Since its inception in 2020, the Women In Leadership certification program has seen 120 participants across all our offices.
Today, we’re sharing the experience of one of our WizeWomen, Andrea Cuella, a UX Designer working in the Wizeline Vietnam office.
Hi Andrea! Thanks for joining us. When did you start the WILP?
I began the program last year, some months after joining Wizeline. As a UX designer, before jumping into the program, I did a user research phase to understand women’s community needs, motivations, and pain points in the Asia Pacific area to help with adapting the program to their context. Our first onboarding was on the 26th of August 2020.
Why did you choose to participate?
As a non-conformist woman, I firmly believe the power to question is the basis of human evolution, so naturally, I committed to this program to challenge perceptions around the position of women in society and empower women in their career growth and self-development.
What impact would you say this program has made on your personal and professional life so far?
The program helped me develop my active listening skills and cultural intelligence since I had to understand and adapt to a completely different culture — I am a Spanish woman working in Vietnam.
The program requires significant effort, but I am grateful to have the opportunity to gain new knowledge from other facilitators about topics that I didn’t even know before, like the Ikigai, and understanding specific issues better, such as Imposter Syndrome.
From a professional perspective, beyond the fact that I am developing my facilitation skills, it is an excellent exercise to become an inclusive leader in the future.
What’s your favorite part of the program?
My favorite part of the program is the informal sessions organized specifically for APAC, like the Lunch & Learn meet-up. Participants discuss topics or questions they want to get advice on or exchange thoughts while enjoying a delicious lunch.
The WILP core team always initiates an icebreaker game to make everybody feel comfortable and prompts them to start conversations.
Participants appreciate this event, mainly because it gives them a safe space to discuss any subject. It also helps to make people feel closer to one another and develop their empathy.
Would you recommend this program to other Wizeliners?
Absolutely yes! There’s so much to win and nothing to lose. You might think it requires too much extra effort, and you might feel like it would be better to put this energy into learning about technical knowledge for your career. Still, the program’s benefits go beyond the workplace, creating a positive impact on your personal life and development as a woman.
What’s one key takeaway from this program?
Don’t stay alone in your corner when facing a challenge. Find support around you from people that can give you the room to express yourself and empower you by providing other perspectives and tools to identify your unique strengths to overcome barriers.
Thank you for your contribution, Andrea.
Andrea Cuella, Wizeline Vietnam UX Designer
If you’d like to read more about our Diversity & Inclusion efforts at Wizeline, check out our D&I page.
