Kemi Ajumobi 
The International Woman Leadership Conference (TIWLC) is an initiative of Ibukun Awosika Leadership that brings women across Africa and the diaspora together in a place of knowledge, empowerment, and entertainment. Since inception five years ago, it has taken place in Dubai, same venue for 2026. This year, the event was themed ‘Losing the Fear’, and it had over 500 participants in attendance. The experiences shared by some participants we spoke to tell it all.
Phinnah Chichi Ikeji
Founder: R&G Parenting Academy & Rise &Thrive Youth Mentoring C.I.C
Based in the UK, Operates Globally
Attending this women’s leadership conference in Dubai for the second consecutive year has been both inspiring and deeply personal. At one point, I felt teary as I reflected on the message of acknowledging fear and moving forward anyway.
My strongest takeaway was that courage begins with identifying the fear that has been holding us back. Naming it helps us understand its influence and decide what we will do next. We must also articulate what overcoming that fear could make possible: the opportunities, relationships, growth and impact waiting on the other side.
The reminder that “the next decision is yours” felt like an invitation to step forward, own our voices and prepare to contribute. We do not have to wait until we feel completely confident before taking action.
As a parenting educator and youth mentor, I also connected deeply with the importance of giving our children opportunities to feel fear and work through it, with our support. Courage grows when they discover they can take a step even while feeling uncertain.
I leave with this conviction: the cost of inaction can outweigh the discomfort of trying. Fear may accompany us, but it does not have to determine how far we go.
Caroline Popoola
Founder Alpha Childcare & Aloha Global Africa
FEAR MAY HAVE A VOICE, BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE A VOTE!
Attending the International Women’s Leadership Conference has been a powerful reminder that no matter how far we have come, there is always another level of courage required to grow.
Having spent over two decades building businesses, leading teams and navigating unfamiliar territories, I have learnt that fear doesn’t necessarily disappear with experience. Sometimes, the bigger the vision, the louder the fear.
One conversation particularly resonated with me. Both men and women experience fear, but men often appear more willing to find the tools to navigate it rather than allow it to limit their ambitions.
That challenged me.
Why do we sometimes wait for permission, perfection or certainty before stepping forward?
My biggest takeaways were simple yet profound:
Dream boldly, even a little delusionally!
Compete for positions of influence. You may not always win, and that’s okay.
Preparation builds confidence, but courage requires action.
Our individual power becomes extraordinary when we connect it with others.
Above all, leadership is never just about us.
As I continue building businesses and creating impact beyond borders, I leave with one question:
What possibilities are we denying the world simply because we are afraid to begin?
Feel the fear, but do it anyway!
Jacqueline Dufie Mpare
Managing Director
Pan-African Savings & Loans Ghana (Ecobank Group)
TIWLC 2026 was curated for me!
This year’s conference is mine because I am at a point in my life’s journey where the voice of fear has become a constant in my ears and is growing louder by the day.
I embraced the role of Managing Director in May 2025 without fear because, two years prior to my appointment, the 360 Degree Master Class with Mrs. Ibukun Awosika helped me shift my mindset and begin to build capacity. At TIWLC 2025, the conversations around Leading with Courage strengthened me further and got me on my marks, ready to hit the ground running in a C-suite role.
One year into my role as a first-time Managing Director, first-time Board Member, and first-time Executive Committee member, after 17+ years of my career in banking, I am realizing the weight of the calling and the expectations my team, the board, and shareholders have of me.
The voice of fear has gotten louder as 2026 draws to a close. Every keynote, panel discussion, comment, and question at TIWLC 2026 has broken a piece of that fear away. The postponement from Q1 2026 to Q4 of the year is a testament that the conference is for me.
I am fully recharged to close the year on a strong note. A second wind to continue my journey as Managing Director through a sector reform in my country, recapitalization, and restructuring of the organisation.
Two of my favourite quotes from TIWLC 2026 are: “…the fight is fixed and we know who the winner is….” Dr. Ndidi Nwuneli
“…Fear has a voice but no vote in the boardroom…” Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN).
I am encouraged to do it afraid and to carry other women and men along with me on my journey.
One thing I am taking away is the need to gain mastery in Intuitive Judgment as a leader. This is a muscle I will intentionally build daily as I go back to my desk to deliver undisputed results.
Georgia Akuwudike
Director of Operations, Middle East & Africa, Amazon
Attending the International Women’s Leadership Conference 2026 has been such a rewarding experience. Two days of listening to incredible women share their journeys, the challenges they’ve faced, the decisions they’ve made, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
This year’s theme, “Women in Leadership: Losing the Fear,” was particularly personal for me because, when I look back at my own journey, I realise that many of the biggest milestones in my career came from taking steps I wasn’t entirely ready for.
One thing that stayed with me throughout the conference is that courage isn’t necessarily about being fearless. It’s about doing it afraid. And hearing the stories of women who have achieved extraordinary things reminded me that even the most accomplished people have had moments of doubt and uncertainty.
I particularly enjoyed the conversations around staying true to who you are, being intentional about the choices you make, and not allowing society or other people’s expectations to define your path.
As someone who leads a large organisation across five countries, I’m constantly reminded that leadership is not just about what you achieve personally, but about the people you develop, the opportunities you create, and the impact you leave behind.
And beyond the sessions, it was simply beautiful to be in a room filled with so many brilliant, accomplished women, each with her own story.
My biggest takeaway? Don’t wait for the fear to disappear. Take the step, do the work, and trust that you’ll grow along the way.
Thank you to Mrs Ibukun Awosika and the entire TIWLC team for putting together such an impactful conference.
Angela Dedo Kofi
Founder. People Builder
Five Years of IWL: Inspired to Live Fully and Die Empty
Five years ago, I committed to IWL and I have never looked back. I was captivated by the vision of bringing African and Caribbean women together in Dubai to learn, connect, and grow.
IWL has become my annual retreat, a space to pause, reflect, gain fresh perspectives and reimagine what’s possible for my life and business.
Watching Mrs. Ibukun Awosika bring her dream to life challenged me to pursue mine. Last year, I finally launched The TrueLife Experience, a vision I had carried for years. That is the power of one woman’s audacity.
IWL has made me incredibly wealthy through extraordinary relationships, invaluable peer mentoring, and women I now proudly call sisters.
And the gala! The dressing up, dancing, laughter and sheer joy are therapeutic! With my natural energy and a room full of Nigerians, I feel completely at home. I’m still awaiting my Yoruba name!
I look forward to the next five years and beyond.
Thank you, Mrs. Awosika, for demonstrating what walking in purpose looks like. You’ve inspired me to live boldly, die empty, and pay it forward.
TIWL transforms women and the generations they influence.
Oluremi Odunsi
Founder Eridan City
TIWLC 2026: STILL LEARNING, STILL BECOMING
I have attended all TIWLC over the years, and one thing I have come to appreciate is that I never leave quite the same way I arrived.
This year’s theme, Losing the Fear, has made me reflect on my own journey. I have taken many important steps while afraid, and I have come to realise that fear is not always a weakness. Sometimes it helps us prepare better. The problem begins when we allow it to make our decisions for us.
Listening to Ibukun Awosika, Grace Marabe, Leymah Gbowee, Ndidi Nwuneli, Leo Stan Ekeh, Folake Soetan and Oyinkan Badejo Okusanya (SAN), I found myself thinking about the different ways fear shows up in our lives. The fear of starting, failing, occupying unfamiliar spaces, being misunderstood or even beginning again.
At this stage of my life, I am increasingly interested in building things that will outlive me. But I am also learning that we cannot build lasting institutions without building people, nurturing relationships and making room for others.
Another reflection that stayed with me is the importance of guarding our hearts. We cannot carry every disappointment and offence into the future we are trying to build.
And what a joy to experience all this in the company of women I love! Old friendships, new connections, wonderful conversations and absolutely epic selfie moments. 
You really can never take too many selfies.
I am grateful for the opportunity to keep learning, questioning and growing.
Perhaps losing the fear is not about becoming fearless. It is about refusing to live anything less than the fullness of the life God has given us.
Adesemoju Kate
Spectrum Innovation Technologies Limited
My Experience at #TIWLC2026 – Women in Leadership: Losing the Fear
My experience at the International Women Leadership Conference in Dubai has been enlightening, inspiring, and deeply thought-provoking.
The conversations reinforced a truth I hold dear: fear must never limit our God-given potential or stop us from embracing opportunities.
The most powerful lesson was this – we can feel the fear and do it anyway. Leadership is not the absence of fear; it is the courage to act despite uncertainty, discomfort, and limitations.
We were challenged to embrace change, navigate the pressures of start-ups, stretch for new opportunities, and adapt to evolving leadership realities. We were urged to conduct honest, even brutal self-assessments, confront our growth gaps, and do the right things even when uncomfortable.
We were also reminded to guard our hearts against bitterness and offences. Past hurts and the actions of others must never become barriers to what God wants to do in us and through us.
My key takeaway is personal and decisive.
By the grace of God, I am losing my fear to occupy. I am learning to accept my vulnerability and embrace my visibility in God’s audacity. I choose forgiveness over bitterness. I am building confidence not in the flesh, but in my inner man – my mindset. When the mind is renewed, we rise.
TIWLC2026 reminded me that true leadership demands courage, self-awareness, continuous growth, and purposeful action. As women, we must rise above fear and lead with wisdom, integrity, and grace.
I leave Dubai challenged to be more intentional about my personal growth, my leadership impact, and the divine opportunities before me. Our call is not merely to occupy positions, but to make meaningful differences in our homes, workplaces, communities, and the world.
To God be all the glory!
#TIWLC2026 #WomenInLeadership mindset. When the mind is renewed, we rise.
TIWLC2026 reminded me that true leadership demands courage, self-awareness, continuous growth, and purposeful action. As women, we must rise above fear and lead with wisdom, integrity, and grace.
I leave Dubai challenged to be more intentional about my personal growth, my leadership impact, and the divine opportunities before me. Our call is not merely to occupy positions, but to make meaningful differences in our homes, workplaces, communities, and the world.
To God be all the glory!
#TIWLC2026 #WomenInLeadership
Simone N. Smith- Bean
Legal and Technology Specialist
Managing Partner, Smith Bean & Co.
Managing Director of SBC Corporate Services
Bermuda & The Bahamas
Founder of HustleApp.io
My Experience at The International Women’s Leadership Conference (TIWLC) 2026
#TIWLC2026 has been the shift I needed at this stage of my entrepreneurial journey. There are seasons in business when the greatest challenge is finding the courage to begin, and there are seasons when growth requires us to pause, reflect, and reconsider how we build. For me, last year was about starting; this year is about shifting my strategy for building.
One of the things I value most about TIWLC is its ability to bring the right perspectives, connections, and insights at precisely the time they are needed. As entrepreneurs, we can become so consumed by the day-to-day demands of building our businesses that we sometimes lose sight of the bigger picture. We continue to push, solve problems, and pursue our vision, but occasionally, what we need most is the opportunity to step back, listen, learn, and see our journey through a different lens.
TIWLC has provided that opportunity for me. The conversations, the women I have encountered, and the collective wisdom and experiences shared have reinforced the importance of intentional growth, strategic thinking, and remaining open to new possibilities. It has reminded me that building a successful business is not simply about working harder; it is also about evolving, making informed decisions, and having the courage to change direction when necessary.
As an entrepreneur, I am leaving this conference with a renewed sense of perspective and a clearer appreciation of the importance of being deliberate about my next steps. I am reminded that growth is not always about doing more; sometimes, it is about doing things differently.
TIWLC has a special way of delivering the blessing of perspective when you need it most. It has been an enriching and timely experience, and one I would wholeheartedly recommend to other women in business and leadership.
This is one event I will not miss next year.
Godrey Ogbechie
Group Executive Director
Rainoil Group.
I had the privilege of attending the The International Woman Leadership Conference 2026 in Dubai, themed “Losing the Fear.” As a returning participant, this year’s conference was especially meaningful because I attended with my daughter. It is my desire that she begins early to learn about leadership, courage, purpose, and positive impact that this conference consistently inspires.
Over the years, this conference has become an important part of our leadership development journey. I do not attend alone; I am usually accompanied by women in senior leadership positions within my organization. Even when I am unable to attend personally, we intentionally sponsor and send a team of women leaders because the value derived from the conference far exceeds the investment. The learning, networks, and inspiration gained continue to strengthen leadership capacity across our organization and create lasting impact.
The Convener, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, remains one of my greatest inspirations as a woman building a business while striving to create meaningful change in society. Her example of visionary leadership, resilience, excellence, and service continues to challenge and inspire me.
Prior to the main conference, I participated in the 360 Executive Masterclass and The Woman, Her Ambition and Her Relationships sessions. Both provided valuable insights into leadership, ambition, personal growth, and the importance of managing relationships while pursuing purpose.
Several lessons resonated deeply with me. The concept of “dreaming delusional” challenged me to dream beyond fear and perceived limitations. Another powerful lesson was that “resilience is not one heroic act, but a series of small decisions over time.” I was reminded that leadership extends beyond personal achievement; we carry the hopes and aspirations of others and create pathways for future generations. The importance of a strong support system was reinforced, while learning that men also experience fear, though often differently, was particularly insightful and relevant.
The keynote by Mrs. Ndidi Nwuneli and the panel discussion, “Losing the Fear to Occupy,” were especially impactful as I navigate significant next-level decisions.
In conclusion, the conference reaffirmed my commitment to courageous leadership, intentional investment in women leaders, and creating lasting positive impact through service. I left inspired to dream bigger, lead boldly, and empower others to achieve their fullest potential.
Chima Patience Ebor
Head, Affluent Banking and Branches
Standard Chartered Bank
My Three-Year Journey at The International Woman Leadership Conference (TIWLC), Dubai
Attending the International Woman Leadership Conference for three consecutive years has been an enriching and transformative leadership experience.
My profound appreciation goes to Mrs. Ibukun Awosika for consistently curating a world-class platform that brings together over 400 accomplished women across corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, politics and social impact.
The 2026 conference was particularly defining for me. Beyond inspiration, it provided clarity on where I am in my leadership journey, what must change, and the deliberate actions required to unlock my next level.
One powerful takeaway was the importance of building intentional ecosystems—relationships, capabilities and platforms that enable sustainable success. I was equally reminded that opportunities do not expire with age or achievement. Growth demands the courage to assess oneself with brutal honesty, identify capability gaps and pursue solutions relentlessly.
Perhaps most importantly, leadership requires us to occupy our space and pursue opportunities, not in the absence of fear, but despite it.
The exceptional insights from Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Leo Stan Ekeh, Ndidi Nwuneli and other distinguished speakers reinforced these lessons.
Beyond the intellectually stimulating sessions, we celebrated, forged valuable connections and strengthened existing relationships.
I leave TIWLC 2026 not merely inspired, but clearer, more intentional and determined to translate insight into impact.
Naomie Pilula
Legal Services Manager, Pensions & Insurance Authority (PIA), Zambia
The #TIWLC2026 has been extraordinary.
I have been inspired by the journeys of remarkable women, equipped for my next steps, and charged to confront the fears that have quietly held me back.
It began with an invitation to “dream a little delusionally.” It reminded me that a dream does not need to look reasonable to be valid, even when it seems out of this world.
I also learnt that the key to overcoming fear is pursuing something bigger than myself. When our vision is about lifting others, courage has something to stand on. And when we genuinely care for people, they will follow.
The statement I will carry with me from now on: “Fear has a voice, but it should not have a vote.”
Fear will still raise doubts and question whether we are ready. We can listen, acknowledge it, and then decide anyway.
I leave with renewed purpose and a commitment to lead with boldness, service and care. To put it simply: “dream boldly, anchor the dream in serving others, and don’t let fear cast the deciding vote.”