“Women’s Leadership and Antiracism: Challenges, Opportunities, and African Perspectives”

This talk, based on my postdoctoral research, examines the critical role of women in leadership in advancing antiracism within higher education and industry, with a focus on systemic barriers faced by women from marginalized communities. Drawing from over twelve years of experience as a human rights lawyer and academic, I will share insights on how these challenges shape leadership trajectories while emphasizing the unique contributions of African and Black women leaders.

The presentation highlights the complementarity of African leadership models, which emphasize community and collective empowerment, alongside other approaches to women’s leadership. Together, these perspectives provide innovative solutions for addressing systemic inequities and fostering equitable spaces. Participants will gain practical strategies to support women leaders, create inclusive environments, and inspire collaborative progress toward more socially just institutions.

Wanjiru Kareithi is a human rights advocate and scholar from Nairobi, Kenya, with over twelve years of experience championing the rights of marginalized communities globally. She serves as a postdoctoral scholar in the Office of Access and Equity at Penn State’s College of Arts and Architecture, where her work focuses on equity, inclusive leadership, and advancing antiracism in higher education and industry. In addition, she teaches in the women, gender, and sexuality studies (WGSS) program. She holds advanced legal qualifications, including a doctor of laws (LLD), a master of laws (LLM) in public international law, and a bachelor of laws (LLB). She is also an advocate of the High Court of Kenya.