Q&A with Sheillah Karimi |  Women in WASH Leadership Series

Sheillah Karimi, Senior Program Coordinator at KfW Development, Germany’s government-owned development bank, provides insight into her background and experiences as a woman in WASH.

Describe your educational background and how it has advanced your career.

My university education leans on environment, water resources and development. I have a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies majoring in project planning and management in the context of sustainability safeguards and a Master of Science in Integrated Water Resources Management. This qualification has equipped me with practical skills and knowledge that have been very helpful in my career. 

Traditionally, project development was all about technical solutions with technical feasibility being the most important criteria. However, there has been a clarion call for sustainable development. This has necessitated a completely new aspect of development that considers the relationship between economic, social and environmental sustainability. The knowledge I have acquired is well suited for this kind of project development and management. I call myself a “social engineer” who bridges the gap between development and environment, between engineering and conservation, while also measuring social impacts of the projects.

Tell us more about your work experience.

I am a development expert with over 10 years of progressive engagement in the water and sanitation sector covering: program/project development, preparation, implementation and supervision, sector monitoring systems, policy analysis, advocacy and strategic influencing at the national policy and political level, networking, partnership and engagement with broader sector players in government, civil society organizations, private sector and development partners. I am also experienced in multi-stakeholder coordination, and institutional and capacity strengthening of project implementing partners. Having been part of teams that successfully developed and managed over EUR 700M for water and sanitation projects, I have heightened my knowledge and experience in all stages of the project cycle for small, medium and large projects. I have developed comprehensive managerial and technical skills in strategy, appropriate technologies, and sustainable approaches for project design, planning, implementation and management. I offer experience in people and partnership management and stakeholder relationships.

Prior to an illustrious career in the public sector, working mainly with state actors, I worked in a non-state organization specializing in policy advocacy, building the capacity of community groups on governance and democratization and rights-based approaches (right to water, sanitation, and housing).

Did you have a role model, and if so, what advice have they given you that you still apply today?

My late father encouraged me to study environmental studies. He always told me to work hard in that field and be the next Wangari Maathai. I may not have become a Wangari Maathai, but I have been involved in programs that have changed the lives of many Kenyans as it relates to improved water and sanitation services, while ensuring that sustainable development principles are adhered to. My other mentor is Prof. Bancy Mati – an international expert in water resources management and food security. She advised me to do a postgraduate degree in water resources management. She is also the person who informed me of a scholarship opportunity for this program. Whilst studying she further advised that water resources will remain the ‘central nerve’ of any development sphere, in every sector. Prof. Bancy taught me the value of hard work and integrity.

Describe your journey towards senior management.

Following my postgraduate studies, I served as an intern at a rights-based non-governmental organisation. I grew to lead the development and implementation of innovative water supply, sanitation and environmental service programmes, in close partnership with communities in selected urban cities while building their capacities to operate the systems. This gave me the stepping stone into the WASH sector and I then became a Social Economist for a big urban WASH program – financially supporting improved access to water and sanitation services in marginalized and low-income urban areas. I was later promoted to head the program and it turned out to be one of the best programs for reaching over one million people with improved services. It became a sector benchmark in the region. Due to this, I was headhunted for my current job. It has been a journey of not only hard work but professionalism, high-integrity values and good leadership skills.

What has been the most significant challenge and/ or obstacle on this journey, and how do you manage it?

Managing various interests (political and social) while upholding integrity, i.e. doing what is right. It was not easy, especially in my previous job, but I can proudly say that I managed to uphold my values that propelled the rest of the team and the programme to greater heights. I managed this by making my position clear to everyone and that I cannot be compromised. This is what I am known for by those I have worked with.

Which of your challenges were unique because you are female?

I have faced situations where some men thought they could put me down simply because I am a woman, especially in the boardroom. I remember a chairman of the board saying that the only way to tame me was to sleep with me. Other cases are when I meet some men in senior positions for meetings and thereafter they start diverting into other suggestive things. I have also encountered some senior government officials who may not want to engage with me simply because I’m a woman.

How would you describe your journey as being different from your male colleagues and how have they supported you or blocked your progress? 

I think as a woman it is not easy to make a good career if you have values that cannot be compromised.

I have been lucky or blessed to have male bosses who have supported me in my career growth. They were able to see and appreciate the potential in me.

How do you navigate adversarial relationships with female colleagues, if any? 

I believe in making my voice and opinions heard, whether they agree or not, with my fellow woman. Some women are unable to control their emotions. I had one incident where a female boss would always interpret my actions as being malicious, because she expected me to support all her decisions as a fellow woman. I find it disappointing when someone expects you not to have a contrary opinion. I have also encountered female leaders and colleagues who take criticism personally.

What are the personal characteristics or skills that are vital to becoming a successful leader?

1. Communication: Expressing yourself openly and building empathy with other people, being able to listen and pay attention to employees or those that one leads. 
2. Integrity: You can’t expect your followers to be honest when you lack integrity yourself. Honest and great leaders succeed when they stick to their word, live by their core values, lead by example, and follow through.
3. Accountability: As a leader one has to be accountable for the team’s results, good or bad. You must have your team’s back, which creates a sense of responsibility among the team. A good leader gives credit where credit is due and takes responsibility for blame when necessary. 
4. Empathy: Being able to individually understand those you lead, so that you can forge a deep personal connection with them. 
5. Resilience: Having a positive attitude and rallying your team no matter the circumstances. Trying to remain calm, collected and focusing on solutions not problems. 
6. Vision: Having the bigger picture and making it known to your team. A leader must create a vision, articulate it, win it and relentlessly pursue it to completion. Reminding everyone of the big picture inspires loyalty, enthusiasm and commitment.

What was your experience being both a mother and building a career? 

It is a difficult, but most rewarding experience. In many cases it’s not easy to balance the two and often one supersedes the other, leaving a sense of guilt. For example, when I take time away from work to handle my children’s needs I feel guilty, or when I take time away from my family for work I feel guilty. It is a constant feeling of being pulled in two different directions. I have been lucky to have a supportive husband who understands and steps whenever required. It was not easy in the beginning of my career, when I had to put in more effort to grow in certain roles. However, over time I have learned to balance the two by being more efficient in my time management s

Are there ways in which motherhood has enriched your career journey? 

Doing well in my job has always been important to me. However, the drive to succeed together with the birth of my children motivates me to work even harder to provide for them. Motherhood also made me begin prioritizing my essential, deadline-driven work and turn down any projects/meetings I could without committing career suicide.

What do you believe are organizational structures or improvements that would make the work-life balancing easier for women? 

Flexible working arrangements and lactation rooms. 

What are some of your greatest accomplishments and goals (whether personally or professionally)?

One of my greatest accomplishments was when I was part of the team hired to start a new urban WASH program. We managed to develop and grow the program to be the most successful in Kenya and set a benchmark in the region. The program shaped the water sector’s pro-poor standards from financing to implementing and evaluating projects’ impacts.

I find personal fulfillment when I see how a project I was involved in has directly changed the lives of the people by making it better.

How do you manage stress and what are some activities you participate in outside of work

Stress or rather pressure is expected both at work and at home. Stress management is a process that I am learning as I progress in my career and motherhood. I try to plan, prioritize, be more efficient, manage time well and have a positive attitude. I also choose my battles wisely. As I grow older, I have realized that some arguments, conflicts are not worth my energy.I try to do my best without being too hard on myself.

My coping strategies are exercising and finding “me time” – where I lock myself in a room and just reflect, journal or just drift into my own world.

I love solo travelling and meeting new people and cultures. I also enjoy cooking and trying new recipes that I find online. And I read—motivational, biographies, Christian or just fairy tale books.

What are some ways you manage time—both in your work and personal life?

My husband says that I am a planner. I’m not a last-minute person and I think I have learned this from my German colleagues. I plan well ahead of time to avoid the last-minute rush that comes with a lot of stress. I clearly put boundaries between work and family time.

What is your advice to young women who feel overlooked/ passed by/sexually harassed in their career? Or any encouraging words? 

I think the best way to answer this is to look back at my own career journey and think through what would have really helped me or made a difference, had I known when I started off.

1. Knowing who you are: Your beliefs, values, strengths and weaknesses. Then let people know you for who you are.
2. Learn to say no: Let a NO be a NO and stand by that and be ready to bear the consequences of that.
3. Own and speak up: Don’t shy away from speaking up regarding your opinions and ideas.
4. Mentor and professional networks: Find a person who can guide you in your career journey. One you can openly share your ideas, frustrations and thoughts with, and who can guide you based on their experience. Professional networks can also help you find new opportunities. 
5. Be eager to learn, but don’t be a pushover: Be willing to take on certain tasks that may seem mundane or beneath you. This is how you slowly work your way up the ladder and build trust with your colleagues and managers. What is not acceptable, however, is being pushed around, especially if you are working in an environment led mostly by men. You are not the ‘coffee girl’. You are not there to pick up lunch for the guys. You are not there to tolerate sexist or discriminatory language, or to be talked down to. 
6. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. One of the secrets that successful women rely on all the time is playing to their strengths, while minimizing their weaknesses. Focus on the skills that make you the “all-star” that you are. Keep trying to improve on your weaker skills but allow your strengths to let you stand out from everyone else. 
7. Learn to accept criticism: It’s hard to hear that your skills are not as polished as you thought. When someone gives you feedback that’s not what you want to hear, leave your emotions out of it and use their comments as an opportunity to grow and better your skills. Similarly, realize that you are going to make mistakes along the way. Make sure to learn from them.

No matter how complex, formidable, complicated and unique you think your situation is, remember that there is at least one other woman in the world who has faced something similar and found a way out of adversity. So it is possible. Believe in it. Look for possibilities, alternatives, paradigms that might work. Press on and rest assured that this is a sector that gives personal fulfillment since it has a direct impact on people.

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