BY JOY OFASIA
Health Inspector for the Environmental Health Unit in Western Province, Merilyn Roy Vana, has shared how the Women Leadership Initiative (WLI) program is changing the way she sees herself, her work, and her role as a leader.
“Let me begin with a question that I once asked myself: ‘Why me?’ Why am I being given responsibilities that feel bigger than my capacity? Why am I being placed in situations that challenge me beyond what I think I can handle?” she told SOLOMON WOMEN.
For a long time, Merilyn saw these moments as pressure. She felt they were unfair expectations placed on her.
“Before attending this Women’s Leadership training, I often saw these moments as pressure… even as unfair expectations. But today, standing here, I see them differently,” she explained.
As the women’s focal point for Western Province, Merilyn said her journey has not been easy. She faced many challenges at work, especially in how she was treated.
“In my workplace, I have faced many challenges—especially in how I am treated within the system. There were times I felt overlooked, times I doubted myself, and times I questioned my place as a woman trying to lead and contribute meaningfully,” she said.
However, the first WLI activity on public speaking and media engagement helped her see things in a new way. The sessions on Public Speaking Foundations and Purpose, led by Nidia Raya Martinez through prerecorded presentations and Zoom classes, had a strong impact on her.
“I learned that public speaking is not just about standing in front of people and talking—it begins with having a clear purpose and understanding your audience,” Merilyn said. “This helped me realize that when we speak, we are not just delivering words—we are sharing who we are, what we believe, and what we stand for.”
She said one important lesson for her was learning how to structure a message clearly.
“Having a beginning, a middle, and an end, and keeping our message simple and focused. This made me understand that effective communication is not about saying many things, but about saying the right things in a way people can understand and remember. This was new to me,” she shared.
Merilyn also said the training changed how she thinks about confidence and speaking.
“I used to think speaking was about being perfect, about saying the right words. But now I understand that it is about being real. It is about connection. It is about purpose,” she said. “And I also learned that confidence does not come naturally—it comes through practice, and how we present ourselves through our body language, tone, and eye contact matters just as much as our words.”
She reflected on times in her job when she questioned why she was given big responsibilities. Now, she sees those moments differently.
“I now understand that speaking and leading must be purpose-driven—to inform, to inspire, and to make an impact,” she said. “Connecting with people, even through simple stories and real experiences, is what makes our message meaningful.”
Merilyn said this new mindset has been powerful.
“This shift in mindset has been powerful for me. This has helped me not only in speaking, but also in how I approach my work and responsibilities. I am still learning. Many things are still new to me. But I am growing,” she said.
She added that the training has given her more than just skills.
“This training has not just given me skills but a new perspective, a new way of seeing myself and a new way of understanding leadership.”
