22/05/2025
Kigali Was More Than a Meetup — It Was a Leadership Awakening
Attending the African-German Young Leaders in Business (AGYLE) Alumni Meet-Up in Kigali, Rwanda, was deeply transformative. As a Ghanaian CEO leading Women’s Haven Africa, I came in with expectations—but I left with clarity, fresh vision, and a renewed sense of purpose.
From the moment we arrived, there was a sense of openness and intention. It was more than just networking; it was about presence. Surrounded by brilliant African and German changemakers across industries, the conversations were rich, personal, and filled with wisdom. We reflected on self-awareness, sustainability, and the importance of leading from a place of inner alignment.
Our trainers reminded us of simple yet profound truths:
“Don’t forget to play.”
“Give yourself some praise.”
“Be kinder to yourself—empathy starts within.”
These reflections hit home. As leaders, we often move from one task to the next, analyzing failures in detail but brushing past our wins. This was an important pause—to celebrate, to feel, and to simply be.
One of the most powerful moments for me was attending the panel on “Local Roots, Global Impact.” It reinforced what I know to be true: Africa’s strength lies in its people, its context, and its capacity to innovate from within. We don’t have to look far for brilliance—it’s right here. The shared experiences with other entrepreneurs and visionaries from both continents showed how aligned we are in our purpose to create lasting, meaningful impact.
Visiting Zipline was another major highlight. Witnessing how homegrown drone technology is saving lives by delivering medical supplies in real time was a powerful example of what’s possible when innovation meets purpose. It challenged me to think bigger about the work we’re doing at Women’s Haven Africa. We must design solutions that are locally rooted yet scalable, and we must do so with excellence.
In a beautiful session on leadership and intercultural exchange, we explored how our personal histories shape how we lead.
As we shared insights across borders, industries, and perspectives, I was challenged to expand how I lead—to give more space, trust, and decision-making power to the teams I work with, and to stay open to new ways of thinking.
One of the most emotional parts of the journey was visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre. It was sobering—a moment of silence, remembrance, and deep reflection. It reminded me that leadership isn’t just about building the future—it’s also about honoring the past. We carry the responsibility to lead with compassion, memory, and justice.
A reflective walk to the Impact Hub Kigali wrapped everything together—an environment that models innovation, purpose, and collaboration. We ended with gratitude, powerful connections, and a shared commitment to take what we’ve experienced and turn it into impact.
As Jakob so beautifully said, “The strongest thing is the personal connections we create.” And Aron echoed it with, “AGYLE creates a family across borders and professions.”
In a fast-changing, digital world, the need for real human connection and community is more important than ever. The challenges we face may be complex, but surrounded by a network of brilliant, values-driven leaders, they suddenly feel more possible to solve.
I’m especially grateful for the opportunity to meet the German Ambassador to Rwanda, Hon. Heike Dettmann, and visionary business leaders like Cares Manzi, Serge Kamuhinda, and so many others who inspired me deeply.
A heartfelt thank you to Lorena, Lisa, Linda, and Corinna for masterfully creating this space—for growth, dialogue, healing, and action. The next step is to live the lessons and move with intention. As Coco said so clearly, “Hesitation kills business opportunities.” And Kigali reminded me—we’ve got work to do, and and a world to build.
