Building a Future of Female Leaders: She Leads Bootcamp 2025

In today’s digital age, the representation of women in leadership roles, particularly in open knowledge platforms like Wikimedia, remains critically low. Gender equality in leadership is not just a matter of fairness; it enhances decision-making and innovation, ultimately benefiting communities and organizations. Diverse leadership leads to improved performance and greater attention to issues affecting women and marginalized groups. If we don’t tell our stories, who will? Therefore, it is imperative to bridge the gender gap within the Wikimedia movement to ensure that women’s voices are heard and valued.

The She Leads initiative was designed as a response to this need. We invited proposals from women Wikimedians across India to organize events tailored to their communities. The response was overwhelming; we received 16 proposals, resulting in activities that empowered participants and fostered collaboration among women leaders. Through online sessions, mentorship, and community-building efforts, She Leads has already made notable strides toward enhancing female participation in Wikimedia projects. This initiative not only supports individual growth but also cultivates a network of women leaders who can advocate for gender inclusivity within their communities.

The response and feedback from the first iteration of She Leads illustrated a larger need to nurture female leadership in the open knowledge movement. Subsequently, we had several conversations with remarkable women in the open knowledge space to explore avenues to foster female leadership. We are grateful to Rosie Stephenson Goodknight, Masana Mulaudzi, Netha Hussain, Sneha PP, Amrita Sengupta, Manavpreet Kaur, and Medhavi Gandhi for their support and guidance in conceptualizing She Leads Bootcamp 2025. A special shout out to Satdeep Gill for being an ally and contributing to the program design. 

The upcoming She Leads Bootcamp 2025, to be held in Bangalore from 31st January to 3rd February 2025, aims to take these efforts further by gathering budding women leaders from Indic Wikimedia communities. This immersive, in-person event will provide participants with the tools, resources, and connections necessary to thrive as leaders.

The She Leads Bootcamp 2025 will help create a robust network of women leaders who can collaborate and support each other’s initiatives.The training sessions will focus on leadership skills, feminist methodologies, project management, and advocacy strategies. We aim to foster a sense of belonging among participants, encouraging them to share experiences and learn from one another.

By participating in this bootcamp, attendees will not only enhance their leadership capabilities but also contribute to bridging the gender gap within the Wikimedia movement.

As we look forward to She Leads Bootcamp 2025, we are filled with hope about the future of women’s leadership in open knowledge. Together, we can create a more inclusive environment that empowers women to take charge and lead with confidence.