Kalkidan works at Addis Ababa University as a Training and Support Coordination Officer Center for Human Rights and plans and executes training programs on Human Rights. Previously, she worked as a Legal Expert at Addis Ababa City Roads Authority where she prepared legal documents such as a statement of claim, defense, and memorandum of appeal.
Kalkidan also served as a lecturer at Jimma University and taught various law courses and conducted research on pressing human rights issues, notably internal displacement in Ethiopia. She has managed projects, published academic works, and volunteered in legal aid and awareness-raising initiatives to empower communities and promote justice by providing free legal aid and participating in legal literacy programs.
Kalkidan holds a Master of Law in Human Rights and Criminal Law and Bachelor of Laws from Jimma University.
The Leader in Me
I joined the Haset Women’s Leadership Program during a period of deep self-reflection. For some time, I had been receiving consistent feedback from family, old friends, and colleagues that my energy and progress were not what they used to be. I had always been known as bold, progressive, and assertive, yet I found myself slipping into self-doubt, questioning my worth, and becoming increasingly pessimistic. Comments like “you’re not the old Kal” echoed in my mind, and at the same time, the announcement for the program appeared. I applied, and I was fortunate enough to be accepted.
From the very first sessions, I felt as if the program was speaking directly to me—whether we were discussing boundaries, self-branding, or especially self-advocacy. Over the past 11 months, the journey has helped me rebuild myself with intention and clarity. I learned to analyze my action plans before taking steps, to celebrate small milestones, and to stop the habit of blaming myself for every mistake. Instead, I have begun practicing accountability with compassion, allowing myself to learn without diminishing my confidence.
Although I have not yet gained a promotion, salary increase, or visible external success during this period, the personal transformation I experienced is far more meaningful. The program helped me reconnect with my honesty, appreciate what I have, and rediscover the true version of myself. Most importantly, it gave me space to reflect—not to criticize myself, but to understand what I did well and where I can continue developing.
This journey has strengthened my confidence, clarified my direction, and reminded me that growth is not always measured by immediate achievements, but by the inner progress that shapes who we become.