27 August 2026- The UNDP African Young Women Leaders (AfYWL) Fellowship Programme, in collaboration with the Awaji Youth Federation (AYF) of Pasona Group, hosted a virtual Leadership Series masterclass on “Storytelling, Personal Branding and Leadership.”

The session brought together 45 AfYWL fellows and 10 AYF fellows and alumni from different countries, cultures and professional backgrounds. The discussion covered leadership, storytelling, reputation and professional presence, with practical examples throughout.

Opening the session, Ms. Rania Hadra, Regional Advisor at UNDP, spoke about leadership in terms of vision, trust and delivery.

“Leadership is not position, title or level. It is having a clear vision, building trust, bringing people around the table and delivering to the communities and people who need us most,” Ms. Hadra said.

Ms. Akemi Aota, President of the Awaji Youth Federation and Executive Officer of Pasona Group Inc., welcomed fellows on behalf of AYF and Pasona Group and spoke about the role young people can play in shaping change.

“When I look at this group, I see more than participants in a programme. I see women who will help shape the future of Africa,” Ms. Aota said. “You share the courage to imagine what can be different and the determination to make that difference real.”

She also spoke about communication as part of leadership. For people to support an idea, they need to understand what the leader sees, why it matters and why change is possible.

Turning stories into leadership strategies

Facilitated by Ms. Mimi Kalinda, Group CEO and Co-Founder of Africa Communications Media Group, the masterclass centred on the theme “Your Story as Your Strategy.”

Early in the session, Ms. Kalinda asked the group: What makes you uniquely you?

The exercise showed how easily professional introductions fall back on job titles, responsibilities and areas of expertise. Explaining what drives those choices was harder.

“Why do you wake up in the morning and why should anybody care?” Ms. Kalinda asked.

The discussion that followed focused on personal experience, values and the reasons people choose the work they do.

Personal branding was another part of the conversation.

“Your personal brand is not what you think of yourself. It is what other people think, and, most importantly, what they say about you when you are not in the room,” Ms. Kalinda said.

Takeaways from the session

1. Leadership goes beyond position

Ms. Hadra’s opening remarks framed leadership around a few basic things: having a clear vision, building trust, bringing people together and delivering for the people and communities being served.

Position may give someone responsibility, but leadership is seen in how that responsibility is carried.

2. Make the idea clear to other people

Ms. Aota spoke about the need to communicate a vision in a way that others can understand.

People need to know what the idea is, why it matters and what could change. That clarity matters when building support around a proposal, a project or a wider vision.

3. Know what sits behind your work

Ms. Kalinda asked fellows to think past the standard professional introduction.

Where do their values come from? What experiences have shaped the way they work? What keeps drawing them towards certain issues or areas of work?

The session spent time on those questions because they help explain the purpose behind a career, rather than simply describing the career itself.

4. Show the change, not only the activity

Professional stories often focus on tasks and responsibilities. Ms. Kalinda introduced a simple structure for giving those stories more shape: challenge, solution, impact and call to action.

Start with what was at stake. Explain the response. Show what happened afterwards. Then be clear about what comes next or what you are asking from the audience.

This can be applied to a presentation, a job interview, a project story or even an annual report.

5. Pay attention to the audience

Audience came up several times during the session.

Ms. Kalinda asked fellows to think about what the person listening cares about, what they are trying to achieve and what decision they may need to make.

The same story will not work in exactly the same way for everyone. Context matters, and so does understanding the person in front of you.

6. Be clear about the reputation you are building

The discussion on personal branding focused on three areas: clarity, consistency and visibility.

Clarity means knowing what you want to be known for. Consistency comes through the way you work and communicate over time. Visibility means that the right people can see evidence of that work.

The LinkedIn segment, led by Mr. Allistair Weingartz, brought this into a practical setting. He described LinkedIn as part of a person’s professional reputation online, shaped by the profile itself, what they share and how they interact with others.

The conversation also covered the value of engaging with other people’s work. A relevant question, a useful comment or a thoughtful contribution can be enough to join a professional conversation and be noticed by the right people.

Ms. Kalinda referred to this as being a “thought partner”, contributing to a conversation without always needing to lead it.

Towards the end of the session, one AYF fellow shared that the discussion had helped her identify something that had been present across different parts of her career: creating connections across countries and cultures.

The session concluded with fellows exchanging LinkedIn profiles and connecting across the two fellowship communities.

The masterclass forms part of the AfYWL Programme’s Leadership Series, which connects fellows with accomplished leaders and experts through practical learning, candid conversations and peer exchange.

The continued collaboration among UNDP, AYF and Pasona Group reflects a shared commitment to developing emerging leaders, advancing cross-cultural learning and building networks that support the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

About the African Young Women Leaders Fellowship Programme

The African Young Women Leaders Fellowship Programme is a joint initiative of UNDP and the African Union Commission. It seeks to develop a new generation of African women leaders through practical professional experience, leadership development, mentorship and opportunities to contribute to sustainable development across Africa and beyond.

For more information, visit www.undp.org/africa/AfYWL.

About the Awaji Youth Federation

The Awaji Youth Federation is an international community of young professionals based on Awaji Island, Japan. Operated by Pasona Group, the fellowship brings together globally minded young people to contribute to regional revitalization, social innovation, entrepreneurship and community development. It promotes cross-cultural collaboration, professional growth and the development of solutions with both local and global impact.

For more information, visit awaji-youth-federation.com.

About UNDP

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization working to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with a broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries and territories, UNDP helps nations build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.

Learn more at undp.org or follow @UNDP and @UNDPAfrica.

About Pasona Group Inc.

Pasona Group is a Japanese multinational corporation specializing in human resource services. The company supports workforce development, inclusive employment and initiatives that address social challenges. On Awaji Island, Pasona Group has undertaken a range of activities promoting regional revitalization, innovation, arts and culture, wellness and the development of global talent.

For media inquiries:

• Pasona Group Inc., PR Headquarters Byron Russel Media Inquiries: 

  Email: p.kohobu@pasonagroup.co.jp

• Ugochukwu Kingsley Ahuchaogu, Regional Communications and External Engagement Specialist, Regional Programme for Africa, UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa | ugochukwu.kingsley@undp.org