Karen L Sherman is the Co-founder and CEO of Virunga Mountain Spirits, a premium craft distillery based in Rwanda, where she has worked for close to two decades. The business will employ and upskill Rwandans at every level of operations, with an emphasis on creating opportunities for women.

Throughout her 30-plus year career, Karen Sherman served in executive and leadership roles working to advance women around the world, in partnership with women on the frontlines, in offices and boardrooms. She has sat with leaders of all levels – heads of state, ambassadors, business and civic leaders – and speaks and writes passionately about the challenges and opportunities for women globally.

Previously she served as President of Akilah, leading on strategy, growth, governance and partnerships. Prior to Akilah, Sherman was a senior executive at Women for Women International, an organization that helps women survivors of war to rebuild their lives and Counterpart International, a global development agency working to build inclusive, sustainable communities. 

Sherman is a successful author and began writing Brick by Brick -- Building Hope and Opportunity for Women Survivors Everywhere (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020) during the year she lived in Rwanda with her three sons to oversee the construction of a first-of-its-kind women’s opportunity center. She is also a sought-after speaker on global women’s issues and has been featured on BBC, CNBC Africa, Al Jazeera English, and Voice of America, and in numerous outlets including ABCNews.com, Council on Foreign Relations, Huffington Post, Africa.com and other public media. She served as Executive Producer of The Other Side of War: Women’s Stories of Survival and Hope, published by National Geographic.

Sherman holds a Master’s Degree in Russian and East European Studies from The George Washington University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Oregon.


BOOKS, PUBLICATIONS AND APPEARANCES

Discover more about Karen’s work.

”Brick by Brick introduces us to the people whose lives form the pieces of the world’s most complex development puzzles. Karen Sherman draws upon her encounters with entrepreneurs and activists around the world and shows us the power of women to change their communities and their country. In sharing the stories of these indomitable women, Sherman illuminates their resilience under the most dire circumstances and shares the powerful political and personal lessons that resilience shares.”
— Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, author of The Daughters of Kobani and Ashley’s War

”Karen Sherman tells her poignant story of being a mother, a successful leader, and an advocate for women worldwide in Brick by Brick. Her empathy for women who have been victims of violence, abuse, and disempowerment is inspirational, and her story truly has the unique power to connect the stories of women everywhere.”
— Joyce Banda, former president of Malawi

”A deeply honest and moving read. Sherman weaves her own search for balance and acceptance with the courageous stories of the women survivors she works with in war-torn countries like Rwanda, South Sudan, and Afghanistan. Finding universal threads of womanhood in their shared experiences, she draws inspiration from their awe-inspiring strength and resilience.”
— Zainab Salbi, founder of Women for Women International, author of Freedom is an Inside Job

”As a survivor and advocate for those suffering in neglected parts of the world, I was touched on many levels by Karen's journey. Her grit and courage are a gift to the countless women and girls she's dedicated her life to lifting up. Her fierce personal honesty will inspire all who read this wonderful book.”
— Ashley Judd, actor, author, and humanitarian


MEDIUM FEED

Read Karen’s latest opinion pieces and articles from Medium.com.

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