Julia Hakspiel

Julia Hakspiel is a respected expert in private sector development and trade, specializing in gender and women’s economic empowerment. Currently holding the position of Managing Consultant at MarketShare Associates, a renowned global firm focusing on market and social insights for social transformation. With a strong background in economic development, regional integration, gender issues, and women’s empowerment in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly East Africa.

Prior to her current role, Julia has accumulated vast experience working with prominent organizations such as DFID, TradeMark East Africa (TMEA), Danida, Sida, International Trade Centre (ITC), WTO, GIZ, EU, WIPO, STDF, ICTSD, and the World Bank. Her expertise covers policy development, program design, gender mainstreaming, and creating gender-sensitive results measurement frameworks for development and aid programs.

A noteworthy accomplishment is the co-founding of Sauti, an award-winning social enterprise dedicated to providing trade and market information to East African SMEs involved in cross-border trade through mobile technology. Julia is also a published author on gender, trade, services, and regulatory reform topics.

Julia Hakspiel holds a Master of Science degree in Development Studies from the prestigious London School of Economics. She is multilingual with proficiency in English, Polish, German, and Spanish. Her specialties include private sector development, trade, women’s economic empowerment, gender mainstreaming, value chain analysis, and social impact and results measurement.

Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Politics with Economics from the University of Bath and an International Baccalaureate Diploma from SEK Budapest International School.