Leadership has always been part of my journey through football, community work, and motherhood. But recently, through the Women in Sports Expedition, which I am currently part of, I experienced one of the most honest forms of self-discovery: understanding my mask.
The Mask
The exercise challenged me to reflect on two sides of my mask: the side people often see and appreciate, and the side that may quietly hold me back. On the front of my mask was the person I have grown to become through football, community work, and life experiences: bold, straightforward, focused, hardworking, empathetic, and organized.
These are qualities that have helped me navigate spaces where women often have to work twice as hard to be recognized. Football has taught me courage, community work has strengthened my empathy, and motherhood has deepened my patience and sense of responsibility. I have learned to lead from the front, communicate honestly, and stay committed to vision and impact even during difficult seasons.
But the back of the mask revealed another truth. It reflected the patterns in how I lead that can become limiting when left unchecked: bluntness, perfectionism, strictness, multitasking, and being somewhat of a workaholic. Reading those words felt uncomfortable because they were true.
My Own Leading
In football and in spaces where I lead, there is often pressure to always perform, always deliver, and always carry others. As women, and especially as mothers, we sometimes normalize exhaustion and overworking as proof of commitment. I realized that some of the same qualities that make me effective can also affect my well-being, relationships, flexibility, and ability to rest.
My work in sport for development in coastal Kenya, particularly in Kilifi, has continued to shape these reflections even more deeply. Through community initiatives, we use sports as a tool to empower young people, create safe spaces, build confidence, and encourage positive youth engagement. Working closely with girls and young women has strengthened my passion for gender equality and reminded me how powerful sports can be in transforming lives beyond the field.
Interestingly, my own journey in sports started quite late. I did not grow up seeing myself as an athlete. But once I stepped into the world of sport for development after campus, I found purpose, community, and a platform for impact. Since then, I have embraced the journey not only as a practitioner, but also as a mentor who believes in the power of sports to shape leadership, resilience, and opportunity.
Motherhood has especially challenged me to confront the balance between ambition and well-being. Being a mother has softened parts of me while also exposing the areas where I need balance. It has taught me that leadership is not only about strength and productivity; it is also about presence, grace, adaptability, and care. Children do not only need structure; they need warmth. Teams do not only need direction; they need understanding.
Another space that continues to inspire me is storytelling, which has taught me that leadership is not only found in titles or achievements, but also in lived experiences, vulnerability, and the courage to share our journeys. That’s why I am deeply passionate about the Beyond the Scoreboard series under the Proactive Legends Initiative: a movement bringing together women in football, football enthusiasts, and sport-for-development practitioners committed to empowering Kenyan women in football across all levels by challenging stereotypes and fostering a culture of inclusivity, diversity, and excellence in the beautiful game.
Working in football has made me realize that sports can sometimes reward toughness while ignoring the emotional weight that goes unseen behind the scenes. Yet some of the most impactful leading happens not in authority, but in how we nurture growth, create safe spaces, and make people feel valued.
Learning to Lead Differently
Through this reflection, I am learning that leading is not about wearing a perfect mask. It is about being aware of what is behind it. I am learning to lead with courage while creating room for softness, to remain focused without carrying everything alone, to pursue excellence without losing balance, and to be hardworking without glorifying burnout.
And maybe that is what growth in how we lead truly looks like: not becoming someone entirely new, but becoming more aware, more intentional, and more human in the process.
About the Author:
Janet Motah is a Sport for Development and Strategic Communications professional with over ten years of experience advancing youth empowerment, gender equality, and sustainable development through sport. She brings a multidisciplinary background in mass communication, counseling, project management, and business management. Janet is an Explorer on Women Emerging Expedition for Women Leading in Sports
