators. This way, you’re able to manage your relationship to an extent.
A verse in the scripture says, “One will chase a thousand, but two will chase ten thousand.” When your strength is down, relate with your partners; the group’s strength will pull you through and elevate the business.
Tackle the problem, not the individual’s self-image or self-esteem, and don’t refer to a problem as “That’s who your partner is.” You will lose whatever you’re building together, your friend, and you’ll be pushing the narrative that women can’t work together.

Conclusion – Gutsy Experience 1.0

If Gutsy Experience 1.0 taught us anything, it’s that purpose, grit, and sisterhood can move mountains. From Mrs. Oby Okeke’s speech on “choosing strength” to the raw truths by the Santa Fair co-founders about collaboration, this event was a masterclass in owning your story, the flaws, the glow-ups, and all. We laughed, we learned, and we left with tools to thrive in business, self-care, and everything in between. But here’s the best part: This is just the beginning. Hold tight because Gutsy Experience 3.0 is coming and is set to be bigger, bolder, and packed with even more fire. Ready to level up? Stay gutsy, and remember: your next breakthrough might just be one collaboration, one boundary, or one “why” away. See you at Gutsy Experience 3.0!