Come with us as we explore the five levels of leadership to #accelerateaction at IBSUniversity, IBS College of TVET, in our family and our community. “Women were created last as per the Bible story on creation but yet we are created the best,” Dr. Sujitha.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, we believe we should build one another up and count our blessings as women. On Friday, 7^th March 2025, we gathered for an insightful session organized by Dr. Muthu Prabha, Guidance Counsellor, and led by Dr. Sujitha Antony, Head of the School of Information Technology. This event brought together women from various, backgrounds, and stories at IBS to examine the theme of leadership and how it positively impacts the lives of women, personally and professionally.

Dr. Sujitha Antony took us through the session, directing us to John C. Maxwell’s five levels of leadership. Maxwell, a renowned author and leadership expert, has developed a model that outlines how leadership progresses. Dr. Sujitha shared these levels, beginning with level one—position, where leadership is based on where one leads because of position. Moving to level two, which is permission, Dr. Sujitha stressed on the vital point of taking ownership and taking initiative. At this level, leadership is rooted in mutual respect and the creation of an enjoyable, team-oriented atmosphere, which is achievable even without a special title.

The session then examined level three, which is production, where the focus shifts to results. Here, people come before projects, with the leader’s aim on utilizing strengths and finding solutions. Now, leading us to level four: people development. In this level, the leader is concentrating on developing others, delegating tasks, and growing highly productive teams, departments, and organizations.

 Finally, we reached level five, which is the pinnacle. This represents the highest level of leadership, where leaders have earned respect and are creating and developing more leaders. at this level, these types of leaders tend to leave a permanent imprint.

 Dr. Sujitha posed three questions for every woman to consider:

1. Which of the five leadership levels am I in right now?
2. How can I implement training to reach Level Five?
3. What are the blind spots that may hinder my progress?

We believe that at any one point in a woman’s life, they have played a part in a family, a society or an influential organisation and they’ve reached the top-level leadership. With the questions, each woman can redefine each level of leadership in their own context.

We were also inspired by a story about Mother Teresa, an astounding figure in history who has leadership through faith in challenging circumstances. Her ability to uplift others, especially during tough times, reminds us as women to lead with love and faith, which means don’t close the hope door, always be prayerful together.

Then, a personal story was shared to us about our coworker, Ms. Serah Iavana, the Records Assistant Officer and a graduate from our IBS College of TVET. Her story as a tour guide and bag-carrier through the Kokoda Track, only to raise funds for her school fees and to support her siblings through financial difficulties, further supports the theme of leadership in our session. She had to go through difficult conditions, such as navigating thick, slippery jungles, to support her family. though it’s tiring and difficult sometimes but she had to do it.

Dr. Muthu Prabha also encouraged everyone to embrace the notion of “yet.” Life presents challenges to all of us, but by adding “yet” at the end of those struggles, we acknowledge the potential for growth and improvement. “I may be a fresher, but yet I will try my best to learn and grow. I may face family issues, yet I will try my best to be my own leader and count my blessings,” Dr. Muthu shared.

The event concluded with a celebratory cake-cutting ceremony to commemorate International Women’s Day. A thought left by Ms. Raphaela Sigamata, SCU Programs Manager, was, “It was a moment of self-thought, celebration, and inspiration, to encourage us that all women have the power to lead in their own unique ways.”

“We believe that each woman is a leader, and through events like this, we want each of us as women to realize our potential and redefine leadership in our own context.”

Together, we are leaders “yet” in the face of challenges, we rise and lead with purpose and strength.

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