Mastering the essentials of strong organisational leadership

During Advocates Day at the World Bladder Cancer Patient Forum 2025 in Brussels, participants took part in an interactive workshop called “Mastering the essentials of strong organisational leadership.” The session was led by Benita Lipps, CEO & Founder of Novya, and focused on helping patient organisations strengthen their management and daily work while staying true to their mission.

Benita began by sharing a reality many organisations face today: less funding, fewer volunteers, more administrative demands, and an increasing need for patient support. Participants quickly recognised that these are shared challenges across the world. Together, they discussed ways to overcome them, through clear structures, simple systems, and teamwork built on a common purpose.

A main theme of the workshop was good governance in practice. Benita explained that many difficulties come from unclear roles, meetings without decisions, or depending too much on one person. Her advice was to clearly define responsibilities, write short and simple policies, and make sure every meeting ends with clear next steps. She reminded participants that strong leaders are not owners of their organisations, they are stewards who guide and protect them for the future.

Participants also explored digital tools that can help organisations save time. These included AI tools that help draft meeting minutes, easy-to-use databases for keeping track of contacts, online training tools for volunteers, and video applications for recruitment. Benita stressed that digital tools should always be used safely, following data protection rules, adding security measures, and reviewing outputs carefully. The goal is to spend less time on administration and more time supporting patients.

Benita ended the session by sharing five simple lessons for stronger and more sustainable organisations:

• Invest in people: support volunteers, patients, partners, and funders with clear roles and appreciation.
• Focus on impact: do fewer things but do them well; measure progress and focus on real results.
• Build simple systems: keep policies short, end meetings with clear actions (“who does what by when”), and use checklists to stay organised.
• Use digital tools wisely: use technology to save time but always protect privacy and review results.
• Diversify funding: combine different sources of income and plan for long-term sustainability.

The workshop gave participants practical tools and inspiration to improve how their organisations work every day — through better governance, smart use of technology, and strong collaboration. As Benita said in closing, “With the right people, a clear purpose, and a simple framework, you can make great things happen.”