Inspiring Women Talk: Ruth Badru

Ruth Badru is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Bristol. Her career path began with an early start to university at just 14 years old, leading her into global finance, including a period at Goldman Sachs, and since then, her professional experience has spanned a range of sectors, from consultancy to higher education and public policy.

Today, Ruth's work focuses on understanding how care, labour, institutions and public policies/services shape people’s everyday lives. She's passionate about exploring how economic policies can be reimagined to create fairer outcomes for everyone.

Ruth currently leads the Bristol Transport Project, working with local policymakers, providers, and communities to co-create inclusive transport strategies across the city. She also founded and leads the Rethinking Economics for Africa Project, an initiative that connects researchers and institutions across Africa and the diaspora to reimagine economic thinking from the ground up using approaches rooted in real-world experiences and local cultural contexts. Ruth regularly advises governments and organisations across the UK, Oceania, and West Africa, helping individuals and communities ask deeper questions about fairness, inclusion, and systems that shape our world. Her work strives to make economic policy more fair, more transparent, and more rooted in lived experience.

Ruth will take us through her journey, from beginning university at a young age, a stint in the military, to working in the fast-paced world of global finance, and then building a career that bridges academia, public policy, and community-focused work. She'll share practical lessons she’s learned along the way about making intentional choices, navigating different professional spaces, and finding purpose in your career.

Together, we will dive into topics that matter to all of us:

• How do we make confident decisions when paths aren’t clear?
• What does true financial independence look like, especially for women navigating multiple barriers, including women of colour?
• How can we thrive in spaces where we might feel underrepresented?
• What does it look like to build a career that is purposeful, flexible, and driven by equity?

There will be plenty of time for you to ask your own questions, share your reflections, and connect with others in the room.

** Please note that this event is open to individuals who identify as women and non-binary people who feel this event will benefit them.