OPINION: The power of giving in advancing transformative leadership

On March 8, the world marks International Women’s Day (IWD), a moment to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and to renew the global call for gender equality.

Since its first commemoration in 1911, IWD has stood as both a tribute and a challenge: a tribute to generations of women who have broken barriers, and a challenge to accelerate progress where inequality persists. In 2026, as the world marks 115 years of collective action and advocacy, we are reminded that every gain for women has been hard-won and that the work is far from complete.

This year’s theme, 'Give to Gain', invites us to reimagine generosity not as charity, but as strategy. It calls for abundant giving of resources, mentorship, platforms and policy support as a pathway to lasting gender equality.

If the past century of progress has taught us anything, it is this: when we invest in women, societies prosper. Giving, whether through philanthropy, public financing, corporate investment or community solidarity, is not an act of goodwill alone but the catalyst that unlocks women’s transformative leadership. And when women rise into their full leadership potential, nations rise with them.

International Women’s Day is therefore a call to rethink leadership and accelerate action toward equality and inclusive development. Across Kenya and the African continent, women continue to lead in boardrooms and marketplaces, classrooms and communities, public office and grassroots movements. Yet too many remain underrepresented in leadership, underfunded in enterprise, and undervalued in influence.

In contexts where public institutions and systems face complex social and economic challenges, women’s leadership grounded in generosity, collaboration, mentorship, capacity building and knowledge management has emerged as a powerful driver of sustainable transformation.

Women leaders across the African public sector have demonstrated that leadership is not defined by authority alone, but by the ability to lift others while advancing institutional mandates. As leadership scholar Alice Eagly observes, women are more likely to practice transformational leadership that motivates, empowers, and builds collective purpose. In public service environments, this approach fosters trust, accountability, and citizen-centred delivery.

At the core of transformative women’s leadership is the act of giving: giving expertise to strengthen institutions; giving platforms to amplify unheard voices; giving networks to open pathways for emerging leaders; and giving opportunities that might otherwise remain inaccessible. This leadership generosity is not symbolic, it is strategic. It builds institutional capacity and ensures continuity beyond individual tenures.

In Kenya’s public sector, mentorship and sponsorship have become essential tools for strengthening leadership pipelines. Women leaders who intentionally mentor young professionals, sponsor peers into decision-making spaces and model ethical leadership create a ripple effect that strengthens governance outcomes.

As Herminia Ibarra highlights, leadership development occurs through exposure, experience and networks, elements that women leaders can intentionally extend to others through purposeful giving.

Capacity building and knowledge management are particularly vital within African institutions, where transitions often result in the loss of institutional memory. Women leaders have been instrumental in preserving organisational knowledge, strengthening the use of data and translating evidence into effective policy and service delivery.

Drawing on Amartya Sen’s capability approach, the expansion of people’s knowledge and skills is central to development. When women leaders invest in systems that capture, retain and disseminate knowledge, they reinforce institutional effectiveness, coherence and long-term sustainability.

Collaboration is another hallmark of women’s leadership across Africa. Within government ministries, county administrations, civil society and among development partners, women leaders have advanced integrated and multisectoral responses to challenges in health, education, gender-based violence and economic empowerment.

The concept of collective leadership strongly aligns with this approach—leadership achieves the greatest impact when it brings together diverse actors around a shared vision and common purpose.

Importantly, giving generates mutual benefits. Institutions gain through stronger performance, continuity and innovation. Communities gain through more inclusive policies and responsive public services. Nations gain through resilient institutions and strengthened social cohesion.

Evidence from across Africa consistently demonstrates that meaningful representation of women in leadership correlates with improved governance and accelerated development outcomes.

International Women’s Day thus calls on women leaders in Kenya and across Africa not only to pursue positions of influence, but to exercise that influence in ways that elevate others. Leadership grounded in generosity, mentorship, collaboration, capacity building and knowledge sharing is leadership that leaves a lasting legacy.

Strategic leadership communications & PR specialist | [email protected]