Why leadership is about people, not just power

In a leadership forum held on Thursday, Dr. Habil Olaka, Chairman of the Board at Old Mutual Holdings PLC, stressed that networking is not simply about exchanging business cards, but about cultivating relationships that have long-term meaning and impact. Leaders who approach networking as value-driven, rather than self-serving, are the ones who open doors for themselves and others.

Similarly, Prof. Mwenda Ntarangwi, Vice Chancellor at USIU-Africa, underscored the role of respect and humility. “Sometimes the people with the most information and power are the ones you least expect,” he said, emphasizing the importance of treating everyone with dignity.

Prof. Ntarangwi also highlighted practical leadership tools, including prioritization: using the red/amber/green approach—red demands immediate attention, amber needs monitoring, green can wait.

He also spoke about cultural intelligence: understanding the culture of an organization before attempting change, lest transformation efforts collapse.

Leadership, then, is not about wielding power but about creating value. It’s about being present, intentional, and respectful—whether in boardrooms, classrooms, or community spaces.

These reflections emerged strongly during the Lillian Ngala Network (LNN) Q3 Event, a convening dedicated to conversations on building leadership for global impact while staying locally relevant. Lillian Ngala, the founder of LNN, emphasized the need for authentic connections to grow one's leadership capabilities.