Throughout Women’s Month, we have been celebrating the women whose leadership, passion and commitment continue to create opportunities for the next generation.
This week, we are proud to feature Deborah Kirsten, a motivational speaker, personal-development coach and passionate advocate for women and young girls.
Deborah’s work with CATCH Trust, reflects a belief that empowerment begins from within, but its impact can extend far beyond the individual.
For her, leadership is not about being the loudest person in the room or having a title. It is about understanding yourself, serving others and using your influence to help people become the best versions of themselves.
When asked about her leadership philosophy, Deborah’s answers begins with a powerful idea:
“Exceptional leadership begins with leading yourself.”
As a personal-development life coach, Deborah believe self-awareness is fundamental to effective leadership.
It starts with understanding who you are, recognising your strengths, understanding your values and making decisions that align with those values.
It also means taking responsibility for our habits, choices, attitudes and ultimately how we treat other people.
For Deborah, leadership is not dependent on position or authority.
“You do not have to be in charge to take charge of leading yourself well.”
Great leadership, she believe, also requires empathy rather than ego. It means taking the time to understand the stories of the people we lead, their experiences, where they come from and what they may be carrying.
Ultimately, leadership is about building trust, being willing to be vulnerable and when necessary, leading from behind by serving others.
“Leadership is not about having the loudest voice or being at the front; it is about using your influence to help other people become the best version of themselves.”
Deborah has a particular passion for investing in women and young girls.
Her belief is simple: “Girls with dreams become women with vision.”
But for those dreams to become reality, young women need opportunities, encouragement and the confidence to dream boldly for themselves.
Deborah believes confidence is about much more than simply feeling good about yourself.
It comes from developing a deeper understanding of who you are, your strengths, your values, what you stand for and the contribution you can make.
She wants young women to understand that they have something significant to contribute.
When a girls understands her strengths and begins to believe in what she is capable of, she can start dreaming bigger about the difference she can make.
Deborah believes everyone needs someone to look up to.
“We need role models, mentors and people who demonstrate what is possible.”
She believes women have an important responsibility to become those examples for the generations coming behind them.
But that responsibility also requires authenticity.
“We cannot expect to inspire the next generation if our own lives are not reflecting the values we talk about.”
For Deborah, leadership is also about intergenerational learning.
Young people can learn from the experiences of older generations, while older generations need to remain curious, open and willing to learn from younger people’s perspectives.
It is through this exchange that stronger, more inclusive leadership can develop.
Deborah’s passion for women’s empowerment has found a meaningful expression through her work with CATCH Trust.
Through interaction with the girls and coaches, as well as personal-development workshops, the programme aims to equip young women with the knowledge and life skills they need to navigate the complexity of their worlds.
The emphasis is on developing the whole person, not just the athlete or student.
Deborah’s commitment to empowering women extends beyond CATCH Trust.
She is an accomplished motivational speaker who works with audiences across schools, universities, NGO’s and the corporate sector and she also works as a personal-development coach with women, young adults and teenagers.
In 2015, she co-developed Strongest Story, a personal-development company focused on helping women take intentional steps towards creating meaningful and impactful life stories. The programme later expanded to include Growing Your Strongest Story, specifically designed to help teenage girls develop confidence, resilience and value-based decision making.
This work reflects a consistent thread throughout Deborah’s career, helping people understand who they are, recognise their potential and take intentional steps towards the lives they want to build.
Deborah believes the responsibility of women in leadership extends beyond personal achievement.
It is about creating pathways for others.
She believes that women who have found themselves in positions of influence have a responsibility to reach back and support those coming behind them.
This Women’s Month, that message is particularly powerful:
If you have been given an opportunity, create an opportunity for someone else.
If you have found your voice, help another women find hers.
If someone opened a door for you, look for a way to open one for someone else.
Deborah’s message to young women is ultimately about self-belief, purpose and discovering the unique contribution each person has to make.
She believed there is an incredible need to help women develop confidence, self-worth and a strong understanding of who they are and what they are here to contribute.
Her message is one of encouragement:
“Know yourself. Understand your strengths. Stand firmly in your values. Lead with empathy. Use your influence to empower others and most importantly, recognise that leadership does not begin when someone gives you a title, it begins with how you choose to lead yourself.”
As we continue to celebrate Women’s Month, CATCH Trust honours Deborah Kirsten for her continued commitment to creating opportunities for women and young girls to grow in confidence, discover their potential and become leaders in their own lives.
Because when women are empowered to lead, they do not simply change their own stories. They create pathways for the women who come after them.
