In Conversation with…

Sarah Degnan Kambou
Nov 2 · 4 min read

Mitch Cahill, Policy Associate

By Sarah Degnan Kambou, President, International Center for Research on Women (ICRW)

Scouting, feminist standpoint theory and Harry Potter

There is so much going on in the world right now — we are all navigating turbulence in the non-profit space and seeking pathways forward. It’s not that we have forgotten our original motivation for pursuing mission-led work, but we may need to exhume it and refresh it and celebrate it. In other words, time to feed our soul. And for myself, I concluded that it’s time to slow down the world a bit and spend more time with people. My family and friends. Peers and colleagues. You!

Welcome to my new series, In conversation with…, where I will introduce you to the many talented people who inhabit — and brighten — my small corner of the world.

I recently sat down with Mitch Cahill who joined ICRW a couple of months ago to take on the role of Policy Associate, focusing on global policy. Most days, Mitch is one of the first people to arrive at the office, backpack slung across a shoulder and earphones perched high on his head.

Mitch has an openness about him that invites people in. I appreciate this human quality; it’s an especially valuable character trait that instills trust and lays the foundation for effective communication — perfect for a policy advocate! So, I set out to learn more about Mitch Cahill and what brought him to ICRW.

Sarah Kambou: Mitch, can you tell me more about yourself — particularly where you got your amazing energy and drive to create social change?

Mitch Cahill: Where do I start? Well, I was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico but grew up in Dayton, Ohio. A lot of my childhood was spent camping through Scouts, which developed my love of the outdoors. I spent summers hiking and camping. It was great!

Eventually I wound up at Ohio State University where I earned a double major in International Studies and Economics. Towards the end of undergrad, I went to work in Madagascar and fell in love with the possibility of a career in environmental development. That fizzled out when Brexit came along and cut off the job I was hoping to land after graduation.

Instead, I enrolled in a Master’s in International Development program at the University of Edinburgh, where I wrote my thesis on female ex-combatants. That was it! My career in feminist advocacy was launched. From there, I found my way to ICRW’s Policy and Advocacy Team, where I now work on Feminist Foreign Policy.

Sarah: I love it. So, your graduate coursework at Edinburgh really shaped your professional trajectory. I remember my time at Boston University. There’s so much going on during grad school — in the classroom, on campus, through fieldwork. I guess it all converges as a broader learning experience. Tell me, was there something that struck you at the time as particularly transformative?

Mitch: Yes. When writing a book review, I came across Feminist Standpoint Theory and became obsessed with it. This is all about recognizing how knowledge is socially situated and how knowledge can by marginalized by being attributed, or contained within, societally marginalized groups. It also expresses how authors and publishers of knowledge should attempt to expose the social situation surrounding marginalized knowledge to better understand the interactions between the powerful and the marginalized.

This theory changed how I viewed the world by exposing the complexities I had taken for granted and showed the continuing importance of feminist research in creating a better world.

Sarah: Mitch, we’ve really got to get you to write a blog on this. From the perspective of a practitioner or policy maker, it’s useful for people working in global development to have familiarity with a theory, like Feminist Standpoint Theory, that prompts reflection on closely held beliefs, unconscious bias, even on how we interpret data. For me, it further underscores the importance of voice and agency as central tenets of achieving and sustaining gender equality and social inclusion. I really appreciate your raising it.

Mitch, what drove your decision to come on board at ICRW?

Mitch: Three things. The report card on the [UN] Secretary General, which cut through the chatter on whether or not the Secretary General was a feminist and actually evaluated the claim. ICRW’s advocacy is always based on its own research. Feminist Foreign Policy. I want to see more governments adopt policies to create a better world.

Sarah: Well, I’m thrilled to hear that had such an impact on you. It’s important work to ICRW, and we’re delighted to have you on the team. One last question, Mitch. What’s your super power?

Mitch: My super power? [Pause] I edit podcasts.

Sarah: No kidding! Could you tell me more?

Mitch: Well, I currently edit a Harry Potter podcast called Yer a Wizard Harry, where three hosts go chapter by chapter through all the Harry Potter books. So, I get sent the raw audio files, clean the audio, then edit out all the ums, stutters and mistakes. I love being able to hear the podcast early and all the behind the scenes of making everything sound great!

Sarah: That is awesome. Let’s leverage that super power for Feminist Foreign Policy!

Mitch, thanks so much for telling me about your journey and where you’d like it to take you while you’re here at ICRW. This has been great!

Sarah Degnan Kambou

Written by

President & CEO @ICRW, development practitioner, social scientist, women's rights advocate. Be the change you want to see! Join me on LinkedIn and Facebook.

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