I build organizations that
unlock human potential.
I’ve spent the past two decades working across research, philanthropy, and social entrepreneurship—always asking the same question: What would this look like if it truly worked for everyone?
As a founder, executive, and board member, I bring strategic clarity, creative leadership, and cross-sector fluency to every table I sit at. Because building a better future takes more than good intentions. It takes leadership with insight and follow-through.
Global in experience.
Pan-African in vision.
Rooted in purpose.
A bridge between two worlds
I speak five languages and just as many professional dialects. I move between academia and activism, fieldwork and funding, science and storytelling.
That cross-sector fluency is my superpower. It helps me connect ideas, people, and institutions across silos—so we can stop solving problems in isolation and start designing solutions that scale.
"Leadership is not accidental.
It must be nurtured with
intention and purpose."
- Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg
Founding with Purpose
Wanjiru doesn’t just imagine better systems—she builds them. Over the course of her career, she has founded two transformative organizations that continue to grow, lead, and shift power globally.
Akili Dada
is an award-winning leadership incubator investing in high-achieving young African women from under-resourced backgrounds. Grounded in sisterhood, service, and social justice, it equips the next generation with the tools to lead lasting change in their communities.
Black Women in Executive Leadership (B-WEL)
is a global initiative advancing the leadership, representation, and collective power of Black Afro-diasporic women across industries and sectors. Through community, connection, and collaboration, B-WEL helps Black women thrive in leadership and transform systems.
In Reel Life
A glimpse into the moments, places, and reflections that shape my work:
