Thought Leadership Piece: “Legacy in Leadership: The Power of Small Acts Every Day”

As I reflect on my journey, one word resonates with me deeply: legacy. In my roles as President of the African Women Chartered Accountants (AWCA) and Head of Business Restructuring at BDO South Africa, I’ve come to realize that legacy isn’t something we build in grand moments. Rather, it’s the quiet, everyday acts, the consistent support, and the small gestures of encouragement that accumulate over time. Legacy is woven from countless small actions that each, in their way, leaves an indelible mark on someone else’s life.

When I think about legacy, I don’t picture accolades, titles, or major milestones. Instead, I think about each woman who was inspired to step into the accounting profession because she saw herself reflected in someone who looked like her, someone who faced similar challenges and overcame them. I think of the young women I’ve had the privilege to mentor, the students supported by AWCA’s bursaries, and the professionals who have found confidence through our programs. Each of these moments—each smile, each word of encouragement, each piece of advice given—adds to a legacy that extends far beyond my own accomplishments.

The idea that legacy is built daily has been a guiding principle for me. When I became President of AWCA, I knew that I wanted to make a difference, not just by leading the organization but by reaching individuals, by inspiring one woman at a time to believe in herself and her potential. It’s the visit to a rural school where a young girl hears about accounting as a career for the first time, the late-night mentoring call to a colleague in need, or the encouragement I give to a woman stepping into her first leadership role. These moments may seem small, but they are the building blocks of a collective change, of a legacy that will live on in the lives I’ve touched.

I am reminded of a quote by Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” True leadership, I believe, is about making people feel seen, heard, and valued. It’s about empowering others to find strength within themselves, to overcome challenges they thought insurmountable, and to reach heights they never imagined possible.

As leaders, it’s easy to focus on the big goals and strategic visions, but it’s equally important to remember the impact we have in each small interaction. Leadership is not a destination; it’s a journey of purpose-filled moments. It’s understanding that each decision, each piece of guidance, each smile can have a ripple effect, impacting not only the person in front of us but the generations to come.

I am grateful for every person who has walked this journey with me, for every mentee who has become a leader, for every colleague who has inspired me in return, and for every young woman who sees herself reflected in my path. This is the legacy I hope to leave—a legacy of small acts with profound impact, of lives touched positively, and of a sisterhood that supports and uplifts one another.

So, to every leader reading this, I encourage you to take a moment today to consider the small acts. Remember that legacy is not built in a day or in a title; it’s built in every interaction, every choice, every person you support along the way. Together, let’s build legacies that extend beyond us, creating a future where each one of us has left the world a little brighter, a little better, and a little more hopeful.

#Leadership #Legacy #Empowerment #AWCA #WomenInBusiness #PurposefulLeadership