President of the Executive Women’s Network, Janet Sunkwa – Mills, and educator and social entrepreneur Justine Mauda Afia Aniaku, have called on women to pursue leadership grounded in competence, service, and intentional impact, stressing that true leadership is built on value and not gender.
They made the call on Springboard, Your Virtual University, during the International Women’s Day 2026 celebration, a special edition of the ongoing Exploring Women in Leadership series, with host, Ps. Albert Ocran.
Mrs. Sunkwa-Mills emphasised that competence remains the strongest response to barriers women sometimes encounter in professional environments. According to her, organisations ultimately seek people who can deliver value and contribute meaningfully to their goals.
“I always say and believe strongly that competence has no gender. If you are good and you can add value in a way that responds to the needs and the vision of the organisation, then you deserve a seat at the table,” she said.
Reflecting on her leadership journey, she explained that the Executive Women’s Network, which will mark its 10th anniversary this year, has grown from a small group of women focused on career development into a broader platform committed to mentoring and leadership development for younger women.
She noted that over time, the network realised that celebrating the achievements of successful women alone was not enough, and that deliberate investment in emerging leaders had become necessary.
“We realised that operating only from a place of personal development had limited impact. So, we expanded our focus to mentoring younger women and building the next generation of leaders,” she said.
Through initiatives such as the EWN Elevate mentorship programme and partnerships with educational institutions, the network has supported hundreds of young women and girls across the country.
According to Madam Justine Aniaku, leadership has been expressed through service and the empowerment of vulnerable women through practical skills training. The educator explained that her initiative focuses on equipping women with handicraft skills that allow them to generate income and support their families, particularly women who often have limited access to economic opportunities.
“For me, it has never been about the money but the impact. The joy of knowing that because of something I did, there is food on someone’s table is deeply fulfilling,” she said.
She recalled receiving a message from one of the women she had trained, which affirmed the significance of her work. “One woman sent me an audio message saying, ‘Madam, because of you, I now have food for my children.’ That alone is enough motivation for me to continue,” she said.
Madam. Justine also shared her personal journey, explaining that she became physically challenged at the age of two and a half but refused to allow the circumstance to limit her ambitions. With strong encouragement from her mother and a commitment to education, she continued to develop her skills and later began teaching them to others through both physical training sessions and online learning platforms.
“I discovered my skills early and decided to use them. When distance prevented people from attending training physically, I began creating videos so they could still learn wherever they were,” she explained.
Both women also reflected on how their leadership journeys have shaped their character and outlook.
About Springboard, Your Virtual University
Springboard, Your Virtual University, is a weekly motivational and personal development broadcast produced by the Springboard Road Show Foundation and hosted by Pastor. Albert Ocran. The broadcast airs every Sunday at 7 PM on Joy 99.7 FM and on Springboard Channel (Facebook & YouTube) and at 9 PM on Joy News TV. The discussion formed part of the special International Women’s Day series dubbed HERizon: Exploring women in leadership.