Ingressive for Good partnered with Geneza School of Design to help 1000 women build skills and careers in design. During the training, we realized the need and benefits of study buddies to better help the women learn and complete their courses. So we created study groups. At the end of the program, we recorded over 70% completions. Agnes Iye Idoko tells us about her experience leading a study group, the impact she made and the impact it had on her.
“I’m Agnes Iye Idoko. I am a Product designer, a copywriter and a storyteller. During my NYSC program, I had the time to think about what I needed for myself in life and also how I would be able to do something I am passionate about. Just then a friend of mine sent the link to the application for the Women in Design scholarship, due to our prior conversation, and convinced me to apply so that I might have a shot at it.
When I was selected, I was practically over the moon. Before then I was tense and always checking my email because it was my last hope. At first, when the first email came informing us about the number of applicants and how they needed just 1000 my heart sank and doubts started creeping in but I didn’t entirely give up on it even with that. I just became tense and more hopeful and I was extremely excited when I got the acceptance mail.
I was faced with a lot of activities I couldn’t ignore when the program started so I needed something to keep me in check. When the call for a group leader came I saw it as an opportunity to be more involved and took it. I was happy to be selected because it truly kept me in check.
To be honest, it was not easy and neither was it too difficult. The challenge I had most of the time was the low level of interaction and response among the group members, which resulted in me texting them privately to pass on information and get some. Also, I was faced with other design path questions I had no idea about, but I won’t entirely view that as a challenge since I had my fellow group leads assist with that.
From leading a team, I learnt patience the hard way. Aside from that, just as I stated earlier, it was a means to follow up with the course delicately so I can give answers when asked. Being a leader is not as easy as people make it. You have to be accountable and have good followership attributes because an unconventional opinion about leadership is that a leader goes with the pace and flow of its followers. You have to be dedicated to a cause to learn. Learning will seem more easy and less difficult when you’ve at least 90% interest in acquiring that knowledge.
During the program, I had to struggle with time. I had to struggle through my full-time job and the program. It was not easy and sometimes it got overwhelming but I was able to pull through.
Well, I can boldly say that I am a Product Designer. I wouldn’t have been able to say this if not for the opportunity. I’m sincerely grateful.”
You can reach Agnes here
LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/in/agnes-idoko
Twitter-https://twitter.com/pdesigner_agnes
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/pdesigner.agnes/
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