Reply To: The Words We Lead With

The word I lead with is a Yoruba word called “Àsíwájú”, which means the forerunner or the one who goes ahead. That word came to me after watching a play of a woman who led warriors to victory in a Yoruba land. The one who goes ahead, especially in battle, risks her life first. The “Àsíwájú” is not just a decorated leader, for the sake of it. She is the one most susceptible to death and danger. For me today, it means that I must take ownership and responsibility for things when I lead, failures inclusive. That’s the word I lead with, “Àsíwájú”.