Passion Profit
Leadership Foundations- Building A Career That Lasts
By Frida Owinga
As we near the final quarter of the year, September invites us to reflect on the core of long-term career growth: foundational leadership. Whether you are an aspiring professional or a seasoned entrepreneur, sustainable career progression begins with personal leadership.
Why Leadership is the Cornerstone of Career Growth
Leadership is not about titles; it’ s about mindset, influence, and responsibility. At its heart, leadership is about showing up with integrity, driving results, and inspiring others to do the same. Those who rise through the ranks- or build empires- do so by demonstrating consistent, valuedriven leadership.
In today’ s workplace, technical skills get your foot in the door, but leadership skills keep you advancing. The ability to think strategically, communicate effectively, and lead with empathy makes all the difference.
The Pillars of Foundational Leadership
Self-Awareness: Understand your values, motivations, and blind spots. Self-aware leaders are better decision-makers and more empathetic managers. Take time to reflect on feedback, patterns in your behavior, and areas for growth.
Vision and Clarity: Know where you’ re headed and why it matters. A compelling vision creates alignment, focus, and purpose. When you can clearly articulate your vision, it becomes easier to attract support and inspire action.
Emotional Intelligence: Build relationships rooted in trust and understanding. Leaders with high emotional intelligence manage stress well, navigate conflict effectively, and lead teams that feel safe and valued.
Decision-Making: Learn to weigh risks and make timely, ethical decisions. Use data, consult stakeholders, and trust your instincts. Great leaders take responsibility for decisions and learn from the results.
Accountability: Being accountable means holding yourself and others to high standards and being willing to coursecorrect when necessary. Take ownership of results- both successes and failures.
Developing a Leadership Growth Plan
Conduct a Personal SWOT: Identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This self-assessment gives you clarity on what you have and what you need to work on.
Define Your Leadership Style: Are you a servant leader who focuses on others? A visionary who inspires innovation? A pragmatic thinker who drives execution? Knowing your style helps you lead authentically.
Set Development Goals: Include both short- and long-term goals. These may include taking a leadership course, joining a professional network, or mentoring a junior colleague.
Track Progress: Keep a leadership journal. Write down insights, challenges, and breakthroughs. Review it quarterly to celebrate progress and adjust your plan. Reflect monthly or quarterly on your leadership wins and learning moments.
A defining moment in my leadership journey
I joined The Organization of Women in
International Trade( OWIT) Kenya in 2009 as a volunteer member and gradually served in various leadership roles including VP of Programs and Membership. At the time, our association faced significant challenges with member retention. I led the development of a clearer value proposition, refreshed programming, and launched initiatives that enhanced member engagement. These efforts helped stabilize the organization and prepared me to serve as President of OWIT Kenya.
That experience paved the way for my election as VP of Chapter Development at OWIT International, where I supported the launch of new chapters globally. Although I had never done that type of work before, I embraced the challenge by following the organization’ s structure, improving systems, and introducing new processes to support emerging chapters.
In 2022, I was honored to be elected the first African President of OWIT International. It was a journey of learning, leadership, and resilience- one of the most defining experiences of my career. It opened doors to global relationships and opportunities that continue to shape my professional journey today.
Call to Action
This time, commit to strengthening your leadership foundation. Pick one pillar to improve and seek out a book, mentor, or course to support you. Growth is intentional- make yours a priority.
Frida Owinga is the Founder of PassionProfit Limited, a provider of learning solutions designed to help people live, work and thrive! You can commune with her via mail at: Frida @ passiontoprofit. co.
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