Celebrating Women Leaders to Inspire the Next Generation

Photo: Past Rotary International President Jennifer Jones looks on as Rotarian Sarita Shukla of the Rotary Club for Global Action speaks to young women and men at the PeaceJam/ Mentoring PeaceBuildersSA Peace Education Day in Cape Town, South Africa.

Every September, Rotary marks Basic Education and Literacy Month, a time to reflect on one of our organization’s deepest commitments: the power of education to change lives. For me, this focus is inseparable from another truth, the world desperately needs more women leaders, and education is where that journey begins.

My Rotary club, the Rotary Club for Global Action sponsors the education of girls in India and Nepal, while simultaneously creating more opportunities around education in Liberia, South Africa, and Uganda. The impact of my club's programs is profound. With access to education, girls gain not only knowledge, but also confidence, opportunity, and a pathway to leadership. When we invest in their futures, we are not just helping individuals - we are helping to create communities where women’s voices are heard and valued.

The importance of education in creating female leaders was emphasized to me through my work with the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa-USA. An organization started by Nobel Peace laureate Leymah Gbowee, I have seen firsthand how her programs of educating girls foster resilience and vision. These young women are inspired to become leaders, leaders with the knowledge, strength and courage to transform their communities.

I have been inspired by Rotary International when it comes to transformational leadership. In the last decade, we have had two female leaders, Jennifer Jones and Stephanie Urchick, EdD. These women have broken barriers that had long limited how women were seen in leadership, not only within our own organization but in the wider world. Jennifer and Stephanie showed us not just a single "female" leadership style, but how when one focuses on impact over ego, collaboration over division, and sustainability over quick wins - we all can benefit. Their tenures emphasized diversity, equity, and inclusion, setting a precedent for what leadership should look like in the 21st century. But the future depends on what we do now. It is not enough to celebrate women leaders who have already broken through. We must ensure that girls everywhere have the education and opportunities to step into leadership. But this effort must go hand in hand with the education of boys, inclusive of teaching them to respect and value female leadership. True equality requires more than opening doors for girls, it requires reshaping culture so that boys grow up expecting women to lead alongside them.

When women lead, organizations thrive, communities prosper, and nations move closer to peace and justice. This September, as we reflect on Rotary’s commitment to education and literacy, we should remember that every girl educated today can become the leader the world needs tomorrow.