Since graduating from African Leadership University in 2024, our ALU alumnus, Memo Some, has been working at the intersection of conservation, policy, and community leadership in Kenya. Through initiatives that empower local communities and shape conservation policy discussions, her work reflects ALU’s belief that leadership should create meaningful, lasting impact.
What is a specific achievement or contribution you are proud of since graduating?
“Since graduating from ALU in 2024, I have steered WildNow Foundation toward policy and community development. In Lariak Forest, Laikipia, we worked with 3,000 community members, providing training on wildlife conservation, sustainable land use, and local environmental stewardship.
A particularly meaningful moment was supporting a woman who led tree-planting initiatives and educated her neighbors on forest protection. Through our RUDI initiative, we produced a video highlighting her efforts, which helped her receive presidential recognition.
This experience highlighted how empowering local leaders and combining grassroots action with structured policy approaches can create tangible conservation impact, motivating my pursuit of a Master’s in Public Policy at Oxford to scale such initiatives effectively.”
Video: Watch here
Can you share an example of how you have made a difference to a person, a team, a community, or a cause?
“Beyond field-based work, I have remained deeply invested in strengthening the intellectual and policy foundations of wildlife conservation, particularly in the areas of environmental economics and governance.
While at Oxford, I have developed and discussed case studies examining complex conservation challenges, including the unique position of Nairobi National Park as a protected area embedded within a rapidly expanding urban environment. By dissecting its infrastructure constraints, land-use pressures, and governance trade-offs with fellow students, I have explored how efficiency, urban planning, and ecological sustainability can coexist through better institutional design.
Alongside this academic engagement, I have focused on amplifying conservation discourse through research and public writing. I regularly publish blogs on my website to analyze conservation policy, environmental economics, and governance challenges across Africa. My aim is to shift the narrative of conservation on the continent from an institution perceived as charity-dependent and externally funded to one understood as economically valuable, policy-driven, and essential to national development and long-term prosperity.”
Blog: Read here
The ALU Philosophy
At African Leadership University, we believe leadership is measured not just by personal success but by the impact our graduates create in their communities and across the continent. Our alumni are building ventures, shaping policy, advancing research, and tackling some of Africa’s most pressing challenges.
Stories like this reflect the mission that defines ALU: developing leaders who will drive Africa’s transformation and shape the continent’s future.
