Date: 08 Jan 2026
Finding Her Voice, Strengthening
Her Community
Sophie Radrodro, Chair of the Nasinu District Council of Social Services (DCOSS), shared her inspiring journey as part of the Women in Leadership Pipeline 2023, a partnership between Balance of Power (BOP) and the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS).
Sophie’s leadership story is deeply rooted in her community work with the Strumphet Alliance Network (SPAN), an organisation advocating for the health, rights, safety, and livelihoods of sex workers. Her work often places her in complex and emotionally charged spaces listening to stories of struggle, standing up against stigma, and helping people regain a sense of dignity and belonging.
Through the Women in Leadership Pipeline program, Sophie found the courage and confidence to speak openly in spaces where women’s perspectives are often dismissed or silenced. “The program helped me find my voice in spaces where women’s perspectives are often overlooked,” she said. “It allowed me to address sensitive topics like sex work and LGBTQ issues openly in the community, challenging stigma and creating safer, more inclusive spaces.”
The experience was not only about skill-building but personal growth. Sophie learned to negotiate with empathy, to hold herself accountable, and to lead with both firmness and compassion. She began applying her learning to practical health initiatives, supporting community members to access HIV testing, monitor their treatment, and adopt healthier lifestyles. For Sophie, leadership is not about visibility or titles, but about tangible change in the lives of those who trust her.
“When someone tells me they went for testing because of one of our sessions, or that they now feel safe to come forward for help, that’s when I know my leadership is making a difference,” she shared.
Activities like the mock parliament and family workshops helped Sophie envision herself in new spaces of influence. They gave her the confidence to consider standing for election to bring community voices, especially marginalised ones, into decision-making arenas. She reflected that true readiness for leadership comes not just from knowledge, but from having the courage to represent others with honesty and humility.
Through the program, Sophie also strengthened her networks with other women leaders, feminist movements, and advocacy groups, including the LGBTQ working group with DIVA and the Rainbow Coalition. These networks became sources of mentorship, solidarity, and renewed purpose.
For Sophie, the Women in Leadership Pipeline program has been transformative – not only enhancing her leadership skills but reshaping how she sees herself and her role in her community. It gave her the tools to lead with empathy, the confidence to speak truth to power, and the determination to ensure no one is left behind.
“I used to think leadership was about speaking for others,” Sophie reflected. “Now I know it’s about helping others find their own voices.”