Obama Scholar empowers women fishers in Fiji through servant leadership

Alani Tuivucilevu, a 2024-2025 Obama Scholar, empowers women fishers in Fiji through her selfless approach to leadership, creating lasting change in her community and beyond.

Alani’s leadership is shaped by her upbringing. Alani learned that service is the highest form of love from her father, a traditional leader–a hereditary figurehead in the community, and her aunt, a former minister.

“ Leadership has always been about service … it’s about using your influence and your resources to make people's lives better.”

–Alani Tuivucilevu

Alani is committed to empowering marginalized groups, especially women fishers, by amplifying their voices and creating financial and social growth opportunities.

“Growing up by the ocean, I saw firsthand how women in my community worked tirelessly to support their families through fishing,” she reflected. “Their resilience and strength inspired me to become a leader and advocate for their economic empowerment.”

Alani’s approach is driven by the women and their stories. By advocating for them, amplifying stories about  their important work and their struggles, she helps bring government attention to their work.

“Women fishers have been working in the informal sector for far too long without receiving the recognition or support they deserve,” Alani stressed.

In 2023, she played a key role in the National Women Fishery Forum (Opens in a new tab), the largest of its kind, sponsored by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. The forum brought together 80 attendees, including 37 women fishers, to highlight how unpaid carework limits women’s economic participation.

“Women fishers have such rich knowledge because they work directly with natural resources, but their contributions have never been heard in decision-making spaces. They have a big role to play in leading solutions on how to adapt to climate change and economic resilience,” she shared. 

Alani’s leadership goes beyond advocacy: she and her team took action, pushing a resolution through parliament in February 2024 to recognize unpaid care work as a barrier to women’s economic participation. This milestone paved the way for programs that redistribute care work, giving women more opportunities for financial independence.

“We knew real change meant pushing for official recognition—care work isn’t just a personal burden, it’s an economic issue,” she reflected. “For me, this work is more than advocacy—it’s hope in action. It’s about ensuring these women are seen, heard, and valued.”

Through data collection and storytelling Alani has sparked meaningful change, proving how selfless leadership can dismantle systemic barriers and amplify marginalized voices.

The Obama Scholars Program has shaped her journey. It expanded her global perspective and deepened her understanding of the systems driving policy and change.

“One of the most valuable lessons has been learning how to think in systems—real impact comes from understanding the bigger picture,” she shared.

Being part of a diverse cohort has challenged her to grow as a leader, but one piece of advice from President Obama resonated most:

“Trust your gut. When there are no certainties, the one thing you can rely on is your instincts.” She reflected. “Culturally, I come from a background where talking about yourself is frowned upon—it’s seen as showing off. But the program changed my perspective. I’ve learned that sharing my story isn’t about self-promotion; it’s about using it to inspire others and create impact.”

Alani’s leadership demonstrates how one person’s belief in others can ignite change, strengthening communities and inspiring action far beyond Fiji.

True leadership isn’t about self-interest—it’s about service. What can you do today to uplift those around you? The ripple effect starts with you.