Resilient. Visionary. Grounded. Empowered. Collaborative. -These are just but a few adjectives that we can use to describe Stephanie Musho.  

Her story begins not with her accolades, but with the challenges that shaped her.  At 18, Stephanie was pregnant and at 19, she was a mother.  A reality faced by one in five teenage girls in Eastern and Southern Africa. Yet, with the support of her family and strong women around her, her path diverted from the grim statistics where girls in similar circumstances are forced into early marriages or drop out of school entirely.

“Because I had the support of my family and strong women around me, my path was different. I was able to continue my education. I earned my Bachelor of Law degree and later completed a Master of Arts in International Relations, graduating magna cum laude,”she noted.

Read that again. Magna cum laude. Not despite everything, through it.

Her leadership journey began early. While still in high school, Stephanie founded a mentorship initiative that connected students with professionals in their aspired careers. This experience ignited a lifelong commitment to advocacy, communications, and empowering young women. 

“My leadership journey has been deeply shaped by women. I was privileged to be raised by feminists. My mother, who is also a lawyer, has long been an advocate for women’s rights, and her example profoundly influenced my path,” she added.

Advocacy Rooted in Lived Experience

Over the past decade, Stephanie has channeled her expertise in law and international relations to advance sexual and reproductive health rights, expanding opportunities for girls to live to their fullest potential.

Her approach to leadership is both disciplined and reflective. A daily 10,000-step walk has become her ritual, a practice that grounds her and sets the tone for her day. This discipline has not only helped her navigate complex challenges but has also amplified her impact on gender equality and women’s empowerment. 

Her work has received global recognition, in 2024, she was named by CNN As Equals as one of 30 top gender defenders globally, and this year, she was included among the top 100 influential African women leaders by La Mode Magazine.            

Challenging Institutional Contradictions

Yet Stephanie’s path has not been without challenges. One of her toughest lessons came from confronting what she calls “the opposition within”the barriers that exist even inside organizations claiming to uphold feminist values. She recounts the difficulty of navigating workplaces that failed to support women during pregnancy or family care, despite advocating for equality externally. Her response: “radical collaboration and a commitment to inclusive, accountable spaces that reflect the values they champion.”

Growth Mindset and Perspective

Looking back on her journey, Stephanie would tell her 25 year old self, “That it is never that serious. There’s a whole lot of life ahead with many more mistakes and challenges, and many more wins beyond her wildest imagination.” Capturing her belief that life’s journey is full of lessons, opportunities, and victories waiting to be discovered.

For Stephanie, leadership and community go hand in hand. This year’s Give to Gain theme captures what she believes: no one succeeds alone. Inspired by Harambee “all pull together” and Ubuntu “I am because we are” she sees collaboration and shared effort as the force that turns individual action into lasting impact.

🔗Connect with the author, Beryl Oywer🔗