In a monumental stride towards scalability and operational excellence, Leading Change Africa proudly welcomes its new Director of Operations, Awa Maiga. Awa steps into this pivotal role with a wealth of experience, unmatched passion, and a vision that promises to catalyze our mission of driving sustainable growth and innovation across the African continent.
She is a dedicated public policy professional and advocate for education and women's empowerment. She holds a master’s degree in Culture and Business and a certificate in Communication from Algiers. Recently, she earned her second master’s degree in International Public Affairs (MIPA) from the La Follette School of Public Affairs, UW-Madison. Her focus areas include education policy, leadership, public service, gender, and international development.
Awa's journey began in Tombouctou, Mali, and led her to Algeria, where she spent five years studying and emerged as the first woman elected to lead the Malian student organization. Her professional path includes a notable internship at the Embassy of Mali in Algiers, providing her with invaluable insights into public affairs and diplomacy. These experiences motivated her to pursue further education in the United States.
Throughout her career, Awa has been deeply involved in education and youth empowerment. She is a member of Rotaract Bamako Kanu, Parlement des Enfants du Mali, and the Réseau des Femmes Écrivains du Mali. In Algeria, she created the first reading club for the African community of students before starting her volunteer work at Leading Change and completing a one-year internship at the Embassy of Mali in Algiers.
In her professional career, Awa served as Executive Director at Leading Change Africa in 2021, later on decided to go further in her education by completing her second master’s degree in 2023. Awa is the founder of KITAB, a nonprofit that empowers youth and women in Mali, Africa, by providing access to personal and professional development opportunities.
Awa’s passion for public policy is driven by her belief in its potential to significantly improve living conditions and ensure equal access to opportunities. Her research focuses on the role of African women in politics, specifically in Mali and West Africa. Through her work with KITAB, she aims to tackle challenges such as empowering women and youth as they thrive in their studies or businesses and misconceptions about advocating for human rights and women's rights while celebrating successes like school supplies donations and youth workshops and empowerment programs.
Awa has also gained professional experience working with USAID gender and rural development (agriculture) programs at CNFA in Mali, and as a project assistant at UW-Madison’s Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS). Her diverse roles have enriched her understanding of policy work and provided her with a global perspective.
Awa's long-term vision includes furthering her career within international organizations and remaining dedicated to Leading Change & KITAB’s mission. She aspires to create centers throughout Africa focused on community well-being, youth and women's empowerment, preparing the future generation of leaders to tackle real-life issues and effect change in their communities.
We extend the warmest of welcomes to Awa Maiga as our new Director of Operations. Her presence is not just a testament to our growth but a beacon of the exciting possibilities that lay ahead for Leading Change Africa and the vibrant ecosystem we serve.
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