Newsletter

 

Guest Editorial
Emotional Intelligence Master Class Recap
Udeme Idem (Nigeria/USA)
Demsydem08@gmail.com

Recently, I had the privilege of hosting Kathleen Oweegon (USA), Founder of Bridges of Peace and IIGL Corresponding Secretary and Mentor; Oweegon@bridgesofpeace.com for an IIGL Master Class on Emotional Intelligence in leadership.

One line she said still rings in my mind: “The people we lead don’t just follow us; they imitate us. Whether we realize it or not.” That reframes everything. Leadership isn’t only about the decisions we make in front of people. It’s about the habits we model when we think no one’s paying attention to the modeling part.

Kathleen walked us through the five elements of emotional intelligence, but the one that hit hardest was her description of self-regulation as a kind of internal radar. Reading the shift in someone’s tone. Noticing the look in their eyes change mid-conversation. Catching, in real time, whether what you’re doing is actually landing or quietly making things worse. That’s not a skill you pick up from a slide deck. It’s built through paying attention, over and over, in moments most people rush past.

She also said something I wasn’t expecting from a leadership talk: “Empathy is not weakness.” In a moment where that idea is getting louder in a lot of rooms, she was direct about naming it as one of the most important things that makes us effective as leaders and as people. And she gave us a filter worth carrying into every hard conversation: before you speak, “ask if it’s kind, if it’s true, if it’s necessary, and if it improves on the silence.”
As she put it herself, “emotional intelligence isn’t about never feeling. It’s about understanding your emotions and using them to create connection, purpose, and impact.”

I left the session with one action item, not five. That’s the whole point. Real growth doesn’t come from overhauling everything at once. It comes from picking the one place you’re weakest and building a small, deliberate habit around it.

IIGL will have this Master Class available on the IIGL You Tube channel in September!

(Udeme is the IIGL Board Vice President and an IIGL Graduate).

What Others Are Saying
Yosif Elobeid (Sudan/Morocco)
wamyosif@gmail.com

What I Learned!
One of the most inspiring books I’ve read so far in IIGL, is “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” By reading this book and writing my review I improved my communication skills and built stronger relationships. I understand now that true leadership is built on respect, empathy and trust. I am truly grateful to IIGL for this learning!

(Yosif is a Level One Student).

What our Students are Reading
Leadership 101 (Ebook)
A comprehensive guide offering practical frameworks to enhance leadership abilities, covering vision-building, legacy creation, influence development and trust building through mentoring and self-discipline.

IIGL Students, Graduates/Board Members In Action
IIGL President Emeritus Offers Dream Forge in September!
Vivian Muciri (Kenya); Muciri.Vivian@gmail.com shared:
I remember the days I used to be extremely good at execution and quietly unsure what I am executing toward. Most of us are in this space, we call it hustle and we hit the numbers. Despite that somewhere around 11pm on a Sunday they wonder why none of it feels like theirs. By the end of the day the auto success doesn’t match the inner experience of accomplishment. Most of the time the goals we work towards we abandon due to external pressure, most of our dreams remain in the realm of possibility and may never become reality or a component you may actually actualize. That is not a discipline problem. It is a design problem. Nobody hands us a framework to build a life. We might have one for business, career and only sometimes we can stumble in one for building a life.
From Experience We built one.
Dream Forge: Design your future forge your Legacy
Dream Forge is a 6-week Transformative Modular Workbook Experience.
With Five pillars:
1. Clarity & Purpose.
2. Mindset Mastery.
3. Strategic Design for life, business and legacy.
4. Practical Tools.
5. Community & Accountability.
The classes are once per week. Starting 4th September, 2026.
Online Classes are on Tuesday or Thursday (8:00 – 9:00 PM EAT)
Physical Classes are on Saturday (10:00 – 11:00 AM EAT)
If you have been building someone else’s blueprint, this is the six weeks you stop, and forge yours.
To register follow the link: https://forms.gle/oc7ZMrjHFrjKdgSH7

Valuable Resources for Personal and Planetary Transformation
She Belongs
Shebelongs.org
The #SheBelongs Soccer Project is a long-term program of bonding events and competitions to engage communities of refugee and non-refugee girls through soccer in the USA and around the world. Through this program we break down gender equality walls and create a safe, empowering space for these girls. In doing so they:
Foster true belonging.
Improve emotional well-being.
Empower girls to reach their fullest potential as athletes, wage-earners, and citizens.

News
IIGL Book Challenge Continues until October 31, 2026
All IIGL students are encouraged to participate! Contact Deb Rosen at Drosen2@wi.rr.com for more details!

Help IIGL Recruit New Students!
Feel free to share this newsletter or just this poster with your friends, family, co-workers and colleagues to help IIGL continue to grow and flourish globally! Thank you to those who have referred others!

IIGL Book Sales Continue…
The IIGL Board of Directors shared that the IIGL book, “Creating Your Path Through Leadership” book sales continue to provide a Royalty payment to IIGL each month. It has also helped new potential donors understand more about IIGL! The book is available both on Kindle and in Paperback on Amazon.com! Check it out! Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1…

Meet Our New Students
We had 2 new students this month.

Jepto Keter (Kenya)
Every morning, before the city of Nairobi completely wakes up and the streets fill with the hum of traffic, I take a moment to look at my reflection. My name is Jepto, and I am a sales lady. To some, sales is merely a transaction; a simple exchange of goods or services for currency. But to me, sales is an art form rooted deeply in human connection, psychology, and unyielding resilience. My journey into this profession was not accidental; it was a path forged by my natural inclination toward understanding people and my desire to build bridges between what people need and how those needs can be met. Growing up, I was always fascinated by the bustling markets and the vibrant energy of traders.

Damola Owolabi (Nigeria)
I am a Civil Engineering graduate, digital marketer, and lifelong learner who is passionate about leadership, innovation, and creating opportunities that positively impact individuals and communities. My academic journey in Civil Engineering provided me with a strong foundation in analytical thinking, problem-solving, planning, and project management. It taught me the value of discipline, resilience, and approaching challenges with a structured and solution-oriented mindset.

To view complete profiles, Click Here

Student Progress
We had 11 students from 8 countries complete a total of 15 books in August. These students were from Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan and Uganda.

Nyagblordzro Moses (Ghana)
* Keys to Success
Jepto Keter (Kenya)
* As a Man Thinketh
* Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Edward S. Miaway Sr. (Liberia)
* How to Win Friends and Influence People
* Keys to Success
Imane Echchikhi (Morocco)
* PsychoCybernetics
Ghizlane Rhamouni (Morocco)
* Awaken the Giant Within
Akuyoma Vera Ikeriugwo (Nigeria)
* PsychoCybernetics
Damola Owolabi (Nigeria)
* As a Man Thinketh
* Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Ajeigbe Aremu Jimi Rexford (Nigeria)
* Go Pro
Erasmus Rwinkesha (Rwanda)
* The 360 Degree Leader
Khaled Omer (Sudan)
* PsychoCybernetics
Rwot Isaac (Uganda)
* Nonviolent Communication
* The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Statistics

New Enrollments
5 enrolled in August
25 enrolled in 2026
Book Assessments
15 in August 90 in 2026
Books Shipped
0 in August
0 in 2026
Cost of Books
$0 in August
$0 in 2026

You Make It Possible
We extend a special thanks to the following individuals and/or organizations who contributed to IIGL last month. Your ongoing support makes this work possible.
Deb Silver (Israel)
Ola Olamakinde (Nigeria)
Lynne Murguia (USA/AZ) In Blessed Memory
John Hornecker (USA/NC)
Michael Lightweaver (USA/NC)
Lynda Eze (USA/TX)
Deb Rosen (USA/WI)
Patrice Zorn (USA/WI)
Kathleen Oweegon (USA)

Make A Difference
Dream Team 22
Please join Dream Team 22 as our goal is to have 22 people contributing $22 per month. We understand that money is energy and that to sustain and build IIGL we need a lot of people pouring their energy into this endeavor on a regular basis. We also know that not everyone can afford to commit $22 a month – especially our students, who live in countries with economies in which this amount can be equal to a weeks’ salary. So we are offering two options for those who wish to become a part of the Dream Team. One can commit to a $22 a month contribution or to spending 22 seconds each day holding the vision of IIGL becoming financially sustainable by the end of 2026!

Please join the Dream Team and help us create an energetic foundation to support the transformational work of IIGL! You can really make a difference in the world by making a modest contribution of time or money. To make the $22 a month commitment or a one time donation, click the link below. To become a member of the Dream Team 22 by committing 22 second a day to help us hold the vision, contact Deb for details: drosen2@wi.rr.com

Checks on US banks, payable to the International Institute For Global Leadership, can be mailed to IIGL, 11537 N. Lake Shore Drive, Mequon, WI 53092 USA. Contributions may also be made by credit card by clicking the link below. Contributions are tax deductible under the 501 (c) 3 tax code of the United States Internal Revenue Service.

To Contribute By Paypal, go to www.paypal.com and make donation to iigl.globalleadership@gmail.com

To Contribute By Credit Card, go to global-leadership.com