For Margaret Akullo, those questions have followed her across four continents, from childhood in Uganda (East Africa) and Ghana (West Africa) to leadership roles in international criminal justice, and now into a new chapter centred on mentoring the next generation.

Readers familiar with her writing or public talks will recognise some of the stories. The little girl waving an OAU flag with pride. The African in the diaspora repeatedly asked whether she was “really” Ugandan because she did not fit people’s expectations. The African who boldly retired early from the UN. These stories have become part of her public narrative because they illustrate ideas that continue to shape her work: identity, belonging and the confidence to recognise one’s own value.

Yet the FAB L’Style magazine interview reveals something deeper than the familiar anecdotes.

Behind the polished public profile is a life marked by experiences that could not have been planned into a leadership story. As a child growing up during periods of political instability in Uganda, she remembers soldiers, fear and uncertainty. She recalls having a gun pointed at her as a young girl and taking cover in a car as armed soldiers walked nearby. These are not motivational moments. They are memories that explain why justice, safety and human dignity became lifelong commitments rather than professional interests.

Those commitments eventually led to more than three decades working across policing, criminal justice reform and international development, including twelve years with the United Nations. Her work addressed some of the world’s most difficult challenges, from human trafficking and organised crime to child protection and criminal justice reform.

But experience also brought uncomfortable questions.

The interview reflects candidly on her growing sense that large institutions often struggle to deliver the inclusive, locally driven change they aspire to create. She speaks carefully rather than critically, acknowledging the realities of donor priorities, bureaucracy and the complexity of international systems without reducing them to simple villains. It is less an attack on institutions than an explanation of why she eventually chose a different path.

Aged 55, leaving the United Nations in 2022 was not a retirement from purpose. It was a decision to work differently.

Today, through her Impact Leaders Initiative, Margaret Akullo mentors small cohorts of emerging professionals, helping them move from uncertainty to action. While she uses established leadership frameworks such as Ikigai and her own Mindset to Output approach, the real value of her work lies elsewhere. It comes from lived experience across countries and cultures, decades of leadership roles and an understanding that professional success begins with clarity about identity, hence her ethos ‘shaping leadership from the inside out’.

The interview makes one thing clear. Margaret Akullo’s greatest asset is not a framework or a methodology. It is perspective earned through years of difficult decisions, cross-cultural leadership and service in places where the stakes were often measured in people’s lives rather than organisational performance.

That perspective now shapes a quieter form of leadership. Instead of managing large international programmes, she invests deeply in a handful of people at a time. Instead of measuring impact through budgets or projects, she measures it through confidence rebuilt, careers redirected and leaders who learn to recognise the value they already possess.

It is a different definition of influence, but perhaps a more enduring one - her quiet yet impactful portfolio of influence.

To discover the full conversation, including her reflections on identity, leadership, international development and life after the United Nations, read the complete magazine interview at https://fablstyle.com/margaret-akullo-africa-future-leadership/

Margaret is a Ugandan-born British criminologist, mentor, and leadership adviser whose work spans thirty-five years and four continents, often in places where justice was something people struggled to access, protect, and sustain in their daily lives.

Yet for all the policy discussions, international development work, and high-level engagement, the thread connecting her work has remained remarkably consistent: a belief in people and their capacity to grow, lead, and create change. She describes her work as a mentor as shaping leadership from the inside out. “When young leaders are seen, supported, and equipped,” she says, “they not only rise, but they also help transform the world around them.”

Margaret learned she had been anonymously selected to receive a PROSI Excellence Award, presented during the inaugural PROSI Exotic Festival 2026 in Vienna on 13 June. The award recognises individuals who have made a meaningful difference, in Austria, in their country of origin, and/or globally.

On receiving the award, Margaret said: “It took decades to make mentoring emerging leaders my purpose. I share this award with my mentees, past and present, in Austria and across the world. Watching them step into their own leadership is the true measure of this work.”

What stayed with her longer than the award itself was the anonymity of the nomination. Fellow members of the diaspora put her name forward, and said nothing about it. “To be of service to others leaves traces even when you cannot see them,” Margaret said. “Sometimes someone has been paying attention all along, and one day, without telling you, they decide you deserve to be seen.”

When the nominators came forward, their message was simple: “You are a true inspiration to many of us. I am happy you were chosen, as you truly deserve the excellence award for the mentorship work you do under your Impact Leaders Initiative.”

The nomination came through EmpowerHer, an initiative by Diaspora Creatives and several others from the diaspora in Austria.

Margaret extends her thanks to PROSI and the PROSI Global Charity Foundation for the recognition.

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Moumi Awudu carries a phrase with her everywhere: “mindset to output.” She first heard it from her mentor, Margaret Akullo, and it has quietly reshaped how she moves through the world. “Whenever things feel uncertain or overwhelming, I remind myself that the mindset I bring into a situation will influence what I’m able to create from it,” she says.

The two women met at a pivotal moment. Moumi had just launched a project she had been building for six months, and doubt was beginning to creep in. “I never intended to give up completely, but I did start questioning whether it should become much smaller than I originally planned,” she recalls. What steadied her was Margaret’s ability to see the vision clearly even when Moumi could not. “She encouraged me to think bigger.” The guidance was practical — sometimes as simple as “Just reach out to this person” — but always impactful.

Beyond the project, Moumi was wrestling imposter syndrome and the guilt of asserting boundaries in leadership. Margaret’s affirmation changed that. “She is incredibly down to earth, and what stands out most is how sincerely she takes people’s ideas seriously. When she supports something, it feels real.” That has inspired Moumi to show up the same way for other women — to open doors, encourage boldly, and take their visions seriously.

Margaret Akullo has spent over three decades working across Africa, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, strengthening justice systems with global institutions including the United Nations. But her reason for mentoring is personal. “I know how powerful it is when someone recognises your potential before you fully see it yourself,” she says. “I navigated spaces where African women were routinely underrepresented — those experiences were formative.” Through her Mindset-to-Output Mentorship Programme, she has seen what becomes possible when women are given the tools to lead. “Lived experience only becomes meaningful when shared,” she says, “and that is where my purpose lives.”

For Margaret, the exchange has always been mutual. “Each mentee brings perspectives that challenge me to keep evolving — they mentor me too,” she reflects. “The gain is generational. The discipline and courage are entirely theirs — I simply helped them see what was already there.”

A surprise nomination that said everything

What Margaret did not know — until the announcement was made — was that Moumi had quietly submitted her nomination for the Leading Ladies Africa feature, which had received applications from across Africa. From a competitive pool of nominations, Margaret and Moumi were selected alongside others for the International Women’s Day 2026 feature. It was a gift given in silence — a quiet act that perfectly embodied the values their mentorship had been built upon.

“What an incredible honour to be part of this powerful feature alongside such remarkable women. To every mentor and mentee featured — your stories are a testament to the transformative power of women investing in one another. I am deeply inspired by each of you.

Moumi, I am deeply moved and truly honoured by your kind and surprise nomination. What you may not fully realise is that you have given me just as much as I have given you. Your dedication, your courage in pushing through doubt, and the boldness with which you stepped into your own leadership have been a source of inspiration for me too. Watching you grow from a moment of uncertainty into the confident, visionary leader you are today is the very ‘gain’ I speak about in my Mindset-to-Output framework. I am so proud of you — not just for what you have built, but for who you have become. Thank you for trusting me, for showing up with openness, and for now doing the same for other women. That ripple effect is everything. Thank you, dear Moumi.” — Margaret Akullo

This story was originally featured in “What Women Gain by Giving to Women: Five Stories of Mentorship and Legacy” — a special feature by Leading Ladies Africa in commemoration of International Women’s Day 2026.

Video credit: Moon Ting Li

Leadership does not begin with a title. It begins with what you decide to build from your experience.

Before you understand a leader, you must understand the child.

More than fifty years ago, I was a little girl in Uganda living through conflict. Soldiers patrolled the streets. Executions were broadcast on television. Schools were closed. There was no water, no electricity, no certainty. At night, my siblings and I would hide in a dark corridor or under the bed when we heard gunfire. We were told to be quiet — not as guidance, but as protection.

In that darkness, I asked myself three questions:

Who knows we are here? Who will hear us? Who will rescue us?

Those questions shaped me more than I realised at the time.

Even then, something quiet was forming. Not strength in the heroic sense. Something steadier. A refusal to accept fear as normal. A belief that life could be better than survival.

In 1976, our family moved to Ghana. For the first time in years, I slept without listening for gunfire. Peace felt unfamiliar, but it also felt possible. I did not yet have the language of leadership, but I carried a vision. I wanted to help shape a world that was safer for children.

That vision guided me from Uganda to Ghana, then to the UK, and eventually to the global stage with the United Nations, working across four continents. I believed in the organisations I served because they spoke directly to the child who once lay awake in the dark, wondering who would hear her. Yet the hardest challenges in my professional life were not operational. They were institutional. Invisible barriers. Closed networks. Expectations of conformity.

As a woman in the diaspora, I often felt the tension of navigating systems that did not always recognise the value of lived experience.

Over time, I came to see that lived experience is not something to minimise. It is an asset. It sharpens judgement. It deepens empathy. It strengthens cultural intelligence. For women in the diaspora especially, our layered identities equip us to lead across difference with insight and credibility.

At 55, I chose early retirement from the United Nations. It was not simply a career decision; it was an identity shift. Walking away from a title and institutional authority was confronting. Without the structure of an organisation behind me, I had to ask: who am I now? In that uncertainty, I found clarity.

That decision became the foundation of my Mindset-to-Output Mentorship programme — leadership shaped from the inside out. After decades working within bureaucratic systems, I realised that sustainable leadership does not begin with position. It begins with internal alignment. Clarity of values. Emotional discipline. The courage to act with discernment.

The theme of EmpowerHer2026, ‘From Resilience to Renaissance’ that took place in Vienna, Austria, resonated deeply with me. I shared that resilience kept me alive. It helped me navigate complexity and endure pressure. But renaissance required something more. It required choice. Resilience is survival. Renaissance is creation. Renaissance is choosing what you become after the storm. It is knowing when to stay and contribute, and when to step away with integrity. It is understanding that leadership is not about endurance alone, but about impact.

Through my mentorship, I have watched young women — and some men — move from hesitation to action. I have seen doubt turn into decision. The transformation is rarely dramatic. It is built through small, deliberate choices made consistently. Leadership shaped from the inside out begins with a single question:

Who are you choosing to become?

As Carl Jung wrote, “I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become.” For me, that has meant this:

I am not what happened to me. I am what I chose to build from my lived experience.

That choice remains ours — at every stage of life.

Video credit: Moon Ting Li

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Margaret Akullo, Founder, Impact Leaders Initiative
EmpowerHer 2026, Women Powerhouse Hour
Palais Wenkheim, Webster University
Vienna, Austria
27 February 2026

Margaret emphasized that it is important to:

• Lead with cultural intelligence and empathy

• Embrace adaptability and learn from challenges

• Foster inclusivity by making space for all voices

• Commit to continuous growth

Drawing on more than three decades working with law enforcement agencies, NGOs and the United Nations in more than 20 countries, including postings in Uzbekistan, Albania, Thailand, Austria and Ethiopia, Margaret illustrated each principle with lessons from her own leadership journey. She spoke candidly about navigating institutional barriers within global organisations and about her decision to step back from the UN as an act of leadership in itself. Her message to the fellows was that leadership is a continuous process of movement, learning and reinvention, and that purpose, once found, should be allowed to evolve rather than be held to a single title or role.

For young professionals specifically, Margaret pointed to cultural intelligence, emotional resilience, adaptability and inclusive leadership as core skills, drawing on examples from leading a team of thirteen nationalities to show how understanding difference, managing personal triggers and making space for every voice turns cultural diversity into a genuine leadership strength.

In this Fem Renaissance Podcast episode, I join host Moon Ting Li for an honest conversation about courage, purpose, and redefining leadership beyond traditional institutions. I share the personal journey behind my early retirement from the United Nations, the vulnerability of stepping into the unknown, and how that transition opened the door to empower the next generation of ethical, impactful young leaders. Inspired by Lao Tzu’s wisdom on self-mastery, our discussion highlights the power of self-discovery in shaping meaningful change. Tune in for an inspiring and heartfelt dialogue.

Speech by Ms. Margaret Akullo, Project Coordinator The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Speaking at the Chinese TV show ‘ Keep Running’ Vienna-Austria, 6 March 2018

More than 40 years ago, I was a child living in a country going through conflict. I was surrounded by adults and children in fear of losing their lives, people trying to run away to a place of safety. There was no water, no electricity, no food, schools were closed and as I hid under the bed with my brothers and sisters, I remember asking myself - Who knows we are here? Who will hear us? Who will rescue us? Those questions, which ran through my head over 40 years ago, are still relevant today. Did anyone hear our voices? Did anyone act to protect us? Has anything changed?

Well there is now a global commitment to create a better world where everyone can live in peace and prosperity. We at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime are working towards reducing inequality within and between countries and on peace, justice and strong institutions.

SDG 10.7: When there is conflict, people will try to move to a place of safety. In conflict situations, criminals not only take advantage of the disorder and chaos they also take advantage of people’s fear of being attacked or harmed. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and others promote the safe movement of people to places of safety. We help countries to restore law and order by training officials to be able to identify and assist people who may have been caught up with human trafficking.

SDG 16.2: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is also working with governments to increase understanding of different forms of criminal acts and to highlight the help there is for people affected by such crime.

It has done this recently by running a nation-wide anti human trafficking campaign during a 100 day period, where over 10,000 people including children and young people participated in live TV programmes (like this one), live radio phone-in shows, a bicycle marathon, and musical contests.

A society will be judged by how it treats its people. Everyone should live in a place where there is peace, where they feel safe and have equal access to everything from education to jobs and healthcare. Let’s have a heart…let’s “Hear their voices and Act to Protect”.