Hager Eissa is a Sudanese democracy activist, human rights advocate, political organizer, and co-founder of Voices of Freedom, an initiative dedicated to amplifying the voices of Sudanese civilians amid ongoing conflict. Through her work, she documents and shares the stories of political prisoners, activists, and communities whose experiences are often overlooked, while advocating for democratic futures rooted in dignity, accountability, and inclusion. As a member of the McCain Global Leaders program, Hager reflected on how the network broadened her perspective on leadership and reinforced the importance of collaboration, resilience, and community in sustaining meaningful change.
What are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on the Voices of Freedom initiative, where I help document and share the stories of political prisoners and activists who often go unheard. I’m also deeply engaged in research around Sudan’s ongoing conflict, looking at how everyday civilians especially women and youth, are navigating survival, building bridges across divided communities, and fighting for a more democratic future. This work matters to me because real change starts with making sure the right voices are in the room.
How has your work created impact in your community or field?
My work with the Voices of Freedom initiative has helped bring visibility to stories that powerful systems would rather keep quiet, giving political prisoners and activists a platform that reaches beyond borders. Through my work on Sudan, I’ve been able to contribute real, grounded perspectives on how conflict affects everyday people, which helps shape more human-centered conversations in academic and policy spaces. At the end of the day, I’m helping make sure that the people most affected by injustice aren’t just subjects of someone else’s narrative. They’re the ones telling their own story.
How did the McCain Global Leaders program influence your leadership journey?
The MGL program came at a point in my journey where I had the passion but was still finding the structure to match it, and it helped me bridge that gap in a way I didn’t expect. It challenged me to look inward just as much as outward, pushing me to understand how my own experiences as a woman deeply connected to Sudan’s story shape the way I lead and advocate. That self-awareness has become the foundation of everything I do and every community I show up for.
How has being part of the McCain Global Leaders network impacted your work or perspective?
Being part of the MGL network reminded me that I don’t have to carry this work alone, that there’s something powerful about being surrounded by people who genuinely understand why this work matters. It expanded the way I see leadership by exposing me to perspectives and experiences far beyond my own, which has made me a more thoughtful and grounded advocate. More than anything, it gave me a community that challenges me to keep going, even when the work gets heavy.
What advice would you give to emerging leaders?
Don’t wait until you feel ready. The work will shape you far more than any preparation ever could. Stay close to the people you’re showing up for, because the moment leadership becomes about you, you’ve lost the plot. And find your people early, because the right community won’t just support your journey, they’ll make you braver. This is your time to make a change.
What gives you hope right now?
Honestly, the women and youth I’ve seen on the ground in Sudan — people who have every reason to give up but keep choosing to organize, to speak, to fight for their rights, to build something better. That kind of resilience isn’t something you read about in a report, it’s something that stays with you and refuses to let you be cynical. As long as they’re still fighting, I have no excuse not to be.
What is your favorite thing about your home country?
Sudan has this incredible ability to hold so much pain and so much beauty at the same time — and the people carry both with a kind of grace that I’ve never seen anywhere else. The culture runs deep, from the music to the food to the way strangers treat each other like family, and that never leaves you no matter where you are in the world. For me, Sudan isn’t just where I’m from — it’s the reason I am who I am.
The McCain Global Leaders Program supports character-driven leaders from around the world who embody Senator John McCain’s legacy of serving a cause greater than oneself. Structured as a 12-month fellowship and experiential learning experience, each cohort will include a diverse group of leaders from around the world who are working “in the arena” to advance democracy and protect human rights and freedom. The program is designed to advance each Leader’s personal and professional leadership journey and impact by providing training, resources, and access to highly relevant regional and global networks with goal of preparing today’s leaders to meet tomorrow’s challenges.