Editor’s note: Leadership Africa is ALG’s immersive leadership development program. It recently graduated its fifth class. Below are three testimonials from cohort members. Applications are now open for Cohort 6, with an extended deadline of January 23. You can apply here.

Bianka Emerson, JD

This year, I turned down several leadership programs. I made that decision intentionally because I knew they would offer the same content and perspectives I had already experienced. 

Then I received an email from the African Leadership Group, and something about it immediately stood out. I knew this program would be different. It offered an opportunity to learn alongside people from diverse cultures and backgrounds — leaders whose lived experiences would stretch and deepen my own leadership. 

I decided to apply, went through the process, and was honored to be accepted into Cohort Five. I remember my first day of class someone said to me “why are you in the class? You don’t need this.” I was a bit offended because I never want to be so important or successful that I can’t learn or I am unteachable. 

This class delivered exactly what I hoped for. I was introduced to new cultures and perspectives, and I learned so much from my classmates — Adrian from Congo, Victoria from Uganda, Ruka from Cameroon, Roberto from Peru, and George and Arinza from Nigeria. Thank you all for sharing your lived experiences so openly throughout the class. Your stories and perspectives truly made an impact on me as a leader. 

One activity in particular stayed with me: The Prisoner’s Dilemma. During this exercise, the class was divided into two groups. We were not allowed to communicate directly with the other group, except through a mediator. When the activity began, we were not given verbal instructions, only written ones. At first, I was confused. While my teammates began negotiating and strategizing, I found myself struggling to understand what we were actually supposed to do. 

I had to read the instructions three times. On the third read, I circled the objective, and the objective was simple: to win. Once I clearly understood the assignment, I was able to fully engage with my team and contribute meaningful strategy. 

When the activity ended, the losing team — of which I was not a part — returned visibly upset. To this day, they still talk about that experience. But the activity reminded me of several important leadership lessons. 

First, as leaders, we sometimes overlook the assignment and the objective. We get caught up in the framing, the details, the emotions, or the process, and we forget why we were “called’ to the work in the first place. Sometimes the “objective” is your purpose. It is your calling or assignment. And you cannot afford to lose sight of it. 

So I want to encourage my fellow classmates—and leaders everywhere—to remember the objective. Do not overlook it. And sometimes, the objective is simple: sometimes, the objective is to win. 

Buki Aghaji

I would like to start by thanking the ALG’s Leadership Africa leaders and facilitators: Professor Madiama Mbaye, Professor Effley Brooks, Emilie, Papa Dia, Ousman Ba, and everyone else who poured into us over the nine month period. It has been an amazing journey and I’m honored to have the opportunity to share a glimpse into the year we’ve had.  

Leadership Africa Cohort 5, Congratulations! We did it! I plan to continue connecting and collaborating with all of my classmates for years to come.

Coming into this I wasn’t fully sure what to expect but I walk away today with so much. There are many elements to leadership, but I want to share two that made the most impact on me. 

Self-awareness and empathy are the two of the leadership attributes I possess that were revealed to me. 

I have been in many leadership positions over time and have always considered myself a good leader. I’ve always done the necessary things to “get the job done,” and I’ve come to discover I’d been an efficient leader but not necessarily a good one. 

One of the first things we did was take the Enneagram, a personality type assessment, in which I discovered I was an “8”. While I won’t get into the specifics on the Enneagram, I did want to share some adjectives of “8s”: Independent, strong-willed, blunt, a little dab of anger when triggered, strong sense of justice, and an advocate for those around them…basically, a superhero. 

While these are great attributes, some of these do not translate to great interpersonal skills, so I began to tweak things in my interaction with those around me. A few months into the program, I was approached by one of my team members who told me I was so much more approachable, which slightly offended me, but I understood in that moment she was right. 

I continued tweaking my interactive skills, not to change who I was, but to encourage better interaction with others. In doing this, I learned to empathize with those I engaged with, meeting them where they were, to understand, not judge, then be a resource to them. This is what advocacy is built on, learning of a need through listening and empathy, putting a voice to it, and then filling the need. And from this I hope all our advocacy projects take shape and make an impact in our community. 

So, again, thank you to Papa, the Professors, Emilie, Ousman, and the rest of the ALG staff and community. You are an inspiration and I am so thankful to be part of this community. Congratulations to Cohort 5!

Adrien Matadi

I am a proud graduate of Leadership Africa Cohort 5. I am deeply grateful to the African Leadership Group for creating a program that equips participants with practical tools to lead, advocate, and create meaningful change.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Emilie and our professors, who dedicated their time and energy to expanding our thinking and helping us unlock our full potential.

I have worked with refugee and immigrant communities for more than 30 years, and I came to this country as a refugee myself. Over the years, I have assisted many individuals with limited English proficiency. However, participating in the Leadership Africa program has been especially transformative. It opened new doors for me and strengthened my ability to advocate more effectively for the causes that matter most to me.

Using the skills I gained through this program, I was able to persuade my team at work to prioritize language justice for immigrant patients, helping improve access to quality healthcare. Additionally, during this course, my group and I developed an awareness campaign addressing the inhumane treatment of detainees at the GEO Detention Center.

I strongly encourage anyone who aspires to be an effective advocate and community leader to consider enrolling in this program. It is truly life-changing.