Women in Senior Leadership: Championing Inclusion

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In this piece, Alexa shares how she fosters inclusion within her team and why this is crucial in shaping organizational culture.

Inclusion is a core priority for One Acre Fund, and for Alexa Petersen, our Global Government Relations and Policy Director, it’s far more than a checkbox exercise. She is committed to championing initiatives that ensure her team not only has a seat at the table, but also that everyone’s voice is heard and valued. 

Alexa Petersen

Diversity is a powerful asset! How does One Acre Fund ensure that diverse voices, especially women's, are heard and woven into decision-making at every level?

Many organizations understand that they need to bring diverse voices to the table. But many of them miss the second step – in order to have true inclusion, you have to pass the mic. 

Within our team, passing the mic is at the heart of how we operate. Each year, we set our department goals collaboratively, bringing together all 90+ team members. The process begins in small groups, where themes emerge, and then we align on objectives as a larger team—a tradition we’ve upheld since 2021.

Once our goals are defined, we collaboratively decide on budgets. Together, we identify the financial resources needed to achieve our shared vision. Guiding this process is our Steering Committee, a leadership body that combines elected representatives from each country program with appointees from the global division. 

We also stay accountable by measuring inclusion through One Acre Fund’s Culture and Inclusion Survey, an annual questionnaire that assesses our progress toward our DEI priorities. This anonymous feedback tool allows every team member to share their thoughts, helping us identify areas for improvement and take meaningful action. 

Have you had any challenging moments in your career, and how did you turn them into a stepping stone rather than a stumbling block?

Before joining One Acre Fund, I worked in a toxic environment early in my career. I stayed as long as possible, thinking it was a test of resilience. But eventually, the strain on my mental health was too much, and I decided to leave. That experience taught me that walking away from unhealthy environments is okay. We all deserve to work in places that are respectful and supportive.

This realization gave me a sense of freedom and empowerment. I think many of us feel pressure to endure difficult situations as a measure of our professionalism. But there’s no shame in seeking a healthier work environment; it’s essential for our well-being and growth.

Alexa with colleagues share a moment with representatives of the Burundi government during their visit to Kenya.
Alexa with colleagues share a moment with representatives of the Burundi government during their visit to Kenya.

If you had to sum up your leadership philosophy in one catchy sentence, what would it be? 

I always encourage my team to "put yourself in the other person’s shoes." We need to understand the other person’s priorities, concerns, and values to foster positive and collaborative conversations. No matter the type of work, it’s essential to see things from the other person’s point of view. When you understand where they’re coming from, solutions come more easily. After hearing me say this phrase hundreds of times, I often hear team members say, “wear the shoes!” – which makes me very proud. 

What do you believe needs to change within the development sector for more women to thrive at all levels of leadership? 

The development sector needs to do a better job of identifying and elevating more inclusive leaders who set the tone for the rest of their team. 

One thing that I think is unique about One Acre Fund is that we assess leaders based on their inclusion behaviors, and it determines whether we will move up within the organization. This means we are expected to create a safe and inclusive environment, include our team members in our decisions, seek out their feedback throughout the process, and meaningfully respond to their constructive criticism. Our performance reviews directly reflect our skills in these areas (plus other areas like operational results). 

Over time, staff who prioritize equity and inclusion have a good chance of rising through the leadership ranks. As they grow, they mentor and nurture others who share these values, creating a ripple effect. This inspires more team members to embrace these principles, fostering a culture of celebrating fairness and inclusion. Gradually, we cultivate a team deeply committed to equity and championing diversity across all identities.

From the 5th to 7th October 2022, the GRP team members from all the operations countries met up in Rubenger, Rwanda to celebrate the achievements and discuss the improvements to make to better serve the organization and farmers.
Alexa shares a moment with colleagues during a field visit

In such a high-responsibility role, what’s something quirky or unique about your daily routine that keeps you grounded and focused? Perhaps a morning ritual or a favorite coffee blend?

As a lifelong perfectionist, I’ve been working to unlearn some of those tendencies. One of the best ways I’ve found is by diving into hobbies that I’m, quite honestly, not great at. It’s a refreshing reminder that the point isn’t to be perfect—it’s to have fun.

Take cycling, for example. I’m wobbly at best and slow on the uphills, but it’s exhilarating nonetheless. Bowling? Let’s just say there have been games where I struggled to get into the double digits. For painting,  I stick to sunsets because it’s just a bunch of mixed colors. Then there’s hiking—my favorite part about it is that it’s just walking, so you can go as slow as you want.

What pearls of wisdom would you share with women eager to climb the career ladder and perhaps step into senior leadership roles?

As women, we’re often taught to be polite and wait our turn, thinking professionalism means being quiet. My mentor helped me unlearn this, showing me that being clear, confident, and concise is valuable. Her guidance helped me see that I was holding back insights and ideas that could drive our team’s success. As she helped me unlearn this belief, I was able to help other women unlearn it too. 

Kigali BHC Office

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