7 Leadership Takeaways to Empower the Next Chapter
The 4th International Women’s Leadership Conference, an initiative of Ibukun Awosika held at Grand Hyatt Dubai from 19th -21st March 2025.
It’s a Leadership conference that brings women across Africa and the diaspora together for knowledge, empowerment, collaboration, and networking.
This year’s conference, themed “Living the Dream,” provided a platform to bridge the gap between technical knowledge and other necessary skills required to thrive in leadership positions.
The three-day conference was packed with impactful masterclasses, plenary sessions, and conference sessions.
I attended the “Woman, Her Ambition, and Relationship” session, which resonated with many women on how to handle relationships and workplace challenges. The IESE Business School bonus session with Professor Kandarp Mehta stimulated our minds on how large organizations can innovate like agile start-ups.
The conference featured keynote speakers, including Ibukun Awosika, Sam Adeyemi, Bolaji Sofoluwe, Lucy Quist, and Fola Adeola.
The plenary sessions showcased women from all walks of life, sharing real-life experiences of dream chasers and challenges in living the dream. The Open Mic session, hosted by Tara Fela-Durotoye, was also a highlight.
My 7 Transformative Takeaways to Elevate My Leadership)
1. “Every woman is a product of her assets and liabilities. We need to take steps knowing that the big things we see are products of small things that add up together” – Ibukun Awosika.
2. “Our level of creativity is measured by our output. Thinking out of the box doesn’t exist, so we always have to expand the box to innovate.” – Professor Kandarp Mehta.
3. “You are good enough to lead, so endeavor to lead with your authentic self.” – Ibukun Awosika.
4. “Your golden thread is being aware of what you want to be known for and then doing the needful till you find a relevant seat at the table that matters to you.” – Bolaji Sofoluwe.
5. “If you feel alone, don’t stay alone. Have the courage to seek out people that challenge you to grow at all times.” – Cindy Quist.
6. “Your leadership legacy requires a clear vision of the future, the power to keep dreaming, and putting into operation the SHIFT principles.” – Sam Adeyemi.
7. “Many dreams can be achieved through collaboration if we focus on what we can give and not get.” – Fola Adeola.
The conference provided a common ground where women had access to each other, drawing support, insight, clarifying vision, shedding limitations, and dreaming again.
It was refreshing, life-transforming, and a stepping stone for dreamers who will end up sitting on leadership tables and standing on stages, providing transformation to the women and world around them.
Written by Ijeoma Azi, MD/CEO Hero-Projects Lagos Nigeria
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– Arc Ijay [Ai]
TIWLC 2025 IN PICTURES
