Leader in Residence Brings Inspiration

2/19/2025

Dr. Alaa Murabit at Chatham Hall Speaks of Global Change

Chatham Hall was honored to welcome Dr. Alaa Murabit as the 2024-2025 Polly Wheeler Guth ‘44 Leader in Residence, bringing her expertise, insights, and inspiring personal journey to our community. As a co-architect of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a passionate advocate for global health, peacebuilding, and women's leadership, Dr. Murabit engaged with students, faculty, and staff in a transformative visit that left a lasting impact.

Engaging with the Chatham Hall Community

Dr. Murabit immersed herself in campus life, spending 24 hours with our community. She engaged with students in small group conversations, class visits, informal discussions over meals, and an enlivening discussion led by our students as her keynote address. She met with the Global Entrepreneurship class, participated in a U.S. History and Civil Rights seminar, and sat down with The Columns’ editor, Eleanor B. ’25, for an exclusive interview.

During these sessions, she emphasized the importance of challenging assumptions, leaning into discomfort, and redefining success on one’s own terms. She encouraged students to ask themselves what they truly want and how they want to show up in the world, reminding them that investing in people and relationships is key to creating lasting change.

An Inspiring Student-Led and Thought-Provoking Discussion

On Tuesday, February 10, 2025, Dr. Murabit delivered a powerful moderated discussion in Van Voorhis Lecture Hall, setting the stage for an evening of deep discussion and reflection. Students Kathi S. ’27, Acadia C. ’26, and Aniah G.C. ’26 asked insightful questions about leadership, policy, and personal growth. Dr. Murabit emphasized that true leadership isn’t about power—it’s about influence, trust, and building a better future for all. She shared her journey from growing up in Libya to becoming one of the world’s leading voices in sustainable development and policy. With humor and candor, she spoke about the evolving nature of leadership, the importance of fierce confidence, and the trade-offs one must navigate when striving to create meaningful change.

She left the audience with several key takeaways:

Be fiercely confident—especially when you’re not.
Surround yourself with strong, supportive women.
Take criticism only from those whose advice you would genuinely trust.
The strongest negotiators understand what others cannot afford to lose.
Invest in relationships—people matter.

Leadership, Influence, and the Future

A key theme of Dr. Murabit’s visit was how leadership evolves over time. Drawing on her own experiences, she shared that having children made her more compassionate in her work, reinforcing that leadership is not about titles or positions but how you choose to influence the world around you.

She also spoke candidly about the role of women in leadership, highlighting research that shows less corruption when more women are in government—but also the reality that once women reach a critical threshold of representation, systemic challenges shift.

A Legacy of Impact

Dr. Murabit’s visit to Chatham Hall was more than just a few lectures—it was an experience that challenged students and faculty to think critically about their roles in shaping the world. Her insights on global health, sustainable development, and social change will continue to resonate with our community.

As our students step forward as the next generation of leaders, changemakers, and innovators, they do so with new inspiration, fresh perspectives, and the confidence to make their own impact—thanks to the wisdom of Dr. Alaa Murabit.

We are incredibly grateful for her time, insights, and the energy she brought to our community. Thank you, Dr. Murabit, for inspiring us to lead with purpose and passion!

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