Women in Research Leadership Development Symposium

The Women in Research Leadership Development Symposium took place in Kigali, Rwanda, from the 28th to the 30th of January 2025. Outstanding early career researchers from multiple academic disciplines in sub-Saharan Africa were brought together to enhance their leadership abilities through facilitated training, broaden their professional networks, increase their ability to conduct cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research and collaboration; and get mentorship from some of Africa's leading women research leaders.

The symposium offered a series of workshops, training sessions on mentorship, networking, work/life balance, facilitated by Coach Global, as well as interactive panel discussions where key, brilliant and experienced researchers would generously share their professional, personal experiences, and advice on how to succeed in a world that can be hostile to women.

What stood out the most was the fact that even though the symposium was organised by a Canadian and global research organisation, every single woman on the panel was an African woman, born, raised and working on the continent. They were therefore directly familiar with the issues that women doing research in Africa face. This was quite special for us junior researchers who had rarely been in spaces where so much attention is given to these particular subjectivities.

During the symposium, I had the chance to exchange thoughts with professionals in different fields, specifically in neuroscience and computer science on potential interdisciplinary collaborations. We briefly discussed ways in which each discipline has approached consciousness, as well as practical ways of collaborating. The first step was, familiarising ourselves with each other’s literature. This made me reflect on the magic of self-transcendence, (in)dividualist networking, science diplomacy, and the potential impact of research beyond publication.

Overall, this symposium was an amazing way to start the last stage of my doctoral studies, as it provided a fertile ground for building strong sisterhood, a network that will enable me to grow along with others around me. I was able to work through some professional and personal fears because I constantly felt supported and held.

My only regret remains the fact I was not able to connect with every single researcher at the symposium, as there were about 50 participants. The space that the organisers and participants created was for me, a microcosm of the kind of world and community I would like to build. The future looks exciting, and I cannot wait to witness the sprouting of the seeds that were planted at this symposium.