Learning to lead: A spotlight interview with UNEL-e alumnus Norah Ngeny

Norah Ngeny  currently works as an Associate Programme Management Officer with United Nations Enviromental Programme(UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya as part of the climate change adaptation team. Her journey within the United Nations (UN) began in UNEP Evaluation Office, followed assignments with United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) in Lao and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)’s regional liaison office in Morocco.

Norah enjoys working with communities and engaging with governments, supporting them directly, and seeing the impact of her efforts firsthand.

In this spotlight Interview, Norah shares her UN Emerging Leaders e-Learning Programme (UNEL-e) Spring 2024 journey with UNSSC’s Aida Ghazaryan.

Aida: Could you tell us what you found extraordinary about your learning experience?

Norah:  The reason I chose to sign up was I had recently become the 1st reporting officer with supervisory roles, and I kept thinking that I needed to “beef up” my skills because of this new role. Just by sheer luck a colleague forwarded a communication about the UNEL-e programme. This opportunity provided me with the time and opportunity to reflect both on myself, on my career path over the past decade and gain fresh perspectives and a clear direction concerning my career journey.

The programme’s focus on things like managing up, emotional intelligence and adaptive leadership were impactful for me and have helped me to think through challenges that we face on the programmatic level working day by day, how to stay grounded while in the l UN mission and my contribution within the broader team.

One more highlight was the diversity of participants that I got to meet from across different UN agencies and from different UN duty stations. It was great to listen to their insights, inputs, and to learn from them; we all face similar problems even if we work in different contexts and listening to them and learning from their strategies was invaluable.

Aida: In your position as associate programme management officer at UNEP, which aspect of the programme did you find most helpful? How has this contributed to your leadership development milestones?

Norah: Looking at it from the perspective of my work in climate change, I found that the lessons on adaptive management, emotional intelligence, and effective communication were so helpful. Why? We’re constantly navigating complexities when working on issues that have to do with climate change adaptation and it really requires flexibility both in strategy, working with and across teams, and managing projects. Learning about different leadership styles, different ways of communication was incredibly relevant, and it helped me pivot and to see how best to respond to situations and how to communicate effectively.

The session on emotional intelligence, helped me think about how to connect best within my team, how to think about needs and perspectives in an effective manner, and how to make better decisions for them. Overall, this has been a boost to my confidence and capacity, learning how to lead with empathy and resilience.

Aida: How has the UNEL-e programme given you the confidence to become a transformational and emotionally intelligent UN leader that one can relate to?

Norah: The programme really strengthened my confidence as an individual to lead.  One of the most empowering aspects was thinking about how to tune into my own emotions and how to tune into the needs of others, as this now helps me build stronger and more trusting relationships with my co-workers.

This goes beyond being relatable and thinking about how to relate best with your team but how to truly be compassionate, have emotional intelligence and deploy it, inspire people and foster a supportive working environment which benefits everyone.

The programme has given me the confidence to motivate not only myself more but the team more and I do hope that they feel and see the difference between the period before the programme and after.

Aida: What are some of the challenges you have faced in your work, and how has this training programme changed your perspective?

Norah: When I discussed my 360° report with the coach, one of the challenges I needed to work on was building my self-confidence to speak up and to share my views and insights openly.  

Through the training sessions, I realized that I could bring something to the table and my unique perspective makes a difference within my work and team. It's been really encouraging for me to be invited back to by the UNEL-e programme to speak to a new cohort during the final open session as well as for this interview.

I learned it's not just about worrying if you have the right answers, but about actively participating, sharing ideas, encouraging people. Recently when I mentioned to my team that I am very shy and have no confidence, they did not believe me at all. It’s made a big difference for me and it's something that I can see and apply every day at work.

Aida: What were the most memorable lessons from the UNEL-e programme?

Aida: I believe my most memorable lesson stems from the insights gained from my classmates. The invaluable tips, discussions, and strategies shared in discussion forums and breakout groups felt like pure gold. Everyone contributed unique perspectives, fostering a rich learning environment. The program allowed us to exchange ideas and apply technical knowledge practically. This opportunity encouraged us to share challenges and solutions, making it easy to reach out and ask for advice. The insights from both peers and facilitators have greatly influenced my approach to collaboration and leadership.

Aida: What message of inspiration would you leave to all UNEL-e participants or alumni?

Norah: Embrace your unique journey and continue to be curious and open to learning the skills and the insights that you are going to gain.  Every challenge you face is an opportunity to grow, don't hesitate to share your experiences and to support one another. My last comment would be that you should stay connected with your fellow alumni.  Always remember that your voice matters, and you have the potential to inspire change and foster collaboration within the UN and beyond. Push boundaries and strive for excellence!

If you are part of the UN system and keen to step up your leadership , sign up for the 2024 Fall edition of the UN Emerging Leaders e-Learning programme (16 October – 4 December 2024)

For any inquiries on upcoming editions and customized programmes for emerging leaders, please email unele@unssc.org.