The Taking the Stage theater-based workshop, co-led by Columbia World Projects and Columbia Global Center Nairobi, aims to strengthen leadership skills for mid- and senior-career African health care professionals. The Gates Foundation-funded initiative builds on a long-standing partnership with Carol Becker, professor and Dean Emerita at Columbia School of the Arts, to integrate this multi-day workshop experience into Columbia World Projects’ social impact leadership development programs.
Over five days, participants in the intensive workshop will develop the presentation and storytelling skills they need to enhance their leadership abilities by using techniques and experiences from the world of theater. In partnership with WomenLift Health, a Gates Foundation grantee, Taking the Stage has been adapted to meet the needs of African leaders in health, with a specific focus on people from across East Africa. WomenLift Health is committed to expanding the power and influence of talented health care professionals in global health and catalyzing systemic change to achieve gender equality in leadership.
The purpose of the workshop is to:
- Use theater and the arts as a vehicle to gain fresh insights into leadership
- Access creativity and imagination to enhance personal and professional growth
- Encourage the ability to listen and communicate with the whole self, fostering authentic give-and-take interactions
- Build skills in creating community and nurturing connections
- Inspire a variety of expressions and cultivate the ability to adapt spontaneously to changing circumstances
The initiative also works with professional actors from the region to train them to be Taking the Stage facilitators, bringing their valuable perspectives to the workshop. The partnership is delivering four workshops that take place in March and October in 2025 and 2026.