- Dr Patricia Adusei-Poku rejects claims that women leaders gatekeep others.
- She calls the narrative negative and urges young women to build confidence.
- Emphasizes mutual communication and value exchange in mentorship.
- Encourages women to initiate dialogue and express aspirations.
- Advocates for inclusive leadership and bottom-up engagement.
Dr Patricia Adusei-Poku, Chairperson of the Lawyers Hub – Kenya, has pushed back against the notion that successful women leaders tend to gatekeep and block others from rising. In a recent interview, she dismissed the idea as toxic and counterproductive, urging young women to embrace confidence, communication, and mutual support.
She described the gatekeeping narrative as a form of negativity that undermines progress. “I’m a positive thinker,” she said, “and I believe in myself. We need to shed these limiting thoughts.”
Dr Adusei-Poku emphasized that aspiring women must approach mentorship and leadership with value to offer, not just expectations. She encouraged young professionals to initiate dialogue, express their aspirations, and build genuine connections with those ahead of them.
“It’s not just about receiving energy,” she explained. “It’s a give-and-take dynamic. You must assess what you bring to the table and be ready to engage meaningfully.”
Her remarks come amid broader conversations about gender equity, leadership culture, and the need to foster inclusive spaces for women in law, governance, and beyond. She called for a shift from passive admiration to active engagement — a model where younger women confidently reach out, and established leaders remain open to lifting others.
