In this deeply inspiring episode, host Sid Bensalah talks with Kate Grant, CEO of the Fistula Foundation and author of the memoir No Woman Left Behind. Kate shares her remarkable journey from Capitol Hill and Madison Avenue to leading a globally respected nonprofit dedicated to restoring dignity to women suffering from obstetric fistula across Africa and Asia.
Her work hasn’t just transformed lives — it’s earned global trust. In 2023, the Fistula Foundation received a $15 million gift from MacKenzie Scott to continue its work in healing and empowering women across Africa and Asia. That kind of support doesn’t happen without real, measurable impact.
Through stories from the field, Kate demonstrates how smart compassion—empathy paired with strategy can drive systemic change in women’s health. She explains why empowering even one woman can uplift entire communities. She also discusses the leadership challenges she has faced, the importance of trust-based partnerships, and how her advertising background contributed to building one of the world’s most effective global health organizations.
Timestamps
00:00 – Smart Compassion, Women’s Health & Global Leadership
00:18 – The Ripple Effect of Healing One Woman
01:33 – Meet Kate Grant & Fistula Foundation
02:03 – Her Life-Changing Visit to Ethiopia
03:42 – From Corporate Branding to Humanitarian Action
08:59 – Real-World Challenges in Nonprofit Leadership
12:22 – Redefining Compassion: Effective Altruism & Results
22:17 – Trust-Based Partnerships Across Africa
32:49 – Scaling with Integrity, Staying Mission-Driven
35:38 – What Fistula Surgery Involves
41:34 – Health as the Foundation of Women’s Empowerment
44:38 – Kate’s Principles on Leadership & Resilience
48:05 – What’s Next for Fistula Foundation
57:20 – Lightning Round: The Human Side of Kate Grant
Order Kate’s memoir 👉 No Woman Left Behind, is now available on → Amazon.
All proceeds support life-changing surgeries through the Love a Sister program.
Your support helps restore health, hope, and dignity to women around the world.
🎧 Listen now and walk away with insights, not just opinions.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it!
🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, Deezer, TuneIn, Podchaser, & more