Harageib on shaping a new blueprint for African leadership
For Steven Bernardus Harageib, leadership is not about standing above others but creating the conditions for people to rise and solve challenges together.
Harageib, who took on his new role as programme manager for the Intergenerational Leadership Accelerator at Leadership Lab Yetu in April, says his focus is on building a new generation of African leaders through collaboration, research and meaningful partnerships.
In his new role, Harageib supports the organisation's flagship 12-month Intergenerational Leadership Accelerator.
He also contributes to research and foresight initiatives while helping build partnerships that support the organisation's work.
"I love this role because it brings together leadership development, public service, research and collaboration," he says. "Meaningful leadership and lasting change are never achieved alone."
Drawing on experience across government, policy, mental health and social innovation, Harageib believes effective leadership begins with people.
"Leadership is really about relationships between people, institutions and systems," he explains. “"For me, leadership is not about holding a position. It is about creating the conditions for others to rise."
Diverse lives, perspectives
Leadership Lab Yetu (Yetu) is a pan-African hub championing intergenerational leadership. It connects emerging and experienced leaders to imagine, build and implement lasting solutions to Africa's distinct challenges.
Yetu convenes African leaders of different ages to reflect the continent's changing demographics in leadership. It is dedicated to diversifying African leadership by supporting emerging leaders while ensuring experienced leaders pass on their wisdom to the next generation.
The name Yetu means "ours" in Swahili, reflecting the organisation's vision of a vibrant, inclusive space where Africans across generations collaborate to shape the future of leadership for a more prosperous Africa.
A key priority for Harageib is strengthening multigenerational leadership across Africa. He believes leadership should reflect the diverse experiences and perspectives people gain throughout their lives.
“We should be thinking about multigenerational leadership. Every decade of our lives shapes how we see the world, and our understanding of leadership continues to evolve.”
Harageib also hopes to encourage a broader understanding of leadership development by recognising the impact of Africa's history on its people and institutions.
"Justice and systems change cannot only be transactional. They must also be relational, developmental and intergenerational," he says.
Reflecting on his previous work as director and head of programmes in the Office of Namibia's Presidency, where he led national efforts on gender-based violence, HIV/AIDS and youth empowerment, he says one lesson stands above the rest.
"People do not experience challenges one by one or in isolation. So we cannot solve problems one by one. We have to respond holistically, collectively, and in a way that reflects the complexity of people's lives."
New generations
Looking ahead, Harageib hopes to help define leadership from an African perspective while strengthening collaboration across the continent.
"We need to scale the level of impact we are having, and we cannot scale by ourselves," he says. "We scale by locking arms with others."
Today, Harageib supports the vision behind Leadership Lab Yetu, helping shape a new generation of intergenerational African leaders through strategy, storytelling and systems thinking.
He is a member of the African Union's Transitional Justice Experts Group, founder of the Public Heart Institute and co-founder of PGPR Technologies, a social impact startup addressing food security.
His work has earned him fellowships from TEDx, the Atlantic Council and FutureElect. Harageib is the author of Good Vibes and Butterflies and hosts two podcasts exploring masculinity, mental health and faith.
