Heather Ibrahim-Leathers, an Egyptian-American changemaker and 2021 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, stands at the intersection of finance, human rights, and social entrepreneurship. As the Founder and President of the Global Fund for Widows (GFW) the world’s largest nonprofit dedicated to economically empowering widows she has redefined grassroots development and financial inclusion, particularly for one of the world’s most overlooked demographics.
Established in 2009 in honor of her grandmother, a widow who faced economic hardship in Egypt, GFW has since raised over $5 million and economically empowered more than 105,000 widows and their children across nine countries, including Egypt, India, Nigeria, Kenya, Cameroon, Tanzania, Malawi, Bolivia, and the Dominican Republic. Through the launch of 239 widows’ microbanks, Ibrahim-Leathers introduced a scalable, community-driven financial model that enables widows to access training, seed funding, and microenterprise development paving the way for long-term financial independence and dignity.
Her career began on Wall Street, where she broke ceilings and built credibility. At JPMorgan (1995–2000), her acclaimed research on Brazilian banking earned her the Institutional Investor Award (1997). Later, as Vice President at Credit Suisse (2001–2006), she managed portfolios exceeding $1 billion in high-yield and leveraged loan assets. This powerful financial acumen has shaped her innovative approach to social entrepreneurship, turning widowhood a hidden poverty driver affecting over 300 million women worldwide into a global policy and investment priority.
Beyond finance, Heather Ibrahim-Leathers is a globally recognized advocate for widows’ rights. She has spoken at the UN Security Council, UN Human Rights Council, US Congress, the UK House of Lords, and the US Department of State. Her tireless advocacy led to the historic adoption of UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/76/252 (2021) the first resolution dedicated to widowhood, calling on nations to establish legal, economic, and social protections for widows.
She continues to shape American and British foreign policy on issues of widowhood and women’s economic rights. Her commitment to equity and justice has earned her global recognition, including:
- Crain’s New York Business Notable Nonprofit Board Leaders (2023)
- Business Council for Peace Women Forward – Financial Catalyst Award
- Acquisition International’s Excellence in Financial Innovation Award
Holding a degree in Economics from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, Heather also brings thought leadership to parenting and tech literacy as co-author of Toddlers on Technology (2013). She is a board member of ABANA, where she promotes investment and business ties between the U.S. and the Arab world.
Heather Ibrahim-Leathers exemplifies what it means to turn personal loss into global purpose. By empowering widows often marginalized, isolated, and forgotten, she is rewriting narratives of vulnerability into stories of resilience and leadership. Her place among the 100 Reputable Women of African Descent 2025 honors a legacy rooted in justice, dignity, and economic liberation for millions of women across the globe.
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