2014 Tutu Fellow Linda Kasonde reflects on her own experiences shattering the glass ceiling in the legal profession in this TEDx talk in Lusaka. In it, she asks "where are the women?" Linda shares her journey to leadership, while challenging other women to fulfil their leadership potential. Linda Kasonde was the first female President of the Law Association of Zambia and is now a partner in a leading Zambian law firm. Leadership in itself is difficult; but when power structures - like the glass ceiling women face - place obstacles in your path, it is that much more difficult.
Linda was admitted to the Zambian Bar in 2001. She has worked at the National Legal Aid Clinic for women and at a renowned local law firm where she became a partner in 2009. Later, she became the first female lawyer in an established law firm to be elevated to the position of named partner in Zambia. In 2016, The Africa Report named Linda Kasonde as one of the people in Southern Africa to watch out for in 2017. She received the Zambia Society for Public Administration's award in recognition to her contribution to the advancement of public service excellence in Zambia. She is also an alumna of the U.S. State Department's International Visitors' Leadership Programme and an alumna of Harvard University's 'Leadership in the 21st Century' programme.
In her talk, she unpacks many of the stereotypes female leaders face in their leadership roles. But, she says, without more women stepping forward to lead and changing the balance, these stereotypes will not be challenged.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
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