More than 80 student leaders have been challenged to carry the lessons of campus leadership into their communities, workplaces and the wider economy.
The call was made on Wednesday, at Inyatsi House in Manzini during the second edition of the Student Leadership Conference, held under the theme “Leadership Beyond Campus. Impact Beyond Limits.”
Student leaders from eight tertiary institutions attended the conference, hosted by the Student Leaders Network and sponsored by Lidwala Insurance. 
The conference provided a platform for young leaders to learn from experienced figures in government, business and professional institutions on leadership, entrepreneurship, personal branding and skills needed beyond tertiary education.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister for Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo reflected on his leadership journey, from founding the UNESWA Chemistry Society as a student to entering the corporate world and later serving in government.
Khumalo told the students that leadership begins with recognising a need and having the courage to respond.
“Great leaders are great at spotting gaps. A true leader learns to see things differently. Where others see obstacles, a leader sees opportunity. Where others see problems, a leader sees possibility,” he said.
He encouraged young people to view challenges as opportunities for entrepreneurship, innovation and job creation rather than simply as barriers.
With youth unemployment remaining a challenge, Khumalo urged students to broaden their career ambitions and consider entrepreneurship and value creation as alternative pathways.
He further challenged the young leaders to break away from conventional thinking and become people who are willing to create new paths.
“Great leaders are trend breakers. They reject the status quo, challenge old habits, and forge new paths instead of simply following the crowd,” he said.
Khumalo also emphasised that leadership should be rooted in service rather than status or position.
“The third lesson is this. Leadership means leading to serve,” he said.
He explained that his measure of leadership success has always been based on the positive difference he leaves behind.
“For me, success has always meant leaving every situation better than I found it,” Khumalo said.
He said this philosophy continues to guide his work in government, including efforts to promote youth entrepreneurship, support youth-owned MSMEs, create employment opportunities and position Eswatini as an African investment destination.
Adding a professional perspective, Mbabane Municipal Council Chief Executive Officer Gciniwe Fakudze encouraged students to identify what distinguishes them and deliberately build their identities around their strengths.
“True success comes from identifying what sets you apart from the rest and leveraging the power of personal branding,” Fakudze said.
She urged the student leaders to understand their unique value and use personal branding to position themselves for professional opportunities and continued growth.
For UNESWA Chemistry Society President Zandile Dlamini, the conference offered practical lessons on purposeful leadership.
“The key lesson for me is that leadership must have purpose. It is about creating value and making a meaningful impact on other people,” Dlamini said.
The conference also provided an opportunity for the student leaders to network, exchange ideas and engage with professionals from different sectors.
