Lead with impact and advance gender equity

Women make up the majority of frontline health professionals globally but remain severely underrepresented in leadership and decision-making roles. Driving Change Through Gender Inclusive Leadership empowers health professionals to foster more equitable, inclusive healthcare environments and strengthen global health ecosystems.

This course combines leadership theory with practical, real-world examples from FIGO’s LDI:REACH programme, guiding participants to reflect on their skills, enhance their leadership approach, and address gender-based barriers in healthcare. Through a dynamic mix of videos, case studies, reflective exercises and quizzes, learners will gain actionable strategies to drive inclusive change across interpersonal relationships, workplaces, professional societies and health systems.

This resource will take approximately 6 hours to complete and is currently available in English. It was funded by the Gates Foundation and released for the FIGO community in May 2026.

This course is best suited for:

  • OBGYNs, including members of FIGO societies, such as early-career clinicians, current or aspiring society leaders and gender champions
  • Health professionals working across the broader reproductive and maternal health sectors
  • Health system managers and educators interested in inclusive leadership


Learning objectives:

  • Understand the relationship between gender equity and leadership in the health sector
  • Reflect on and identify your own leadership style, values and goals through a gender lens
  • Recognise and address gender-based barriers (e.g., discrimination, bias and power dynamics) within healthcare institutions
  • Develop practical leadership skills to promote equity and inclusion, including effective communication, advocacy, networking and strategic planning

Course overview

    1. Welcome

    2. Introductory quiz

    3. Chapter introduction

    4. Course worksheet

    5. What is leadership?

    6. What is gender?

    7. Introducing our course case study

    8. Why was gender central to LDI:REACH?

    9. Leadership self-assessment

    10. Additional resources

    1. Chapter introduction

    2. What is intersectionality?

    3. What is power?

    4. LDI:REACH case study: Gender & task sharing

    5. Reflecting on intersectionality

    1. Chapter introduction

    2. What is bias?

    3. Exploring your own bias

    4. Case study: Gender bias during the Ebola crisis

    5. Test your understanding of biases

    1. Chapter introduction

    2. Exploring inclusive leadership within leadership frameworks

    3. Test your understanding of leadership frameworks

    4. Case study: Gender inclusive leadership and Covid-19

    5. Exploring your leadership style

    1. Chapter introduction

    2. Skill 1: The power of communication

    3. Words matter: Language reflects society

    4. Inclusive language guide

    5. Exercise: How to effectively communicate about yourself

    6. Skill 2: Using your voice for positive change – Exploring advocacy

    7. Reflecting on advocacy and gender inclusive leadership

    8. Skill 3: Networks and networking

    9. The LDI:Voices Network

    10. Get involved in a network

    1. Chapter introduction

    2. Leadership SWOT

    3. Personal action plan tool

    4. Creating sustainable change

About this course

  • Free
  • 42 lessons