Book IWD Speaker: Memuna Forna

Memuna Forna is a writer, cultural strategist, entrepreneur and speaker whose work explores leadership, resilience, ambition and the realities of balancing professional success with profound caring responsibilities.

For 23 years, Memuna cared for her daughter, who lived with severe disabilities caused by drug-resistant epilepsy. Over time, her daughter lost her speech and mobility, required round-the-clock care, and depended on others for every aspect of daily life. Despite these responsibilities, Memuna built a successful professional career, founded Sierra Leone’s first business and investment publication, established and led Invest Sierra Leone, the country’s first annual investment conference, and created Dare to Aspire, an annual initiative encouraging young women in Sierra Leone to pursue entrepreneurship and leadership.

In her signature talk, What My Daughter Taught Me About Leadership, Disability and Resilience, Memuna challenges conventional ideas about success and leadership. Drawing on more than two decades of caregiving, she explores the lessons disability taught her about adaptability, perseverance, empathy, courage and purpose, and how those lessons shaped her professional life and achievements.

Following the loss of her daughter in 2025, Memuna also reflects on grief, identity and rebuilding after profound loss. Her talks are honest, inspiring and practical, offering audiences a powerful perspective on resilience, ambition and what it means to keep moving forward when life does not follow the path you expected.

Today, alongside her work as a cultural strategist and writer, Memuna is developing Art Salone, a new platform showcasing Sierra Leone’s creative economy and connecting artists, investors and international audiences. Her story demonstrates that leadership is not simply about professional achievement. It is also about endurance, compassion, responsibility and the courage to continue aspiring, even in the face of extraordinary challenges.

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