Julie Gichuru, LLB., MBA
For her pioneering journalism, nonviolence advocacy and African leadership development
Julie Gichuru earned a law degree and MBA from the University of Wales in Cardiff. She returned to her native Kenya and established herself as a household name through her work as a groundbreaking journalist. Gichuru conceptualized and hosted the program Fist to Five for Change, which facilitated the peace and healing process following her country’s electoral crisis in 2007-08. Her initiative was recognized with a Martin Luther King Salute to Greatness award.
In 2011, she set up her own production house, Animus Media, which promotes positive change through quality African content. This includes the syndicated Africa Leadership Dialogues and the Great Debaters Contest, a high school debate platform that aims to teach students differing opinions need not lead to conflict and violence.
Gichuru is now chief public affairs and communications officer at the Mastercard Foundation, where she oversees corporate, policy and thought-leadership communications across Africa and Canada, focusing on youth job creation and vaccine rollouts and manufacturing.