Post by Helen Wallis

🌟 I didn’t post this earlier as a family emergency took me out of the office. It was a reminder of what leadership really looks like - not just in delivery, but in knowing when to step back and trust your team to carry things forward. I was able to focus on my family because I’m surrounded by colleagues who truly have my back. In a year where many have felt strain, I feel privileged that I get to work in a family-friendly environment that lives its values. For some I am sure work does not feel like this, but it is the people around me that make Save the Children what it is. Thank you to Mohamed Dahir, Dahir Abdi Ahmed, Arun Silwal, Babylonia Aziz, Eva Farina, Jasmine Ferrer, Salim Mohamed and Zahraa Saleh for stepping in with such care and human-centred leadership. I hope you all know how much this means to me. 🌟 With that grounding, here are some brief reflections from a week that reaffirmed my sense of purpose. 1️⃣ At the Asia Regional Leadership Team meeting, leaders from across Asia and our Global team came together to explore how we can maximise impact for children - advocating with children, reaching the hardest to reach, and strengthening locally led programming. A group of leaders that brought tremendous energy, putting children front and centre, and kindly hosted by The Rockefeller Foundation. 2️⃣ The “Reimagining the Future of Children in Asia” event showed the power of collective leadership across sectors, showing we can achieve more when we work together. Grateful to Rabia Dilnawaz Satti, Taskin Rahman, Adnan Laeeq and Arshad Malik for convening such a thoughtful space, to colleagues for the expertly facilitated panels, and to insightful speakers for the rich discussions. 3️⃣ Visiting the Save the Children Thailand National Office was a highlight - learning from Will (Guillaume) Rachou, the leadership team and the brilliant awards team Peeraporn (Ampere) Weruwanaruk and Nat. Meeting the Myanmar Education Consortium was equally inspiring; leaders like Gregory Matthews and Matthew Kuehl are showing what strong partnerships and quality delivery can achieve. And connecting with awards colleagues is always a joy Hatsaya S. 4️⃣ I also graduated from the American Express Leadership Academy, led by Common Purpose - a powerful reminder that leadership is about purpose, connection and enabling others to thrive. Thank you Adirupa Sengupta, Sue Crawford, Tina McIntyre (she/her) and Deborah McGrath and the wonderful new friends and colleagues learning and growing together. 💡 Across all these moments, one theme stood out: leadership with purpose. When we put child rights at the centre, we help ensure every child survives, learns and fulfils their own vision for the future. Special thanks to Gabriella Waaijman, Mohamed Dahir and Arshad Malik for enabling and inspiring this. Here’s to the path ahead. The week felt like a hop, skip and jump forward, with our mission - and children - front and centre 🌍👧👦