National Women’s Month Spotlight: Zy-za Nadine Suzara

In line with National Women’s Month, we aim to spotlight the partners we’ve worked with⏤to share their perspectives on women empowerment within their respective sectors and industries. Our goal is to amplify women’s voices, experiences, and narratives.

One of the inspiring women we work with at WeSolve Foundation is Zy-za Suzara, the Executive Director of the Institute for Leadership, Empowerment, and Democracy (iLEAD). iLead is a policy think tank that focuses on public finance and good governance and has been a partner of WeSolve Foundation in our Responsive Public Budget advocacy area, having worked together on the Young Budget Leaders Program and other projects.

We asked her what she thinks about women empowerment in her sector, and this is what she had to say…

Currently, what does women empowerment look like in your sector?

I work with many women in advocating for good governance and people-centered public budgets. They generously share their expertise in policy analysis, advocacy communications, budget and policy lobbying and lead the charge to protect democracy and public finance.

How do you see the work that you do making an impact for other women in your sector?

It is an honor to be part of this movement and in my role as public budget advocate, I hope to make an impact by supporting the different advocacies of the women I work with particularly in helping shape policy proposals to allocate public funds for programs that would benefit women.

In doing so, my ultimate goal is enable other women especially the most vulnerable and distressed to claim their fair share in the national budget.

Zy-za Suzara is the Executive Director of the Institute for Leadership, Empowerment, and Democracy (iLEAD), a policy think tank that focuses on public finance and good governance. She is also a former government worker, having previously worked in the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Budget and Management.