Dr. Rasha Kelej launches global mentorship platform to inspire future leaders
The Mt Kenya Times 
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation
By Elizabeth Angira
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation, has launched her first virtual mentorship and leadership platform dubbed “Beyond Power: Leadership, Global Influence and Impact.”
The platform, hosted on Substack, aims to inspire, guide, and support future leaders, especially women and young people. It is open and accessible to everyone, regardless of their background, providing valuable mentorship, leadership lessons, and practical guidance for personal and professional growth.
Through the platform, Dr. Kelej will share knowledge and experiences gained over her 32-year career to help aspiring leaders unlock their potential, achieve their goals, and become agents of positive change in their communities and countries.
To reach a wider audience, the articles will also be shared through her website and social media platforms. Links will be available on Merck Foundation’s website and social media channels, which collectively reach more than nine million followers worldwide.
Speaking during the launch, Dr. Kelej said the platform is more than just a space for sharing ideas on leadership and influence.
“I see this platform as a mentorship journey. Throughout my career, I have been privileged to work with remarkable leaders across Africa and beyond. I believe knowledge and experience become more valuable when shared. Through these articles, I hope to inspire women and young people to believe in themselves, develop their skills, and lead with integrity, compassion, and courage,” she said.
She added that the initiative is her contribution towards sustainable development and capacity building by investing in people and helping nurture a new generation of leaders who will shape a better future.
Dr. Kelej has earned global recognition for her leadership and social impact. Since 2019, she has consistently been named among the 100 Most Influential African Women. She was also recently recognized among the Most Influential Africans 2025 and the 100 Most Impactful Voices 2026.
She previously served as a member of the Egyptian Senate between 2020 and 2025 and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters (D.Litt) by Krishna World University in recognition of her efforts in women’s empowerment, girls’ education, and improving healthcare in Africa and other developing regions.
Over the past 14 years, Dr. Kelej has worked closely with more than 33 African and Asian First Ladies who serve as ambassadors of the Merck Foundation’s “More Than a Mother” campaign. She has also partnered with ministries of health, education, information and gender, academic institutions, policymakers, fertility societies, media professionals and artists in more than 52 countries.
Among her major achievements is the Merck Foundation Scholarship Program, which has provided more than 2,600 scholarships to healthcare professionals from 52 countries. The scholarships support training in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties, helping strengthen healthcare systems across Africa and beyond.
In 2015, she launched the “More Than a Mother” movement, one of the foundation’s most impactful initiatives. The campaign seeks to empower infertile and childless women through education, healthcare access, information sharing, and changing societal attitudes. It also promotes infertility prevention, addresses male infertility stigma, and supports reproductive and fertility care services.
Dr. Kelej is also a strong champion of girls’ education. Through the Merck Foundation Educating Linda Program, annual scholarships are awarded to bright but disadvantaged schoolgirls. So far, more than 1,500 scholarships have been provided to girls from 21 African countries, covering school fees, books, uniforms, and other essential learning needs.
She believes that educating girls remains one of the most effective ways of transforming families, communities, and nations.
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