Volatility & Opportunity Exists In Same Space Today: Panel At The Breast Tour Online Summit

The unprecedented coronavirus crisis has introduced an economic uncertainty, distributed among all the sections of society. However, this is the time to look for a positive in every negative. The COVID-19 crisis has brought an opportunity for businesses to bloom, requiring reinvention, innovation, collaboration, and a sustainable approach to coming out of this crisis. But as we move forward with a modified world, can we neglect the damage that has been done to the sectors and the workers they employ?

A panel at the online summit - The Breast Tour, titled Economic Engines: The Road To Recovery, discussed how this unprecedented time has given us an opportunity to create new businesses, enhance existing models and diversify inside of their already existing models. The panel was moderated by Christine Francois, the summit producer, and included Xiomara Diaz Hopkins, Co-founder of The Garden Café and UPNicaragua, Fellow at the Aspen Institute & Vital Voices, President, Voces Vitales Nicaragua, as a speaker, along with Nicole Joseph-Chin, Founder and CEO of Ms. Brafit Limited, a social enterprise focused on women’s health and specifically breast health. SheThePeople.TV were the media partner for this.

"Women have a very special role to play in the world. I think that we're able to naturally empathize with the world around us and that gives us the opportunity to lead differently."- Xiomara Diaz Hopkins

What Is The Breast Tour About? 

Throwing light on what the breast tour is actually about, Nicole says, "The breast tour is about getting conversations that we knew would be relevant. In many countries, where there are difficulties and challenges, yet, at the forefront is the woman and her body. When we think about breasts, we forget about the nurturing aspect of it. We also forget that a woman takes up so much space in the world positively, in terms of her role inside of the workforce, inside of the economy, inside of the household, inside of making the home, a place for her family to be nurtured. So, when we speak about the breast tour, we do not just speak about the anatomy, but we speak about the positioning of women in the world and how we navigate and create change, and how we sustain a change that we create. And how we take everyone along with us."

Staying Focussed During Crises

Xiomara says, "The main advice and the main source of resilience is to have a very clear mission and purpose and be deeply committed and connected to that." She further elucidates how not having an idea of where you actually want to be can lead to even a small storm throw you out of the path. "So discovering and connecting with our purpose is really important," she adds.

"When we try to start a movement, we have to also engage in mindset development. And mindset development is important because we have to get everyone on board."- Nicole Joseph Chin

Xiomara further says, "Women have a very special role to play in the world. I think that we're able to naturally empathize with the world around us and that gives us the opportunity to lead differently, be it in business, or NGOs, in society, politically, on every level. And I think the time has come for us to be able to connect to that part of being a woman. And celebrate our breasts and everything that makes us a woman."

Also Read: A girl's dreams shouldn't end with marriage. I learnt it the hard way.

Monetizing Purpose - Moving From A Profit Model To A Social Model That Generates Revenue For Itself, But For A Social Cause

Xiomara shares her life experience from 2011, where she recalls a 14-year-girl sitting with a much older man, a foreigner, seemingly unrelated to the girl, at her restaurant. Later, that man turned out to be a criminal who would collect pornographic images of teenagers. "The way that man would catch the victims was so gross that I was deeply moved by it," she says.

She further adds, "I then came across kids who had gone through similar experiences, and that is when I realized that the best thing I can do for them is to connect them to opportunities and quality education, that would prevent girls from falling into such a trap. I then thought that I have a business that I can use to create an organization that can help deliver opportunities for girls. If I have a business that is profitable, why can't I have an organization that generates money, on its own, but to be into social good."

More And More Consumers Today Are Concerned About "Where Does This Come From And Where Is This Going To"

Mindset Development In The Process Of Starting A Movement

In her conversation with Christine, Xiomara elucidates how during crises like COVID-19, the authorities turn their eyes to the more emergency issues, and kids become more vulnerable. "We need so many different authorities to step in to help a girl, who has been a victim. So there's a bunch of legal issues that come in when you're trying to help a victim. And if you do not have the support of the civil society and the government, it doesn't matter how good you are," she says.

Nicole says, "When we try to start a movement, we have to also engage in a mindset development. And mindset development is important because we have to get everyone on board."

Also Read: Here Are 3 Mindsets To Watch Out For While You Work From Home