Understand that enlightened men may be your best allies...

Rt. Hon. Kim Campbell and Sir Ketumile Masire, former President of Botswana, Sierra Leone, 2007. Photo courtesy of the Club of Madrid.

Kim Campbell, Former Prime Minister of Canada

Be a student of your own society, and understand that enlightened men may be your best allies. When I traveled to Sierra Leone supporting women and their political involvement, I went with Sir Ketumile Masire, former President of Botswana. He was 82 years old at the time. I was the woman who had broken through the glass ceiling. I was the example of what you could accomplish. But he was the respected, male, African leader who was speaking to the people who were not persuaded by me. He kept saying, "If you don't get the women engaged, you are walking on one leg. You've got to do this."

That is why you need to look for your allies where you can find them. Understand that some men will be on your side. Don't let the struggle become a male versus female. There are men and women who get it, and men and women who don’t get it. Always make it about making your society better.

The Sierra Leone women had this song they would sing. "Side by Side." They wanted to work with the men, side by side. Not ahead, not behind, side by side.

The Right Honourable Kim Campbell is a tireless advocate for women's advancement around the globe. She shared stories and lessons-learned with WLP staff in a recent interview. Ms. Campbell was the nineteenth and first female Prime Minister of Canada in 1993. She also held the cabinet portfolios of Minister of State for Indian Affairs, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and Minister of National Defense and Veterans' Affairs.