Christelle Noelle (Dzesse) Tekouo

General Info

The Top Three Things I Would Like to Learn or Experience During my Mentorship

1. Develop my leadership and mentorship skills, as well as strategies to train other women so that together we can empower the undereducated women in northern Cameroon
2. Learn new methods of teaching online which take into account learners with small or no background
3. Network and find collaborations, learn better ways to find funding that will help to support my research activities, learn how to convert my result findings into marketable products, learn how to start a metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) startup

Mentorship Characteristic

• Attend company-wide meetings and/or team meetings
• Have exposure to the company culture
• Participate in a skills-building course, either provided by my mentor’s company or identify a free resource online
• Focus on leadership skills building
• Have exposure to basic industry techniques

Ideal Company Type

The ideal company is one that will help me to achieve my goals in such a way that I can better help undereducated women and reduce the level of illiteracy in northern Cameroon. It should be one where I can learn management and leadership skills in a formal way so upon returning to my country, I will lead those working with me in a better way to impact them so they can also impact others in turn. Furthermore, as a researcher, the company in which I will be placed should be one that helps me to give the best of myself.

Additional Technical Skills

I can easily put in place a business and manage it. Though I was not train for it, whenever I am interested by an opportunity, I look for ways to empower myself on that specific topic and try as much as possible to learn from others. In addition, I have acquired mentoring and leadership skills as a self-taught person and look forward to learn more and improve on these topics during the techwomen program.

What are three adjectives that best describe you in the work place?

1. Determined
2. Courageous
3. Reliable

What impact will your mentorship have on your career and professional path?

As a lecturer, this will help me to better engage with my students and lecture in a more relaxed environment. As a researcher, this opportunity will definitely be an eye opener experience. I hope to come out with an open mind and many collaborations that will help me to establish my own research group and become a renowned scientist. As a mentor, skills acquired will help me to empower women scientists, increase the number of role models so that together, we can reduce the level of illiteracy in northern Cameroon.

After participating in the TechWomen program, how will you leverage your mentorship experience to make an impact in your home country?

The leadership and mentorship skills acquired will help to manage the ladies I work with. I will mentor and help more women to remain in science while transferring these skills. Once they are empowered, ways of encouraging and supporting uneducated young girls will be put in place. We will educate the community on the importance of educating young girls; Through competitions in all scientific fields, prizes will be given to the best female students. The aim is to have many role models that will in turn encourage others, the ultimate goal is to see more women emerge in science.

Work History

Years of Full-time Work Experience

12

Primary Professional Focus

• Educational technology
• Energy, renewable technology or green technology
• Scientist and researcher

Education History