When Nolyne Magucha first encountered the Leadership Excellence Acceleration Programme (LEAP), one word immediately stood out to her. Acceleration. 

“What exactly are we accelerating?” she wondered.

At that point in her career, growth was a clear priority. As a staff member at Strathmore University‘s People and Culture Department, Nolyne was familiar with the Leadership Academy’s development opportunities. However, LEAP felt different. It was bold, intentional, and forward-looking, reflecting exactly where she hoped to go professionally.

 When the call for applications was announced, she applied without hesitation.

“I knew it aligned with where I wanted to grow,” she says. “I wanted to prepare myself for the next level.”

LEAP became an eye-opening experience that reshaped Nolyne’s understanding of leadership. Participants were intentionally placed into diverse teams, removing the comfort of familiar colleagues and encouraging collaboration across disciplines.

Nolyne found herself leading a team that included a doctor in physics, a colleague from administrative services, and a member of the housekeeping team—professionals she had never worked with before. When the team selected a highly technical innovation project, she recalls thinking, “How are we going to do this?”

That moment marked a turning point.

“Leadership is not about technical competence. It is about harnessing the strengths of others to achieve results,” Nolyne reflects. 

The acceleration Nolyne experienced extended beyond gaining new skills. It represented a shift in mindset. She developed greater confidence, a broader perspective, and a deeper appreciation for how collaboration across diverse roles strengthens outcomes.

Now awaiting graduation from the programme, Nolyne continues to apply these lessons in her work, approaching leadership with renewed clarity and purpose.

For staff considering joining one of the Leadership Academy programmes, Nolyne’s advice is simple: “Take the step. Growth rarely begins in comfortable spaces. It begins with curiosity and the willingness to stretch beyond the familiar.”

Grounded in personalised attention, our leadership programmes recognise that leadership growth is not one-size-fits-all, creating space for individuals to develop with intention and confidence.

So perhaps the question is no longer what LEAP accelerates, but what it could accelerate in you?

Article written by Linda Rerimoi, a 3rd-year BA in Communication student.