Background: This paper is a personal reflection on my leadership development using empowerment, enlightenment and emancipation as a reflective framework.

Aim and objectives: To reflect on my leadership journey and share some of my leadership stories as examples of opportunities for personal growth.

Conclusions: I have experienced a rich and fulfilling leadership journey; others could experience similar paths if they seek and seize the right opportunities. My journey continues.

Implications for practice:

• Leadership development can be enhanced by an open and responsive attitude to opportunities
• A model of reflection can be used to analyse experiences and tell them as stories (if only to oneself)
• Reflection will help measure personal and professional growth

This article by Angela Brown is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 3.0 License.