Turn Intention Into Action

Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by step, as we show up for ourselves day after day. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the outcome. Every time you take action despite self-doubt, you reinforce the belief that you’re capable. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about trusting that you can figure it out along the way.

The key to making things happen isn’t waiting for the perfect moment; it’s starting with what you have, where you are. Big goals can feel overwhelming when viewed all at once, but momentum builds through small, consistent action. Whether you’re working toward a personal milestone or a professional dream, progress comes from showing up — not perfectly, but persistently. Action creates clarity, and over time, those steps forward add up to something real.

You don’t need to be fearless to reach your goals, you just need to be willing. Willing to try, willing to learn, and willing to believe that you’re capable of more than you know. The road may not always be smooth, but growth rarely is. What matters most is that you keep going, keep learning, and keep believing in the version of yourself you’re becoming.

Guillaume Gérout Suominen

Guillaume is a specialist in trade negotiations and rules of origin, currently working with the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme. He has consulted for international organisations and partners to support the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) negotiations and implementation.

His clients have included organizations such as the International Trade Centre (ITC), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the International Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, and the governments of Madagascar and Tunisia, among others. He has notably served as a trade policy advisor to the AfCFTA Secretariat, focusing specifically on rules of origin.

His professional experience includes negotiating on behalf of the Seychelles government for several trade agreements, including the COMESA Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the COMESA-SADC-EAC Tripartite FTA, and the Eastern and Southern Africa-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (ESA-EU EPA) related to rules of origin. Additionally, he represented the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) as an observer during AfCFTA negotiations from 2016 to 2020.

He is a PhD candidate in the Doctoral Programme in Political, Societal, and Regional Changes at the University of Helsinki.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/guillaumegerout/
Previous
Previous

Small Steps Create Big Shifts

Next
Next

Make Room for Growth