Date: 08 Jan 2026
Championing Everyday Leadership
Through Service
Leadership often begins not in boardrooms, but at home, in communities, and in the quiet acts of service that lift those most in need. For Litia Masei, who is herself a market vendor, grandmother, mentor, and community advocate, leadership is rooted in compassion and a commitment to the vulnerable.
Originally from Marou Village, Naviti, Yasawa, with maternal ties to Sawaieke, Gau, Litia has spent much of her life building a legacy of service in Fiji’s western division. For eight years, she has run her handicraft business at the Lautoka Municipal Market, while also serving through Lautoka District Council of Social Services (DCOSS) and the Ebenezer Women’s Ministry, supporting widows, single mothers, and the unemployed.
“I don’t just see myself as a grandmother to my family. I try to be a mother to those who live on the streets and those who need love.”
When Litia first stepped into the Lautoka DCOSS space, she was the only woman in a room full of men. Despite her experience and heart for her community, she sometimes felt overlooked. The Women’s Leadership Pipeline program, a joint initiative of Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) and Balance of Power in 2023, became a turning point, teaching her that leadership is lived daily not through titles, but through generosity and empowerment of others.
“After the training, I learned how to speak up, how to approach leaders, and how to take part in discussions. Before, I sat quietly; now I can stand up and speak with courage.”
Litia now teaches handicraft skills to women starting small businesses, helping them secure market tables and achieve financial independence.
“When women rise, we rise together. Leadership is not only at the top; it starts in our everyday lives.”
Following COVID-19, Litia extended her support to vulnerable young women, even opening her home to provide safety and stability. Guided by her faith, Litia believes women are natural leaders, strong, purposeful, and called to uplift others. She mentors young women in leadership, teaching values of love, humility, and compassion.
“If you want to change, it must start with you. Leadership is about listening, understanding, and helping others rise.”
While passion drives her work, financial constraints remain a challenge.
“We have the time and heart, but without resources, we can’t always go further.”
Litia dreams of greater investment in grassroots women leaders, especially market vendors and informal sector workers whose influence is often unseen. Through the training and peer networks provided by the Women’s Leadership Pipeline program, she has strengthened her confidence, public speaking, and leadership presence and now aspires to participate in municipal elections, using her voice and networks to serve at a higher level. Litia’s journey reminds us that leadership lives in everyday acts of service. When grassroots women are supported and recognised, they build stronger, safer, and more hopeful communities one life at a time.