Leading in Blue Nile Toastmasters

“There is no better high than discovery." E.O. Wilson

I first attended Jupiter Toastmasters in 2021. The room was full, and there was a feeling that is hard to fully express, you are simply happy to have found such a platform. In that moment, I knew Toastmasters was where I belonged. The following week, I visited Blue Nile Toastmasters, where TM Adam Abera served as Toastmaster of the night, leading with calm confidence. TM Tinbilina Gashaw was the club president at the time. I witnessed an amazing toast by TM Sol G, along with speeches from TM Adam Sahilu and TM Dagmawi Bedilu. Although the membership size was smaller than what I had seen at Jupiter, something felt different. As I sat there, I knew I belonged in Blue Nile.

I joined as a member the very next day.

Three months later, a Board of Directors (BOD) opportunity opened, and I stepped into the role of Vice President Membership (VPM). That was my first real touchpoint with leadership. I didn’t fully understand all the rules at the time, but one thing was clear: I wanted to do everything within my ability to serve Blue Nile.

VPM turned out to be one of the most engaging roles. One of its responsibilities is welcoming new members and connecting with them as soon as they walk in. And often, it was the members themselves who inspired me the most. Watching someone arrive for the first time, nervous but willing, and then stand up to give their first speech reminded me why we were all there. At the same time, there were members with busy schedules who still made the effort to show up, even if they arrived late or stayed only for part of the session. That consistency, simply choosing to show up despite everything, showed me that the environment we build really matters. It can draw people in, sustain their commitment, and sometimes give them the push they need to keep growing.

Later, due to the Vice President Education (VPE) being busy, I temporarily took over that role. It wasn’t easy. We had two brunch sessions every Sunday, which made Blue Nile unique, one of the creative innovations of our president at the time, TM Dagmawi Bedilu. But as VPE, I had to prepare four sessions a month. It is one of the most demanding roles in Toastmasters. But it is also where real leadership is formed. In those challenging moments, I realized something important. “if I can become VPE, I can become anything.

"The glory of the elderly is their insight, their knowledge, and their wisdom." Lailah Gifty Akita

Before I even start my presidency, I was surprised with a lunch arranged by TM Mohammed Mustefa, my Toastmasters mentor, who had a way of preparing me for what lay ahead. Over that conversation, he simply asked, “Madam president elect, you know mentorship is not just for evaluating speeches, it also includes leadership right?” At that time, I can confidently say I had a strong support system, TM Tinbilina Gashaw, TM Esayas Yeyesuswork, TM Tesfaye Kifle, to name a few, people who stood with me throughout the journey.

On the day of the election, I was elected president of Blue Nile Toastmasters, and with full confidence, I stated my slogan “Let’s make Blue Nile great again.”

And indeed, the struggles I experienced as VPE proved to be worthwhile. The change became visible, what once required effort to encourage members to attend was now happening naturally. New members were joining consistently, guests were showing up with genuine curiosity about Blue Nile, and there was a strong sense of members who truly wanted to grow. Everything began to feel meaningful and rewarding.

“Letting go of the iron throne”

After a year of service, my time as president ended, my time as Immediate Past President (IPP) brought a different feeling. After creating momentum and leading change, you begin to see others build upon it and sometimes even take it further.

I remember Blue Nile being packed to capacity. I was happy. I could see the results of the journey, the effort, and the continuity. Every time I see Blue Nile today, I feel quiet pride. A sense that I contributed to something larger than myself is that I am part of a chain of people who made a difference. Stepping back was not emptiness, it was realization. Leadership does not end when your term ends; it continues in what others build after you.

Looking back, what this journey really taught me is that leadership and mastery are built over time, often without you realizing it in the moment. What started as simply attending meetings became a process of learning, taking responsibility, facing challenges, and growing through them. Each role pushed me a little further, from finding my place as a member to understanding what it means to lead and then to let go. I still remember moments like being guided by TM Mohammed Mustefa before stepping into leadership, or watching how TM Dagmawi Bedilu carried responsibility with consistency, those experiences stayed with me. And in the end, I came to understand that mastery is not something you arrive at, but something you build step by step, through service and the willingness to keep showing up.