On the evening of October 3rd, 2024, AWiBers and guests enthusiastically poured into the Hilton, eager to engage in networking and participate in the current and relevant discussions. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as attendees shared their vision and passion, guided by thought-provoking networking questions that sparked genuine connections among them. 

As the attendees settled into their seats, the program unfolded seamlessly with a warm introduction by Bethlehem Hailu, AWiB’s Membership Relations Manager. She invited representatives from the event sponsors and AWiB members to showcase their products and services. Among the Emerge Package Sponsors were Chapa Financial Technologies, Amhara Bank, Kuriftu Resort & Spa, Enat Bank, and Komari Beverages. Following them, Yodit Gidey, a longstanding member of AWiB, took the stage to promote the services offered by GG Enterprises.

The moderator, Dr. Bethelhem Birhanu, commenced the highly anticipated panel discussion by introducing the speakers – Ambassador Mohamoud DIRIR Gheddi & Lensa Biyena, the Executive Director of the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA). After a brief introduction on the topic, she invited each speaker to share their understanding of the subject – “Creating A Shared Vision”. 

Lensa briefly described her understanding of a shared vision. She expressed it as a powerful vision that gathers people from different backgrounds, with different perspectives & skills to come together with a commitment to attain a common goal. She underscored the importance of a shared vision in shaping our existence and fostering unity.

The Ambassador opened his address with gratitude and began by pointing out a potential ambiguity stemming from its present continuous form, “Creating.” He emphasized the need to confront a stark reality—our lack of a shared vision. He stressed that the crucial first step is acceptance.

Drawing upon historical examples, he evoked the memory of a shared vision during the march for the war of Adwa, where unified voices resonated in harmony. The Ambassador mentioned global examples of shared vision such as the Japanese “Ikigai”. Reflecting on the absence of a national shared vision, he posed the question that demands introspection: “Where did things go wrong? How did we raise our children? What roles do religious institutions play?”

Lensa articulated that institutions are reflections of a nation. She underscored our tendency as Ethiopians to dismantle institutions during periods of transition, thereby losing their original visions. She mentioned the case of EWLA as an good example of a shared vision. The founding members had set a clear vision, programs, and goals that we carried for over thirty decades now. 

EWLA broke the cycle of institutions with short-lived visions and showed us that existing with persistence despite all the odds is possible. Its vision evolved beyond the organization, catalyzing a movement that spread to entities like AWSAAD and NEWA.

Dr. Bethelhem then brought the spotlight to the Ambassador to outline the crucial steps required to create a shared vision for our nation. The Ambassador emphasized there is no specifically prescribed procedure for this endeavor. Yet he noted that we do have the important ingredients embedded in our culture and indigenous wisdom. He highlighted enduring cultural institutions like ‘Idir’ and ‘Jema,’ along with other traditions, as wellsprings of valuable insights.

Reflecting on our history marked by conflict and wars, the Ambassador acknowledged that while these events once brought us together, they also left lasting traumas. To move forward, he stressed the necessity of healing from these traumas through acceptance. 

The Ambassador noted that, in his opinion, the National Dialogue Commission is the current pivotal opportunity for fostering a shared vision. He stressed that the goal of the commission is to create a conducive environment for the people to elect their leaders. With only five months to go, it seems like the work of the commission is tremendous. 

Several notable questions were raised from the audience including, “How to create our own shared vision with clarity without influence from the west?”. “How do we know when leaders are derailed from their vision?” “How can we tell when visions change or are still the same?”, and “Can a shared vision stifle an individual’s vision?” 

The Ambassador’s response was focused on the power of discernment – on developing the art of choosing what to adapt and to reject. Drawing from China’s experience, he illustrated how the country utilized socialism to uplift a huge share of their population from below the poverty line. Moreover, he emphasized the importance of leveraging technological advancements in today’s digital era while safeguarding our core values.

In his conclusion, the Ambassador articulated that our shared vision emerges from individuals fortifying the five fundamental pillars: Faith, Family, Fitness, Friends, and Finances.

Lensa emphasized the pivotal role of leaders in propelling a shared vision. She noted that while leaders are essential, it is the vision itself that sustains the motivation and passion of individuals within an organization. She shared her practice of periodically asking her team about their direction to ensure that EWLA’s collective vision remains instilled in her team members.

In her closing remarks, Lensa advocated for the adaptation of sharing visions and values within our culture. She highlighted the importance of integrating these practices into everyday norms.

The evening, filled with insightful discussions and inspiring reflections, drew to a close as the moderator followed AWiB’s tradition by presenting gifts to the speakers, a fitting end to yet another memorable AWiB event.

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