Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.)
Chief Executive Officer - CEO of Merck Foundation
Member of the Egyptian Senate (2020- 2025)
President of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative - MFFLI
One of the 100 Most Influential African Women (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025)
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej , Merck Foundation CEO
Beyond Power; Leadership , Global Influence and Impact
A series of articles developed by Dr. Rasha Kelej
How Living in UAE Shaped My Vision of Success, Creativity, Diversity and Global Influence.
-A personal perspective on how environment defines leadership, discipline, and impact. We often underestimate the role of environment in shaping who we become. For me,
The Power of Small Decisions: How Subtle Small Choices Shape Greater long term impact .
We often associate success with big decisions—major investments, bold moves, or defining moments. But in reality, the trajectory of individuals, organizations, and even nations is
How I Built Influence Across 50+ Countries Without Political Power or Endless Resources
Influence is often misunderstood. Many believe it comes from titles, political authority, or control over unlimited resources. My experience has been the opposite. The most
Why Work-Life Fusion Works Better for Me Than Work-Life Balance
Rethinking some of modern leadership concepts and beliefs . We’ve been told for years that work-life balance is the goal. No no no ; I don’t fully
Latest News
Message from Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, about the 13th Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026, inaugurated by the Chairman of Merck Foundation and herself, together with 12 First Ladies from African and Asian countries
Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO together with First Ladies of Angola, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Gabon, The Gambia, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Mozambique, Nigeria
Message from Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, on launching the “Educating Linda” Program to support girl education with the First Lady of Ghana in the country
Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO with Ghana First Lady during the launch of Educating Linda Program. I am happy to share that we have officially launched
Message from Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, on launching her First Virtual Mentorship and Leadership Platform to Inspire and Empower The Next Generation Of Leaders, Especially Women and Youth
Link to Dr. Rasha Kelej’s Mentorship and Leadership Platform: https://open.substack.com/pub/rashakelej I am excited to launch “Beyond Power: Leadership, Global Influence and Impact”, my first virtual Mentorship and Leadership Platform through
Message from Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, marking a landmark moment in supporting girl education through the “Educating Linda” Program at Kenya State House
Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO with Kenya First Lady at Kenya State House during the launch of Educating Linda Program. I am happy to share
Message from CEO of Merck Foundation, Dr. Rasha Kelej, on declaring the Gabon First Lady as Ambassador of “More Than a Mother” to build healthcare capacity, break infertility stigma, and support girl education
Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO, together with Gabon First Lady during their visit to Gabon. We officially launched our programs in partnership with H.E. Madam ZITA
Message from Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, on marking the 10th anniversary of the “More Than a Mother” Movement
I am truly proud to mark the 10th Anniversary of “More Than a Mother” movement, it has been an extraordinary journey, one that is very close
Message from CEO of Merck Foundation, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, about the MFFLI Committee Meeting held with First Ladies of Africa and Asia call for action to build healthcare and Media capacity, Break Infertility Stigma and
Merck Foundation Chairman, CEO, and 14 First Ladies inaugurate the 7th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative – MFFLI Summit in Dubai 2025 I