The Initiative Women into Leadership (IWiL) marked a significant milestone with the graduation of the Mentee Class of 2023. Held at the enchanting Hase & Igel venue in Düsseldorf, the event began with an atmospheric oldie tram ride through the city's historic heart, perfectly setting the stage for an evening of inspiration and celebration. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Rheinbahn and Annette Grabbe for hosting this memorable journey and providing such a unique backdrop for the ceremony.
The highlight of the night was undoubtedly the keynote speech delivered by Annette Grabbe. With years of experience under her belt, Annette shared invaluable insights into leadership, emphasizing the importance of resilience, strategic visibility, and stepping out of one's comfort zone. Her empowering words resonated deeply, reminding everyone that "the magic happens outside your comfort zone." We are incredibly grateful to Annette for her inspiring leadership and for sharing her wisdom with us.
Following the keynote, the stage was taken by our mentees Clara Corre, Clarissa Odewald, and Eva Kohl, each sharing their transformative experiences over the past year. Clara spoke about embracing change, under the mentorship of Isabel Tufet, using the symbol of a balloon labeled #Change to represent her journey. Clarissa highlighted her narrative of personal and professional growth with #Story, guided by Matthias Kiep, and Eva, with her #BusinessMuse balloon, discussed her role as a source of innovative thinking in business, mentored by Nicola Bramkamp.
Their presentations went beyond personal achievements, inviting fellow mentees to contribute their pivotal words for the year, beautifully illustrating the interconnected journeys within the IWiL network. This collective spirit was further celebrated as the mentees were awarded for their achievements, marking their readiness to step into future leadership roles with creativity and collaboration.
As we reflect on the evening filled with motivational stories and leadership lessons, it's clear that the IWiL Graduation 2023 was not just a celebration, but a stepping stone for these future leaders.
Congratulations to all the mentees of the Class of 2023 for their dedication and innovative approaches to leadership. Here's to their continued success in reshaping the future of leadership!