Leadership Beyond Borders: A Reflection on Mercer On Mission Rwanda
Monday, June 1st, 2026
My Mercer On Mission experience in Rwanda was far more than an academic opportunity, it was a transformational journey that challenged my perspectives, expanded my worldview, and strengthened my understanding of leadership, service, and community. While I traveled to Rwanda to teach project management and support economic development initiatives, I quickly realized that I would learn just as much from the people, culture, and experiences as I hoped to contribute.
One of the most significant cultural differences I observed was the emphasis on community and collective responsibility. In the United States, success is often measured through individual accomplishments, personal achievements, and financial prosperity. In Rwanda, I witnessed a culture that places tremendous value on relationships, community support, and shared progress. People genuinely cared for one another and demonstrated a strong sense of belonging and connection. At the same time, I found many similarities between our cultures. The desire to provide for one's family, pursue education, build a better future, and create opportunities for the next generation transcended cultural boundaries. Regardless of nationality or circumstance, I found that people share many of the same hopes, dreams, and aspirations.
Throughout the experience, I observed that learning and knowledge are viewed not only as pathways to personal advancement but also as tools for uplifting communities. The participants we worked with were eager to learn, ask questions, and develop skills that could benefit not only themselves but also their families, organizations, and communities. Their enthusiasm reinforced the idea that education is most powerful when it is used to create opportunities for others.
This experience also made me more aware of my own cultural assumptions and biases. I realized how easy it can be to define wealth, success, and quality of life through a narrow lens. While Rwanda faces economic challenges, I encountered extraordinary wealth in other forms, rich cultural traditions, strong family structures, deep community connections, resilience, gratitude, and joy. The experience challenged me to reconsider how I define success and reminded me that material resources alone do not determine the quality of a person's life or the strength of a community.
I believe American society could benefit from embracing some of the values I observed in Rwanda, particularly the emphasis on community, resourcefulness, and collective support. In many ways, the people I met demonstrated a profound appreciation for relationships, experiences, and the simple joys of everyday life. Their ability to find purpose, gratitude, and connection despite challenges offered an important perspective that I will carry with me moving forward.
Cultural differences also allowed me to see myself through a different lens. As an African American, a business professional, and a leader, I often focus on outcomes, efficiency, and achieving objectives. Rwanda reminded me that leadership is equally about presence, humility, listening, and building meaningful relationships. Through interactions with participants, students, faculty, and community members, I gained a deeper understanding of how leadership is perceived across cultures and how influence is often built through service rather than authority.
This experience will undoubtedly influence my future academic, professional, and personal decisions. Academically, it reinforced the value of global learning and cross-cultural engagement. Professionally, it strengthened my desire to continue pursuing opportunities that combine leadership, education, mentorship, and community impact. Personally, it deepened my commitment to servant leadership and reminded me of the importance of approaching others with curiosity, empathy, and respect.
Perhaps the most significant impact of Mercer On Mission was the way it shaped my understanding of leadership. The experience taught me that leadership extends far beyond organizational titles, project plans, and business outcomes. True leadership is about investing in people, empowering others to achieve their potential, and creating positive change through service. It is about listening before leading, learning before teaching, and recognizing that every individual has something valuable to contribute.
One lesson I did not expect to learn during this experience was the importance of self-care and the consequences of burnout. Throughout the trip, I witnessed the physical, emotional, and mental demands that leadership and service can place on individuals. I observed firsthand how continuous responsibility, constant decision-making, and the desire to meet the needs of others can eventually take a toll when rest and recovery are neglected. The experience reminded me that effective leadership is not about sacrificing yourself indefinitely for a cause; it is about creating the sustainability necessary to continue serving others well. A leader who is exhausted, overwhelmed, or operating from a place of depletion cannot bring their best self to the people they are trying to support.
This realization challenged me to think differently about self-care. I no longer view it as a luxury or an individual act of self-interest, but rather as a leadership responsibility. Taking time to rest, reflect, establish boundaries, and recharge is essential for maintaining clarity, sound judgment, emotional intelligence, and resilience. Rwanda taught me that to effectively pour into others, we must also be intentional about replenishing ourselves. Sustainable leadership requires both service and stewardship, stewardship of our time, energy, health, and well-being. This lesson will influence how I lead professionally, serve my community, and care for myself moving forward.
As I reflect on my time in Rwanda, I leave with a renewed sense of purpose, gratitude, and responsibility. The relationships formed, lessons learned, and experiences shared have permanently influenced how I view the world and my role within it. While I traveled to Rwanda to serve, I return home transformed by the people who welcomed me, taught me, and inspired me. Mercer On Mission did not simply broaden my perspective, it expanded my heart, strengthened my leadership philosophy, and reaffirmed my commitment to serving others wherever I am called to lead.
