Meet Our Team

Apurva Vurity brings over eight years of experience shaping strategy, narratives, and partnerships across the social sector in India. She has worked in community-based organisations, international NGOs, and political and social impact consulting, leading work grounded in the realities of communities most impacted by structural inequity.
She has led and managed initiatives in organizations like Dasra, Girl Effect, MTV Staying Alive Foundation, Prerana, and the Indian Political Action Committee, working on gender, youth, education, and social justice. Her motivation is rooted in an intersectional feminist lens, being attentive to caste, gender, sexuality, class, geography, and how they shape power, access, and outcomes. Her approach to program management and strategy prioritises community-led knowledge, grounded in the belief that those closest to structural problems are best placed to define solutions.
With an academic background in Literature and Women's Studies, Apurva brings a critical and reflective perspective to her work. She values empathetic listening, shared leadership, and collective responsibility, and aims to lead in ways that are ethical and politically conscious.

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Book Recommendation: Bell hooks, Savitribai Phule

She-ro: The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin, In the Dream House by Carmen Machado

Bilha is an educator and peer mentor with a background in education and youth development initiatives. I am currently completing my degree at Mount Kenya University, double-majoring in English and Literature. My work is driven by a belief in education as a tool for empowerment, growth, and social change. Outside work, she enjoys reading novels, exploring fashion, and watching netball. (She plays sometimes)

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Book Recommendation: The Someday List by Stacy Adams

She-ro: Milly Odhiambo, a member of parliament in Kenya, for her unapologetic confidence as a woman in leadership. She is so vocal, assertive, and committed to her convictions. She inspires me to own my voice

Ceci is the Director of Programs for the Girls First Institute. She holds a master’s degree in Mental Health from Universidad del Valle de Guatemala and a master’s degree in Development Studies from Erasmus University Rotterdam, and brings over ten years of experience designing and leading girl-focused programs. Her work includes time at MAIA, one of She’s the First’s long-standing partners in Guatemala, where she worked closely with Indigenous girls and women leaders.
Ceci spearheaded the launch of the Girls First Institute and currently manages teams in Kenya and Guatemala. She works with community-based organizations across Latin America, Africa, and South Asia, providing training and coaching in girl-centered program design, mentorship, and sexual and reproductive health education, while connecting local leaders to global girls’ rights movements.
Originally from Guatemala, Ceci is deeply committed to advancing girls’ rights through locally led and community-rooted approaches. She is based in the Netherlands.

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Book Recommendation: We Will Be Jaguars: A Memoir of My People by Nemonte Nenquimo

She-ro: Andrea Coché and Norma Baján, two feminist leaders (and friends!) who have transformed education for Indigenous girls in Guatemala. 

Christina is the co-founder and Co-CEO of Girl Rising. She came to this work as a documentary producer, serving on the team that created the original Girl Rising film. She served as a Supervising Producer, then Managing Director and CEO beginning in 2015, helping to architect the organization's global programming and leading its transformation from a film production company to a nonprofit in 2017.As Co-CEO, she co-leads the organization, guiding global strategy and execution, partnerships, and fundraising. Christina is passionate about narrative storytelling as an engine of social change, a commitment rooted in decades of documentary film and television experience. Christina holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature from Brown University and a Master's in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Texas, Austin—a unique combination that informs her approach to centering girls and the communities we work with and using media as a tool for global change. She lives in New York's Hudson River Valley with her husband and three children.

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Book Recommendation: Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo

She-ro: My mom - the most competent woman I know, ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work, no matter the task at hand. Has walked 10,000 steps a day for more than 2 years straight. I hope I'm like her when I'm in my eighties! 

Cristina is responsible for overseeing the organization’s financial health and administrative operations. She provides strategic leadership in financial planning, budgeting, accounting, compliance, and internal operations to support the organization’s mission and long-term goals. Her experience includes working for over 6 years at Pro Mujer, a women’,s development, health and Microfinance nonprofit that provides its clients with a set of integrated services. Her latest position was as Finance and Grants Manager. Previously, she had worked as a Business Development Trainee at Citibank. Cristina holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Universidad Federico Santa Maria and a Master's in Marketing from Universidad Pontificia Comillas, ICADE. She is also fluent in Spanish and lives in Miami, Florida, with her husband and two daughters.

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Book Recommendation: Snow Flower and The Secret Fan

She-ro: Tránsito Amaguaña, she was an Indigenous Ecuadorian leader and social activist who fought for Indigenous rights, land reform, and education.

Cristina (Cris) is passionate about storytelling as a catalyst for social change and gender equity. With over seven years of experience in international development and fundraising, she serves as Development Director at Girl Rising, where she leads fundraising strategy and partnerships. She works closely with institutions, corporations, students, and individual supporters to advance the organization’s global impact. Central to her work is building long-term relationships and mobilizing resources to support girl-centered education programs and storytelling that reflect girls’ voices and lived experiences worldwide.
Raised in Barranquilla, Colombia, Cris brings a background in communications and international development. She holds an M.A. in Communication and Development Studies from Ohio University, with a focus on Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies, and has led development efforts for nonprofits supporting initiatives globally.
In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading, journaling, and traveling.

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Book recommendation: All About Love by Bell Hooks

She-ro: Débora Arango Pérez - a pioneering Colombian artist whose bold, socially critical work challenged political, religious, and gender norms in 20th-century Colombia.

Dania is the Latin America Coordinator. She holds a degree in Anthropology and brings a deep curiosity about history, culture, and the ways people experience the world. Drawn to complexity rather than easy answers, she believes that growth often begins with discomfort—a mindset that shapes her work advancing girls’ education and gender equity across the region.
As the first in her family to complete a university degree, Dania’s path reflects both personal determination and her parents’ sacrifices. Throughout her career, she has often been the youngest person in the room and frequently the only woman—experiences that have strengthened her voice and reinforced her commitment to challenging inequity.
Outside the office, Dania trains and competes in Muay Thai as a way to challenge gender norms, embody resilience, and reclaim space for others. She competes in the martial art of Muay Thai, having won five official fights, with four victories, an experience that mirrors the discipline, perseverance, and passion she brings to her work.

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Book Recommendations: The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins (the trilogy) 

She-ro: Nefertiti from ancient history and bell hooks from contemporary/actual time. 

Debborah has led the organization’s work in Kenya since its inception in 2019. She is a passionate educator and advocate for girls’ education, leadership, and empowerment, with over 18 years of experience in the education sector and more than 10 years in development work. She previously managed the Girl Rising Global Education Fund (GR-GEF), a six-year new venture philanthropy fund housed at Girl Rising that concluded in December 2024. She also led the successful accreditation of the Girl Rising Life Skills and Gender Sensitization Curriculum by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD).
Before joining Girl Rising, Debborah served as Education Program Officer at Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO). Earlier in her career, she taught in national and international curriculum schools and worked with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in various administrative roles within public schools.
Debborah studied Education at Eregi and Kaimosi Teachers’ Training Colleges, the Kenya Institute of Special Education, and Kenyatta University.

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Book Recommendation: Unbowed - Wangari Maathai

She-ro: My Late mum, who was also an educator

Emma Mogaka is an experienced trainer, mentor, and program strategist with over 13 years of experience in program management, leadership development, curriculum design, and community organizing. She is deeply committed to advancing the leadership and agency of girls and young women by equipping them with the skills, confidence, and networks needed to drive lasting social change.

Emma specializes in designing and delivering high-impact training programs that promote cross-learning, collaboration, and organizational capacity strengthening. She has a strong track record of partnering with grassroots organizations to develop tailored curricula and lead initiatives that amplify young women’s voices and leadership. Known for her inclusive and participatory approach, Emma facilitates engaging, practical, and transformative learning experiences that help organizations build sustainable strategies while centering girls and young women at the heart of their work.

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Book Recommendation: Women, Resilience and the Will to Lead — Linda Kasonde

She-ro: My eldest sister Josephine. She leads from a place of love and compassion!

Florence Sidi is the Programme Coordinator, Girls’ Leadership Programme at Girl Rising, where she works closely with girls to support youth-led leadership, advocacy, and storytelling. With four years of experience in the development space and a Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, she’s passionate about creating spaces where girls feel confident to lead, share their voices, and shape the programs designed for them.
Over the years, she has helped design and run programs and advocacy campaigns that empower girls to take the lead. She’s skilled in youth engagement and loves using participatory approaches and storytelling to create spaces where girls feel confident to lead and shape the programs around them.
Outside of work, Florence loves travelling to new countries, and especially safaris that bring her closer to nature. She also enjoys sightseeing and bowling, and her favorite colors are black and green, reflecting her love for both bold expression and growth. She believes meaningful change starts with listening, curiosity, and genuine connection, and values conversations that inspire growth and the discovery of new perspectives

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Book Recommendation: Woman, A Vessel of Honor by Peninah Mumbi, a Kenyan Author. Embracing purpose, faith, and strength as a woman.

She-ro: Mekatilili wa Menza, from the Giriama community(my community), was a fearless leader who stood up to protect her people’s land, culture, and independence. Her courage reminds me that leadership is about taking action and standing up for what you believe in, no matter your age or title. She inspires me every day to help girls find their voices and lead with confidence.

Janae is an artist and organizer from the Sonoran Desert. She designs accessible, joyful, care-centered trainings to advance equitable, anti-oppressive movement building. For over a decade, she has facilitated workshops for thousands of activists, from elementary schoolers to elders, and, currently, for teenage girls representing over 50 countries. She holds a B.S. in Family Studies and Human Development, concentration in Leadership Studies and Practice, an M.S. in Educational Technology, and is an Odyssey Works-certified Experience Designer. She spends what some would consider too much (and what she considers exactly enough) time in thrift stores.

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Book Recommendation: Rest is Resistance, Tricia Hersey
She-ro: The girls we work with!

Kate Kiama is a lawyer, feminist leader, and social impact champion with a deep commitment to advancing the rights of women and adolescent girls. She earned her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of London and completed the Advocates Training Program at the Kenya School of Law, grounding her passion for using the law to address social injustices.
Kate currently serves as Co-CEO of She’s the First, where she co-leads initiatives that empower girls and young women to thrive and lead in their communities. She has previously served as Grant Manager at the Nike Foundation, supporting the Girl Effect Movement, and as Program Director at Akili Dada. She also contributes her expertise as a board member of Make Every Woman Count and Kuza Dada.
Recognized for her leadership and impact, Kate was named one of Kenya’s Top 40 Under 40 Women by the Business Daily and, in 2023, one of the 25 Most Impactful African Women Leaders by the African Union.
Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Kate brings bold vision, strategic insight, and a collaborative spirit to every initiative she leads, inspiring communities to create lasting social change for girls and women across Africa and beyond.

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Book Recommendation: The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

She-ro: My grandmothers, whose wildest dreams I now live, as well as from my mother, aunties, and sisters—brilliant, supportive women whose shoulders I stand on today.

Kenny has over 7 years of experience providing database management and development support to educational nonprofits. He received his BA in Visual Media Arts from Emerson College, which, along with his previous work at organizations like the Tenement Museum in NYC, has given him a strong belief in the powerful roles that empathetic storytelling and education play in liberation. He lives in Los Angeles with his partner and their dog, Zeppo. In his spare time, he enjoys listening to ambient music, watching old movies, and walking to the farmers' market for some citrus and a spam musubi.

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Book Recommendation: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

She-ro: Clara Lemlich - labor organizer, suffragist, and lifelong activist

Khuzama Khan is the Director of Programme Quality and Learning at Girl Rising, where she brings together educational programming and monitoring, evaluation, and learning to strengthen how evidence informs program design, assessment, and continuous improvement.
With over 20 years of experience in international development, Khuzama has worked across child protection, gender equity, life skills education and youth development, and women’s economic empowerment in both development and humanitarian contexts. She brings a feminist, systems-thinking lens to strategy, learning, and research. A firm believer that “soft skills” are the real drivers of lasting impact, she is often found balancing spreadsheets with stories.
Khuzama holds a Master’s degree in Psychology from Pakistan and a Master’s in Development Studies from the University of Melbourne. Outside of work, she finds clarity on sunrise hikes or reading in a quiet park, gentle reminders that slowing down can sometimes be the fastest way to see the bigger picture.

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Book Recommendation: Manto Nama by Saadat Hassan Manto 

She-ro: My mother, who inspires in me respect, tolerance, and perseverance. My sisters and friends, who reinvented themselves with incredible strength and dignity once they realized they deserved better

Naomi Ramos Imuro is a Programme Manager at Girl Rising, where she has led and supported initiatives across multiple regions, including Mexico, Guatemala, and Ghana. She played a key role in developing the latest update to Girl Rising’s curriculum, RISE. She currently collaborates with the Girl Leadership Programme as a community engagement manager.
With a background in social and clinical psychology, she specializes in socioconstructivism and narrative therapy, exploring how the stories we tell shape our sense of self and our relationships with others. Her professional experience spans international education, nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing women’s rights, and teaching at universities in Mexico. In addition to her organizational work, she maintains a small private therapy practice supporting women through narrative-based approaches to healing and growth. She has designed, facilitated, and contributed to workshops and programs addressing topics ranging from body image and self-perception to territorial defense and community leadership.

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Book Recommendation: Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa

She-ro: Olimpia Coral Melo, Mexican activist who spearheaded the criminalization of digital sexual violence

Nidhi is a global gender equity leader with over 25 years of experience advancing the rights of women and girls across health, education, and social justice. Her work spans Asia and Africa, with a strong focus on addressing systemic gender inequities and supporting marginalized communities, including people living with HIV and religious and sexual minorities.
She has led and shaped high-impact advocacy and behavior change initiatives, including projects supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID, and previously served as Senior Vice President at Global Health Strategies, overseeing multi-country programs focused on women’s sexual and reproductive health. Over the past decade at Girl Rising, Nidhi has been at the forefront of gender-transformative work, designing community-based interventions, strengthening adolescent girls’ leadership, engaging families to champion girls’ education, and guiding impact evaluation strategies to understand what works and inform action. As Co-CEO, she helps steer Girl Rising’s global strategy and programs toward lasting, community-led impact so every girl can thrive. When not working, Nidhi loves the mountains, long walks and reading.

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Book Recommendation: The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese, Educated by Tara Westover, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

She-ro: 

Roselia is an 18-year-old, young indigenous woman. She speaks 3 languages: Kaqchikel (an indigenous language), Spanish, and English. Roselia grew up in Solola, Guatemala, in a family of six, where she learned the values of hard work and resilience from her mother, who supports her through seamstress work, laundry services, and small-scale sales. As the eldest daughter, she often cares for my siblings, which has strengthened my leadership and caregiving skills. She attended MAIA Impact School for five years, earning a High School Diploma in Science and Letters and graduating with the second highest academic average in my class. Roselia helped lead community initiatives through her youth group to support local youth. She is passionate about learning and constantly seeks opportunities to grow. My passion for social justice stems from the lack of educational and professional opportunities I have witnessed in my community. Currently, she got a scholarship to continue my studies in college in the USA.

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Book Recommendation: Becoming - Michelle Obama

She-ro: I admire my mom because she is a single mother with 5 children, and despite that she alrays gives us the best and invests in our education even though she did not have the opportunity to go to school. 

BIO TO COME!

Previously, Shankar has worked as a District Resource Person with Bandhan Konnagar, where he supported the Satat Jeevkoparjan Yojana (SJY)—a government-led graduation program for ultra-poor households in Bihar. In collaboration with BRLPS JEEViKA, he has provided district-level technical assistance and helped strengthen program implementation.

Shankar contributed to livelihood planning and facilitated access to key entitlements for more than 3,200 households. Under the “Lakhpati Didi” initiative, he mentored over 500 women, supported the rollout of a ₹70 crore government grant, and trained more than 200 field staff and community cadres. His work played a significant role in improving program delivery, strengthening data systems, and enhancing coordination among multiple stakeholders and institutions.

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Book Recommendation: Manthan

She-ro: My mother, Pushpa Devi, helped my father complete his PhD

Simran Gupta is an Advocacy Intern at Girl Rising, where she supports the organization’s Girl Leadership Programme and contributes to advocacy efforts advancing gender equity. She is a student in the Honors Program at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, and hopes to incorporate what she learns into future work at the intersection of advocacy and health.
Prior to joining Girl Rising, Simran served as a She’s the First chapter leader at her high school and has been actively involved in philanthropy and advocacy through student organizations and community initiatives. These experiences strengthened her leadership skills and reinforced her passion for amplifying girls’ voices and supporting girl-led change. She is driven by a belief in the power of education and advocacy to create lasting, equitable impact for girls and young women, and is excited to collaborate with the Girl Rising team in service of this mission.

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Book Recommendation: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

She-ro: Marie Curie

Tammy is a philanthropic leader whose entire career has uplifted girls. She co-founded She’s the First, serving as CEO/Co-CEO for 16 years. She’s also the author of "Impact: A Step-by-Step Plan to Create the World You Want to Live In." Tammy’s passion for building girls’ power traces back to being voted “Most Shy” in her high school yearbook. She became a first-generation graduate, and later a Trustee, of The College of New Jersey. Prior to her nonprofit career, she was the first-ever social media editor of Seventeen magazine and led innovative girl-centered projects for Hearst Digital Media. Tammy is a DVF (Diane von Furstenberg) People’s Voice Award winner, a three-time TEDx speaker, a former International Women’s Forum Leadership Fellow, and a member of the Women’ and, later, a Trustees Forum of New York.

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Book Recommendation: The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré

She-ro: Gloria Steinem

Tammy is a philanthropic leader whose entire career has uplifted girls. She co-founded She’s the First, serving as CEO/Co-CEO for 16 years. She’s also the author of "Impact: A Step-by-Step Plan to Create the World You Want to Live In." Tammy’s passion for building girls’ power traces back to being voted “Most Shy” in her high school yearbook. She became a first-generation graduate, and later a Trustee, of The College of New Jersey. Prior to her nonprofit career, she was the first-ever social media editor of Seventeen magazine and led innovative girl-centered projects for Hearst Digital Media. Tammy is a DVF (Diane von Furstenberg) People’s Voice Award winner, a three-time TEDx speaker, a former International Women’s Forum Leadership Fellow, and a member of the Women’ and, later, a Trustees Forum of New York.

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Book Recommendation: The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré

She-ro: Gloria Steinem