Nairobi hosts first ever emotional intelligence conference

The Premier Training Services Ltd, in collaboration with Six Seconds, the Wangari Maathai Foundation, and the Vale School, Muthaiga are hosting the first ever Emotional Intelligence (EQ4Africa) Conference in Nairobi dedicated to empowering leaders with emotional intelligence skills.

Speaking about the conference that brings together the corporate and academia, Mucha Mlingo, an Emotional Intelligence Expert based in Kenya said that used critically and efficiently, EQ is a powerful tool that can empower people of all ages to be courageous leaders.

“With more and more challenges plaguing the average human being both in school and the workplace, Emotional Intelligence should be taken seriously as a tool of critical importance. The duty of EQ is to empower people of all ages, from school children to CEOs, to be courageous, intentional leaders. We know emotions drive people and people drive performance. It is therefore imperative to focus on this ‘soft’ side because the ‘soft’ side ultimately drives bottom line results,” she said.

Emotional Intelligence plays a critical role in giving leaders, managers and low-tier staff an emotional edge, above and beyond the technical skills required for success in the workplace. Comprised of a specific set of observable and measurable competencies, Emotional Intelligence, also known as EQ, is a critical skill that influences how individuals perceive and express themselves, develop and maintain social relationships, cope with challenges, and use emotional information in an effective and meaningful way. More and more organizations are investing in the training of this critical skill for staff members.

The mission of the Wangari Maathai Foundation is to advance the legacy of Wangari Maathai by nurturing a culture of purpose and integrity that inspires courageous leadership.

The Wangari Maathai Foundation are currently piloting the Hummingbird Leadership Project – a personal leadership and character building program for preteens and teens, designed to inspire a new generation of engaged citizens.

“The new competency-based curriculum combines cognitive and non-cognitive skills training. We now know social and emotional skills are predictive of long term performance and success. This is all very promising,” said Wanjira Mathai, Chair, Wangari Maathai Foundation

The Vale School Muthaiga is a progressive, values-based school focusing on Mindfulness, Environmental Stewardship, Growth Mindset, and Community Service.

Project-based learning and 21st Century Skills are the cornerstone of our curriculum with our aim being to develop empathetic and discerning critical thinkers who help to create a more compassionate and purposeful life experience for themselves and those around them

“I am really excited to be partnering with both Premier Training Services Africa and The Wangari Maathai Foundation for this EQ4AFRICA Emotional Intelligence Conference. It is incredibly special to be part of a movement that is spearheading and extolling the virtues of Emotional Intelligence in both ouworkplaceses as well as and perhaps more importantly in our continent’s educational settings,” Ms. Soiya Gecaga, Managing Director – The Vale School Muthaiga

The two-day conference that begun on Wednesday will focus on topics like “Reshaping Africa’s education by leveraging EQ to optimize learning” and “Transforming Africa’s workforce by enabling organisations to increase the utilization of EQ tools as a key driver for optimal productivity.”

David Indeje

David Indeje is Khusoko’s Digital Editor, oversees Khusoko.com’s digital presence across all platforms.

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