Sophia Friedson-Ridenour is a Social Development Specialist in the World Bank’s Africa Region Gender Innovation Lab (GIL). Her research interests include gendered constraints to economic and social empowerment for vulnerable and marginalized youth and women, with particular attention to social, cultural, political, and structural barriers to gender equality. She was previously Affiliate Faculty at Regis University, teaching in the Master of Development Practice program, and owner of Development Praxis Consulting. Sophia received her PhD in International and Comparative Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from City College at the City University of New York.