By Eddah Waithaka
The fourth edition of the What Women Want Summit wrapped up Sunday, March 29, after three days of sharp dialogue, bold networking, and raw inspiration—cementing its reputation as one of East Africa’s premier platforms for women’s leadership and empowerment.
Organized by PinkE Media in partnership with Johnnie Walker’s #SheWalks platform, this year’s summit brought together regional trailblazers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and creatives under the theme “Bold, Visionary, Capable, and Unstoppable.” Panels tackled hard questions: how to navigate male-dominated leadership spaces, scale businesses in a digital-first economy, and build genuinely inclusive growth.
“Not every message that sounds good is good for you,” Pinky Ghelani, Founder of What Women Want, warned attendees on day one. “Not every movement that gains momentum is aligned with the truth. That is why spaces like this matter—so we question and challenge ideas rather than just consume them.”
Chief Justice Martha Koome officially opened the summit with a gala dinner, setting a powerful tone for the two days of conversations that followed.
Kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani delivered the closing remarks, pressing the audience to push harder for Kenya’s two-thirds gender rule. “Adhere to the Constitution,” she urged. “That rule exists to drive real empowerment.”
Johnnie Walker’s #SheWalks platform played a central role in supporting the summit’s mission. Maureen Osoro, Marketing Manager for Spirits at East African Breweries Limited (EABL), opened the brand’s remarks with a firm promise: “At EABL, we intentionally create spaces that bring women together to share, learn, and grow. The conversations here are not just inspiring—they are catalytic.”
On the final day, Yvonne Mwangi, Commerce Director at EABL, doubled down: “At Johnnie Walker, through #SheWalks, we believe progress is collective. Leaders must open doors, shift perspectives, and enable pathways for more women to step forward.”
Ghelani closed with a pledge for the future: “Each year, we deepen the conversations and expand the impact. We will keep collecting and acting on your feedback as we prepare for an even bigger fifth edition.”
This year’s summit expanded both the number of speakers and the quality of engagement, blending thought leadership with curated lifestyle experiences. Organizers say the platform now drives not just dialogue but tangible action toward gender equality across the region.
