In my 20 years in the ICT industry, I have been privileged to work with a few exceptional Chief Executives and Founders whose leadership has shaped my professional journey in profound ways.
From them, I have learned the power of vision; whether grand or modest the discipline of focus, even in the face of fierce competition, and the wisdom of choosing your battles, because no leader wins them all, and no organisation can serve everyone.
But perhaps the most valuable lesson has been this: leaders always inspire something.
Your leadership brand; the way you think, act, communicate, and make decisions—will inspire either fear or courage. Fear stifles innovation, silences ideas, and keeps your people from giving their best. Courage, on the other hand, fuels creativity, fosters collaboration, and ignites passion for excellence. The choice is yours.
Now, the times we live in are anything but ordinary. Economic pressures, technological disruption, and shifting workplace dynamics have placed leaders under a magnifying glass. Now more than ever, people are watching not just what you achieve, but how you lead.
In these moments, it is the little things that speak volumes, listening with empathy, recognising individual contributions, providing support in unexpected ways.
I recall a CNN story about a young African entrepreneur who, faced with the reality of being unable to pay salaries during a downturn, still made sure her staff had food to eat.
It was a small act, but it changed everything for her team. That is leadership that inspires loyalty beyond contracts.
Every leader has a brand. It’s not just your title or position; it’s the sum of your actions, values, and the memories people hold of you.
In the ICT industry, where innovation is the heartbeat and change is constant, your brand determines whether your team thrives, survives, or fades into irrelevance.
Ask yourself:
- Am I inspiring my people to innovate?
- Am I creating an environment where they can thrive, develop, and lead from their own strengths?
- Am I helping them build personal brands that give them confidence, purpose, and resilience in this “new normal”?
When you inspire people to dream bigger, learn more, and contribute with passion, you are not just building a team, you are shaping the future of your organisation.
What the ICT Industry and Every Sector Needs Now
We need leaders who combine vision with empathy. Leaders who understand that technology and systems alone cannot transform an organisation; it is people who drive transformation.
Whether in ICT, finance, healthcare, or education, the call is the same:
- Inspire trust.
- Inspire courage.
- Inspire action.
As John Quincy Adams once said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” This is the leadership our organisations need now and it is within your reach to deliver it.
So I’ll leave you with this question: What are you inspiring in your organisation today?
[Featured Image Credit]
