Female Leadership

“You need connection. You need evidence. You need to constantly engage.”

A Conversation with Constance Kwaa Ababio, Policy & Advocacy Manager, IDP Foundation In this edition of PurposePhil Pulse, I’m honored to share a conversation with Constance Kwaa Ababio , Policy & Advocacy Manager at the IDP Foundation, Inc. . From her beginnings in a rural Ghanaian village near the Côte d’Ivoire border to shaping national education policy conversations, Constance’s journe

Beyond Formal Agreements: What 17 Female Education Leaders Reveal About Building Transformative Partnerships

An analysis of partnership insights from leaders across global education and philanthropy Over the past months, I've had the privilege of speaking with 17 female leaders in education and philanthropy for the PurposePhil Pulse series. From emergency contexts in Syria to global networks spanning 60+ countries, from foundations in Switzerland to grassroots organizations in Pakistan, these conversatio

Bridging Inequities Through Learning: Nangamso’s Journey From Township to Systems Change

In this deeply reflective conversation, Nangamso Mtsatse , currently the Global Head of Foundational Learning at Teach For All , shares a personal and powerful journey through South Africa’s education system. From long commutes across apartheid-era divides to becoming a national leader in literacy reform, her story is one of persistence, identity, and conviction. We explore the formative experienc

Bridging Classrooms and Systems: Maria Qureshi on Adaptive Leadership, Inclusive Reform, and Transformative Change in Education

In this edition of PurposePhil Pulse on female leadership in education and philanthropy, I’m honored to share my recent conversation with Maria Qureshi , whose journey from a classroom in a public school in Pakistan to leading multi-stakeholder education strategies for Syria exemplifies both courage and clarity of purpose. Maria brings a rare blend of ground-level experience and global systems exp

Embedding Evidence, Empowering Systems: A Conversation with Randa Zakhary

In today’s PurposePhil Pulse edition on female leaders in education and philanthropy, I am delighted to share my recent exchange with Dr. Randa (Grob) Zakhary , Founder and CEO of Education.org . Randa’s career spans medicine, neuroscience, consulting, philanthropy, and global education leadership. What struck me in our conversation is how she weaves those diverse experiences into a clear vision:

Designing for 100x Impact

I am excited to share in today’s Female Leaders in education and philanthropy edition of the PurposePhil Pulse the exchange I’ve recently had with Ellie Bertani , the founding CEO of the GitLab Foundation . With a background that spans global health philanthropy, executive roles in the private sector, and a deep focus on economic mobility, Ellie brings a systems-oriented, practical, and refreshing

From Spark to Systems: Kat Pattillo on Leadership, Advocacy, and Reimagining Education

In this PurposePhil Pulse conversation, Kat Pattillo shares with Nora Marketos hard-won lessons from education reform across the Global South—from immersive government partnerships and her EdWell newsletter to building coalitions and writing The Systems Change Playbook.

Rethinking Education Systems through Finance, Technology, and Human Behavior: A Conversation with Dayoung Lee

Dalberg Partner Dayoung Lee shares with Nora Marketos insights on scaling impact in global education—from AI and outcomes-based finance to her leadership journey across four countries. Discover how she embeds innovation in public systems while staying grounded in human-centered change.

Centering Voice, Depth, and Sisterhood: A Conversation with Radhika Bharat Ram

In this PurposePhil Pulse interview, Nora Marketos speaks with KARM Co-Founder Radhika Bharat Ram on building trust, mentoring young women, and reimagining education as a pathway to systemic change. A powerful conversation on voice, values, and shifting norms from the inside out.

Seeing the Whole Child: Romana on Privilege, Belonging, and Educational Transformation

Global education leader Romana Shaikh joins Nora Marketos to explore how justice, identity, and inner work can transform education systems. From community-rooted school models to her book Weaving Wholeness, this dialogue reimagines leadership as a practice of healing.

Beyond the Tent: A Systems View on Education in Emergencies

Petra Heusser discusses the evolving landscape of Education in Emergencies, the need for integrated responses, and the power of partnerships to protect learning in crisis.

From Village Classrooms to Systems Change: Amy's Journey in Global Education Leadership

Amy Bellinger shares her career in consulting, Ark Schools and at the Learning Generation Initiative, what it means to work on systemic approaches in education. She also delves into leadership aspects from her perspective as a working mother.

Embracing Variability: Leadership Lessons from Two Decades in Education Philanthropy

Discover career insights from a senior Jacobs Foundation leader on evidence-based education, cross-sector partnerships, and navigating leadership as a woman in philanthropy.

Strengthening Systems, Building Resilience: A Conversation with Heidi on Education, Partnership, and Leadership

Explore how Heidi Rosbe scaled education programs across MENA, transformed partnerships, and shares leadership lessons from her journey in philanthropy and international development.

Locally-Led, Globally-Informed: Wendy Kopp's Vision for Education

Wendy Kopp shares how developing leadership at all levels drives systems change in education, with powerful reflections on female leadership and scaling global impact.