SDG16+ Champions of Change
The lawyer inspiring action to end social and racial injustice
Champions of Change is an initiative started by the Pathfinders to highlight advocates who have made an impact in their communities and have helped to create peaceful, just and inclusive societies (SDG16+). It provides an opportunity to feature individuals, businesses, and organizations doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities. As part of the Movement to Halve Violence by 2030, hear from Champions who have made building peaceful societies their cause and mission in life, and learn what you can do to join them!
Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu is a New York Attorney and Solicitor of England and Wales with broad expertise in the financial services industry, writer, public speaker and political commentator featured in mainstream and online media.
A political and women’s rights activist, she has taught intersectional feminism to female refugees and asylum seekers; scrutinizes government policies from a gender and diversity inclusion perspective; and co-organizes women’s marches and social campaigns. She founded the Women in Leadership publication as a platform to drive positive change on topical issues that impact women globally through inspiring personal leadership journeys; and established She@LawTalks to promote women and BAME leadership in the legal profession through universities and secondary schools. An academic enthusiast, she has an Executive MBA (Cambridge); PhD (Birkbeck); LLM (London School of Economics & Political Science); MA (Westminster) and LLB Hons (Buckingham University).
What ignited your pursuit for safe and peaceful societies?
This was not about making a decision — it is what I am born to do and I simply followed my passion. I am inspired by those whose shoulders I stand on; they paved the way so that women like me can continue the legacy in building an equal society.
To achieve a peaceful, just, and inclusive world, what does success look like to you? And what are the key factors in achieving this vision?
Success would be when equal opportunities become equal outcomes for every protected characteristic and the eradication of racial injustice.
How does your work significantly reduce and prevent violence?
My goal is to end social and racial injustice. This is key to all the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
How has COVID-19 impacted your work? Are there any lessons learned from the pandemic that you hope to apply in future work?
COVID-19 has magnified longstanding structural inequalities particularly against Black people and ethnic minorities. It exacerbated the exposure of those from the Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) communities to coronavirus resulting in a higher percentage of deaths affecting BAME more.
The pandemic taught me to think outside the box with how I demonstrate my activism in light of social distancing rules and quarantine.
What advice do you have for those seeking to make a difference for a more peaceful world?
1) Set yourself measurable goals to achieve your objective; 2) There will always be opposition so take into account how the other side thinks and what you can/do or say to counter the opposition; 3) Believe it is possible.
