Page 66 - STJ VOL 3 FINAL_Neat
P. 66
Culture & Arts
When you think about a typical sense, because ‘mom never missed of love, but every opportunity she
strong African woman, you would class.’ had, she would push us to the limits.
typically relate her to one who works I have observed how the ideal I think I soon realized that if I were
her back off fetching firewood, or business mogul is idolized from to satisfy her wishes as her son, I
perhaps cooking and cleaning the head to toe but the neglect to had to do some pretty extraordinary
whole day. If you grew up with recognize the role powerful, yet things in my life.”
the likes of my mother, one who silent women mentors – ‘mothers’
regardless of how old you were, of greatness – have played in raising This shows how, in the very
would tell it to your butt in form powerful men is one we need to mentoring nature of his mother,
of a good spanking or hold a press reconcile. Richard, one of the worlds’ most
conference with your cheeks in form powerful and recognized men
of good old slaps. Really – O yes – From Africa to the global leadership today developed a brilliant sense of
The ones that leave a good imprint stage, conspiracy theory suggests outdoing himself to meet the criteria
just long enough to inform you that that women have indirectly plotted of a high standard mentor and
you have to play to the rules of the to take over as boardroom, and coach.
mentorship classes. political leaders by raising the most
powerful men. This is seen in the Securing a pipeline of wealth and
But that’s different. All that and nature of what has motivated and influence for their would-be men of
more made it to the mentorship kept some of the world’s most affluence and influence is the role
syllabus just so the right mannered, powerful men going today and strong women have played in raising
cultured and value-based man is only because of the impact and the strong men. This is exemplified
raised well enough to represent support they had from the mothers in the story of the world’s richest
in boardrooms and society. I may that raised them. black man – Aliko, a young man in
be wrong, but there are a few his 20’s in the late 70’s borrowed
billionaires and people of influence Let us consider Richard Branson, money from his mother’s brother
who agree with that notion. a global billionaire and founder of to run his small startup which he
The strongest men in business, Virgin Group who had this to say would later grow to what we know
leadership or politics that we know about his mother: today as Dangote Group and with
today all look ‘pretty’ right? I mean, US$10.8billion net worth to his
they are pretty perfect in every “She was incredibly supportive, lots name. Now whether you agree or
66