Leadership In Africa Redefined Podcast

Taaka Awori
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Welcome to the "Leadership in Africa Redefined Podcast," where insightful conversations unfold under the expert guidance of your host, Taaka Awori. In this empowering podcast series, Taaka is joined by leaders from across the continent to explore the diverse landscape of leadership, aiming to redefine and elevate the narrative surrounding African leaders.   Join Taaka Awori, a seasoned and dynamic host with a deep passion for leadership development, as she engages in thought-provoking conversations with visionary leaders, trailblazers, and change-makers from various industries and sectors. Through compelling interviews, Taaka sheds light on the unique challenges, triumphs, and innovative approaches that define leadership in Africa today.   The podcast delves into a wide range of topics, from the intersection of traditional values and modern leadership principles to the impact of technology on shaping the future of African leadership. Taaka Awori navigates the complexities of leadership in the African context, highlighting inspiring stories of resilience, courage, and transformation.   Listeners can expect to gain valuable insights into the rich tapestry of leadership styles across the continent, learning from the experiences and wisdom of guests who have successfully navigated the intricate paths of leadership in diverse African nations. The "Leadership in Africa Redefined Podcast" aims to inspire and empower a new generation of leaders while challenging existing stereotypes and fostering a deeper understanding of the vibrant leadership landscape in Africa.   Whether you're an aspiring leader, an entrepreneur, or simply someone interested in the evolving dynamics of leadership, join Taaka Awori on this enlightening journey as she redefines the narrative around leadership in Africa, one episode at a time.

  1. 2d ago

    Who Are You Without Your Work?

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when the work, achievement or identity you have built your life around is suddenly taken away? In this episode of Leadership in Africa Redefined, Taaka Awori speaks with Farida Bedwei, software engineer, disability rights advocate and entrepreneur, about the deeper questions of worth, identity and purpose that emerge when achievement is no longer enough. Farida shares the deeply personal moment when a health condition left her paralysed from the waist down, and how sitting behind her laptop, unable to hold her mouse, forced her to confront just how much of her identity and worth she had tied to her work. The conversation goes beyond career success to explore what it means to give yourself permission to slow down, redefine achievement, and listen to what you truly need. They explore: • What happens when we tie our worth to what we achieve • Why you don't always have to be at the top of your game • Knowing when to push yourself, and when to give yourself a break • The inner voices that ask, "Do I really deserve to be here?" • How faith can shape your sense of purpose and leadership • Why leaders need permission to ask, "What will happen if I don't do this?" • The importance of having people who keep you grounded and accountable • What it means to live and lead as a light A powerful conversation about leading from within, and remembering that who you are is bigger than what you do. 👥 About Our Guest: Farida Bedwei Farida Bedwei is a software engineer, disability rights advocate and entrepreneur with extensive experience in tech, microfinance, and digital innovation. She currently serves as a Platform Product Consultant at Digital Opportunity Trust and previously worked as a Principal Software Engineer at Microsoft. She is the founder and host of Demystifying Disabilities and has served on the board of Share Ghana since 2013. In 2016, she was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. Go deeper: Join Rogue Leadership, the exclusive community built around the inner work of leadership: rogueunion.org/courses/rogue-leadership 🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss the rest of the season.

  2. Sep 1

    How your thoughts are ruining your leadership

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, host Taaka Awori sits down with Dr. Gillian Hammah to unpack the inner dialogue every leader carries and how those unexamined thoughts quietly shape behaviour, decisions, and team culture. What we cover: - The "voices" leaders carry: the critical voice, the fearful/catastrophizing voice, the comparative voice, and their lesser-known cousins: imposter syndrome, scarcity ("poverty mentality"), and the fear of being outshone. - How these thought patterns show up as real leadership problems: micromanagement, indecision, and burnout-driving overcompensation. - Why shifting behaviour without shifting the underlying thinking rarely sticks - Metacognition as a leadership skill. - The difference between what we believe about ourselves (worthiness) and what we believe about others (trust, capability), and how those beliefs quietly drive how we lead. - A neuroscience-backed way to think about changing beliefs as building new pathways rather than fighting old ones. - The "empty boat" parable and what it teaches about the stories we tell ourselves about other people's actions Key Takeaways: - Thinking drives behaviour, not the other way around. Trying to change a leadership behaviour without addressing the thought pattern underneath it rarely lasts. - Most leaders carry more than one "voice." Rarely is it just one, and compound each other. - Common leadership problems trace back to specific mental models: micromanagement often stems from "no one else can do this as well as I can" or "there's only one right way." Burnout often stems from a scarcity belief that stopping means losing ground. - Awareness (metacognition) is the starting point for change.  - Beliefs about yourself and beliefs about others operate differently but both shape your leadership. Self-beliefs show up as self-compassion (or lack of it); beliefs about others show up as how much freedom, trust, and room to grow you extend to your team. Go deeper: Join Rogue Leadership, the exclusive community built around the inner work of leadership: rogueunion.org/courses/rogue-leadership If this episode resonated, catch Season 4 Episode 1 first, it lays the groundwork on worthiness that this conversation builds on. 🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss the rest of the season.

  3. Aug 18

    The Power of the Pause in Leadership (Uju Vanstasia Rochas-Anwukah)

    Send us Fan Mail What happens in the space between being triggered and responding? Leadership will inevitably bring difficult moments: being questioned, misunderstood, criticised, or faced with situations that stir frustration, anger, or hurt. But what if the most important leadership work happens before you respond? In this episode of Leadership in Africa Redefined, we explore The Power of the Pause in Leadership and what it means to lead from within. We discuss: * Why pausing can prevent emotions from driving our responses * Staying grounded in your purpose when leadership gets difficult * How to examine the evidence before reacting * What difficult moments can teach us about ourselves * The importance of quiet time, reflection and trusted relationships * How preparation and self-awareness help leaders navigate pressure At the heart of the conversation is a simple but powerful idea: you don't have to respond to everything immediately. Sometimes, creating space between what you feel and what you do is where your leadership becomes most intentional. What could change in your leadership if you paused before you responded? 🎧 Listen to The Power of the Pause in Leadership now. 👥 *About Our Guest: Uju Vanstasia Rochas-Anwukah*   Uju Vanstasia Rochas-Anwukah is a nutrition and public health advocate, serving as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health and Focal Person on Nutrition in the Office of the Vice President of Nigeria.

  4. Aug 4

    Is Your Ego in the Driving Seat? Taaka Awori & Daniel Pobee

    Send us Fan Mail Has anyone ever given you feedback, and instead of listening, you spent the whole time building your case for why they were wrong? In this episode, Taaka Awori is joined by Daniel Pobee, leadership development practitioner, for a conversation on one of the quiet forces shaping leadership from the inside: the ego. Not ego as the enemy, but ego unchecked, sitting in the driving seat, mistaking dominance for leadership and defensiveness for strength. Daniel and Taaka share real moments from their work with boards, teams, and organisations across the continent, the leader who goes silent-inducing the moment he walks into a room, the board member who couldn't let someone else hold the space, the fight over who sits in the front seat of the car. Small moments. Big signals. They talk about what it actually looks like when ego takes over and offer a simple practice for catching it before it drives your next decision. This is an invitation to notice. Where does your ego show up? And what is it protecting you from?

  5. Jul 21

    The Stories We Tell: How They Shape the Way We Lead (with Xoli Fuyani)

    Send us Fan Mail The Stories We Tell: How They Shape the Way We Lead  (with Xoli Fuyani)

  6. Jul 7

    Am I Enough? Reclaiming Your Worth (Taaka Awori & Dr. Gillian Hammah)

    Send us Fan Mail The most successful leaders I know still ask themselves one quiet question: Am I enough? In this first episode of Season 4, we unpack why achievement doesn’t silence that question, it often amplifies it. And how it quietly shapes leadership in ways most people never talk about: Burnout that looks like dedication. Comparison that looks like ambition. Self-doubt hidden behind performance. Because when your worth is tied to what you do, leadership stops feeling like leadership, and starts feeling like proving yourself. In this episode, we explore real patterns leaders experience and practical ways to lead with more grounded confidence and self-compassion. Season 4 opens with something simple… but not easy: This is not just a leadership conversation. It’s a worth conversation. Join Rogue Leadership. A hands-on course + community to master the inner work of leadership. Link to register: https://rogueunion.org/courses/rogue-leadership

  7. 09/02/2025

    Leadership Landmines: 5 Triggers That Test Every Leader’s Patience

    Send us Fan Mail ⁠Every leader knows the feeling: frustration rising, patience running thin, burnout creeping in. But what if the problem isn’t you…it’s the invisible landmines hidden in your team and culture? In this episode, we uncover 5 silent triggers that quietly drain leaders, and share how to defuse them. Here’s what you’ll discover:  ✨ Why fear and silence dominate in many workplaces—and how to break the cycle.  ✨ How to turn mistakes and updates into powerful growth moments.  ✨ Practical strategies to stay resilient while bringing out the best in your people. 🎧 Tune in now for real talk, real solutions, and leadership insights.  What’s the biggest leadership landmine you’ve faced? Drop it in the comments, we’d love to hear from you.

  8. 08/18/2025

    Leadership and Artificial Intelligence with Dr. Gillian Hammah & Taaka Awori

    Send us Fan Mail AI is everywhere, changing how we work, learn, and lead. But what does it really mean for leaders? In this special Nuts and Bolts episode of the Leadership in Africa Redefined Podcast, host Taaka Awori sits with Dr. Gillian Hammah, PhD, FCILG to unpack the true impact of AI on leadership today. 🤔 Curious or confused about AI? They break it down, addressing the fears and risks, while sharing practical strategies leaders can use right now. 🎧 Tune in to discover how you can harness AI not as a replacement, but as a powerful tool for innovation, growth, and transformation.

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Welcome to the "Leadership in Africa Redefined Podcast," where insightful conversations unfold under the expert guidance of your host, Taaka Awori. In this empowering podcast series, Taaka is joined by leaders from across the continent to explore the diverse landscape of leadership, aiming to redefine and elevate the narrative surrounding African leaders.   Join Taaka Awori, a seasoned and dynamic host with a deep passion for leadership development, as she engages in thought-provoking conversations with visionary leaders, trailblazers, and change-makers from various industries and sectors. Through compelling interviews, Taaka sheds light on the unique challenges, triumphs, and innovative approaches that define leadership in Africa today.   The podcast delves into a wide range of topics, from the intersection of traditional values and modern leadership principles to the impact of technology on shaping the future of African leadership. Taaka Awori navigates the complexities of leadership in the African context, highlighting inspiring stories of resilience, courage, and transformation.   Listeners can expect to gain valuable insights into the rich tapestry of leadership styles across the continent, learning from the experiences and wisdom of guests who have successfully navigated the intricate paths of leadership in diverse African nations. The "Leadership in Africa Redefined Podcast" aims to inspire and empower a new generation of leaders while challenging existing stereotypes and fostering a deeper understanding of the vibrant leadership landscape in Africa.   Whether you're an aspiring leader, an entrepreneur, or simply someone interested in the evolving dynamics of leadership, join Taaka Awori on this enlightening journey as she redefines the narrative around leadership in Africa, one episode at a time.

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