The CEO's Note — One Year On: A Year of Writing. A Year of Learning
- bongiwe53
- 13 hours ago
- 17 min read
A note from fraymedia Foundation’s CEO, Paula Fray
A year ago, I began writing these reflections as a way to make sense of the work by stepping back from the immediacy of programmes, partnerships and deadlines, and think more deliberately about what it means to lead, to build, and to try to shift systems.
I did not intend for them to become a record of change. But looking back now, what is most striking is not what we have done, but how my own thinking has evolved.
The first shift has been a deeper understanding of what it truly means to pursue systemic change. A year ago, I still held the belief that scale would come from growth: more programmes, more reach, more visibility. What has become clearer is that systems do not change through expansion alone. They change when the underlying conditions shift such as when we change who has access to capital, who holds influence, how decisions are made, and whose voices are protected. This has required a reorientation from activity to architecture, from outputs to ecosystems.
What has surprised me most is how much of this work is relational. We often speak about strategy, models and impact frameworks, but the real work happens in conversations, in trust, in the slow building of alignment between people and institutions. Partnerships are not transactions; they are long-term commitments that require patience, clarity and, often, recalibration. The pace of this work is slower than one might hope, but it is also more durable.
What has proved harder than expected is holding the tension between vision and capacity. We are building with limited resources in a context that demands urgency. The needs are immediate. The gaps are visible. And yet, meaningful change requires time. It takes time to build credibility. It takes time to strengthen governance. It takes time to ensure that what is created can endure. There is a discipline in resisting the pressure to do more at the expense of doing what matters well.
I have also come to better understand the weight of leadership. Not in terms of visibility, but in terms of responsibility. Leadership requires making decisions without perfect information, sustaining momentum in uncertain conditions, and holding a long-term vision when short-term realities are demanding. It can be isolating work which is why building community among women leaders is so essential.
Perhaps the most important insight from this year is that small does not mean insignificant. The work we are doing may be modest in scale, but it is intentional in design. Each programme, each partnership, each conversation is part of a larger effort to shift how women participate in and shape the media and communications landscape. Systems change rarely announces itself in dramatic moments. It is built, steadily, through consistent and deliberate action.
As I look ahead, the question is not whether the work will become easier. It will not. The question is whether we can remain focused on what matters, on what is strategic, and on what will endure.
Reflection Question:
And so I leave you with a reflection that has stayed with me: What are you building today that will still matter a year from now?
This past year has reinforced that leadership is not only about moving forward. It is about staying the course, even when progress is not immediately visible.
So to the women doing this work — often quietly, often against the odds — let us stay the course together. What we are building matters more than it may seem today.
The CEO's Note — One Year On: A Year of Writing. A Year of Learning
APRIL 2025 CEO's Note — Stronger Together: Standing Together in Challenging Times
The April 2025 CEOs Note can be viewed here, and below
These are undeniably difficult times for journalists and journalism. Around the world, reporters are being harassed, silenced, and targeted simply for doing their jobs. Funding opportunities are shrinking, and many media outlets—especially smaller, independent ones—are struggling to survive. The Fraymedia Foundation believes in the power of community. Our work is grounded in an ethos of paying it forward. More than money, it is our support for one another—our willingness to share, mentor, collaborate, and uplift—that can grow a resilient media ecosystem where women not only survive, but thrive. We know the road ahead won't be easy. But we remain unwavering in our commitment to walk it together, and to build partnerships with those who share our belief in a more inclusive, courageous media future. Thank you for being part of this community. |
MAY 2025 CEO's Note — Reflection for Women Leaders: Embracing the Spirit of Kaizen
The May 2025 CEOs Note can be viewed here, and below
As women leaders navigating complex roles and responsibilities, we often feel the pressure to create big wins, fast. But the Japanese concept of Kaizen—which means “continuous improvement”—offers us a gentler, more sustainable path to growth. Kaizen invites us to ask: What small step can I take today toward becoming the leader I aspire to be? It’s about progress, not perfection. It’s about honouring the power of consistent, thoughtful action over time. This philosophy encourages us to reflect regularly, refine gently, and celebrate even the smallest shifts—whether it's speaking up in a tough meeting, mentoring a younger colleague, or setting clearer boundaries. Every step matters. In a world that often demands hustle and instant results, Kaizen gives us permission to lead with patience, purpose, and presence. Today’s reflection: What is one small improvement you can make—in your mindset, your leadership, or your wellbeing—that your future self will thank you for? You are enough. And you are evolving. Keep going. Recommended read: International Journalism Festival 2025: what we learnt in Perugia about the future of news |
JUNE 2025 CEO's Note — Reflection for Women Leaders: Cultivating a Growth Mindset
The June 2025 CEOs Note can be viewed here, and below
As leaders, we are often called to hold complexity, inspire change, and support transformation—both in others and in ourselves. In this work, a growth mindset is not just a concept; it is a necessity. A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and ongoing (even small) actions. It reminds us that leadership is a journey, not a destination. It frees us from the paralysis of perfection and invites us to see challenges as opportunities for learning rather than signs of inadequacy. When we adopt a growth mindset, we create space for curiosity over certainty, reflection over reaction, and progress over performance. We stop asking, "Am I good enough?" and start asking, "What can I learn here?" This mindset allows us to lead with humility, resilience, and hope—recognising that growth is not linear, but always possible. Today’s reflection: Where in your leadership do you feel stuck? What might shift if you approached it as a skill you can build, rather than a fixed limitation? You don’t have to have all the answers. You just need to stay open to learning. Recommended read: Media leaders must keep learning, here are five principles to guide your own learning |
JULY 2025 CEO's Note — Reflection for Women Leaders: Leading with Purpose
The July 2025 CEOs Note can be viewed here, and below
Leadership is not just about strategy and execution—it’s also about alignment. When your leadership is grounded in your personal values, your impact becomes more authentic, focused, and sustainable. Leading with purpose starts with asking: What truly matters to me? It’s easy to get caught up in external expectations—deadlines, KPIs, or titles. But purpose calls us inward. It challenges us to lead in ways that reflect who we are at our core and not just what we’ve been trained to do. When values and leadership align, clarity follows. Decision-making becomes easier. Boundaries become clearer. And your team feels your integrity in every interaction. Leading with purpose doesn’t mean having all the answers but it does mean leading from a place of conviction, consistency, and care. Today’s reflection: What are three core values that guide your life? How do they show up - or get lost - in your leadership right now? What can you do to ensure that it is reflected in the way you manage? Don’t wait. Start today. Your purpose is not something you chase. It’s something you live, one decision at a time. Recommended Read: How Leaders can Create a Purpose Driven Culture |
AUGUST 2025 CEO's Note — Sustaining Our Stories, On Our Terms
The August 2025 CEOs Note can be viewed here, and below
In a rapidly evolving media world, one truth stands out: if we want to sustain our business, it is not enough to survive, we must thrive. In that regard, a line from a recent newsletter by my friend Syed Nazakat, founder and CEO of DataLeads in India, has stayed with me: “Most failures don’t come from a lack of talent, but from a lack of consistent, thoughtful effort and reflection.” That simple truth echoes the biggest lesson from our recent EntreprenHER: Owning the Future of Media seminar. Talent was never in doubt. What emerged instead were stories of grit, purpose, and the kind of reflection that transforms setbacks into strategy. Across the conversations and presentations, I was reminded of three key lessons:
Community investment is a cornerstone of long-term sustainability for independent media. When audiences feel seen, heard, and valued, they don’t just consume content; they support it, champion it, and help it grow. Loyal communities are more likely to subscribe, donate, share your work, and advocate on your behalf. This deep engagement creates a feedback loop of trust and relevance that no algorithm can replicate. For women media entrepreneurs, especially, building meaningful relationships with your audience can turn even small platforms into powerful ecosystems of influence, resilience, and revenue. If you missed the keynote, I encourage you to catch up with Patricia Torres-Burd’s powerful presentation on our LinkedIn page and YouTube channel. It’s a must-watch for anyone building bold, sustainable, independent media.Today’s reflection: Where in your work are you waiting to feel “ready”? What might shift if you moved forward imperfectly, trusting that clarity and confidence come with consistent action?Recommended Read: Building Resilience: Diversification Strategies for the News Media Industry Let’s keep growing together. |
SEPTEMBER 2025 CEO's Note — A Call to Conscious Leadership
The September 2025 CEOs Note can be viewed here, and below
I have known Brenda Kali since our days at Independent Newspapers, and I have always admired her courage, vision, and integrity. This August, when she delivered the keynote at the fraymedia Foundation’s Rise & Shine Women in Media Breakfast Series, I was reminded once again of why her voice is so powerful — and so necessary in these times. Brenda challenged us to rethink leadership, insisting it is not about systems or strategies but the moral choices we make every day. In a world obsessed with metrics and dashboards, her words cut through: “In every political arena, in every boardroom and in every home, we face the same choice — to surrender to greed and corruption, or to rise to courage, compassion and clarity.” What struck me most was her framing of decay as an invitation to renewal. Even in times of dysfunction, she argued, new possibilities for leadership emerge. Her call to women was especially moving: to “stand up and show themselves to rise to power despite the odds.” For me, Brenda’s message was clear: conscious leadership is not about titles but about integrity, courage, and compassion. The time for that leadership is not tomorrow. The time is now. Read the full reflection: A call to conscious leadership |
SEPTEMBER 2025 SECOND EDITION CEO's Note — How bold are we willing to be?
The September 2025 SECOND EDITION CEOs Note can be viewed here, and below
How bold are we willing to be? Are we bold enough to rethink our future in the midst of what many call a polycrisis? These times demand not only resilience, but courage. Recently, I attended a Futures for Impact webinar with UK-based Firetail, which explored how organisations can move beyond scenario planning to truly embed futures thinking into their strategies and operations. It was a powerful reminder that shaping tomorrow requires more than technical foresight—it requires mindset shifts. Three themes resonated strongly with me:
As the moderator reminded us, in the words of Thomas Sankara: “We must dare to invent the future.” For me, this is not a call to reckless risk-taking, but to deliberate boldness—rooted in diverse voices, intentional choices, and a restless curiosity about what’s possible. Today’s Reflection: What possibilities open up when we choose curiosity over caution— and commit to acting with bold intent? Recommended Read: The Firetail guide to time travel part 3: Connecting scenarios to strategy Let’s be bold together. |
OCTOBER 2025 CEO's Note — The wisdom in calm, imagination and community
The October 2025 CEOs Note can be viewed here, and below
At our recent Rise & Shine Women in Media Breakfast in Johannesburg, innovation consultant Sarah Owusu offered a powerful metaphor: “Innovation is like responding to a fire alarm. Our first reaction might be panic. But the wisdom is: stay calm, look around you, find the safest way out, and leave behind what you don’t need. That’s the work of innovation too.” Her words captured the heart of what so many of us face in the media and creative sectors. The pressures are real — limited resources, shifting technologies, urgent demands. But Sarah reminded us that innovation begins not with speed, but with clarity and courage. She outlined three practices for women leaders to break free from the status quo:
At the fraymedia Foundation, this message resonates deeply. Our work — from nurturing new voices to supporting women media entrepreneurs — is grounded in this kind of thoughtful, collective innovation. As we look ahead, I invite you to pause, imagine boldly, and strengthen the communities that sustain you. The future of media will be built not by urgency, but by imagination, empathy, and solidarity. Today’s Reflection: What might we create — or let go of — if we slowed down long enough to imagine a different way of doing things, together? Recommended Read: Innovation the lifeblood of a thriving business and economy Let’s build a community for innovation. |
NOVEMBER 2025 CEO's Note — Building a Culture of Safety in Our Newsrooms and Beyond
The November 2025 CEOs Note can be viewed here, and below
As we mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, I am reminded that our duty as media managers extends far beyond meeting deadlines or achieving audience reach. Our first responsibility is to the people who make journalism possible — the reporters, editors, photographers, producers, and support teams whose daily commitment to truth-telling sustains democracy. Creating a culture of safety begins inside our own walls. It means developing HR policies that protect, not just employ. This includes policies that anticipate the physical, digital, psychological, and gendered risks that journalists face. Safety must be embedded in induction, training, and editorial planning and not left to chance or treated as a luxury. We must also recognise that safety is inseparable from inclusion. Journalists from marginalised groups — women, LGBTQ+ people, and those from minority communities — often bear the brunt of harassment and intimidation. Our policies must reflect this reality, ensuring equal access to protection, support, and opportunities. Creating respectful, transparent, and accountable work environments is not just good management; it is an act of moral leadership. Outside the newsroom, our commitment must travel with our teams. That means risk assessments before deployment, protective equipment, emergency contacts, and trauma debriefing afterwards. It means standing by them publicly if they are threatened and not staying silent to avoid controversy. It is silence that breeds impunity. As media leaders, we must also advocate for stronger protections industry-wide: to speak out when journalists are targeted, to collaborate with peers on safety training, and to insist that justice systems take these crimes seriously. We must remember that safety is not only a policy but a culture. And it is a culture that we must build every day through care, consistency, and courage. Reflection: What would change in your newsroom if every editor treated journalist safety as a core editorial value and not simply a compliance issue? Further Reading: The devastation of justice denied |
DECEMBER 2025 CEO's Note — Leading With Care at Year-End
The December 2025 CEOs Note can be viewed here, and below
As we move toward the end of the year, I have been reflecting deeply on what sustainable leadership really looks like. This reflection was inspired by the recent EntreprenHER presentation by Chantel Erfort Manual, who was also a finalist in the Phangisile Mtshali Award for Transformational PR. Her insights offered a timely reminder that leadership is not only about what we do—but also about how we sustain ourselves in the doing. Throughout the year, many leaders have held space for teams under pressure, navigated uncertainty, responded to crises, and kept organisations moving despite shifting contexts. By December, the emotional labour of leadership accumulates. Combined with the cognitive strain of budgeting, planning, and reporting cycles, it is no wonder that exhaustion begins to feel like part of the job description. In mission-driven spaces especially, boundaries blur easily. Late-night emails become routine. Restorative practices get pushed aside. Creativity narrows as urgency dominates. And the rituals that once anchored us—exercise, reading, reflection, connection—are often abandoned just when they are most needed. Chantel’s reminder was clear: leaders model the cultures they build. When we neglect our wellbeing, we unintentionally signal that depletion is the price of commitment. But sustainable leadership requires the opposite—rest, renewal, and the courage to step back. It requires trusting our teams, protecting our boundaries, and reclaiming the practices that make long-term leadership possible. Self-care is not indulgence; it is governance. Our ability to lead with clarity and integrity in 2026 depends on the restoration we allow ourselves now. As we close the year, may you give yourself permission to pause, restore your energy, and return to your work with clarity and purpose. The mission continues in January—but you deserve to arrive replenished, not worn down. Reflection Question:What one personal practice—long abandoned or recently neglected—could you reinstate now to sustain a healthier, more grounded way of leading in the year ahead? Further watching: Healthy being healthy business |
JANUARY 2026 CEO's Note — From Resolution to Attention
The January 2026 CEOs Note can be viewed here, and below
As a new year begins, instead of asking what we will fix or improve, perhaps the better question is: what will we pay attention to? So much of the language around January is about resolutions — doing more, being better, moving faster. But the work we do at fraymedia Foundation has taught us something different: that real change starts with noticing. With listening. With choosing where we place our time, our care, and our collective energy. At fraymedia Foundation, our work has shown us that meaningful change doesn’t start with acceleration. It starts with attention. With listening to what is no longer working. With recognising where your energy is being drained rather than renewed. With choosing, consciously, what deserves your care. My invitation to you, as a woman in leadership, is this:
Attention is not passive. It is a leadership choice. It is how we protect what matters, make space for imagination, and build futures that do not rely on burnout. As you step into this year, what might shift — in your work, your leadership, and your life — if you chose attention over resolution? Reflection Question:What in your leadership would change if, this year, you paid closer attention to where your energy is sustained — and where it is quietly being depleted? Further Reading: Journalism Media and Technology Trends and Predictions 2026 |
FEBRUARY 2026 CEO's Note — Leadership Is a Moral Centre That Holds
The February 2026 CEOs Note can be viewed here, and below
Reviewing Ferial Haffajee’s Rise & Shine presentation was a moment of deep reflection on what it means to be a woman leader at this time. Listening to Ferial speak about her more than three decades in journalism, I was struck by the clarity of her anchor. “Journalism has only ever been about changing society for me,” she said. Leadership, at its best, is not about title or tenure. It is about a moral centre that does not shift when platforms, politics or funding models do. Purpose sustains resilience. It carries you through digital disruption, institutional pressure and moments when the work feels impossibly hard. It forces an honest question: what is the core societal change my leadership is anchored in? And would the people I work with articulate that purpose as clearly as I do? Ferial also spoke candidly about the cost of leadership — particularly for women. The coordinated online harassment. The calculated attempts to silence. The ugliness that too often accompanies visibility. We cannot normalise this as “the price” women pay for influence. If leadership ecosystems celebrate women publicly but fail to protect them structurally, we are not building progress; we are staging it. For us at the fraymedia Foundation, the morning reaffirmed several truths. Convening creates trust infrastructure. When women gather to share experience, strategy and solidarity, we are strengthening the spine of the media ecosystem. Addressing online harassment cannot be episodic; it must be built into how we design our programmes and partnerships. Sustainability, too, requires honesty and diversification. If we are to support women meaningfully, we must build models that are resilient — not dependent on a single source of support. And finally, narrative reframing is leadership work. Rebuilding trust through local storytelling and accountability journalism is not niche; it is essential democratic labour. Ferial reminded me that leadership, especially now, is an act of intention. To lead as women in this moment is to hold purpose, courage and care together so that others might join us. Reflection Question: Are we proactively building strong support systems to protect women from digital attacks, or are we only reacting after harm has been done and in doing so determining who is able to remain in public life? Further Reading: Why Rebuilding Trust in South Africa’s Media Starts Locally |
MARCH 2026 CEO's Note — Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls
The March 2026 CEOs Note can be viewed here, and below
This Sunday marked International Women’s Day under the theme Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls. It is a theme that demands more than celebration. It asks for clarity about where power sits, who holds it, and what must change. Rights, on paper, are not enough. Across our continent and beyond, women have formal protections, yet economic exclusion, digital violence and structural inequality persist. Justice is not secured through symbolism. It is secured when women have access to capital, platforms, safety, influence and decision-making power. At the fraymedia Foundation, our ambition is to contribute to systemic change in the media and communications landscape. Our programmes are still small in scale, but our vision is large. We believe the transformation of media systems will not come from individual success stories alone. It will come from building stronger ecosystems - that provide opportunity, capital, networks and protection - around women. This is why our work focuses on more than skills. We create spaces where women media leaders can connect to business and industry. We support enterprise development and leadership growth so that women-led media initiatives are sustainable and credible. We invest in mentoring, knowledge-sharing and networks that strengthen collective influence. And we are increasingly exploring how to support women navigating the digital risks that accompany public leadership. These efforts are modest in size today, but they are designed with a long horizon in mind. System change rarely begins at scale. It begins with intentional steps that reshape norms, open doors and build communities of leaders who support one another. For women working in media and communications, the theme Rights. Justice. Action. also carries a personal dimension. Leadership often requires us to confront barriers that are structural but also internal: doubt, isolation and the pressure to carry more than our share. Finally, systemic change cannot happen in isolation. It requires partners who believe that strengthening women’s leadership in media strengthens democracy, accountability and economic opportunity. We welcome partners who share this vision — whether through mentorship, collaboration, sponsorship or investment in programmes that expand opportunity for women media leaders. Rights must be protected. Justice must be resourced. And action must be sustained. This International Women’s Day, we recommit ourselves to the long work of building a media ecosystem where women’s leadership is not the exception, but the norm. Reflection Question:What would it mean for you to claim your leadership more fully this year — not only for your own advancement, but for the women who follow you? Further Reading: Global Gender Gap Report |
The CEO's Note Series, has been published on a monthly basis, in the fraymedia Foundation Newsletter.
Join our network, and receive monthly updates of opportunities, insights and resources, subscribe to the fraymedia Foundation Newsletter here.
Read more: All previous fraymedia Foundation Newsletter Editions
03/09/2026 - fraymedia Foundation March 2026 Newsletter
02/12/2026 - fraymedia Foundation February 2026 Newsletter
01/22/2026 - fraymedia Foundation January 2026 Newsletter
12/12/2025 - fraymedia Foundation December 2025 Newsletter
11/12/2025 - fraymedia Foundation November 2025 Newsletter
10/16/2025 - fraymedia Foundation October 2025 Newsletter
09/30/2025 - fraymedia Foundation September Second Edition 2025 Newsletter
09/16/2025 - fraymedia Foundation September 2025 Newsletter
08/19/2025 - fraymedia Foundation August 2025 Newsletter
07/10/2025 - fraymedia Foundation July 2025 Newsletter
06/12/2025 - fraymedia Foundation June 2025 Newsletter
05/22/2025 - fraymedia Foundation May Newsletter
04/28/2025 - Webinar: World Press Freedom Day - The Power of AI in the Media (and) Business – April 30, 2025. Register Now!
04/07/2025 - fraymedia Foundation April Newsletter
03/25/2025 - Webinar Reminder: How to Apply for Journalism Grants – March 26: Register Now!
03/22/2024 - Opportunities for your leadership journey
03/10/2024 - Happy Women's Day: Grow your mentorship journey
01/19/2024 - Mentorship Matters: Kickstarting the Mentorship Journey
01/04/2024 - Introduction to Mentorship
12/22/2023 - Missed the Webinar? Here Are the Top Five Tips for Effective Mentoring!
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