Why We Believe in Women Leaders

Almost 1,000 students study at the Akilah Institute, Rwanda’s only women’s college. It is here that Africa’s future female leaders are educated to solve the world’s most pressing problems, through a lens of opportunity and sustainability.

But why the emphasis on preparing women for future leadership roles?

The positive impact of empowering and educating women is well-documented. For example, according to USAID, when 10 percent more girls go to school, a country’s GDP increases on average by 3 percent.

However, these impacts are multiplied when women attain positions of leadership.

Women make great leaders

There is a strong body of research showing the exponential impact that women can have as leaders.

For example, a study published in Harvard Business Review surveyed a total of 7,280 leaders and had their associates and co-workers rank in them in 16 qualities, measuring overall leadership effectiveness. In 12 out of the 16 competencies, women vastly outranked their male counterparts.

In addition, several studies have shown that companies with greater proportions of female leaders tend to perform better. A recent study by McKinsey & Company showed that the earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) margin of companies with at least a quarter share of women in leadership was on average 20 percent higher than the industry average.

This trend extends to political leadership as well. Research by the Kravis Leadership Institute showed that when women are in leadership positions, countries tend to be more peaceful and have stronger economies. Other research also showed that greater female participation in government not only increased the provision of public goods but also reduced levels of corruption.

Educating female leaders

Educating women for leadership, and not just employment, should, therefore, be a priority.

This is at the core of our mission here at the Akilah Institute, where our education leverages five pillars: 21st-century skills, personalized learning, innovation, ethical leadership, and sustainability.

Students come to Akilah from across East Africa, to earn qualifications in Information Systems, Business Management and Entrepreneurship, and Hospitality Management, and almost 90% of our graduates are able to launch successful careers within six months of graduation.

Watch the video below to hear directly from these female leaders: