Kathleen Sherwin, Plan International

As Plan International’s first Chief of Strategy & Engagement (CSEO), Kathleen Sherwin leads the organization’s efforts to position Plan as a global leader in girls’ rights and girls in crisis, working with girls in all their diversity to increase their impact and influence in decision-making spaces, including at the highest levels of policy, advocacy, and influencing at the UN, EU, AU, and other multilateral spaces. Given the critical linkage between internal cohesion and external positioning, she also directs organizational alignment on the global strategy, communications and brand, partnership development and strengthening, and diversifying and growing income. Kathleen brings her 20+ years of experience supporting girls' and women's rights to this combined portfolio, with its intersection of program and evidence, along with policy and influencing, leadership, and impact that has been a focus of her work the past two decades.

Before taking on her current role at Plan, Kathleen served as interim President & Chief Executive Officer at Women Deliver for two years, and prior to that was Chief Operating Officer and Senior Advisor, joining the organization in 2017.   Prior to joining Women Deliver, Kathleen worked independently with global advocacy, non-profit, and political organizations and held several senior management roles at Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), while serving as Advisor to the President. Before PPFA, she served in various leadership roles at Binnacle Capital, a large family office focused on both financial and philanthropic ventures, where she oversaw start-ups as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer.

She began her career in U.S. politics working for Democratic presidential campaigns and conventions including Gore 2000, Kerry 2004, and Obama 2008, as well as serving as a Lead for the White House Advance Office for several U.S. Administrations. 

Kathleen received her BS in Marketing Communications from Emerson College and her Executive MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business with specializations in corporate finance, strategy, and leadership.