The Power Panel Podcast with Amb. Raychelle Omamo
With substantive experience in high-level leadership roles as a former Cabinet Minister of Defence and Foreign Affairs, diplomat and Senior counsel in Kenya, Ambassador Raychelle Omamo provides a platform for exceptional African women leaders to tell, share and store their riveting leadership stories and to reveal their encounters with power. The Power Panel Podcast is a product of Bird Song Africa Productions.
Episodes
In this first anniversary special, the tables turn! For the very first time, Ambassador Raychelle Omamo takes the guest seat to reflect on her journey behind the mic.
In this deeply personal and insightful conversation with Joy Chelagat, Ambassador Omamo shares how the Power Panel began, what inspired her to create a space for African women leaders, and what she has learned after a year of powerful storytelling and dialogue.
This a...
One year of bold conversations, shared wisdom, and powerful voices. 💬 Join us as we celebrate the Power Panel Podcast’s 1st Anniversary, premiering November 4th!
In this episode, Ambassador Raychelle Omamo sits down with Thayù Kilili, multidisciplinary artist, writer, and founder of Creatives Garage, for an inspiring conversation on creative leadership, equality, and the courage to disrupt through art.
Thayù shares how she channels her quiet demeanor into powerful creative expression, why she believes “art must disturb,” and how her mantra “looking at everyone as equals” shapes her approac...
In this inspiring episode of The Power Panel Podcast, Ambassador Raychelle Omamo sits down with Pauline Irungu, a leading public health policy advocate and current Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Accord for a Healthier World & Sub-Saharan Africa, Pfizer.
Pauline’s journey from rural Kenya to global leadership in health policy is a masterclass in tenacity, collaboration, and quiet influence. She shares how lessons from ...
In this special reflections episode, we bring together the most powerful mantras shared by our incredible guests — words of wisdom, resilience, and leadership that will stay with you long after the conversation ends. Whether you’re seeking motivation, leadership insights, or a reminder of your own inner strength, these mantras are here to guide you.
In this episode of The Power Panel Podcast, Hon. Jane Njeri Maina, one of Kenya’s youngest parliamentarians, opens up about her journey from law school to the floor of the National Assembly. She shares candid reflections on breaking through patriarchal barriers, resisting political machinations, and holding onto integrity.
Hon. Maina speaks about cyberbullying, gatekeeping in politics, and why young leaders must stand firm against ...
In this riveting Power Panel episode, Carole Kimutai, a pioneering digital strategist and former Managing Editor of Tuko Media, takes us on a bold journey through innovation, risk-taking, and resilience.
She speaks candidly with Ambassador Raychelle Omamo about building Kenya’s first viral mobile news platform, working under intense pressure, and the evolution of journalism in the digital age.
Carole unpacks the power of storytelli...
In this haunting and unforgettable Power Panel Bookshelf special, Ambassador Raychelle Omamo sits down with author and cultural curator Wanjiru Koinange to unpack her groundbreaking novel The Havoc of Choice, a fictional story rooted in the very real trauma of Kenya’s 2007 post-election violence.
Through deeply personal reflections and powerful readings, this episode explores how memory, grief, and silence shape the Kenyan nationa...
What do we lose when we lose a library? In this moving episode of the Power Panel Podcast, Ambassador Raychelle Omamo sits down with author and cultural restoration advocate Wanjiru Koinange.
From co-founding Book Bunk Trust to breathing new life into Nairobi’s public libraries, Wanjiru shares how storytelling and space can become tools of healing, remembrance, and resistance. She speaks about the emotional burden of inherited sile...
In this intimate reflection, Ambassador Raychelle Omamo responds to a powerful letter from a young listener grappling with fear and self-doubt. She explores how fear shapes the journey of women in leadership—how it whispers, delays, protects, and sometimes propels.
Drawing from her own path and the stories of remarkable African women featured on the Power Panel, Ambassador Omamo reflects on how fear can be transformed into courage,...
In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Tatu Gatere, co-founder of Buildher, returns to dive deeper into what it truly means to build with purpose. From challenging "hustler culture" to redefining what expertise looks like in construction, Tatu shares her insights on innovation, leadership, and the cost of driving change. She unpacks the journey of creating Buildher as a community-driven solution, the surprises she's encountered w...
Tatu Gatere is more than an architect —she is a social entrepreneur and a pioneer in a movement seeking to fundamentally alter the status of women in the construction industry, from the bottom to the top. In this episode, she shares how she's challenging gender norms and unlocking people’s power to drive a new kind of architecture that fortifies communities and advances social justice. If you've ever felt that women can lead change...
At just 29, Nadia Abdalla made history as Kenya’s youngest-ever Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in the Ministry of ICT, Innovation, and Youth Affairs. In this powerful conversation, Nadia opens up about her journey from community conservatism to national leadership, the grief of losing her mother during her tenure, and how she reinvented herself after government.
We’re proud to announce that the Power Panel Podcast has been nominated for the Moment of Visionary Leadership at the 2025 International Women’s Podcasting Awards! This recognition celebrates a moment on our show where clarity, courage, and leadership came together to inspire change. Thank you to our host, Ambassador Raychelle Omamo, our incredible guests, and our growing community of listeners across Africa and the world. Follow t...
When the weight of leadership gets heavy, Faith Odhiambo turns to two powerful sources of inspiration: 🎧 "Mwema" by Mercy Masika – a soulful reminder of grace and goodness in the face of challenge. 📖 “Dreams Count” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – a testament to the power of storytelling and dreaming beyond limits. These sounds and stories keep her grounded as she leads from the front. ✨ Discover more in Episode 4 of the Power Panel...
What does it take to stand firm, speak boldly, and lead purposefully? In Episode 4 of the Power Panel Podcast, we sit down with Faith Odhiambo, President of the Law Society of Kenya, as she shares her remarkable journey through leadership, law, and advocacy.
From challenging systemic barriers to amplifying the voices of the unheard, Faith reflects on the power of principled leadership and why leading from the front isn't just a cho...
Welcome to the first edition of Reflections on The Power Panel Podcast—a dynamic and insightful recap series where we draw transformative leadership lessons from our guests' powerful stories.
In this episode, Ambassador Raychelle Omamo reflects on the wisdom shared by our first three inspiring guests:
🎙️ Lorna Omondi Ogolla – Partnerships Lead - Google Research(ML/AI) Africa
🎙️ Ottilia Anna Maunganidze – Head of Special Project...
What fuels Rachael Akidi Okwir’s leadership journey? A powerful blend of rhythm and resilience. From the bold beats of Azawi, which keep her grounded and energized, to the transformative wisdom of Unbowed by Wangari Maathai, Rachel draws strength from stories and sounds that reflect her purpose. Music to move. Words to lead.
What does it mean to lead with truth, integrity, and unwavering purpose? In this episode of the Power Panel Podcast, we speak with Rachael Akidi Okwir, founder and CEO of Reebo Consult, former Head of Journalism for Africa at BBC, media trainer, mentor, and media consultant.
From the newsroom to the boardroom, Rachel shares hard-won insights on credibility, courage, and the responsibility of African women leaders in shaping narrati...
What’s on a perceptive African leader's mind — and in the ears?
In this special feature, Ottilia Anna Maunganidze shares two powerful sources of inspiration: Our Sister Killjoy by Ama Ata Aidoo and the bold, genre-bending sounds of Aya Nakamura.
From literature that challenges colonial legacies to music that celebrates modern African identity, discover what fuels Ottilia’s passion, intellect, and leadership.
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