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Marthie's Midwifery DIARY, Douala (2025)

27/10/2025

When a career is called a waste of time, you don't quit. You simply raise the global stage it's on.

I was told my ambition was too big for a career in Midwifery.

But the thing about passion is, it doesn’t wait for permission or validation. Instead, it finds new rooms, new stages, and new ways to be recognized.

These are some of the rare opportunities and high-level recognitions I've received as a Midwife—to inspire anyone who’s been told they’re heading down the wrong road:

🏆Gates Foundation Global Goalkeeper Changemaker Awardee
🎖️ Echoing Green Fellow
🏅 International Confederation of Midwives Young Midwife Leader
🎖️ D-Prize Fellow/Awardee
🎙️ ChangeNOW Woman for Change
🎖️ Vital Voices Global Partnership Visionary Fellow
🏅 The Bloom Social Impact 30 Under 30

...and much more that's fueling the work!

If your vision is clear but your current environment is draining, know you're not wasting your time.
Don't let someone else's ceiling become your floor. Change rooms!

The world needs what you have to offer—especially from professions like mine. Midwives belong in the rooms where global change happens.

(If the room doesn't exist yet? Build your own -I had to build my own.)

20/10/2025

One million more midwives globally could prevent 67% of maternal deaths, 64% of newborn deaths, and 65% of stillbirths.

📸These are photos from 2020.

I remember feeling a real fire in my belly as a student midwife. I noticed how midwives often felt like the "quiet" part of campus, while medical students and other departments organized big, visible conferences and campaigns.

It honestly felt like we were the outcasts, and that sense of an important profession being unseen really bothered me.

I decided to challenge it.

I started talking to classmates and seniors, sharing my frustration, and saying, "We can change this! We can organize bigger things!"

That spark caught on, and the very next year, I was voted Vice President, and then the next, President, of the University of Buea Midwifery Students Association.
We didn't just fight to be known; we built structures where everyone felt involved, doing extraordinary things like bringing established midwives to inspire us and organizing massive seminars.
It was defining for me—I saw how my passion ignited a movement and drove positive change.

I'm still in that business today: bringing midwives together to champion the health of mothers and babies.

The world urgently needs that same fire, because the statistics don't lie: one million more midwives could prevent a staggering 67% of maternal deaths, 64% of newborn deaths, and 65% of stillbirths. That's not an ordinary impact; that's life-changing.

So, if you're a Midwife reading this, don't conform to the standards you see around you. Challenge them.
The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) has just launched a crucial petition for a million more midwives, and this is our chance to show that we are anything but ordinary.

Add your name to the campaign and join the movement for moms and babies! Click the link and sign: https://lnkd.in/e52nj63X

15/10/2025

This is how I handle rejection emails…

Because I’m very transparent about my wins & success stories, people often assume I don't face rejection—shocker, I do! 😅.. I mean, who doesn’t!?😂
Here's exactly what I do when one of those "unfortunately, we are not able to move forward with you" emails lands in my inbox...

1- First things first, I physically step outside and take a deep breath. My head needs to be cool before I can even begin to process the shock! Hahahaha.

2- In that initial moment, it feels like my head is spinning. I take a few minutes just to process the disappointment and allow my brain to come back down to earth.

3- I revisit the email after some time and let myself get as mad as possible. Not mad at myself, though. I genuinely believe in the work my team and I do, and I just wish every funder/potential partner would see what I see! (I know they all will, with time. 😉)

4- Once the mad is out, I calm down and sometimes take myself out for a chill session. Then, it's straight back to the drawing board: look for the next best opportunity, apply, and life goes on!

5- I immediately use this experience and my previous wins as fuel for the next application. My team knows the drill: "Okay, we didn’t get it... so! On to the next! We move!!" Hahahaha.

I honestly wish more funders would implement systematic, perhaps AI-driven, methods to offer even a little in depth feedback to accompany rejection emails. I understand they probably get thousands of applications but this will help applicants adjust & grow faster. Feedback is important.

Bottom line is - Prioritize your wins over your failures. There are so many good things happening in your life and work that you sometimes can’t see them because the negatives are all you focus on. Don't let a rejection email block your view of the massive impact you're already making.

13/10/2025

I had just landed in Nairobi, Kenya, for a very intense program when I realized the deadline for the yearly Dovetail Acceleration Portfolio by the Dovetail Impact Foundation was fast approaching!

I'd been looking forward to applying after seeing the inspiring work Nafisa Jiddawi of WAJAMAMA Community Health had been doing as one of their partners. Being out of the country for another commitment definitely wasn't the most convenient time for me to apply, but I did it anyway.

It was literally the first thing I sat down to do after arriving in Nairobi. With the clock ticking and the deadline looming, I needed to act fast. My team was on standby & assisted in sending over necessary information/documents from the office!

I finally hit submit around 3:23 AM (see the second slide for proof! 😅), grabbing only about two hours of sleep before diving straight into the program I was in Kenya for.

Fast forward to a month and a few weeks ago, we received the fantastic news: we were selected for the program after Round 2! Even better, I have the opportunity to bring one of my core team members along—our Programs Officer, Mbah Larissa, is on this journey with me! 🎉

I’m sharing this to say: it won't always be the most convenient time for you to apply for opportunities.

Application fatigue is real (a term I happily learned from my dear friend and "Dove sis" Aisha Abdullahi Bubah of The Sunshine Series- Mind wellness 😂), but you'll feel even worse when you miss the chance entirely, or see that others got it while you, who were perhaps more competent, were still sitting back.

Wake up and do what needs to be done.

I carry the mindset that my work is bigger than me. So, I'm doing it for the many other people it benefits.

Thankful to be part of the Dovetail family now and looking forward to a great learning and impactful journey!

10/10/2025

I made a post some months back sharing that ‘I’m being mentored’.
I had just started my formal Echoing Green paired mentorship, and it’s only right that I come back to say we’ve come to an end—and that Echoing Green gave me the best mentor ever Muzalema Mwanza!🥰

Founder to Founder, Muzalema poured into me without holding anything back. Our sessions were deep, unfiltered, and exposing every unhealthy founder ego in me. I was humbled! 😂 I felt so free sharing my uncertainties and wins with her, and in return, she equipped me with invaluable skills:

✔️ How to think strategically
✔️ How to map out stakeholders effectively
✔️ How to build a data room and pitch excellently

Muzalema is one of those rare people I know will mention my name in rooms I’m not present in- she believes in me. For someone like me, who is always giving out and mentoring others, it was such a vibe and a lovely experience to sit back and be the mentee😎.

Even though our formal sessions ended a week ago, I'm still feeling the powerful, positive vibrations of everything she's left me with.
Glad to still have access to her wisdom and support any day, any time! 😍

08/10/2025

I'm honored to be part of the 11th cohort of Emerging Leaders by Vital Voices Global Partnership Visionaries Program, supported by the Estée Lauder Emerging Leaders Fund (ELELF)!

This program brings together 50 women globally and is built on the proven leadership model of Vital Voices, incorporating lessons from Estée Lauder executives and Vital Voices Global Network leaders. I'll be joining a community of over 20,000 changemakers in 185 countries!

Vital Voices was founded by former First Lady of the United States Hillary Clinton, Former U.S. Secretary of State - Madeleine Albright, and the organization's current CEO, Alyse Nelson following the United Nations 4th World Conference on Women to globally promote women's empowerment.

I see this as a powerful opportunity not only to learn and build partnerships, but also to represent For Mom and Baby Foundation on a global platform.
My goal is to amplify the voices of mothers and children, drive systemic change in healthcare access and quality, and ensure safer births and healthier futures for every family, all while bringing invaluable on-the-ground knowledge to the table for connecting global insights with local action.
Thank you Awele Okigbo for holding my hands on this before and now that I’m officially your VV sister😄..

I'm grateful to be on this journey and excited to do my part in creating a more equitable and compassionate world!

06/10/2025

I met Delphine Konda, founder Girls Excel in person a year ago at the 2024 Echoing Green (EG) Convening in Ghana!
She was the first EG Fellow selected from Cameroon, and I’m the most recent, with Mbah Atim Patience right in the middle.

When Delphine let me know she was in the country months back, I immediately invited her to join our in-person team capacity-building session. Knowing her expertise in scholarship applications and leveraging opportunities, I asked her to do one thing: teach our staff and volunteers how to recognize and pursue these pathways. She did absolute justice to that!

One of the greatest gifts Echoing Green gives is family in the social entrepreneurship space. The professional credibility of the Echoing Green Fellowship cannot be overstated. When I connect with another Fellow(or just anyone & I mention I’m an EG fellow), there's an immediate mutual trust that translates directly into the response: 'Yes, let's work together!

I'm incredibly thankful for Delphine. To everyone who has already applied for the EG Fellowship, you made the right choice. And for those still thinking about it, you have just 2 more days to apply!

Apply here: https://echoinggreen.org/fellowship/apply/

Thankful for the family that is Echoing Green.

01/10/2025

What they don't tell you about career growth or progression is...

At a certain level, your technical skills stop being the primary driver of your success.

They got you in the door, and they'll keep you competent, but the true accelerator of progression is what we often dismiss as "soft skills":

↗️Influence without authority.

↗️Conflict resolution and managing difficult conversations.

↗️Strategic communication to executives.

↗️The ability to teach and mentor others effectively.

In my experience, I had to learn to master strategic communication and accountability ~ I proactively update funders/partners on progress and impact, not because I was asked, but because I know their investment requires consistent trust-building. This soft skill of taking ownership of the narrative is honestly what I think has contributed to bringing me this far, far beyond my initial technical expertise.

You can be the most brilliant Midwife, engineer or marketer, but if you can't build trust, manage stakeholders, or communicate your vision, you'll hit a ceiling.
Also, the higher you go, the more people management and strategic communication become the core of the job.

26/09/2025

Every time you speak, two things happen:

1- You reveal a little bit about yourself—your values, your mindset, your expertise.

2- You plant a seed in someone else's mind.

Think about that last one. With every conversation, email, presentation, or comment, we are planting something in the people around us. Are they seeds of doubt or inspiration? Of cynicism or possibility? Of stress or clarity?

This has become even more clear to me as I hold the hands of other Midwives through mentorship. In their world, where lives are literally in their hands, the stakes are incredibly high.
A few well-chosen words from a mentor or peer can either offer the encouragement needed to stay calm under pressure or deliver the critique that breaks their confidence. What you say either builds them up or tears them down.

The bottom line is that our language isn't just a way to convey information; it's a cultivation tool. Choose your words wisely, because they are always growing something.

19/09/2025

📱A simple WhatsApp status I saw a few hours ago from a young midwife took me by surprise and made me appreciate my journey so much more.

When I was in my second year of midwifery school, I started writing the Student Midwife’s Internship Guide. It was based entirely on my own experiences as a student Midwife. Every edition since has been simple and brutally honest (I made sure the content stayed relevant, I've revised the editions every single year~ this year will be the 5th).

Nelly, the midwife who made the watsapp post, got the book over three years ago in her first year of school.
She randomly shared a post about the impact it's had on her career journey, and even though she's now a working midwife, she said it’s still just as useful.

I'm so grateful I didn't stop or minimize what I had to share with other young student midwives like myself. This is your sign that you're never too young to inspire or too new to innovate.

18/09/2025

🌏13 midwives from across 4 countries.

From running global virtual antenatal care platforms to managing a reproductive health blog on Facebook, to lecturing and building capacity in other midwives in the USA—these Midwives are dedicated!

🎯 Cohort 5 of the Midwifery Mentorship Program is ongoing!

It's been two weeks since we started with this cohort, and it's safe to say this group is serious about their growth.
They know what they're here for, with an over 90% attendance rate recorded for almost every class.
I'm so glad I didn't hesitate to have another cohort before the year ends- I even went overboard by 10 Midwives limit and took on 13!.

These Midwives are ready to redefine what it means to be a midwife, and I'm incredibly proud to hold their hands on this.
I'm partnering with them to help them become the best versions of themselves, so they can provide even more refined care to mothers and babies around the world.

Let’s ride👏… Barbara Vernéus Therese Tchouala Mary Showunmi Grace Olasupo, RM Osong Elizabeth Finara Ngwe Nandoa Blessing neni Bidsona Stephanie

12/09/2025

What measures or boundaries do you put in place as a leader to ensure you enjoy your weekends?🤔💭

For me, I've implemented a strict "no emails after 6 PM on Friday" rule. My work stops then, and from that point on, my focus is entirely on personal & family time. Anything else can wait until Monday.

This was a tough boundary to set at first😅. I'd still get weekend emails and feel the pressure to log back on, which often led to another four hours of work.
But I've found that the more consistent I've been, the more my staff, friends, and even funders have come to respect it. Now, I receive fewer weekend emails and can truly enjoy my time off.

I know not everyone has the same level of control, but I encourage you to do what you can to maximize your weekend for rest, family, and recharging.

Happy weekend! And if you're seeing this on a weekday, consider this a reminder to plan for your next one😉.

Marthie's Midwifery DIARY

27/10/2025

20/10/2025

15/10/2025

13/10/2025

10/10/2025

08/10/2025

06/10/2025

01/10/2025

26/09/2025

19/09/2025

18/09/2025

12/09/2025

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