Hello everyone! I'm Mariama from Guinea and currently writing a leadership essay for the Chevening Scholarship to pursue my master's degree in Events, Tourism, and Hospitality management. I wish I could receive some feedback on this. Thank you!
Leadership and influence
Chevening is looking for individuals who will be future leaders or influencers in their home countries. Explain how you meet this requirement, using clear examples of your own leadership and influencing skills to support your answer.
You must enter a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 500 words
For me, the essence of leadership is to create value in the community by creating job opportunities and contributing positively while being humble, visionary, and ready to face any challenges on the path.
During my college year, I came across two challenges: The first problem was that my classmates and I always had difficulties finding fun places to visit. Moreover, there were no places where one could find information regarding tourism in the country. The second was that I learned the places we often visit the communities living around the tourist sites did not benefit anything from it. To address this problem, I designed a website to gather information related to tourism including interesting sites, history, gastronomy, the craft industry, and available accommodations in Guinea, which led me to my journey as an entrepreneur. The second issue was solved upon my return from Rwanda in 2020, I had the opportunity to strengthen my leadership and my experiences during a trip organized by the Guinea Investment Promotion Agency to train selected young entrepreneurs in the Accelerator Program. During the program, I focused on the design and implementation of trip planning and community tourism as a tourism professional which led me to create the #TripWithCommunity tour. This program focused on showcasing local artisan skills by creating income possibilities to improve their living conditions.
Since the launch of the #TripWithCommunity tour program, we have trained 70 people in six communities, now they work with our organization as a community partner which is key to the authentic experience we offer to our customers. Throughout my experiences, I realized that the tourism sector has huge employment possibilities and if well-structured can hire many young people. This can limit the rural exodus and help economies across the country in terms of income generation.
As the founder and Managing Director of Miranass Tourisme, I have dedicated my career to advancing community-based and sustainable tourism in Guinea, empowering local communities while promoting authentic travel experiences. Over the past seven years, I have cultivated a diverse skill set, from leading dynamic teams to securing strategic partnerships and organizing events such as cruises and immersive tours. My role as Managing Director has allowed me to sharpen my leadership skills, inspire collective purpose, and drive impactful change in the tourism sector. I have introduced both local and international travelers to the richness of Guinea's culture and craftsmanship while creating economic opportunities for local artisans. My work with the Guinea National Tourism Office as a Tourism Product Manager has allowed me to create products, shape the narrative of Guinea as a vibrant destination, and contribute to the country's broader tourism strategy.
Beyond my professional achievements, I am passionate about mentoring aspiring tour guides in Guinea. Participating in the Mandela Washington Fellowship has further strengthened my leadership skills, which I now apply to both my business operations and my role as a tourism advocate. Chevening program's opportunities will enable me to achieve my goals to expand our #TripWithCommunity in other countries.
Leadership and influence
Chevening is looking for individuals who will be future leaders or influencers in their home countries. Explain how you meet this requirement, using clear examples of your own leadership and influencing skills to support your answer.
You must enter a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 500 words
For me, the essence of leadership is to create value in the community by creating job opportunities and contributing positively while being humble, visionary, and ready to face any challenges on the path.
During my college year, I came across two challenges: The first problem was that my classmates and I always had difficulties finding fun places to visit. Moreover, there were no places where one could find information regarding tourism in the country. The second was that I learned the places we often visit the communities living around the tourist sites did not benefit anything from it. To address this problem, I designed a website to gather information related to tourism including interesting sites, history, gastronomy, the craft industry, and available accommodations in Guinea, which led me to my journey as an entrepreneur. The second issue was solved upon my return from Rwanda in 2020, I had the opportunity to strengthen my leadership and my experiences during a trip organized by the Guinea Investment Promotion Agency to train selected young entrepreneurs in the Accelerator Program. During the program, I focused on the design and implementation of trip planning and community tourism as a tourism professional which led me to create the #TripWithCommunity tour. This program focused on showcasing local artisan skills by creating income possibilities to improve their living conditions.
Since the launch of the #TripWithCommunity tour program, we have trained 70 people in six communities, now they work with our organization as a community partner which is key to the authentic experience we offer to our customers. Throughout my experiences, I realized that the tourism sector has huge employment possibilities and if well-structured can hire many young people. This can limit the rural exodus and help economies across the country in terms of income generation.
As the founder and Managing Director of Miranass Tourisme, I have dedicated my career to advancing community-based and sustainable tourism in Guinea, empowering local communities while promoting authentic travel experiences. Over the past seven years, I have cultivated a diverse skill set, from leading dynamic teams to securing strategic partnerships and organizing events such as cruises and immersive tours. My role as Managing Director has allowed me to sharpen my leadership skills, inspire collective purpose, and drive impactful change in the tourism sector. I have introduced both local and international travelers to the richness of Guinea's culture and craftsmanship while creating economic opportunities for local artisans. My work with the Guinea National Tourism Office as a Tourism Product Manager has allowed me to create products, shape the narrative of Guinea as a vibrant destination, and contribute to the country's broader tourism strategy.
Beyond my professional achievements, I am passionate about mentoring aspiring tour guides in Guinea. Participating in the Mandela Washington Fellowship has further strengthened my leadership skills, which I now apply to both my business operations and my role as a tourism advocate. Chevening program's opportunities will enable me to achieve my goals to expand our #TripWithCommunity in other countries.
