In global public health, women leaders are constantly navigating high-stakes responsibilities, fast-paced environments, and complex demands that continue shifting without warning. They are often asked to take on more without additional resources or support, all while ‘balancing’ equally important personal responsibilities. The Covid-19 pandemic only exacerbated this challenge, blurring the already fragile boundaries between work and personal life.
The very phrase “work-life balance” can feel misleading. Often implying a competition between having work on one side and life on the other, leaving women leaders feeling as though they are walking on a tight rope, where one misstep could undo everything. However, maybe balance is not the goal at all. What if the answer primarily lies in integration, in finding harmony where work and life flow together, rather than pulling us apart?
Ahead of the upcoming East Africa Power Up Session: Redefining Work/Life Balance, we sat down with the facilitator to unpack how women leaders can move beyond the myth of balance and embrace a more holistic, sustainable way of leading.
Why does the idea of “work-life balance” so often feel like walking a tightrope, especially for women leaders in global public health?
Work-life balance is a bit of a myth, like perfectly matching socks! It feels like walking a tightrope because it suggests two very different worlds pulling us in opposite directions. On one side is work: demanding, fast-paced, and unpredictable. On the other hand, personal life, full of responsibilities and the need for rest and connection. Trying to keep both in perfect balance can feel impossible.
For women in global health, the challenge is magnified. They juggle complex roles, shift priorities at a moment’s notice, and often take on more without extra support. Maybe the secret isn’t about balance at all; it’s about finding ways for work and life to flow together in harmony, instead of constantly competing.
From your perspective as an executive coach and facilitator, what does a more integrated or harmonized approach to work and life look like?
Rather than imagining two separate buckets, work and life, harmony invites us to see them as parts of one whole. It’s about blending the two in ways that feel natural and sustainable, where each supports the other.
This doesn’t mean perfect 50/50 splits or rigid schedules. It’s about tuning into what energizes you and making choices that reflect your values. Sometimes work takes the front seat, sometimes personal life does, and that’s okay. Harmony gives you flexibility to adapt, creating a rhythm that keeps you productive and fulfilled without burning out.
What steps can women leaders take to identify their personal priorities and build a leadership style that sustains both career success and well-being?
It begins with reflection. Take the time to pause and ask: What matters most to me? What drains my energy? What fuels my passion?
When you’re clear on your priorities, it’s easier to set boundaries and communicate with them confidently. Building a sustainable leadership style means embracing flexibility, asking for support when needed, and giving yourself grace. Simple practices like journaling, mindfulness, or peer reflection help leaders stay grounded and resilient.
Given the context of your work across Sub-Saharan Africa and globally, what unique challenges have you seen women leaders face in navigating work-life integration, and what lessons of resilience stand out?
In many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond, women leaders face not only demanding professional roles but also strong cultural expectations around caregiving and community responsibilities. These layered demands can make work-life integration feel overwhelming.
What really stands out, though, is the incredible resilience these women show. They draw strength from community ties and values such as Ubuntu, the belief in interconnectedness, and collective problem-solving. They redefine leadership to fit their realities, blending tradition with innovation. Their resilience reminds us that strength doesn’t mean doing it all perfectly but adapting and growing with intention and support.
How can leaders shape organizational cultures that support work-life harmony instead of reinforcing strain? What practical tools, habits, or reflective practices will participants take away from this PowerUp Session to help them strike harmony between work and life?
Leaders set the tone. By modelling empathy, flexibility, and respect for diverse needs, they create cultures where people feel safe to bring their whole selves to work. This means moving away from the “always-on” mentality and encouraging practices that promote rest and well-being.
In this Power Up session, participants will gain practical tools to better understand their own work-life rhythms, recognize and challenge limiting beliefs, and build personalized habits that support harmony. They’ll engage in reflective exercises, peer discussions, and receive frameworks that empower them to create sustainable leadership styles that honor both career success and personal fulfillment. It’s about cultivating awareness and agency to navigate life’s demands with grace and intention.
Conclusion
Navigating the demands of leadership, especially as women in global public health, is no easy feat. But by embracing a more harmonious approach to work and life, we can move beyond the exhausting pursuit of “balance” and create a way of leading that nourishes both our careers and our well-being. This session is designed to empower you with insight, tools, and community support to find your own rhythm, one that honors your priorities, builds resilience, and celebrates the whole person you are. I look forward to joining you on this journey toward leadership that feels sustainable, fulfilling, and deeply authentic.
Dr. Terry Kigundu is a Senior Facilitator at WomenLift Health and a leadership development expert. She will be leading the upcoming PowerUp session on Redefining Work/Life Balance on September 18th, from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EAT / 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM CAT. Limited slots available to register today.