“Give To Gain” themed engagement underscores the importance of leadership development, resilience, and communication skills for women leaders across ASEAN and beyond
In line with the International Women’s Day 2026 theme, “Give To Gain”, the High Commissioner of South Africa in Singapore, HE Madiepetsane Charlotte Lobe, returned to the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) Executive Education for the 2nd Edition of the Women in Leadership Advancing Together programme (23–27 March 2026). The initiative aims to advance women’s empowerment by strengthening leadership capabilities and cultivating critical skills such as decision-making, strategic thinking, persuasive communication, and resilience.
The programme brings together women leaders from ASEAN and beyond, creating a platform for knowledge exchange and capacity building. It also reflects the growing importance of sustained leadership development initiatives in preparing women to take on influential roles across public and private sectors.
In her remarks, the High Commissioner emphasised the importance of continuous women’s leadership development programmes as a strategic necessity in today’s evolving geopolitical environment. She highlighted that such initiatives foster institutional resilience, challenge the status quo, and integrate diverse perspectives needed to address global disruptions, including war and conflict, climate change, rising costs of living, supply chain instability, and energy crises.
This year’s focus was placed on “Persuasive Communication” as a core leadership skill for women leaders. The High Commissioner structured her presentation around Aristotle’s three artistic proofs—Ethos (credibility), Pathos (emotion), and Logos (logic)—noting that mastering these tools enables leaders to tailor their messages effectively, connect with diverse audiences, and achieve meaningful influence in decision-making spaces.
Source: South Africa High Commission in Singapore
