S. Mona Sinha appointed next Global Executive Director of Equality Now

After an extensive search, we are delighted to announce that Sharmila “Mona” Sinha, an award-winning global gender equality advocate will become our new Global Executive Director. Mona will join us on October 17, 2022, taking up full duties in January 2023. She will succeed Yasmeen Hassan, who has served as its Global Executive Director since 2011. 

Mona will bring over 25 years of experience in strengthening mission-driven organizations to Equality Now. Aligning her passion for gender equality with her experience in the corporate sector, she has enabled over 90 organizations to unlock the potential of women, girls, and gender non-conforming people through legal equality and economic empowerment.

Mona serves as Board Chair of Women Moving Millions. She is also Chair of the Equal Rights Amendment Coalition’s Fund for Women’s Equality, which she will transition off by 2023. Her work has raised and catalyzed over $1 billion USD to fund progressive projects, initiatives, and grassroots movements.

The appointment coincides with a new phase in Equality Now’s history. Mona’s first focus will be to lead the organization’s new $50 million strategy, Future Proofing Gender Equality. The strategy confronts inequality in every area, from age-old constructs found in harmful traditional and religious practices to evolving digital environments. It received a $15 million contribution funding from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott earlier this year. Mona said of her new role:

“The vision of Equality Now to ensure that all women and girls the world over enjoy equal rights under the law is a vision I know we must achieve. In a world that is shifting away from this vision, our work is even more critical to ensure that women and their communities can thrive. I am deeply humbled to lead an extraordinary team to make legal and lived equality a reality.”

Equality Now’s Board of Directors issued the following joint statement of her appointment: 

“We saw in Mona an outstanding leader, a passion and deep-rooted commitment to the cause of Equality Now, and a highly developed set of skills to take women’s and girls’ equality to new heights. It seemed to us that with everything Mona has achieved over her life and her sense of purpose, she was destined for this role. 

With Mona at the helm and an incredible team in place, Equality Now will continue to lead the way in its fight for equality for women and girls across the world. The board and the whole team at Equality Now are delighted to name her as our next Global Executive Director.”

Outgoing Global Executive Director, Yasmeen Hassan leaves behind an organization that has grown exponentially with her leadership, with quadrupled income, staff and programming. She will remain in post until the end of 2022 to ensure a smooth transition and will continue to serve as Senior Advisor to Equality Now following her formal departure. The Equality Now Board said of Yasmeen’s tenure:

We cannot be more grateful for and proud of the legacy Yasmeen leaves behind. Equality Now is in the strongest place it has ever been, with a global reputation, a wide array of projects, partners, and donors, as well as a highly competent team and board. An unparalleled leader, Yasmeen’s prolific work ethic has left an indelible mark on the organization and the lives of women and girls. We look forward to seeing where Yasmeen will spread her wings next.”