Mindful Leadership Movement: Gateway to women empowerment

DAR ES SALAAM: ORGANISERS of the recently held Mindful Leadership Training which unfolded under the Mindful Leadership Movement have described it as a timely intervention for women empowerment.

Around 150 Tanzanian women benefited from the training which was conducted in Dar es Salaam in three cohorts, each attracting 50 women from diverse industries, backgrounds and ages, all united by one goal: to grow, connect and lead with purpose.

Already branded successful, the training was made possible courtesy of strong partnership with Exim Bank’s Women Empowerment Programme (WEP) under the Exim Cares umbrella – who came in as Platinum Sponsors.

The first cohort took place on Saturday, September 27, with the second taking place on Saturday, October 4th and the third transpired on Saturday October 11th 2025 respectively.

Mind Matters Tanzania’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ms Nadia Ahmed is the one at the centre of this impactful initiative which spinned in Tanzania for the first time.

“Each cohort carried its own unique energy…the first one set the tone; vibrant, curious and deeply reflective while the second cohort brought emotional depth and openness; you could feel the sense of sisterhood forming in real time and the third cohort, our final one, was electric, a powerful mix of engagement, insight and authenticity.

“What stood out most was the courage of the women who attended, they came with open hearts, willing to learn, to share and to be seen. Through storytelling, personality discovery and values alignment exercises, we saw genuine transformation unfolding in the room,” she said.

On what they expect from the trainees, she replied: “Our hope is that each participant carries forward what she has discovered, applying mindful leadership principles in her work, community and personal life.

“We want them to be multipliers not just leaders by title, but influencers of calm, compassion and clarity in a world that often runs on urgency and we also encouraged them to remain connected through the Mindful Leadership Community, to support one another, collaborate and create ripple effects beyond the training itself.”

She continues: “As organisers, this experience has been profoundly humbling. One of our biggest lessons has been that women are hungry for safe, authentic spaces where they can be both ambitious and grounded, where leadership meets wellbeing.

“We also learnt that mindfulnessbased leadership training is not a luxury, but rather, it is a necessity, especially in times where burnout, pressure and identity fatigue are common themes in professional spaces.

“Another lesson is the importance of collaboration. Every cohort reminded us that collective intelligence, the wisdom that emerges when people truly listen to one another is far greater than what any single individual can offer.”

Elaborating on what they intend to do next, Ms Nadia reveals that the next plan for the Mindful Leadership Movement is to expand the vision beyond Dar es Salaam insisting that they have received interest from women across Tanzania and even from other East African countries and beyond.

“Our next phase will be regional editions of the Mindful Leadership Training, as well as industry-specific sessions (for example, Mindful Leadership for Entrepreneurs, Educators and Corporate Leaders),” she said.

Clarifying on what to expect in the next sessions, she says they will include deeper dives into emotional intelligence, resilience and leadership communication alongside mindfulness and purpose-driven decision-making.

“We will also introduce peer learning circles and reflective practice labs where participants explore real-life leadership challenges through a mindful lens.

“We plan to continue bringing in diverse voices, psychologists, corporate leaders, social entrepreneurs and wellness experts to ensure each training continues to facilitate and encourage holistic learning experiences,” she said.

In conclusion, Ms Nadia exposed that the three cohorts have shown them that everything is possible when women come together, not in competition, but in collaboration.

“The movement has just begun and it is heartening to see that what started as a single training has now evolved into a growing community of women who are redefining leadership across Tanzania and beyond,” she says.

Ms Fawzya Hirji, Education Consultant at Lead.Learn.Educate, emphasised the critical importance of integrating mindfulness into leadership practice in today’s fast-paced and complex world.

“In a rapidly evolving professional landscape, emerging leaders must be equipped with a toolbox of mindful strategies to navigate challenges thoughtfully and maintain professionalism,” she stated. “I had the privilege of presenting on this very topic, offering practical approaches that leaders can draw upon when facing difficult decisions.”

Ms Hirji highlighted the value of self-awareness and reflective pause as essential tools in decision-making.

“One of the most effective strategies for managing complex situations is to take a step back and observe.

“Instead of reacting with frustration or emotion, we must take a moment to breathe, understand other perspectives and respond with clarity and purpose. That’s how strong, well-rounded decisions are made,” she says.

Ms Hirji also underscored the importance of resilience in leadership, reminding participants that setbacks are not endpoints but opportunities to recalibrate and move forward.

“Leadership is about maintaining momentum, learning from missteps, growing through challenges and bringing your team along with you,” she noted.

In her closing remarks, Ms Hirji encouraged Tanzanian women to remain steadfast in pursuing leadership roles. “Never abandon your vision. Keep voicing your ideas, expressing your goals and leading with intention. Your voice is essential in shaping the future.”

On her part, Ms Nelly Louis who is a Child Specialist in Education Sector remarked that her personality has improved after attending the second cohort of Mind Matters Leadership Training.

“My greatest takeaway is that women have to take hold of numerous opportunities that are available to them…but I also, I think it is important to constantly review yourself and have a good understanding of your personality and that of people around especially if you are a leader or in leadership position.

“That can help to facilitate and help you have a better understanding of yourself as well as the vision that you are working towards.

“I think as a community, we do not give it enough value how much we need to look within but I think this is a great starting point, initiatives like these remind us of that…so, people should be mindful,” she said.

Similarly, Euster Ngundana from Educate! Tanzania thanked Mind Matters Tanzania and Exim Bank Tanzania for organising such an engaging training saying what she had learnt will be applied in her working environment.

“Honestly, there are many things we have learnt that will help me a lot in my capacity where I work…I deal with people from different backgrounds as such, knowing them better and move forward together requires skills of this nature.

“I will also team my colleagues some of key points that I have taken from this training session so that they can have a glimpse of what they need to do as far as proper leadership is concerned,” she says.

Again, she used the platform to request organisers to think of expanding it so that many people across the country can be accessed and imparted with such essential leadership skills.

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Another beneficially Ms Teresa Exaudi from Kukurico Brands highlights that the initiative has opened her eyes and she cannot wait to attend upcoming editions of the training.

“The skills I have gained will help me in terms of personal growth, at work and at family level because I am in hospitality industry that compels me to connect much with different people.

“I have known where my weaknesses were and what I should do to eliminate them so that I become a good leader with practical skills to handle well people of different backgrounds.

“Basing on what I have grasped here, if there is a chance of attending another edition of leadership training, trust me, I will be willing to attend…I have been greatly inspired by the lessons here,” she says