New York City — Guineans Succeeding in America (GSA), a nonprofit organization that empowers the Guinean-American community through education and professional development, will be holding its fifth annual GSA conference on Saturday, March 27, 2021 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
This year, the conference is taking place virtually due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Every year, the conference seeks to not only address the issues and challenges that Guinean women face but also inform, inspire, empower and build a network of women who are actively involved in bringing positive change to their community. The conference aims to bring together students, job seekers and young and experienced professionals to network with and motivate one another. The theme for this year’s conference is “Navigating the workplace as a woman.” This year, the conference is taking place virtually due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “This year, Guineans Succeeding in America seeks to highlight some women in our community who have differentiated themselves through their impressive professional achievements,” Hadja Fatoumata Doumbouya, GSA’s president, said in a statement. “We are hoping to keep on inspiring women and working professionals to increase the number of women reaching these types of roles.” The conference will include panels in which women professionals from a variety of fields speak to the theme of the conference, define success in their careers and provide advice on how women can adapt to, succeed in and advance in workplace environments. The panels and presentations will touch on the following issues:
- How to break into fields in which women are traditionally underrepresented, including getting a position and addressing the barriers women face to pursuing their education.
- How to stand out in the workplace environment, including standing out as an employee, developing leadership skills and advocating for yourself in the workplace.
- Advice on do’s and don’ts in the workplace, resume and cover letter writing as well as writing professional emails and developing interviewing, networking and informational interview skills.
Speakers include Mariama Ciré Keïta, CEO of Mkinc. and Communication Expert who serves as a consultant for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); Mariama Tounkara, Operations Coordinator, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Fatoumata Diallo, Grants Manager at The Fund for Global Human Rights and co-founder of the Women’s Relief Initiative; Rahilou Diallo, a creative producer based in Brooklyn and host of the “Toilet Podcast”; and Batouly Camara, professional basketball player and CEO of Women and Kids Empowerment (W.A.K.E.). Attendees are encouraged to use the hashtags #HereToSucceed and #GSAConference2020 as well as tag @GSAUSA224 on Twitter throughout the conference.
If you have any additional questions or are seeking more information, please contact GSA by phone at (917) 379-2360 or (646) 462-8599 or by email at gsausa224@gmail.com.
About Guineans Succeeding in America
Guineans Succeeding in America (GSA) is a nonprofit organization that strives to empower the Guinean-American community through education and professional development. GSA is an umbrella organization that consists of Guinean Graduates, a platform that highlights and honors graduates of Guinean descent; EachOne LiftOne, GSA’s mentorship program; and the Guinean Students Association. The student’s association currently has chapters in four colleges, offering professional development assistance through events and workshops that foster a friendly and welcoming environment for both new and continuing students. Since 2016, GSA has been hosting an annual conference where students, professionals and graduates from across the United States connect, giving students the opportunity to expand their networks while learning about their desired careers from experienced professionals.
As of today, GSA’s membership is composed of students and professionals who have been admitted to prestigious institutions such as the City University of New York (CUNY), Columbia University and Harvard University. They have also interned and work at prominent American companies and agencies such as AECOM, ECS, Ernst & Young (EY), the New York State Psychiatric Institute, the New York City Department of Education (DOE), the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Google, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, General Motors and Citigroup. Some GSA members have also built successful startups, including “Fastsusu” and “The Invested.”
Madina Touré Communications Lead, Guineans Succeeding in America