The Power of Strategic Intent: Shelmina Abji Babai on How to Succeed as a Leader
International Women’s Day (IWD) reminds us that gender equality is a worthy cause to rally for. Shelmina Babai Abji is passionate about her social purpose. She wants to see more women rising the corporate ladders, running for offices, and making an impact as leaders and entrepreneurs.
She's actively advocating for women of color to be recognized as leaders.
As the first woman of color to become a Vice-President at IBM, she has lived experience of what it truly takes to make it to the top rungs. Her book speaks courageously to women of color. It is aptly titled, Show Your Worth: 8 Intentional Strategies for Women to Emerge as Leaders at Work. It offers intentional strategies for women to accelerate their careers.
Her book is peppered with personal stories of how she struggled with her own perceptions of her own abilities and what success could look like.
She writes about her unique life experiences growing up in a family with limited means in Tanzania, living on her own in India and later raising a family and working in the US. She overcame real life challenges as a single mom. She stood resilient, and elevated herself and her skills as the leader of a Billion-dollar sales team at IBM.
Today, besides being an investor, she is also a global empowerment speaker. She addresses thousands of professionals and leaders at public forums like the TEDx, Grace Hopper Conference and MAKERS conference.
Being Strategic and Intentional about Success
The core message that Shelmina delivers is that intentionality breeds success.
She writes “When you become intentional and strategic, the way you show up and your behavior will change. You will make meaningful progress every day.”
Her book talks about these 8 intentional strategies that can be used to improve visibility, credibility, and engagement as leaders:
1. Defining what success means to you
2. Developing your Personal Success Plan
3.Achieving work-life balance in a disrupted world
4. Valuing yourself, overcoming fear, finding your voice, and contributing at your maximum capacity
5.Seeking relevant and meaningful growth
6. Connecting meaningfully with first-line managers, peers, mentors, and sponsors
7. Building and preserving your reputation as a leader
8. Being strategic about earning a promotion
Join the “Lift Your Mentee” Movement
Her book has sold more than 3,000 copies in a week and has already impacted thousands of careers. It makes for great gifts for mentees and co-workers on IWD 2024. It is available for purchase from Amazon, Barnes and Nobles or any independent book store. “Leaders need to continuously communicate to their mentees that they see leadership potential in them. You need to demonstrate that you are committed to supporting them on their journey to emerge as leaders.” Shelmina advises.
This women’s day, here is more power to leaders like Shelmina!
About Impactika Consulting
We at Impactika Consulting help do-gooders do better through purpose-propelled® consulting. We are a digital marketing, strategy, and social impact consulting firm. We help for-purpose organizations take on the world’s toughest challenges in digital rights, social and economic justice, education, and more.
As an advocate for both business and doing good, Impactika is a women-led team committed to helping organizations around the world find impactful and meaningful ways to market their purposes and connect with others.
Impactika Consulting is now a MBWE-certified business (Minority and Women Enterprise) by the Washington State Office of Minority & Women's Business Enterprises.
What that means is that we can access state-funded opportunities earmarked for women and minority founders from Washington.
The certification bolsters our commitment to our preferred social cause: supporting diverse businesses and opens up new avenues for longer-term partnerships with purpose-oriented organizations.