February 24, 2025
At Kinvia, we believe in the power of feminist leadership to drive meaningful, community-led change. Our work is grounded in equity, collaboration, and supporting women and girls to shape their own futures. Through partnerships with community organizations, we help create opportunities for education, economic resilience, and systemic change.
As a proud member of the Ontario Council for International Cooperation (OCIC), we were honoured to take part in the Feminist Futures: Exploring Transformative Leadership and Equitable Partnerships webinar. Organized by OCIC and moderated by Kinvia’s Vice President of Programs, Marlen Mondaca, the event brought together global changemakers for a powerful discussion on feminist leadership, inclusive partnerships, and social transformation. The panel explored how feminist values, such as compassion, collaboration, and courage, are essential in addressing systemic barriers and advancing gender justice.
Key Themes from the Discussion:
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Leading with Authenticity:
In her opening remarks, Senator Paulette Senior, Canadian Senator and former President & CEO of the Canadian Women's Foundation, shared her thoughts on the essence of feminist leadership. “To me, authenticity has sometimes meant admitting I had no answers for the problems we faced, but being confident that together we can create the solutions. Other times it meant leading from behind. I believe this is part of being a feminist leader. Being authentic, being transparent, putting others forward, and understanding that leadership is about sharing power.” -
Feminist Leadership as Transformative Leadership:
As moderator, Marlen opened the panel by defining feminist leadership as an alternative to traditional power structures that prioritize hierarchy over inclusivity. While patriarchal leadership reinforces the dynamic of dominance and subordination and makes power a zero-sum game, feminist leadership seeks to change that dynamic. She shared, “Feminist leadership tells us that we can become powerful by making those around us feel empowered. It seeks to build power with others, instead of over others.” This idea shaped the conversation, which explored the challenges and successes of feminist leadership in different global contexts, and how organizations can embrace decision-making that is inclusive and community-led. -
Navigating Backlash to Feminism:
Shobha Shrestha, Executive Chair of Women, Peace and Democracy in Nepal, discussed the impact of a shrinking civic space and backlash against feminist movements. “Our women groups are breaking barriers and challenging societal norms, leading to numerous stories of transformation. I remember women learning to sign their names for the first time, realizing they had an identity of their own. But there are those who perceive our work as anti-culture, Western-driven, or donor-driven. This misperception leads to intimidation and makes it difficult to sustain advocacy efforts.” -
Prioritizing Community Voices:
Elizabeth Kemigisha, Advocacy and Communications Manager at the Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Uganda), stressed the importance of recognizing local knowledge and facilitating community leadership. She remarked, “When local knowledge is recognized, we move away from top-down development approaches that have failed a lot of marginalized communities, including women and children.” The discussion underscored the need to support local movements as the driving force of sustainable change rather than implementing projects. -
Overcoming Cultural and Patriarchal Barriers:
Dr. Rubel Manivannan, Project Manager of the Karuna Project at Regions Beyond Medical Union Society (India), shared her experiences leading projects which support women and girls. Despite facing patriarchal backlash, she and her team have supported women through education and economic opportunities. “One thing that has helped us is building strong community partnerships with local leaders and fostering grassroots support from the community members, creating advocates and networking with them, to amplify the mission even in this restrictive environment.” -
Women’s Role in Shaping Policy and Implementation:
Dr. Felagot Taddese, Country Manager for Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief in Ethiopia, shared how there are often gaps between policy and implementation due to a lack of involvement from women and other marginalized communities. “We see in Ethiopia, there are few organizations where you see females as leaders. CPAR particularly supports and encourages women to be part of the team and solution. You can have a very good document that shows the law, policy, and direction, but the people on the ground are the ones who know the issues.” -
The Power of Advocacy and Solidarity:
The session concluded with a collective call for sustained advocacy and solidarity. Senator Paulette Senior captured the urgency of the moment: “The pushback is indeed real. Efforts are underway to dismantle the progress we’ve made to go back to the way things were. What these efforts signify is that we're in a battle to create a world that is just, equitable, and fair. These times require us to work smarter and more collectively, with the confidence that someone else's freedom and economic prosperity Is inextricably tied to our own.”
Looking Ahead:
The webinar highlighted the need for continued collaboration and feminist leadership to address global challenges. As Marlen summed up, “It’s so important that we continue to work together, each of us in our different spaces, battling different challenges, but all in the spirit of what feminist leadership is all about – authentically, openly, inclusively, and courageously.”
Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation. Watch the full recording by clicking this link.
Together, let’s build a brighter future defined by equity, justice, and shared leadership.
