beyond the leader: insights on authenticity and leadership

Authentic leadership practices are on the rise, and for a good reason: research reveals a significantly positive relationship between authentic leadership and employees’ workplace performance. In 2025, we no longer look at leaders strictly through a hierarchical lens. Instead, we increasingly want to see them as the humans they are – and Vuyiswa M'Cwabeni, founder of Magalie&ME and Vuyiswa.com and former member of Wirecard’s supervisory board, leads by example.

When asked about her experiences, she gives an honest, authentic answer: “Being laid off early in my career, moving countries, sitting on the Wirecard board during a global scandal, leading inside large corporates, and founding companies from scratch… All of these moments shaped how I lead.” In our interview, she shares insights on how personal experiences can serve as a foundation for authentic leadership – “the good, the bad, and the ugly.” What follows are our six main takeaways.

Vuyiswa M'Cwabeni about her experience as a leader

“Being laid off early in my career, moving countries, sitting on the Wirecard board during a global scandal, leading inside large corporates, and founding companies from scratch… All of these moments shaped how I lead.” — Vuyiswa M'Cwabeni

1. on building upon personal ups and downs

“My partner, children, and parents would probably describe me as driven, resilient, and both the anchor and the engine of our family. They’ve seen the sacrifices, the long nights, the ugly cries behind closed doors,” Vuyiswa starts off. 

“They live with the version of me that’s not polished or curated. To them, I’m not just someone chasing big ideas or building companies; I’m just Mama, just Vuyiswa. The human behind the hustle.”

While there are differences in how she shows up at home and at work, Vuyiswa is clear on the fact that “this stems from context and roles, not from a difference in values.” In fact, she explains that her leadership style has been deeply shaped by personal experiences.

“I’m South African and Zimbabwean, raised speaking English and Shona in Canada, and I’ve lived in Germany for two decades. I don’t fit neatly into a box and I no longer try to,” she says.

Her experiences have taught her not only “adaptability, empathy, and the importance of listening before assuming,” but also that leadership is not about title or power. In her words, “It’s about how you behave when no one’s watching.” 

Nourish your core values at a human level. Then use them as a foundation for leadership.

2. on creating space for ownership

One of Vuyiswa’s core values that aren’t typically associated with leaders is that she doesn’t need to have the last word. “It's how I am in my personal relationships, and it’s definitely shaped how I lead,” she tells us.

“In organizations of all sizes, there’s often an unspoken expectation that leaders should steer every conversation and wrap it up with their opinion. I’ve found the opposite to be more effective. Choosing not to have the final say creates space for others to step up, take real ownership, and has often surfaced better ideas.”

This kind of intentional restraint has helped her build stronger teams and a culture of shared accountability.

3. on cancelling meetings

You might find it surprising to hear that Vuyiswa cancels meetings – a lot. 

However, her reasoning is sound: “People are already stretched, and too many meetings just drain energy. Some might see it as a lack of commitment, but I see it as respect – for my time and for everyone else’s.”

“As I moved up the career ladder, I was always put off by people who seemed willing to sell their mother just to get more facetime. I never bought into that. I just hated wasting time,” she says, highlighting the fact that leadership shouldn’t be about playing by unspoken corporate rules. 

4. on personal rituals

Many leaders rely on personal rituals or habits to stay grounded in the face of professional struggles. As for Vuyiswa, she swears by Pilates and skincare.

“Joseph Pilates believed that ‘it is the mind itself which builds the body,’ and that connection between mental focus and physical control is exactly why the practice grounds me, especially in high-pressure environments,” she explains before adding, “Plus, it’s a perfectly valid excuse to buy more cute workout gear.”

Vuyiswa continues, “Skincare has always been something I’ve loved. It started as a personal passion, long before it became part of my business. Even now, it’s a consistent part of my daily routine. It’s not about trends — it’s about carving out time for something I genuinely care about. My husband and kids have even gotten into it too.”

“What fascinates me most is how vast skincare really is — not just in products, but in philosophy. It’s a window into how different cultures and markets view beauty, self-care, and aging.”

5. on navigating business difficulties

Vuyiswa makes for an inspiring leader not only thanks to her values but also due to the fact she has grown immensely through hardship and challenges. When asked about a difficult situation she has faced in the past, she tells us that navigating the insolvency of her first start-up must be definitely up there.

“At FintechX, we had all the pieces people associate with success: a strong product, a great team, VC backing, and even Google invested,” she says. “But despite the potential, market conditions shifted, capital dried up faster than expected, and we hit a wall in 2023.”

“Leading a company through insolvency isn’t something you can actually prepare for. There’s no playbook that prepares you for the emotional toll it takes on you OR  your team. The hardest part was facing the people I’d hired, mentored, and worked alongside, and telling them we couldn’t keep going. You carry the weight of everyone’s effort, their belief in the vision, and their futures.”

Vuyiswa has managed to find incredible wisdom in these hardships, though. “The experience changed me,” she admits. “It taught me humility, sharpened my focus, and made me bolder in asking tough questions early. And it reminded me that leadership isn’t about being in control but rather how you show up when everything’s falling apart.”

Her biggest lesson here? Continue to show up for your team – even when “there’s nothing reassuring left to say.” Be there for others as a human, not just as a leader.

6. on being yourself

Vuyiswa’s one piece of unconventional advice is that you don’t need to scale yourself. “There’s this pressure to constantly ‘scale the leader’, to be everywhere, set every process, drive every priority. But trying to replicate yourself across an organization is exhausting and, at some point, ineffective.”

In fact, she pinpoints that clarity, vision, and trust in others to make decisions without you are what truly matters here.

What’s more, she stresses how important it is not to let other people define you. “You’ll be labeled, underestimated, praised, misunderstood… sometimes all at once. Do not adjust yourself to meet expectations that aren’t yours,” she advises.

“Do not take feedback too literally, do not internalize labels too quickly, and do not allow other people’s opinions to shape your decisions.”

becoming the leader you were meant to be

If there’s one key message we’ve taken away from Vuyiswa’s experience and wisdom, it’s that leadership does not exist in a vacuum. It stems from the most personal parts of us – and we ought to use those qualities and experiences as a foundation for our authentic leadership style.

Do not shy away from personal challenges and professional hardships. Instead, build upon them. As Vuyiswa says here, “Your setbacks aren't roadblocks. They're redirects to something better.”

about Vuyiswa

From corporate boardrooms to startup trenches, Vuyiswa’s path has been anything but linear. As a seasoned executive, founder, investor, mother, and global citizen, she’s learned that the best solutions come from understanding problems from every angle. Today, she channels that perspective into building what matters.

She’s currently leading two ventures that solve real problems:

• Magalie & Me: Korean-inspired skincare made in Germany; clean formulations, slow-aging philosophy, zero compromise on quality.

• LuxeWell: Wellness retreats for women who need restoration, not Instagram moments.

  
  

Different industries. One connecting thread: human-centered experiences that actually work.

Beyond building, Vuyiswa is committed to lifting others through advisory roles and speaking engagements – because impact shouldn't stop at the boardroom door.

Want to connect with leaders like Vuyiswa and be part of an exclusive space for impact-driven decision-makers? Learn more about ERA here.

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