Coffee with Cambridge student One Pusumane

I interviewed Cambridge University Masters graduate, One Pusumane, about female leadership in Africa for the education charity ESSA.

Were there any barriers you had to overcome to get to this point?

“I got a scholarship to study at the University of Cambridge. I think the main barriers for me have always been the finance to pay for education but I overcame that by being intentional about my work and investing in developing different skills. Perhaps, more importantly, I would say taking your work seriously- I tend to have like 6-7 drafts of any work I do before sharing and I make sure I give it my best! That way I do not regret opportunities that did not work out.

Who is seen to be a leader and by who? Who leads who? If “African” leadership is hyper politicised as the solution to the continent’s problems, we fall into the trap of the developmental discourse that has positioned leadership as the main issue. This curtails a nuanced discussion around legacies and undertones that dovetail the current leadership on the continent. There is a need for critical engagement with what is framed as leadership and “African leadership” for that matter.”