A powerful personal reflection on women's rights and leadership in diplomacy, emphasizing that meaningful change requires not just representation, but genuine participation and influence in decision-making spaces.
Her Story
About Nelly
Nelly Hermance serves as an advisor at the permanent mission of Cote d ivoire to the United Nations in New York City, a role she has held for about five years. With a strong educational foundation including a Master in Human Rights and humanitarian law and a Bachelor in public law from the Catholic University of West Africa, as well as a Master in International Relations from Harvard University, she brings expertise in multilateral diplomacy, international law, human rights, and gender equality. Beyond her diplomatic duties, Nelly is committed to advancing women political leadership, youth empowerment, and inclusive decision-making through her involvement with the African Women Leaders Network, Beyond Border International, and AFS Youth Assembly United States. She has also participated in the Youth World Bank Delegate Initiative and draws inspiration from her mentors while advocating for the rights and opportunities of women, particularly those who have faced incarceration. Her professional interests include United Nations affairs, sustainable development, and Africa-United States relations, with a passion for ensuring that voices from underrepresented communities are heard in global decision-making.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Nelly
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to three things: faith, resilience, and a clear sense of purpose.
My faith in God has taught me to trust the process, even when the journey is uncertain. Resilience has taught me that setbacks are not the end of the story, but opportunities to grow, learn, and become stronger. And my sense of purpose reminds me that success is not simply about personal achievements, but about the difference we make in the lives of others.
Coming from Côte d’Ivoire and pursuing my ambitions in international relations and diplomacy, I have learned that your circumstances do not have to define your future. What matters is your willingness to prepare, to persevere, and to remain committed to your vision, even when the path is difficult.
I am particularly passionate about empowering women and young people to participate in decision-making and to recognize their potential to shape the future of their communities and nations.
Ultimately, I believe success is not just about how far you go, but about how faithfully you serve your purpose, how many lives you touch, and how many doors you open for others along the way.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is this: Never wait for permission to become the person you are meant to be.
Your background should never limit your ambitions, and your circumstances should never define your potential. Dare to enter rooms where your voice is needed, prepare yourself for opportunities before they arrive, and remember that leadership is not about the title you hold, but the impact you create.
As a woman passionate about diplomacy, international relations, and youth empowerment, I have learned that success is not simply about reaching the table where decisions are made. It is about bringing others with you and ensuring that the voices of those who are often unheard are represented.
Dream boldly. Prepare relentlessly. Lead with purpose. And when you earn your seat at the table, help others find theirs.
Because true success is not measured only by how far you go, but also by how many lives you inspire and transform along the way.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't demarket yourself. Be valuable, be excellent, be competitive, because this world needs you. You don't need to ask permission to take receipts. Take the seat ,and be part at every decision. Because your voice counts.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Being a woman, being Black, and being African"
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Loyalty and serve my community
Her Content Hub
Articles by Nelly
Women, Diplomacy, and Leadership: The Power of Representation By Nelly Tiehi
Women's Leadership and Representation: A Journey Toward Inclusive Governance and Institutional Transformation
My commitment to women's rights and their inclusion in political and diplomatic decision-making is deeply rooted in my journey, my values, and the women who have inspired me.
Among them are Mrs. Oumou Daou-Koumoue, Mrs. Dominique Ouattara, First Lady of Côte d'Ivoire, Sahle-Work Zewde, former President of Ethiopia, Mrs. Minga, and H.E. Ambassador Danielle Sery. Their journeys have strengthened my belief that women must not simply be present where decisions are made; they must also have the opportunity to influence those decisions and shape the future of their societies.
From the social engagement of Mrs. Dominique Ouattara to the diplomatic experience of Sahle-Work Zewde and the contributions of women serving in diplomacy, these examples remind me that leadership takes many forms, but its impact can extend across generations.
As an Ivorian young woman pursuing a path in international relations and engaging with the diplomatic environment of the United Nations, I see women's representation not merely as a matter of equality but as a question of justice, institutional progress, and inclusive governance.
Despite important advances in women's rights, significant barriers remain to women's full participation in political and diplomatic leadership. Addressing these challenges requires more than commitments on paper. It demands access to education, mentorship, professional opportunities, and decision-making spaces where women's voices are heard and their contributions recognized.
My ambition is to contribute to this transformation by advocating for women's rights, encouraging young African women to pursue leadership, and helping build bridges between emerging female leaders and the institutions that shape our collective future.
I believe that representation opens doors, but meaningful participation creates change. The true measure of progress is not simply how many women reach positions of responsibility, but how effectively they can contribute, influence decisions, and open pathways for the generations that follow. For me, empowering women is not simply about changing who occupies positions of power. It is about transforming how power is exercised, whose voices are heard, and what becomes possible for future generations.
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