In celebration of International Women’s Day, our network member Ibilola Amao hosted a remarkable Leadership Walk, bringing together mentors and young girls in a symbolic and practical step toward building the next generation of women leaders in STEM.

The event was designed as a mentor–mentee matchmaking experience, grounded in a powerful idea: the journey of mentoring begins with a single step. Through this initiative, participants walked together, literally and figuratively, marking the beginning of meaningful relationships that will guide young girls as they explore futures in engineering, energy, and entrepreneurship.

The Leadership Walk was more than a celebratory activity for International Women’s Day. It was a deliberate platform to connect experienced professionals with aspiring girls, creating opportunities for knowledge sharing, guidance, and long-term mentorship. By pairing mentors with mentees at the event, the program set the stage for continuous engagement, support, and career guidance beyond the day’s celebration.

Walking Toward a Future in STEM

Across the world, conversations around gender inclusion in STEM continue to highlight the need for more female representation in fields such as engineering, energy, and technology. Initiatives like this Leadership Walk help bridge the gap by exposing young girls to role models who have successfully built careers in these sectors.

For many of the participants, the event offered a rare opportunity to interact directly with accomplished women who have navigated the challenges of STEM careers and emerged as leaders in their fields. Through these conversations, mentees were able to gain not only inspiration but also practical insights about education pathways, career opportunities, and the resilience required to succeed in male-dominated industries.

The walk itself symbolized a shared commitment between mentors and mentees—a commitment to growth, guidance, and the passing on of knowledge from one generation of women leaders to the next.

The Vision Behind the Initiative

At the heart of this initiative is Ibilola Amao, a respected engineer, sustainability expert, and advocate for women’s leadership in technical fields. As the Founder and Principal Consultant of Lonadek Global Services, she has spent decades building solutions that strengthen Africa’s oil, gas, and energy sectors while championing the inclusion of women in these industries.

Beyond her professional achievements, Ibilola has consistently dedicated her time to mentoring young professionals and creating pathways for women to thrive in technical careers. Through initiatives that promote education, mentorship, and leadership development, she continues to inspire and equip young women with the confidence and resources they need to succeed.

Her work reflects a deep belief in the principle of #GiveToGain—the idea that the most impactful leaders invest their knowledge, time, and experience in lifting others.

A Movement Rooted in Giving

The Leadership Walk embodies the spirit of #GiveToGain, a philosophy that emphasizes the power of giving back to build stronger communities and future leaders. By initiating mentor–mentee relationships during the event, Amao is helping to cultivate a pipeline of confident, capable young women who will one day lead innovation across engineering, energy, and entrepreneurship.

In doing so, she is not only celebrating International Women’s Day but also creating lasting impact that extends far beyond a single event.

Celebrating Leadership in Action

We celebrate Ibilola Amao for this inspiring initiative and for her continued commitment to empowering the next generation of women in STEM. Her Leadership Walk reminds us that meaningful change often begins with simple but intentional actions such as taking the first step together.

Through initiatives like this, the future of women in engineering, energy, and entrepreneurship becomes not just possible, but inevitable.

Congratulations to Ibilola Amao for this impactful milestone and for embodying the spirit of #GiveToGain.