Skillher Blog

Last week, we brought back SkillHer Hotseat with a question inspired by a recent conversation making the rounds on social media in Nigeria. A post about whether it was appropriate to address a prominent business leader by his first name sparked plenty of reactions online. Beyond the debate itself, it got us thinking about a broader question: What does professional respect actually look like today? Is addressing someone by their first name disrespectful, a sign of confidence, or does it depend on the context? We took the conversation to the SkillHer community, inviting our members to share their thoughts and engage respectfully with different viewpoints. And the response was highly engaging , with members bringing in perspectives shaped by culture, professional experience and different workplace environments. Here are some of the thoughts shared during the discussion. Respect Is More Than a Title Uju believes respect should not be reduced to what we call someone. “I think respect shou...

Every year, World Humanitarian Day gives us an opportunity to pause and recognise the people and communities working to make the world a little better, often in difficult circumstances and without expecting recognition. At its heart, humanitarian action is about people. It is about compassion, courage and the willingness to respond when others need support. It reminds us that creating a more hopeful world is not always about grand gestures. Sometimes, it starts with one person choosing to help another. At SkillHer, we believe that empowering women with skills, opportunities and support is one way we can strengthen communities and contribute to lasting change. When women have access to the knowledge, resources and opportunities they need to thrive, the impact often extends beyond the individual. It can influence families, workplaces, businesses and communities. Whether it is creating access to learning, connecting women to opportunities, providing a supportive community or simply c...

When we introduced SkillHer Coach , our goal was never simply to build another AI tool. We were responding to a challenge we had seen repeatedly through our work at SkillHer. Across workshops, community conversations, mentorship sessions and programmes, one thing became increasingly clear: while learning opportunities are important, what many women need just as much is consistent guidance between those moments. Questions don't only arise during a training session. They come afterwards. How do I prepare for an interview I wasn't expecting? How do I stay motivated when progress feels slow? How do I balance personal wellbeing with growing responsibilities? Where do I even begin? SkillHer Coach was born from the belief that support should be available whenever those questions arise, not only when a programme is running or a mentor is available. Since then, we've continued learning alongside the women who use it. One of the biggest lessons has been that growth is rarely linear. ...