Leading With Purpose and Without a Title
When I first stepped into the nonprofit world, I didn’t have a roadmap, just a deep conviction that change was possible and a desire to be part of it. Over the past 15 years, I’ve led teams, built programs, and navigated crises, all while learning that leadership in this sector is less about authority or the title you hold but more about authenticity, adaptability, and service.
Building trust through transparency is also key for me. Once my team understood how I function, it didn’t just build morale, it sparked innovation.
One of my proudest moments wasn’t something I did. It was during my parental leave, I was watching a staff member, lead a community restitution workshop on women's needs. She had started to be shy and unsure. But with mentorship and opportunities to lead small projects, she blossomed. By the time the event ended, I knew: real leadership is about multiplying leaders.
Another example , we ran a mentorship program that “felt” impactful but data showed inconsistent outcomes. Instead of scrapping it, we restructured it based on evidence-based models and hoping to see better results now. That experience taught me that heart and head must work together, passion fuels the mission, but data sharpens it.
Burnout is real in this sector. I learned that the hard way after working countless hours in my mat and parental leave as a founder of a non profit and without getting remunerated. I was exhausted, short-tempered, and disconnected from my team. A mentor reminded me: “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” I began setting boundaries, delegating more, and modeling self-care. Leadership isn’t about martyrdom, it’s about modeling sustainability for your team. It's not about clinging to power, it’s about stewarding a mission beyond yourself.
It demands both humility and boldness, vision and pragmatism, heart and strategy. It’s not for the faint of heart but it is for those who believe that change is possible, and that people are worth fighting for.
If I could offer one piece of advice to emerging nonprofit leaders, it would be this: stay rooted in your “why,” surround yourself with people who challenge and support you, and never underestimate the power of small, consistent acts of leadership. That’s how change happens not all at once, but one brave step at a time.
About the Author
Pamela Yengayenge is an international development expert and passionate advocate for women and youth empowerment. She is the Founder and CEO of InnovYeng Entrepreneuriat Féminin Inc., and currently serves as a Program Manager at Plan International Canada.
Pamela’s career spans Africa and North America, where she has led initiatives focused on gender equality, youth employment, and economic inclusion. She is a certified SME trainer under the ILO’s SIYB/GERME methodology and has mentored countless entrepreneurs through business creation and management programs. She continues to champion inclusive leadership and sustainable development across sectors.