NAIROBI, Kenya, May 13 – East African professionals are increasingly turning to structured communication and leadership training as companies place greater value on soft skills that drive regional expansion, team management and executive visibility.
That shift is at the center of a growing movement led by Toastmasters International, whose East African chapter says communication is becoming a commercial advantage for professionals navigating cross-border business environments.
More than 50 delegates from Kenya will travel by road to Kigali for the 2026 Toastmasters East Africa Conference (TEACON), in a regional initiative dubbed “Kigali on Wheels,” aimed at promoting leadership, storytelling and influence across African markets.
Organizers say the initiative reflects a broader corporate reality including technical expertise alone is no longer sufficient for career advancement.
“The biggest role of a leader, believe it or not, is communication,” said Anthony Wangondu, international business director at Davies & Shirtliff.
“When you are the chief executive, no one asks you for your CV. They want to know how well you have delivered results and developed teams,” he added.
Wangondu said communication training helped him improve leadership performance, particularly in feedback management, listening skills and team development, competencies increasingly viewed by employers as essential for productivity and retention.
Japheth Musau, a former banker turned consultant, said communication remains one of the most underestimated economic skills in the workplace despite its influence on leadership selection and boardroom effectiveness.
“Communication is not a soft skill. I call it a super skill because if you can communicate, you can lead,” Musau said.
“The effectiveness of a leader is hinged on how well that leader can communicate to the board, to teams and to stakeholders,” he added.
The organization’s Program Quality Director Margaret Njoroge, the organization now operates in 150 countries with more than 270,000 members globally, offering training paths in leadership, presentation mastery and team collaboration.
Njoroge said corporations are increasingly embracing communication training as East Africa deepens regional integration and businesses expand beyond domestic markets.
“When leaders learn to communicate across countries and cultures, they gain perspective, empathy and influence,” she said.
“Communication, leadership and influence are becoming critical tools for organizations seeking to execute strategy and build trust across rapidly changing environments.”
Toastmasters District 114, which covers 11 East African countries, says its membership includes professionals from finance, healthcare, entrepreneurship and technology sectors seeking stronger executive presence and regional mobility.
