Without this woman… I wouldn’t know the power of empathy in a leader.
Hana, one of my co-fellows at IntraHealth International, has left an indelible mark on my GHC fellowship year. One of the first things you’ll notice about Hana is her passion for women’s rights, refugee communities, and social justice. She is a fierce advocate who isn’t afraid to have tough conversations and challenge the status quo. One thing I admire most about Hana is her ability to connect with people.
Hana’s passion for serving the needs of the most vulnerable and prioritizing community-driven solutions is contagious.
At IntraHealth, Hana works on the Monitoring and Evaluation team to assess how we are performing against our targets, and she engages different teams across the organization. No easy task, Hana is able to navigate competing priorities and demands from key stakeholders and collaborate with different teams because she has built trusting relationships. She invites ideas from other colleagues and is always willing to be a sounding board for brainstorming new ideas or ways of doing things. It is Hana’s empathy and ability to connect with individuals from different cultures, religions, and backgrounds that makes her such an effective leader.
Hana has helped me step out of my comfort zone over the last seven months and exercise more empathy in my day-to-day work. It has made me a better listener, communicator, and overall team player. Hana’s passion for serving the needs of the most vulnerable and prioritizing community-driven solutions is contagious, and she has played such a valuable role in my GHC fellowship and leadership journey by leading with integrity and empathy.
Meley Woldeghebriel is a 2018–2019 fellow at IntraHealth International in Uganda.
Global Health Corps (GHC) is a leadership development organization building the next generation of health equity leaders around the world. All GHC fellows, partners, and supporters are united in a common belief: health is a human right. There is a role for everyone in the movement for health equity. To learn more, visit our website and connect with us on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook.
