Our Tribute to Georgia Sorenson: A Giant of Leadership

We are devastated by the death of our dear friend, Prof. Georgia Sorenson. 

Georgia was a truly incredible champion for women’s leadership. As a scholar, a teacher, a leader, she demonstrated what can be achieved by someone who understands the power and practice of good leadership.  

She was a leader who strongly believed that leadership was not simply a title - it was a way of thinking, of behaving. Georgia was a woman who believed in women, and in the importance of good governance. 

From her work in the Carter administration, to her academic research, to her mentorship of current future leaders, Georgia’s work was characterized by unmatched generosity, selflessness, passion and intelligence. 

It was through Georgia that Karama held its first session for women leaders at the Møller Institute in Cambridge. There, Georgia shared her insights, experience and deep understanding of leadership with women leaders from across the Arab region and Africa.  

Just as she made it her mission to continue the work of her mentor, James MacGregor Burns, Georgia will have an enduring legacy in the many leaders she inspired, and especially in those she mentored personally.

We will remember Georgia’s kindness, her compassion, her wisdom, her determination. The loss of Georgia Sorenson is so great, and felt so keenly by so many right across the world, but we remember and celebrate the remarkable work she did, and the remarkable and positive impact she had on so many. 

Georgia Sorenson (right of photo) did so much work to support experienced and young leaders

Remembering Georgia Sorenson, Karama founder Hibaaq Osman said:, 

“Georgia Sorenson was a giant. A brilliant academic, leader and friend. She was prepared to take risks, to do work that others would be scared even to contemplate. 

“I remember in particular the work that Georgia carried out with women leaders in Eritrea, soon after it achieved its independence. Georgia and I worked with National Union of Eritrean Women,  many of whom had come directly from the trenches - something like 30 percent of those who fought for independence were women, with 30 percent then going into the National Assembly. They were desperate for leadership training, and wanted the best. That meant Georgia.  

“Some of the women carried their babies with one arm, while holding a Kalashnikov wih the other. Georgia was not phased at all. However crazy a situation, Georgia was never out of her depth, she could approach any situation, any problem. To her it was just another day helping women understand their power and the power of their leadership.

“For many years, Georgia was my mentor. She showed such compassion, she was such an inspiration. Her loss is absolutely devastating.”