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Iris Mwanza

Iris Mwanza, born and raised in Zambia, had early exposure to unfair and unequal opportunities for women and girls and has been a driving force for gender equality in her career. She serves in huge role as Deputy Director, Women in Leadership for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Iris leads the foundation’s strategy and investments to improve women’s representation and influence in the fields of health, law, and economics in priority geographies.

Isis’ first novel releases on June 25th, The Lion’s Den, called “A vibrant and pacey legal thriller with a big-hearted heroine you’ll be rooting for from the very first page, according to Paula Hawkins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Girl on the Train

A missing boy. A corrupt system. A case that could change everything…

When young queer dancer Wilbess “Bessy” Mulenga is arrested by corrupt police, fresh-from-the-village rookie lawyer Grace Zulu takes up his cause in her first pro bono case. Presented with a freshly beaten client, Grace protests to the police and gets barred from accessing Bessy, who then disappears from the system—and the world—without a trace.

As she fights for justice for Bessy, Grace must navigate a dangerous world of corrupt politicians, traditional beliefs, and deep-seated homophobia.

With the help of a former freedom fighter and the head of her law firm, who’s rallying for one last fight as AIDS takes its toll on him, Grace brings together a coalition of unions, students, and political opposition to take on the corrupt administration of President Kaunda. But will justice prevail in the face of such overwhelming odds?

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