Award Winner Cindy Nasenya, a Queer African creative from Nairobi shares her Queer Leadership Journey.
My Story and Journey.
I’m Cindy Nasenya (she/her), a queer African creative, digital strategist, and community advocate. I was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, by a single mother who dedicated her life to gender activism and running an NGO. Growing up in that environment, I was exposed early to advocacy and community building. Watching my mother uplift others while advancing her own career showed me that it’s possible to pursue my passions while engaging in meaningful work that impacts others.
I moved to Barcelona just over two years ago to further my studies in digital marketing. Before that, I lived in Warsaw, Poland, which expanded my curiosity about different cultures but also introduced me to the realities of navigating predominantly white spaces as a BIPOC immigrant. That experience, though isolating at times, strengthened my resolve to build and seek out community wherever I go.
My Work and Passion.
At the heart of my work is the belief that community is what keeps us alive. Advocacy isn’t just about leading movements; it’s also about showing up, creating opportunities, and ensuring people feel seen, heard, and supported.
While in Kenya, I worked with Feminist Conversations Ke, organising digital campaigns and discussions around gender, race, and sexuality. This experience empowered me to speak up, challenge norms, and actively work toward change.My day job is in digital marketing, though I’m also passionate about community building.
Currently, I’m involved in:
Leading efforts to grow the Black Women Entrepreneurs group in Barcelona. I also help in designing and implementing initiatives to support members’ professional growth, including skill-sharing sessions and collaborative projects.
Business strategy and community building for Afrobeats Society, which started as a space for the Afro-diaspora community to connect through music, dance, and food. And has now expanded into event organising, with projects like The Link Up, a networking event for POC in Barcelona.
Supporting EmpowHERment, a Florida-based nonprofit expanding into Spain that helps women thrive through workshops, events, and entrepreneurship programmes. I’ve been assisting with content creation and hope to get more involved in their community-centered projects.
My Leadership and WCS Connection.
Queer leadership, to me, is about authenticity and collective care. It’s about leading with openness and creating spaces where others feel empowered to embody their truth.
I first discovered WCS when I attended a panel discussion on queerness and invisible disability. There was free wine, free pizza, and a palpable excitement in the room! You could feel how much people wanted to connect and learn from each other. I barely spoke to anyone because I was feeling so shy, but that gave me the chance to take it all in and appreciate the intentionality behind the event. The next morning, I sent WCS an email with my CV, like “Here are my skills, is there something I could contribute to this space?”
Since then, it has also led to some exciting collaborations- including one with Cindy Nehme, another recipient of the Queer Leader Award. I don’t want to give too much away, but watch this space!
"WCS has given me the chance to collaborate with like-minded people, exchange ideas, and be part of impactful conversations." - Cindy Nasenya
Life Before & After Winning the Award.
Before winning the WCS Queer Leader Award, I was still figuring out and trying to establish myself in Barcelona. The award was both a milestone and a wake-up call, pushing me to be more intentional about my work.Since receiving the award, I’ve been keen on growing my role in community initiatives, supporting friends in launching their creative projects, and exploring ways to make my work more sustainable.
New collaborations have emerged as a result of the visibility from WCS. I am working with Aysha Pauline Ndiaye, a phenomenal black queer event organizer whom I met at WCS’ Queer Women in Business event. I’ve connected with Desirée V Cáceres, a queer photographer and designer whom I met at a WCS Speed Networking event, to collaborate on a few creative projects. These are some examples off the top of my head, but more members in the WCS community have reached out to either work together, or to shower me with love and appreciation - which is affirming in itself.
"The visibility from WCS has opened doors for future opportunities for sure. But with that also comes a deeper sense of responsibility; to not just participate in spaces but to help shape them in meaningful ways." - Cindy Nasenya
My Vision for the Future.
Looking ahead, my main goal is to create a career that allows me to thrive financially while supporting grassroots initiatives and independent creatives. A key challenge is balancing financial security with creative freedom, but I’m actively working on strategies to achieve both.
Another challenge is navigating the hurdles and stress that come with being an immigrant. But I’m grateful to be surrounded by people who are “in the same boat” (no pun intended). We’re figuring it out together while remembering to celebrate life and each other while at it, bringing me back to what I mentioned earlier: community is what keeps us alive.
Cindy Nasenya (she/they)
Cindy is a queer African content creator, digital marketer, and political analyst with a deep commitment to fostering inclusive spaces and amplifying marginalized voices. They are dedicated to centering the voices of young Africans, especially women and LGBTQIA+ individuals, and inspiring authentic conversations about their identities and lived experiences.
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