Nairobi, April 15 -- Last weekend, I was invited to a learning lunch in honour of Ambassador Monica Juma. Seated around that table were 10 women professionals, who, like me, are part of The Athena, Monica Juma's mentorship and leadership programme. The occasion was an opportunity for us to celebrate and congratulate her as she begins her new assignment as the executive director of the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime.

She walked into the venue and warmly hugged everyone around that table. As protocol shuffled to get her to sit at the head of the table, she settled on a chair closest to her, after hugging the last person. She clearly had not come to head a table - she had come to have a heart-to-heart talk with women professionals...