Dr Patrizia Vecchi, University Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour and Academic Director of the Cambridge Rising Women Leaders Programme, announces the latest winner.
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic and leaders around the world face difficult decisions, we are reminded that leadership is first and foremost an act of responsibility and commitment towards the people and communities that leaders serve and represent.
At Cambridge Judge Business School, we have partnered with the 30% Club to support exceptional women on their path to leadership. The Cambridge Rising Women Leaders Programme is an Executive Education programme designed for women aspiring to top or senior leadership positions in their organisations. Each time the programme runs, we are delighted to choose one woman, among the many talented women that apply, whose actions and achievements show their exceptional commitment to lead, serve and empower others around them.
I am proud to announce that the winner of the June 30% club scholarship to attend the Cambridge Rising Women Leaders Programme is Allen Wejuli, Secretary of Busitema University in Uganda.
We have decided to award the June 30% club scholarship to Allen because of her dedication to her local community, which goes beyond the call for duty and is truly inspirational. Allen is making a real impact on the lives of many women in Uganda, empowering them and helping them see and believe in their potential. Besides being a point of reference and mentor for many colleagues and female students in her organisation, Allen volunteers at a local school where she teaches young girls and women how to make their sanitary pads and provides them with the materials.
As Allen explains, “During my work as a Secretary and Administrative Assistant, I have been fortunate enough to change lives through counselling and uplifting young girls. I am most passionate about the girl child and the woman, who are very vulnerable in Uganda’s patriarchal society. During weekends, I teach young village schoolgirls about menstrual hygiene and how to make their own reusable sanitary pads, because many young girls in Uganda drop out of school because they cannot afford sanitary pads. This is my driving force. The Cambridge Rising Women Leaders Programme will propel me to reach out to more female students and to be elected as a representative of staff on the University committee boards. I can confidently say that I now feel very skilled and knowledgeable, and I believe this is my calling: to give the underserved population a voice to be heard.”
Humphrey Taabu Obussoh, Registrar at Busitema University, noted: “Allen is a pillar of support and strength to women and girls all around her. She is aspiring to be on the Appointments Board of the University as a representative of the support staff, and after her promotion, to be a representative of the Administrative staff on the University Council Board, which is the highest Board of the University. There is no other greater leadership potential than trying to uplift and help others. I believe that the Cambridge Rising Women Leaders Programme will propel her further, and in turn, the women and girls will have a voice.”
Like Allen, the Cambridge Rising Women Leaders Programme is here is to help women achieve their potential. In times that call more than ever for responsible and committed leadership, we stand ready to support the women leaders of the future that embody it.