Arooj Sheikh — Co-Founder

I was Called to the Bar of England & Wales in 2018, supported by a prestigious scholarship from one of the Inns of Court. I later qualified as a Solicitor after training at Clifford Chance LLP, a magic circle law firm, where I worked across London, Dubai, and Nairobi on complex cross-border matters, including Europe's largest IPO for Porsche. But my journey to the legal profession was anything but traditional. I was the first in my family to attend university and grew up in a single-parent household without financial privilege. I therefore deeply understand the structural and emotional barriers that can stand in the way of ambition. To help others navigating similar paths, I created www.aroojzsheikh.com, a blog that's been visited over 100,000 times by people in 101 countries, where over 40 Kings Counsel and leading juniors have contributed guidance and resources for anyone navigating a legal career. I am also a social entrepreneur and human rights advocate committed to supporting marginalised communities, particularly wrongly accused prisoners and their children, and individuals with disabilities. As the Founder of Beyond Kenyan Bars (BKB), I lead a groundbreaking initiative that provides care, education, and reintegration support for children growing up in prison with their incarcerated mothers. So far, our work has directly impacted over 700 children, provided approximately 720,000 meals, supported over 3,000 prisoners and former death row inmates, and contributed to the release of 617 wrongly accused individuals, some of whom have since become lawyers in Kenya. Learn more at www.beyondkenyanbars.org. My passion for disability rights is deeply personal. I live with Lupus (SLE) and survived Guillain-Barré Syndrome, which left me temporarily paralysed and required over 300 physiotherapy sessions. Experiencing disability firsthand fuels my mission to drive systemic change in healthcare, policy, employment, and accessibility for others navigating invisible or chronic conditions. In 2024, I was honoured to be named a Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 for my social impact work. That said, I believe we're all more than our job titles. I'm also a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and dog mum. I love tea, am endlessly curious, and I find joy in learning and sharing stories that inspire me. 📩 For enquiries: arooj.z.sheikh@gmail.com

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Social Impact Advocate and Legal Professional with expertise in Human Rights and Disability Advocacy.

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Experience: 7 yrs