Women only hold 28.2 percent of management positions worldwide (UN Women, 2023). It illustrates unequivocally that women are still underrepresented in leadership roles in the workplace.
Despite challenges, a few women have accomplished great professional success and emerged as role models for the next generation of female leaders. Cecilia Naadensua Quarshie, who resides in Finland, is one of these guiding stars.
Cecilia is the founder and CEO of Ceci Educare Oy and the Finland Academy of International Business. She has held management and director roles in prestigious Finnish institutions.
Cecilia has been incredibly well-known in the field of education, which is crucial to nation-building since it greatly influences a nation’s social, political, and economic growth. Ceci Educare Oy, a legally registered company in Finland following EU law and its regulations, is a testament to her outstanding contributions to the field of education.
The Nordic firm Ceci Educare Oy has two locations: its main office is in Espoo, Finland, and its branch, Ceci Educare Filial, is in Stockholm, Sweden. The firm is a member of several diplomatic organizations, including the British & Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce in Finland, the Noweigian Trade of Association, and the Finnish-Swedish Chamber of Commerce. The Finnish Chamber of Commerce has more than 600 multicultural company members in Finland and Sweden, and Cecilia is the first and only African Black member to date. The Noweigian Trade of Association in Finland has over 300 multicultural company members with Cecilia being the first and only current African member as of when this article was written.
Accredited CPD Professional Master Class Courses, Business Summits, Finland Education Tours, Internships, General Counseling Services, Global Award Ceremonies, Sweden Education Tours / Exchange Programs, Nordic Business Cruise, and Business Consultation are some of its offerings.
Cecilia founded the Finland Academy of International Business in January 2024. It offers a Mini MBA, a number of capacity-building courses, and internationally accredited online CPD courses.
The old firm, New Generation Kids Osk, employed Cecilia as a regional coordinator for six ECEC centers in Finland, where she also served as a project coordinator for the opening of two new schools. She also taught regional administrators and head teachers in each of the six ECEC facilities, which are today owned by Pilke Daycare and the Finnish government public schools.
Cecilia is also the pioneer of re-establishing the daycare center called Alppuruusu Päiväkoti which announced its closure on 6th September 2013 in YLE news in Finland reported by Sannika Michelsson and Salja Nironen. Due to the trust the previous Managers had in Cecilia, the daycare grew to a success with several families. The previous owners sold the daycare to Pilke Päiväkoti in June 2016.
Cecilia’s career as the ECEC Director and Manager at Touhula Starlight further demonstrates her outstanding leadership acumen. Her responsibilities included financial management, marketing, HR & management, directing pedagogy, allocating substitute staff to other units, and administrative work with the regional education office in Helsinki. Out of 180 directors in Finland, she was the only one from Africa.
Leaders play a crucial part in propelling organizations toward success. Ceci Educare Oy and the Finland Academy of International Business have gained remarkable recognition and expanded quickly under Cecilia’s astute guidance.
Malawi hosted its first-ever EU Investment Forum at the Bingu International Convention Center in Lilongwe from November 26–28, 2024. This groundbreaking event brought together key stakeholders to promote joint analysis, collaboration, and growth, ultimately driving success and prosperity for participating businesses and the EU and Malawi economies. Cecilia’s participation as an EU delegate at the event demonstrates her significance in the business world. “I attended the event as an EU delegate courtesy of the British & Commonwealth Association of Finland Ry. It was an amazing experience to participate in the event,” she stated during an interview.
In addition to being a highly accomplished education leader and entrepreneur, Cecilia has made a name for herself as a poet and humanitarian. She is the author of two poetry books, Mysteries of a Virgin’s Agony and My Diary Poetry of Hope, Despair & Freedom. Both books are available on Amazon. Her outstanding philanthropic efforts have been recognized globally, as evidenced by her receipt of the Nina Meyernorf Leadership Award in Virginia, USA, on November 9, 2024.
Cecilia’s accomplishments are too many to list here. She is the first African in Finland to establish a UK-accredited professional program with globally recognized courses. She was the first one to organize, sponsor, and plan a business summit and global award ceremony in August 2024 (the Gallery of 2024 Award) and the first manager to be appointed at Kaivopuisto International Kindergarten: Montessori School.
Her notable achievements also include being one of the first 12 English speakers in Finland to be awarded a diploma as a legally recognized and registered expert by experience, training under Familiar Ry, Finland, and being one of the 12 “Nkabom” young people chosen from all over the world in 2007–2008 to meet the late Queen Elizabeth at the Annual Review of the Royal Common Wealth Meeting in London.
Cecilia’s story is really motivating. Success comes to those who embrace challenges. Cecilia exemplifies this brilliantly. During the second year of her dual degree program at Laurea University of Applied Sciences (2008–2011), she attended classes with her 2-week-old child and graduated with him at the graduation ceremony. She completed six months ahead of schedule, making her one of the first four students to do so.
She started working with many international non-governmental organizations at the age of 16, including PPAG, UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, CHAG, MOH, AYA, and others. She worked very hard and overcame many challenges to become the lady she is today.
Because they demonstrate that success is attainable, same-gender role models are particularly helpful for women in highly competitive and male-dominated work environments. Leadership role models like Cecilia might encourage the next generation of women to step into leadership roles, which is the most effective method for them to become independent and autonomous.