Dr Nunoo: I wear so many hats: lecturer, board chair (African Centre for Energy Policy), board member (Petroleum Commission, Ghana and Ghana National Service Scheme), consultant, mentor, activist etc. and, believe me, I drop the ball on many occasions.  I have learnt to be easy on myself- especially when I don’t get it right.  I have the tendency to be hard on myself when things do not go the way I want but I am learning to get out of that.  I cannot always be excellent at everything.  I am not a superwoman.  I am me and I must accept that not everything will be perfect all the time.  That is why I make time to rejuvenate and take care of myself.  I always factor in taking care of myself because it is an essential part of me being able to do what I do.  I am more productive that way.  So, I factor in Netflix time, I have my nail technician and my hairdresser almost on speed dial, and I take time out to have dates with my husband. 

It’s My Story: You function in a male dominated world. How do the men relate with you? Are they respectful? Because I often hear that women are women’s greatest problem and not men. Would you say that is true?

Dr Nunoo: I am fortunate in that most of the men I work with are quite progressive.  However, there are a few who have dated notions about women in leadership.  As part of my work I must travel a lot, both in Ghana and abroad, I remember one older man took issue with that because I’m a married woman.  He did not like the fact that a married woman was allowed to travel.  Anybody who knows my husband knows that he is very forward thinking when it comes to women, careers, and leadership.  So, when the older man raised the concern in my presence, I told him in no uncertain terms that my marriage/ husband should be left out of his issues with me traveling.  He would not do that to a man so he should not do that to me.  I do not go around disrespecting anyone, so if a person is disrespectful towards me- whether it be on account of my gender, nationality, race or anything- I tend to address it head on.  I often pull up colleagues for misogynistic comments.