Hawinet has over seven years of experience across agriculture and health, she has led national-scale digital initiatives, from strengthening Digital Agricultural extension systems thorough channels like AI-powered advisory tools to digitizing pharmaceutical supply chains and reducing vaccine wastage at the last mile. Her work focuses on building inclusive, data-driven tools that improve how governments and frontline workers serve rural communities.
She brings a mindset rooted in ethical, gender-responsive, and locally grounded design. She collaborates across sectors to create digital products that are not only innovative, but also sustainable and centered on real human needs. She is driven by a clear purpose: to ensure technology amplifies voice, expands access, and supports the people who need it most.
The Leader in Me
If you had asked me a few years ago what leadership meant, I would have painted a picture of a person behind a large desk, giving instructions to a lot of people, with people calling them “sir” or “ma’am.” I would have imagined a person with authority, maybe a director or a manager, the “big boss” everyone stood up for when they entered the room. A title. A sign of authority. That was what I thought leadership looked like. Today, I recognize that leadership is multifaceted, involving presence, consistency, support for others, balance, and impact.
Throughout my career, I have had the privilege to work with people from all walks of life, an opportunity to lead teams, to make mistakes, to learn, and to grow. Somewhere along that journey, I realized that leadership isn’t about the position you hold, but the presence you bring. It’s not the title on your door, but the impact of your words and actions. It’s the quiet courage to influence, to uplift, and to leave something better than you found it.
True leadership, I’ve come to believe, is the power to change the world in small, consistent ways through empathy, integrity, intention, and an honest drive to ensure the betterment of your community. It is about recognizing that our very existence can serve a purpose beyond ourselves, that we can be the reason someone else dares to try, or feels seen, or keeps going.
So today, when I think of leadership, I no longer see a title or a seat at the head of the table. I see a journey, one of learning, listening, and lifting others. The lessons I’ve gathered along the way have shown me that leadership isn’t about holding power, but about using it with purpose. It’s about showing up with courage and compassion, even when the path is uncertain.
Leadership, to me, is not a destination I’ve reached, but a way of walking. A daily choice to grow, to empower, and to inspire others to do the same. And perhaps that’s what true leadership really is, not something we arrive at, but something we keep growing into.
As a leader, my greatest aspiration is to bring about meaningful change in the small spaces of my everyday life. To be a role model for younger girls and women who might think their dreams are too distant. Working in STEM, I carry the awareness that representation matters. I want my presence to open doors, to remind others that they belong, that their voices have weight, and that they, too, can shape the world around them.