In every generation, there are women whose stories rise above time, echoing powerfully through the corridors of history. One of these is the story of Esther- a young Jewish girl who became a Queen and changed the fate of an entire nation. Her journey, though ancient, still holds deep relevance for modern African women stepping into leadership, influence, and purpose.

 

At Face of Congeniality Nigeria (FOCN), this year’s Hadassah Theme: The Culture of the Palace invites us to go beyond the crown and see the real essence of leadership. The palace was not just a place of beauty, status, or recognition. It was a seat of strategy, responsibility, and sacrifice. And Queen Esther teaches us that leadership is not about the robe you wear. It’s about the choices you make when the world is watching and especially when it’s not.

 

1. Leadership Begins Before the Crown

Esther didn’t start leading when she became queen. Her leadership began in her obedience, discipline, and humility as she listened to Mordecai, prepared for her presentation, and chose to stand out with grace and wisdom rather than manipulation.

For every woman in the FOCN Hadassah Cohort, leadership begins long before you’re seen. It’s forged in your decisions, consistency, service, and how you treat people when there’s nothing to gain.

 

Key Lesson: Private character is the foundation of public influence.

 

2. Wisdom Is Louder Than Noise

In the palace, many women were competing for the king’s attention, adorning themselves, trying to stand out. But Esther asked questions. She sought guidance. She made a strategic choice to only take what was advised by Hegai, the king’s eunuch. That singular act of humility and wisdom made her unforgettable.

As a modern leader, wisdom means knowing when to speak, when to pause, and who to listen to. It’s not always the loudest in the room who leads, it’s the wisest.

 

Key Lesson: Silence, strategy, and spiritual discernment are underrated tools of leadership.

 

3. Timing is Everything

Esther didn’t storm into the king’s court demanding change. She fasted. She planned. She understood the weight of timing. In a generation that glorifies speed, Esther teaches us to honor divine timing.

Leadership is not only about action but aligned action. If Esther had moved a day too soon, her story could have ended differently. In your leadership journey, wait for clarity, not just opportunity.

 

Key Lesson: Leadership isn’t just boldness, it’s timing with purpose.

 

4. Courage Doesn’t Mean Comfort

When Mordecai challenged Esther to speak up for her people, it came with a risk. Death. Rejection. Loss. But Esther chose to say, “If I perish, I perish.” Her decision wasn’t born from comfort, it was born from covenant.

In the world of advocacy, entrepreneurship, ministry, or governance, your voice will be tested. You may face doors slammed in your face. You may have to risk being misunderstood. But courage, not comfort, is what history remembers.

 

Key Lesson: Leadership is the courage to do hard things for the right reasons.

 

5. Use Your Platform to Lift Others

Esther didn’t ask for the palace. She was placed there  for a purpose larger than herself. And when the time came, she didn’t use her influence for luxury. She used it to save lives.

That is what FOCN is building: Women who lead to uplift. Your purpose is not just to be known – it is to make a difference. Like Esther, use your platform – whether it’s a podcast, business, pulpit, or panel , to advocate, inspire, and lead with vision.

 

Key Lesson: You’re not in that room by accident. Make it count.

 

 

Esther’s story is not a fairy tale. It’s a leadership manual for every woman called to influence culture, policies, and generations. At FOCN, we are raising Hadassahs – women who understand that true leadership is not about the position you hold but the lives you shape through it.

 

As you walk into your “palace”  your career, your platform, your calling remember that you’re not just there to wear a crown. You’re there to create a legacy.

 

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