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Leadership Today: A Focus on Women

July 18, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Dr. Memuna Williams, DBA

Why Investing in Your Leadership Matters — A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of speaking at the introduction of a Women in Leadership course at WITS Business School. It got me thinking about a question I often hear: “Is a leadership course really worth it?”

This is a fair question. Given work deadlines, family responsibilities, and the pace of life, making time for a leadership course can feel like a luxury. At the same time, Leadership should not be something we stumble into; it should be something we prepare for.

In the world we live in—shaped by rapid change, technological advances, and shifting economies—how we lead ourselves and others can deeply impact our lives and livelihoods.

For women, this takes on even more layers. We lead at home, in our communities, and in the workplace, often navigating expectations that pull us in different directions.

Courses like the WITS Women in Leadership program create intentional spaces to pause, reflect, and build practical tools for this journey. As the Program’s Director, Debbie de Coning, shared, they cover topics like:

  • Emotional intelligence

  • Negotiation and decision-making

  • Communication

  • Diversity and power

  • Team leadership

These are not just nice to haves. They are essential tools for navigating situations in life and work, and reminders that leadership is built in small moments, and tested in big ones. And when the stakes are high, as Joseph Badaracco writes about in Defining Moments, will you have the tools and language to identify what truly matters and make a call you can stand by?

Taking a leadership course can be a gift of preparation for the moments that can shape a future, rather than just another certificate to add to a resume. It can be about becoming the kind of leader who is confident enough to believe in herself and compassionate enough to lift others as she rises.

If you have been considering investing in your leadership growth, allow me to suggest:

You deserve it. And if you have taken a leadership course that made a difference in how you lead at work or in your life, I would love to hear what you learned from it.


Dr. Memuna Williams has a BA and MA in Translation, an MBA, and DBA. Her doctoral thesis illuminates how SMEs develop social responsibility programs across four phases and 13 categories. Dr. Williams and her husband Victor have three sons. Connect with her at: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-memuna-williams-dba-8193b01

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Leadership Today: A Focus on Women
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The Hidden Mental Health Toll of Geopolitical Disruptions
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The Hidden Mental Health Toll of Geopolitical Disruptions
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Navigating Geopolitical Shifts – The SME Perspective
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The Quiet Heroes Who Inspire Us Every Day
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The Power of Perseverance in CSR Development for SMEs
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The Power of Perseverance in CSR Development for SMEs
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Sustainable Change for SMEs through Social Responsibility, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership
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On Perseverance: How a Dream to Visit Fiji Became a Testament to Never Giving Up
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On Perseverance: How a Dream to Visit Fiji Became a Testament to Never Giving Up
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Does the World Economic Forum Matter to SMEs?
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Does the World Economic Forum Matter to SMEs?
Jan 25, 2025
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The Journey Toward Clarity in CSR Development for SMEs
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The Journey Toward Clarity in CSR Development for SMEs
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The Power of Clarity: Lessons from My Personal Goal-Setting Journey
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In Guest Blog Tags Dr. Memuna Williams, Entrepreneurial Mindset
← Dr Margaret Kemigisha, a publishing entrepreneur passionate about childrens’ literacyThe power of social media screening in high-level recruitment →

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS


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LIONESSES OF AFRICA · AI Series Ep. 2 : AI-Human Collaboration in the Workplace

Lioness Radio Show: AI Series Ep. 2 : AI-Human Collaboration in the Workplace - Tune in for an engaging conversation designed to equip you with the knowledge to embrace AI and unlock its possibilities for your business.


LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORIES

LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
Dr Margaret Kemigisha, a publishing entrepreneur passionate about childrens’ literacy
Dr Margaret Kemigisha, a publishing entrepreneur passionate about childrens’ literacy
Sydelle Willow Smith, a pioneer of solar-powered mobile cinema in Africa
Sydelle Willow Smith, a pioneer of solar-powered mobile cinema in Africa
Babette Kourelos, a passionate artisanal bread-baking business builder
Babette Kourelos, a passionate artisanal bread-baking business builder
Thandekile Moloko, an entrepreneur empowering her clients’ financial futures
Thandekile Moloko, an entrepreneur empowering her clients’ financial futures
Teboho Seretlo, a passion-driven entrepreneur helping SMEs to grow
Teboho Seretlo, a passion-driven entrepreneur helping SMEs to grow

IMAGE OF THE DAY. CELEBRATING WOMAN MADE IN AFRICA.

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Contemporary South African Chic…Knowing exactly how to spot a gap in the marketplace is key to the success of any fashion brand, and Mapholo Ratau, founder of Ledikana in South Africa, has achieved that goal. For h
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Modern relaxed fashion…Olakunmi Oni is the founder of The 1964 Brand in Nigeria, a fashion business that proudly promotes self-care through minimalist clothing for the modern woman. Loyal patrons of The 1964
Image of the Day / Adèle Dejak

Big bold accessories…We are big fans of luxury jewellery and accessories made with love and passion on the African continent, and Adèle Dejak in Kenya is the epitome of handmade luxury. The brand c
Image of the Day / ReelFruit
 
Healthy snack treats…We love showcasing Africa’s women agribusiness builders, and ReelFruit, founded by Affiong Williams, is inspirational - it’s the largest fruit processing, packaging and distributi
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Made in Rwanda Handbag…A passion for handcrafted accessories, combined with a sense of pride for ‘Made in Rwanda’ products, inspired Dokmai Rwanda founder, Bernadette Umunyana, to create a company
Image of the Day / Eki Silk

Silk Serenity…Nothing is quite as luxurious as silk, that’s why we love the ‘Africa on Silk’ collections from Eki, founded by Hazel Eki Osunde. Her latest Deep Dive Collection is inspired by the p
Image of the Day / The Nanjala Company

Pot plants delivered… Give gifts that will last, such as these stunning plants in individual pots from The Nanjala Company in Kenya, founded by Teresa Nanjala Lubano. This online store creates customized
Image of the Day / Melvins Teas

Time for tea…If you love tea, then this Cool Chamomile tea from the Melvins Tea brand, founded by Flora Mutahi in Kenya is just what you need. The brand is part of Melvin Marsh International, the Kenyan-based f Image of the Day / Afropian

Storytelling through accessories…Afropian, the Pan-african lifestyle brand founded by Ethiopean entrepreneur Hortense Mbea, is a rare, fully hand-made in Africa brand. It uses traditional know-how in a modern way t Image of the Day / AAKS

Vibrant Ghanaian craftsmanship,…We just have to share one of our favourite accessories of the year, this beautiful hand-woven bag created by award-winning designer Akosua Afriyie-Kumi and her AAKS brand in Ghana. We lo Image of the Day / Ledikana

Contemporary South African Chic…Knowing exactly how to spot a gap in the marketplace is key to the success of any fashion brand, and Mapholo Ratau, founder of Ledikana in South Africa, has achieved that goal. For h Image of the Day / The 1964 Brand

Modern relaxed fashion…Olakunmi Oni is the founder of The 1964 Brand in Nigeria, a fashion business that proudly promotes self-care through minimalist clothing for the modern woman. Loyal patrons of The 1964 Image of the Day / Adèle Dejak

Big bold accessories…We are big fans of luxury jewellery and accessories made with love and passion on the African continent, and Adèle Dejak in Kenya is the epitome of handmade luxury. The brand c Image of the Day / ReelFruit
 
Healthy snack treats…We love showcasing Africa’s women agribusiness builders, and ReelFruit, founded by Affiong Williams, is inspirational - it’s the largest fruit processing, packaging and distributi Image of the Day / Dokmai Rwanda

Made in Rwanda Handbag…A passion for handcrafted accessories, combined with a sense of pride for ‘Made in Rwanda’ products, inspired Dokmai Rwanda founder, Bernadette Umunyana, to create a company Image of the Day / Eki Silk

Silk Serenity…Nothing is quite as luxurious as silk, that’s why we love the ‘Africa on Silk’ collections from Eki, founded by Hazel Eki Osunde. Her latest Deep Dive Collection is inspired by the p Image of the Day / The Nanjala Company

Pot plants delivered… Give gifts that will last, such as these stunning plants in individual pots from The Nanjala Company in Kenya, founded by Teresa Nanjala Lubano. This online store creates customized

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Nondumiso Leshaba, a South African business builder providing professional business advisory and accounting services to SMEs
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Anneline Lucinda Lopis, an entrepreneur on a mission to grow small scale miners around the African continent
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Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business by Liz Elting
Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business by Liz Elting
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After the Idea: What It Really Takes to Create and Scale a Startup by Julia Austin
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Feminine Intelligence: How visionary leaders can reshape business for good by Elina Teboul
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Bridging the Confidence Gap: How Empowered Women Change the World by Sheena Yap Chan
Authentic Selling: Be Real to Seal the Deal by Kendrick Shope
Authentic Selling: Be Real to Seal the Deal by Kendrick Shope

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