International Women’s Day is often marked by celebration, recognition, and reflection on the achievements of women across sectors. Yet for many women leaders, it is also a moment to pause and acknowledge the individuals who quietly shaped their journey.
This International Women’s Day 2026, I choose to honour the many women leaders who invested their time, wisdom, and resources into my own leadership development. Their influence came in different forms — mentorship, guidance, encouragement, and sometimes difficult but necessary counsel.
There are many of them, and their contributions vary widely. To each of them, I remain deeply grateful.
Leadership rarely develops in isolation. Behind every confident leader stands a network of individuals who offered insight, opened doors, or simply believed in their potential before the world recognised it.
Leadership Does Not Follow a Uniform Timeline
One of the most misunderstood aspects of leadership development is the assumption that success should follow a predictable timeline.
In reality, leadership journeys unfold differently for each individual. Some leaders step into influence early in their careers, while others grow into it through years of experience, reflection, setbacks, and quiet preparation.
The idea of “blooming in your own season” captures this reality well.
Just as nature moves through cycles, leadership maturity also develops through seasons. It cannot be rushed. It must be cultivated.
Many of the strongest leaders are not those who rose the fastest, but those who used each stage of their journey to deepen their understanding, refine their judgment, and strengthen their character.
The Invisible Work of Leadership
Modern organisations often measure progress through visible markers.
Titles earned.
Positions held.
Public recognition received.
While these milestones have value, they rarely tell the full story of leadership growth.
The deeper work of leadership often happens away from public attention.
It is developed through the quiet disciplines of learning to listen carefully, making difficult decisions, navigating uncertainty, and taking responsibility for outcomes that affect others.
It involves building emotional resilience, strengthening ethical judgment, and cultivating the patience required to guide teams and institutions through complexity.
These qualities cannot be developed overnight. They are shaped over time.
Understanding the Seasons of Growth
Every leadership journey moves through seasons, and each season has its purpose.
There are seasons of learning, where curiosity and humility are the most important strengths.
There are seasons of waiting, where preparation continues even when visible progress appears slow.
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There are seasons of testing, where challenges reveal character and resilience.
And eventually, there are seasons of impact, where the lessons accumulated over time begin to bear fruit.
Wise leaders understand that growth is rarely linear. What may appear to be a delay is often preparation.
The discipline developed in quieter seasons becomes the foundation for clarity, foresight, and steady leadership when opportunity finally arrives.
The Responsibility to Pay It Forward
Reflecting on the women who helped shape my journey also brings with it a responsibility.
Leadership is not only about personal advancement; it is about stewardship.
The mentorship, support, and wisdom that leaders receive should not end with them. It must be extended to others who are still navigating their own paths.
Across Africa and globally, the next generation of women leaders is emerging in business, policy, technology, academia, and community leadership. They will require the same guidance, encouragement, and opportunities that previous generations received.
Paying forward that investment is one of the most meaningful ways to honour those who came before us.
A Word to Women Who Feel Stagnated
Not every season of leadership feels like progress.
There are moments when growth feels slow, opportunities seem distant, and comparison pressures become overwhelming.
If you find yourself in such a season, take heart.
Pause and assess the season you are in. Sometimes what feels like stagnation is actually a period of deep preparation.
Avoid the temptation to measure your journey against someone else’s timeline. Leadership development is not a race; it is a process.
The roots you grow today will support the responsibilities you carry tomorrow.
Bloom in Your Own Season
International Women’s Day is ultimately about more than recognition. It is about reaffirming the importance of growth, mentorship, and purposeful leadership.
To the women leaders who have shaped my path, thank you for the time, wisdom, and encouragement you offered along the way.
And to those still navigating their own journey: bloom in your own season.
Leadership built on patience, character, and preparation is the kind that endures.
Happy International Women’s Day. 🌿
About the Author
Millicent Marutit Mello is an experienced corporate banker, having worked with some of Kenya’s leading commercial banks. She is also a business writer and mentor.
To reach her, email [email protected]
