Gender Equality: Catalyzing Transformative Change and Empowering Hope-Filled Futures for Girls

Margo Day - CEO and Co-Founder

Mekuno Project www.mekunoproject.org Margo Day had worked for over 30 years in the technology industry, but when she hit her 50th birthday, she felt as though she needed to do more--she needed to make an impact. The question was how. It wasn't until she went on a trip to Kenya and met 34 young girls at a rescue center in West Pokot that she realized her calling. She has spent over a decade since working with organizations in Kenya to eliminate female genital mutilation and child marriage, leaving the technology industry for a higher calling. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. However, this goal will remain unreachable if forms of gender-based violence, such as female genital mutilation and child marriage persist, and girls in Kenya and around the world are prevented from creating hope-filled futures of their own design. I’ve seen catalytic transformative change that works to successfully address these issues through holistic and comprehensive solutions. Realized hope for a better future becomes an unstoppable force

About the Speaker

Margo Day is a life-long change-maker. She was first introduced to coding as a senior in high school and has paved the way for women in technology ever since. Margo had a fulfilling 34-year career in the tech industry, 17 of which were spent as a senior leader at Microsoft, including most recently as Vice President of U.S. Education, where she focused on building up partnerships and breaking down barriers. She has been a steadfast leader and mentor to women and girls throughout her life, and has devoted much of her energy towards achieving gender equality globally. Margo has spent the past decade fighting to eliminate child marriage and FGM, creating a cycle of advocacy and prosperity for women and girls in Kenya by supporting World Vision and Global Give Back Circle projects. As a member of the Board of Directors for Global Give Back Circle, and a member of the National Leadership Council for World Vision, Margo’s dedication to transformational change has been instrumental in funding these programs and advocating for their growth so that they can continue to enact positive change for women and girls throughout Kenya. Having seen what can be done when resources are applied strategically, Margo left her position at Microsoft to co-found the Mekuno Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating the root causes of child marriage and FGM within a generation and empowering girls to thrive in futures they design. In her spare time, Margo remains engaged in technology as a Board of Directors member for two artificial intelligence startup companies: Discourse Analytics and Vaital. She enjoys spending time in the great outdoors, backpacking, boating, cycling, scuba diving, skiing, and playing golf. She also loves adventure travel, the theater, and a great glass of Washington wine.