{"id":56548,"date":"2025-12-15T17:21:28","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T17:21:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/women-in-finance-rwanda-and-gate-consulting-group-celebrate-over-100-graduates\/"},"modified":"2025-12-15T16:41:44","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T16:41:44","slug":"women-in-finance-rwanda-and-gate-consulting-group-celebrate-over-100-graduates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/women-in-finance-rwanda-and-gate-consulting-group-celebrate-over-100-graduates\/","title":{"rendered":"Women in Finance Rwanda and Gate Consulting Group celebrate over 100 graduates of the LiftHerUp mentorship program"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The program, launched in March 2025, brought together 24 professional women from financial institutions, who joined 78 other women from various sectors under the broader LiftHerUp program this year, bringing the total to 102 participants. Through a structured mentorship journey combining group mentorship, optional one-on-one sessions and monthly masterclasses delivered both virtually and in person, participants strengthened their leadership capacity and career direction.<\/p>\n<p>The program concluded on Friday, December 12, 2025, with a colourful and engaging closing ceremony held at Four Points by Sheraton Kigali, themed \u201cOwning Your Growth,\u201d where participants themselves led the event, shared impact stories and reflected on their nine-month journey.<\/p>\n<p>According to organisers, the program recorded an average satisfaction rating of 4.74 out of 5, with most participants indicating they would recommend it to others.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond satisfaction, the mentorship delivered tangible outcomes. Participants reported increased confidence, improved leadership skills, expanded professional networks and clearer career goals. Several women also shared experiences of promotions and successful career transitions linked to insights and accountability gained through mentorship.<\/p>\n<p>A panel discussion during the closing event brought together senior leaders Dr. Diane Karusisi, CEO of Bank of Kigali; Benjamin Mutimura, CEO of I&#038;M Bank Rwanda; and Florida Kabasinga, Founder and Managing Partner of Certa Law.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Karusisi said mentorship plays a critical role in helping women see leadership as attainable.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy objective was to demystify leadership, to show that leaders are just normal human beings and that anyone in this room can aspire to lead,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Mutimura, who attended the event as a supporter of the program, said intentional growth and continuous learning are essential for long-term success.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGrowth doesn\u2019t happen by accident; you must be intentional and consistent,\u201d he told participants, adding that mentorship remains close to his heart.<\/p>\n<p>Kabasinga said she accepted the invitation to support the program because of her passion for empowering women, encouraging participants to take ownership of their journeys and not shy away from ambition.<\/p>\n<p>The 2025 cohort drew women professionals from a wide range of organisations, including Bralirwa, Irembo, Bank of Kigali, Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD), MTN, Ecobank, Canal+, Old Mutual, NCBA, I&#038;M Bank, Sanlam, One Acre Fund, Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC), Umwalimu SACCO, among other leading institutions.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking on the program\u2019s impact, Belinda Bwiza, Co-Founder of Women in Finance Rwanda, noted that initiatives like LiftHerUp play a critical role in strengthening women\u2019s representation in leadership by addressing both skills and confidence gaps that often hold women back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are building a movement that is much bigger than any of us,\u201d she said, encouraging participants and mentors to continue engaging and paying the impact forward.<\/p>\n<p>Salma Habib-Nkusi, CEO of Gate Consulting Group, said the partnership with Women in Finance Rwanda helped deepen the program\u2019s reach within the financial sector, including the full sponsorship of 24 participants.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is just the beginning, next year we expect the partnership to grow even stronger,\u201d she said, adding that the collaboration with WIFR has strengthened trust and engagement within the sector and is expected to grow in future cohorts.<\/p>\n<p>She emphasised that mentorship remains one of the most effective tools for growth, noting that while education provides knowledge, mentorship creates space for reflection, practical learning, and intentional decision-making that supports long-term leadership development. For many participants, the program marked a turning point in how they approach their careers and leadership roles.<\/p>\n<p>Umutoneshwa Luminaire Sacr\u00e9e, an ESMS Lead at Bank of Kigali, said the mentorship helped her move from doubt to decisive action.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBefore LiftHerUp, I doubted whether my decisions were truly taking me forward, even when others believed in me. A turning point was when my mentor encouraged me to follow up on a role I\u2019d been considered for. I pushed through the discomfort, and I got the position,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Linda Rubanza, a Sales Officer at I&#038;M Bank Rwanda (Cohort 2025), said the program strengthened her confidence and clarified her career direction.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe program gave me the clarity I needed, strengthened my confidence and shifted my mindset toward continuous growth. Today, I approach challenges with a growth mindset and feel more prepared to seize opportunities,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Launched in 2023, Women in Finance Rwanda (WIFR) is a foundation dedicated to empowering women to excel in their careers and navigate the evolving finance industry.<\/p>\n<p>The LiftHerUp x WIFR Mentorship Program builds on the wider LiftHerUp initiative, which has supported over 400 women since its inception four years ago. Organisers say they remain committed to expanding mentorship opportunities and strengthening women\u2019s leadership pipelines in Rwanda and beyond.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-99266 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-12-15_at_10.07_19_am.jpg\" alt=\"The program, launched in March 2025, brought together 24 professional women from financial institutions, who joined 78 other women from various sectors under the broader LiftHerUp program this year, bringing the total to 102 participants. \" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-99258 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-12-15_at_10.07_27_am.jpg\" alt=\"The program concluded with a colourful and engaging closing ceremony held at Four Points by Sheraton Kigali.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-99262 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-12-15_at_10.07_23_am.jpg\" alt=\"The session was highly interactive, giving participants the opportunity to gain insights from experienced professionals.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-99257 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-12-15_at_10.07_30_am_1_.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-99261 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-12-15_at_10.07_24_am.jpg\" alt=\"Participants themselves led the event, shared impact stories and reflected on their nine-month journey.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-99267 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-12-15_at_10.07_18_am.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-99265 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-12-15_at_10.07_20_am.jpg\" alt=\"A panel discussion during the closing event brought together senior leaders Dr. Diane Karusisi, CEO of Bank of Kigali; Benjamin Mutimura, CEO of I&amp;M Bank Rwanda; and Florida Kabasinga, Founder and Managing Partner of Certa Law.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-99264 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-12-15_at_10.07_21_am.jpg\" alt=\"Florida Kabasinga, Founder and Managing Partner of Certa Law encouraged participants to take ownership of their journeys and not shy away from ambition.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-99263 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-12-15_at_10.07_22_am.jpg\" alt=\"Belinda Bwiza, Co-Founder of Women in Finance Rwanda, noted that initiatives like LiftHerUp play a critical role in strengthening women\u2019s representation in leadership by addressing both skills and confidence gaps that often hold women back.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-99269 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-12-15_at_10.07_16_am.jpg\" alt=\"Salma Habib-Nkusi, CEO of Gate Consulting Group, said the partnership with Women in Finance Rwanda helped deepen the program\u2019s reach within the financial sector, including the full sponsorship of 24 participants.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-99260 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-12-15_at_10.07_26_am.jpg\" alt=\"Participants wrapped up by interacting with their mentors and sharing their last reflections.\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Women in Finance Rwanda (WIFR), in partnership with Gate Consulting Group (GCG), has celebrated the successful completion of the LiftHerUp x WIFR Mentorship Program, a nine-month leadership and career development initiative designed to support women to grow with confidence, clarity and intention.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":2000099270,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[75],"byline":[192],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-56548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-homenews","byline-wycliffe-nyamasege"],"bylines":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe Nyamasege","slug":"wycliffe-nyamasege","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":131}],"contributors":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe Nyamasege","slug":"wycliffe-nyamasege","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default 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