Everyone a Leader: The Leadership We Need, in Every Sphere of Life

Nelson Mandela Foundation Leadership Development Session with the Women Presidents Organisation | 21 September 2026

"There is still too much suffering on our continent that could have been prevented by leadership which put the interests of the people supreme. The conflict, war and instability in many parts of our continent must in great measure be blamed on an absence of leaders who are capable of or willing to subject personal and sectional considerations to the well-being and common good of the people." (Nelson Mandela, 2002)

Introduction

On 21 September 2026, the Nelson Mandela Foundation's Leadership Development team hosted a session with the Women Presidents Organisation (WPO), creating space for reflection and dialogue on the meaning of leadership and how it is practised across different spheres of life.

Grounded in the Foundation's commitment to Nelson Mandela's legacy, the session explored leadership beyond formal positions, professional achievements and organisational hierarchies. It invited participants to consider how leadership principles can shape not only their professional responsibilities, but also their relationships, families, communities and contribution to society.

Nelson Mandela Foundation's definition of leadership

The Foundation understands leadership differently from the dominant view, which links it primarily to the exercise of authority in relation to others. For us, leadership is a calling for every human being: it means recognising and being intentional about our personal life journey, taking responsibility for collective human journeys and for the earth and all the species it supports, and harnessing and sharing the energy to keep journeying. Leadership may also involve exercising power in positions of rank within families, institutions and communities, but not everyone is called to this dimension. Drawing on Nelson Mandela's legacy and on the framings of intersectionality, deep dialogue and deconstruction, we believe that good leadership, which will be critical if humanity and other species are to thrive in the twenty-first century, demands responsibility before 'the other', including the strangers within the self, and service primarily to those oppressed by prevailing relations of power. It requires a commitment to share something lasting by nurturing the next generation and stepping aside long before anyone compels them to, and a striving for excellence in which getting it right matters and getting it wrong becomes a terrain for continuing learning.

One of the key questions raised during the session was: What does leadership look like in the other roles we occupy in life?

The question prompted an important reflection on the many spaces in which leadership is exercised. While professional environments often make leadership visible through titles, decision-making authority and organisational influence, it is equally significant in less visible spaces. It is reflected in how we nurture relationships, support others, navigate conflict, make difficult decisions and take responsibility for the consequences of our actions.

For women leading organisations and businesses, this reflection offers an opportunity to consider the relationship between professional identity and personal responsibility. The values we demonstrate in the workplace are also tested in our homes, friendships and communities. Leadership, therefore, is not simply about the authority we hold, but about the principles that guide us and the example we set.

As South Africans vote in the Local Government Elections on 4 November 2026, this conversation takes on an added significance.

Local government is one of the most immediate expressions of leadership in people's lives. Municipal leadership influences the delivery of basic services, the development of communities, the use of public resources and the extent to which residents feel heard and represented. The elections present an opportunity for citizens to reflect on the leadership they want to see in their communities and the qualities they expect from those entrusted with public office.

What does leadership that serves the public interest look like? How should leaders demonstrate accountability, integrity, empathy and a willingness to listen? How do we recognise leadership that moves beyond promises to meaningful action? These questions extend the conversation from the boardroom and households to the ballot box, reminding us that the principles we value in our professional and personal lives are also relevant to public leadership.

The question is not only what kind of leaders we want to elect, but also what kind of leadership we are willing to practise ourselves. Democratic participation requires more than choosing representatives; it also calls for citizens who remain engaged, hold public institutions accountable and contribute to the wellbeing of their communities. The responsibility for shaping society is shared between those who lead and those who entrust them with that responsibility.

Conclusion

Through the Everyone a Leader offering, the Nelson Mandela Foundation invites people to engage with leadership principles inspired by Mandela's life and legacy and to apply them in their own contexts. The session with the WPO reinforced that leadership is a practice rather than merely a position, and, as the country prepares for the November elections, it showed that the leadership we seek in our municipalities, institutions and communities must be grounded in the values we uphold in our everyday lives. Ultimately, everyone is a leader in some sphere of life, and the challenge is to ensure that our leadership, whether at work, at home, in our communities or through democratic participation, contributes to a society marked by dignity, accountability, justice and shared responsibility, shaped by the choices we make, the people we serve and the future we help shape.