Leading While the Ground Is Shifting – International Women’s Day 2026
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International Women’s Day is both a celebration and a call to action—an opportunity to reflect not only on progress made, but on what must still change within the institutions shaping young people’s lives. In 2026, this reflection is particularly urgent as leadership across Africa continues to evolve within contexts of uncertainty, transformation, and rising expectations.
In response, the Africa Alliance of YMCAs (AAYMCA), through the PowerSpace Podcast, convened a special International Women’s Day dialogue titled “Leading While the Ground Is Shifting.” The conversation created space for honest reflection, bringing together women leaders across generations to explore how leadership is changing—and what the future now requires.
Who Joined The IWD Dialogue ?
The episode brought together women serving at different levels of leadership across the YMCA movement, creating a rich exchange between experience and emerging perspectives.
Featured voices included:
Lantonirina Rakotomalala, General Secretary, AAYMCA- Ethiopia Tilahun, the Board Vice President of AAYMCA
- Esther Angwenyi, the AAYMCA Board Womens Representative
- Nalisoa Andriananarivo, World YMCA Board Representative
- Sharon Owino, Member of the National Executive Board of Kenya YMCA
- Norah Chabu, Member of the National YMCA Board of Zambia YMCA
- Together, they reflected on leadership across seasons, institutional transformation, and the role of women in shaping resilient and future-focused organizations.
Key Reflections from the Conversation
The dialogue underscored that leadership today is defined by constant change, requiring leaders to adapt while remaining grounded in clear purpose and strong values. Across the discussion, integrity, collaboration, care, and fairness emerged as essential anchors that guide decision-making, especially in uncertain and resource-constrained environments. The conversation also highlighted the importance of intergenerational leadership, where mentorship, trust, and shared responsibility enable emerging leaders to grow with confidence. Ultimately, a clear message emerged: institutions must evolve intentionally, embedding values in practice, strengthening leadership pathways for young women, and creating inclusive, responsive systems that can sustain leadership and remain relevant in a rapidly shifting context.
