Change Making Women

Ziada and Mary Ann talk with Holiday Phillips about her article that recently went viral 'Performative Allyship Is Deadly (Here’s What to Do Instead)'. She tells us about what made her write it, the experience of it going viral and some of her other thoughts about racial justice and anti-racist practice in this time. Find the article at: https://forge.medium.com/performative-allyship-is-deadly-c900645d9f1f And Holiday on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holidayphillips/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/holidayphillips Her website: https://www.holidayphillips.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFIndcHQuGPPv9KLJC2kYQg?view_as=subscriber Holiday is a sociologist, coach, writer and speaker on the topics of philosophy, spirituality, culture and personal transformation. She is also co-founder of Kula, a consultancy that helps organisations develop conscious leadership and diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces. All of her work is in service of this question: “What will it take to build a wiser

In this episode, Ziada and Mary Ann talk with Animah Kosai about her work on Speaking Up in the workplace. Animah Kosai speaks, writes and advises on workplace sexual harassment & bullying, and speaking up on corporate wrongdoing. She formed Speak Up At Work and is co-founder of Speak Up Academy - a soon to be launched platform of thought leaders and change makers driven to create safe and inclusive work environments in the corporate world. Animah is Malaysian-British, based in London. She practiced law for 9 years in Malaysia, before joining the oil and gas industry as corporate counsel for 14 years - covering South East Asia (except Indonesia) and India. She has given talks and training in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore and London, as well as media interviews, on topics ranging from #MeToo to global corporate scandals. Find Animah's work on her website: www.speakupatwork.com Find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/animah-kosai/ Or Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpeakUpAtWork

Welcome to the second in a new series of episodes in which we are talking to women making a difference in this time of Covid-19. Today Ziada and Mary Ann talk with Esua Goldsmith author of a new memoir, The Space between Black and White about writing and publishing a book about her own life, why it was so important to her to share the story of being mixed race and how that has impacted her and the challenges of launching a book in the context of this pandemic. Esuantsiwa Jane Goldsmith is a writer, feminist activist and development consultant of English – Ghanaian heritage. In 1975 she was the first woman of colour to be elected President of Leicester University Student’s Union, while in 2001 she became the first woman of colour to be elected Chair of the Fawcett Society. In 1977-9 Esua served as one of the first black volunteers to be sent on Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) in Tanzania. During her career she has acted as Commissioner for the Women's National Commission, Chair and Co-Founder of the Gender

Welcome to a new series of episodes in which we are talking to women making a difference in in this time of Covid-19. Today in our first show since the pandemic began Ziada and and Mary Ann talk with Immaculate Mukasa is the Executive Director of The Mentoring and Empowerment Programme for Young Women (MEMPROW), an organisation In Uganda that develops capacity of girls and young women in education and leadership, and advocates for a violence free environment. We hear all about the approach MEMPROW take and how it has been effected by the pandemic, the crisis that many girls and young women are facing as a result of the lock-down and the impact this situation is likely to have for some time to come. You can find out more about MEMROW and their work on their website: https://memprow.org/ Prior to leading MEMPROW, Immaculate spent five years as the Programmes Director. In order to address the negative patriarchal mindsets and social devaluation of women and girls, Immaculate engages with multiple partner or

In this conversation, Melissa Pitotti talks with Nasra Ismail, Director of the Somalia NGO consortium. They talk about wellbeing in the context of the localisation agenda in humanitarian aid and why conversations about wellbeing require us to consider our privilege and to think about our work in radically new ways. Nasra is the director of the Somalia NGO Consortium and currently lives in Mogadishu, Somalia. She cares particularly about women’s rights, rights of minorities and people of colour, generosity and healing as ways to transform her own leadership and the issues the coalition tackles in the sector she works in. Her motto this year and decade is for all of us to connect with the communities we serve through the everyday practice of grace, coalition building across differences and laughter. And she loves to shine light on others through her use of social media platforms. You can follow her on Twitter @nas_isms Melissa Pitotti has been working in humanitarian affairs since 2003 wearing different h

In this conversation, Melissa Pitotti talks with Kate Gilmore the United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights. They talk about wellbeing in the UN system and other humanitarian and human rights work, about how Kate sees the connections between personal and political and some tangible ways she has tried, in her role, to do things differently. Kate Gilmore was appointed United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights on 1st December 2015. She brings to the position diverse and longstanding experience in strategic leadership and human rights advocacy with the United Nations, government and non-government organisations. Prior to joining OHCHR, Kate was Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director for Programmes with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Previously she was National Director of Amnesty International Australia and then Executive Deputy Secretary General of Amnesty International. Kate started her career as a social worker and government policy officer in A

In this conversation, Mary Ann talks with Shuhba Chacko in India and Artemisa Castro in Mexico. They consider together how we might cultivate caring and compassion in our organisations and movements. Shubha Chacko is a joyful activist who has drawn strength, knowledge, and warmth from strong alliances and friendships forged with people from different walks of life. She is the Executive Director of Solidarity Foundation, an NGO that supports grassroots level organisations of gender/sexual minorities (LGBTIAQ+)and sex workers by building collectives, capacities and connections with resources. The broader goal is to enhance leadership of those currently excluded. Solidarity Foundation also works with companies and other organisations on their LGBT journeys. Shubha is also a researcher and has authored books, reports and articles and has been an invited speaker at many national and international conferences. Artemisa Castro is Executive Director of Fondo Acción Solidaria(FASOL) in Mexico. She is also a memb

In this conversation, Mary Ann talks with Penelope Sanyu from Femme Forte (https://www.femmeforteug.org/) in Uganda about how she links space and wellbeing in her work. They are joined with Eshban Kwesiga who has experienced the spaces Penelope creates and who also shares his perspective on her work and it's importance. Penelope Sanyu is Team Leader and Founder of Femme Forte in Uganda. She is a young lawyer, thinker, writer and author, policy analyst, solution architect and Agent of Positive Social Change and Transformation. She has dedicated most of her career to building the capacity of young people to innovatively engage with and influence public policy in various spaces. She has experience using social arts as a tool for socio-political transformation and has organized several social arts platforms at a national level. Penelope has a wealth of knowledge working with Civil Society Organisations, the women's movement and feminist organisations in Uganda. Eshban Kwesiga is very interested in feminist s

In this conversation, Mary Ann talks with Penelope Sanyu from Femme Forte (https://www.femmeforteug.org/) in Uganda about how she links space and wellbeing in her work. They are joined with Eshban Kwesiga who has experienced the spaces Penelope creates and who also shares his perspective on her work and it's importance. Penelope Sanyu is Team Leader and Founder of Femme Forte in Uganda. She is a young lawyer, thinker, writer and author, policy analyst, solution architect and Agent of Positive Social Change and Transformation. She has dedicated most of her career to building the capacity of young people to innovatively engage with and influence public policy in various spaces. She has experience using social arts as a tool for socio-political transformation and has organized several social arts platforms at a national level. Penelope has a wealth of knowledge working with Civil Society Organisations, the women's movement and feminist organisations in Uganda. Eshban Kwesiga is very interested in feminist s

In this show Zena Tenga tells us all about the intiative she co-founded, HerAfrica. Zena Maajar Tenga is a PR and Communication Practitioner with a vast experience in Corporate Social Investment strategy. She has worked for both local and international organisations. Her recent focus is social responsibility and community development; focusing on community engagement and providing sustainable growth and development within her community. Zena is co-founder of the Hassan Maajar Trust an NGO which aims to improve the learning environment in schools for every Tanzanian child as well as co-founder of HerAfrica, which aims to change the African girl child narrative, through sharing os stories, knowledge, skills and tools aiming to elevate one girl at a time. She is a growing philanthropist in her own right, with a passion for writing, art, food and all things vintage. Zena is also a novice blogger, through her Lifestyle blog 'Mint and Tea’. Her free time is always dedicated to her two children Nakazael (8) and Mo

This week we are re-playing Episode 55 which featured a conversation between Mary Ann and Alessandra Pigni who sadly died recently. In the show, recorded last year before she died, they talk about Alessandra's book ‘The Idealist’s Survival Kit. 75 Simple Ways to Avoid Burnout’, the causes of burnout in the Humanitarian Sector, why you aren’t alone if you are experiencing it and why a mixture of strategies are the best way to address it. Alessandra Pigni was a humanitarian psychologist, organisational consultant and author of The Idealist’s Survival Kit. 75 Simple Ways to Avoid Burnout. After serving with Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders in Palestine and China. She dedicated her work to understanding the connection between meaningful work and burnout. She was also a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Oxford and her work has a wide following among humanitarian practitioners, activists, and academics. Find out more about Alessandra at www.mindfulnext.org And purchase her book at

This week we talk with Ernee Bee Neeplo from Formidable Initiatives in Liberia about her work with women and girls and particularly their work to address sexual violence and abuse. Ernree has over twelve years of experience in the nonprofit sector and earned a Master’s degree in Public Health from the Cuttington University and a Bachelors’ degree in Sociology from the African Methodist University both in Liberia respectively. She has a wealth of experience in the public health sector and expertise in program designs, policy formulation, management and systems strengthening. Ernree is a humanitarian, women’s rights activist, change-maker, an administrator and is evidence-based results oriented. She is an ethical leader, a woman of formidable intelligence, human-centered designer, open-minded and a reliable team player with strong interpersonal skills. She is skilled in organizational and programs development, projects management and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, training facilitation, research,

This week Ziada and Mary Ann talk about homelessness and shelter insecurity in Tanzania and beyond.

This week Ziada and Mary Ann talk with Christine Gatwiri about the #myalwaysexperience campaign in Kenya in which women used social media to share their expereince of using Always menstrual products.

This week Ziada and Mary Ann talk to Nicole Lewes-Keeber, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Masters in Social Work who is also a Speaker, Business Therapist, Mindset Coach and Podcaster about her work assisting entrepreneurs to reveal the blocks and blindspots in their businesses. She reveals the importance of the relationship we have with our businesses and how negative experiences in our past can impact the way in which we relate to them. Nicole’s articles about the impact of small t trauma on entrepreneurship can be found on Medium and in her blog. Find Nicole here: https://nicole.lewis-keeber.com/ Her articles here: https://medium.com/@nicole_22488 And connect with her here: https://www.facebook.com/nicolelewiskeebercoaching

We've released our 75th show today celebrating International Women's Day. Hear us reflect on why our own stories matter, how storytelling might be 'balanced for better' and celebrate some of the shows we have loved in the past year. #BalanceforBetter #IWD2019

Esther Otieno works as Senior Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Manage with IRC Tanzania. She is based in Kigoma in North-Western Tanzania. This week she tells Ziada and Mary Ann all about her mental health work in Refugee Camps and what motivates and challenges her about it. They talk about the passion Esther has for her work, the successes she has had in encouraging refugee communities to access mental health services and how she deals with challenges and looks after herself in her work. Esther works with IRC Tanzania: https://www.rescue-uk.org/country/tanzania Her project runs 5 wellness centres which have, to date, carried out over 14,000 consultations and mental health outreach staff working with the project have visited over 6000 homes to provide information about mental health and support the development of resilience and coping mechanisms. The project has reached over 50,000 people in the community and made them aware of the mental health services and the existing referral pathways through ou

In this show, Ziada tells Mary Ann all about her recent trip to Sauti Za Busara, a Music festival held in Stone Town on Unguja Island, Zanzibar. They talk what music really excited her and Ziada gives us some top listening tips as well as telling us which festivals are next on her 'bucket list'!

Ziada and Mary Ann re-introduce themselves for 2019 and give an update on what they have been up to since the last show.

In their first book club episode, Ziada and Mary Ann have been reading Mighty Be Ouw Powers by Leymah Gbowee, the Liberian Peace Activist whose leadership helped bring an end to Liberia's second civil war.