In May 2026, members of the MCLD team attended the WILD Forum, the WILD Network’s Leadership for Social Impact Forum, bringing together leaders from over 100 countries to explore leadership, inclusion, and systems change. The Forum is a space designed not just for inspiration, but for the kind of honest, substantive conversation that actually moves people. Click here to read other MCLD reflections from the Forum.
Reflections by Eddah Nyirenda, Girls Shine Foundation, Malawi, and MCLD Malawi Member
Throughout the WILD fellowship, I was able to explore, discuss, and learn a wide range of valuable leadership and development concepts alongside other female leaders. While every session offered important insights, I would like to share a few key lessons that particularly caught my attention and resonated with me. These are the takeaways that I believe will significantly influence my leadership journey and the way we work with communities.
1. Lead with Confidence, Authenticity, and Purpose
Effective leadership begins with believing in yourself and recognizing that your leadership journey is unique. Rather than comparing yourself to others or leading to meet people’s expectations, embrace your authentic self and confidently contribute your unique strengths. Stay intentional by remaining connected to your purpose and the reason you started your work, allowing your values to guide your decisions and actions.
2. Collaboration Creates Greater Impact
The world’s challenges are too great for any one person or organization to solve alone. The power of sisterhood, partnerships, and strategic collaboration enables us to achieve greater impact by sharing knowledge, opportunities, and resources. We should also have the audacity to think and act globally, believing that our local initiatives can influence change beyond our communities. Leadership is about intentionally creating opportunities for others, sharing credit, and opening doors for their growth.
3. Locally Led Development Builds Ownership and Sustainability
Sustainable development is achieved when leadership and decision-making are genuinely shared with communities, especially young people, women, children, and families. Communities should actively participate throughout the entire development process—from identifying needs and making decisions to implementing solutions—because they already possess valuable knowledge and capacities. Organizations and donors should act as facilitators rather than implementers, investing in local leadership and organizational capacity while avoiding practices that leave communities with only advisory roles or dependent on external resources. Meaningful participation, shared responsibility, and community ownership are the foundation of lasting development.
4. Leadership is About Empowering Others
Great leadership is measured not only by results but by how we develop people. Leading through “Power With” means collaborating, sharing influence, building others’ capacity, and creating environments where people grow with confidence and accountability. Leaders should provide clear, honest, and caring feedback while maintaining healthy boundaries by coaching rather than solving every problem for others. Our responsibility is to create conditions that enable others to learn, take ownership, and succeed independently.
5. Sustainable Leadership Requires Self-Care and Trust
Leaders are human, and their ability to serve others depends on their own well-being. Maintaining balance, investing in personal growth, and protecting one’s energy are essential for sustainable leadership. At the same time, trust is built through consistent everyday actions that demonstrate integrity, reliability, and genuine care. When leaders are at their best, they are better equipped to inspire, empower, and bring out the best in others.
About Eddah Nyirenda
Eddah Nyirenda is the Founder and Executive Director of Girls Shine Foundation, a women-led, youth-focused nonprofit organization established in 2023 in Malawi. She is a dedicated advocate for gender equality, girls’ education, and women’s economic empowerment, driven by a deep commitment to creating opportunities that enable girls and women to thrive and become agents of change in their communities.
Eddah holds a Diploma in Financial Accounting, equipping her with strong financial management and organizational leadership skills that have been instrumental in building and growing Girls Shine Foundation. Her passion for empowering girls and women inspired her to establish the organization in response to the persistent barriers that limit their access to education, economic opportunities and leadership.
Eddah believes in the power of collaboration and actively engages in national and grassroots advocacy networks. Through visionary leadership, unwavering commitment and a passion for social justice, she continues to champion initiatives that empower girls and women with the education, skills, confidence and opportunities they need to realize their full potential.