Prof. Laila Abubakar, TUM Vice Chancellor, delivered a keynote address at the 11th Ladies Leadership & Accountability Conference (LLC), a high-level forum organized by the Association of Women Accountants of Kenya (AWAK) that brings together women leaders across sectors.
The conference, currently underway from 2nd to 6th March 2026 at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa ahead of International Women’s Day, has convened influential women leaders from the corporate sector, public service, academia, entrepreneurship, civil society, and development partners. Guided by the theme, “Inspiring Women Leaders for Sustainable Transformation,” the forum provides space for reflection on progress made while addressing persistent governance, financial, and accountability challenges.
In her keynote address, Prof. Laila reflected on her experiences managing a public university and some of the financial constraints she has faced. She highlighted the importance of deliberate strategies and mechanisms to make the best use of limited resources, emphasizing that leadership effectiveness is determined not by the volume of resources available, but by the discipline, foresight, and accountability applied in utilizing them.
Addressing ethics and standards in leadership, Prof. Laila underscored that integrity must be the foundation of all decision-making. She stressed that governance frameworks, financial stewardship, and strategic decisions must be grounded in transparency and moral responsibility. Echoing the philosophy commonly attributed to Aristotle, she observed that excellence is the product of deliberate intention and consistent action. She challenged leaders to position themselves among those who make things happen with courage and accountability, rather than those who simply watch events unfold.
Prof. Laila also highlighted the importance of mentorship, noting that leadership is transmitted through example. She called for intentional mentorship and structured succession planning to ensure that leadership continuity is embedded in institutional frameworks and not left to chance.
Alongside Prof. Laila’s reflections, the 11th LLC continues to engage participants in complementary sessions exploring emotional intelligence and wellbeing, innovation and systems thinking, and building collaboration and alliances among women leaders, among others. These discussions provide a broader context to the themes of governance, ethical leadership, financial stewardship, and mentorship emphasized in her keynote, highlighting the multi-faceted approaches required to drive sustainable transformation.
The conference continues through 6th March, offering delegates opportunities to strengthen governance capacity, financial stewardship, and sustainable transformation, while expanding networks and exchanging practical insights to advance women’s leadership across Africa.
