CEO
Deepti is a passionate social change leader committed to the economic empowerment of women around the world. She is a proven leader with over 25 years’ experience helping organizations achieve scale and impact. She has managed teams in the Middle East, SE Asia, India, Europe and Africa. Having grown up in India, Tanzania and Cameroon, Deepti is committed to development and improving livelihoods for the world’s most vulnerable.
Deepti is a passionate social change leader committed to the economic empowerment of women around the world. As an experienced leader with deep skills in building organizational capacity to scale exponentially, she brings over 25 years of experience leading complex, global projects as a strategy and transformation consultant with organizations like Capgemini Invent and Accenture, as well as leading sales and marketing teams at Unilever and J&J. In the last 8 years, Deepti has helped international NGOs reach hundreds of thousands of people, applying her experience building operational capacity for growth, systematizing robust processes and increasing agility.
Deepti has managed teams in regions as diverse as the Middle East, SE Asia, India, Europe and Africa. Having grown up in India, Tanzania and Cameroon, Deepti is committed to development and improving livelihoods for the world’s most vulnerable. Deepti is passionate about women’s empowerment and holds an MBA from Xavier Institute of Management as well as an MSC in Gender from the London School of Economics.
Deepti’s home state of Kerala in India is famed for its ‘red rice’ and every now and then, for just a little while, she misses the endless paddy fields, rivers and coconut trees of Kerala.
PHILANTHROPY PARTNERSHIP OFFICER
Aggie has been with SBS for over 12 years, and her accomplishments include managing girls’ scholarship programs, plus recruiting and training over 1,400+ women. She is excited about her current position, because she loves sharing stories of impact with our donors. Aggie holds a Bachelors in Social Sciences and a Graduate Degree in Monitoring and Evaluation. In her free time, she loves to sing, dance, and read the Bible. She also enjoys volunteering as a marriage counselor, because she loves to see marriages thrive.
M&E MANAGER
Alfred is a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Specialist with a decade of hands-on experience working in and with East and Southern African communities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Public Health and a master’s degree in Monitoring and Evaluation. He was a founding member of Menstrual Hygiene Day at WASH United before joining ZanaAfrica to lead the Nia Project, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in 140 public schools at the Kenyan coast. He has previously worked with IRDO, Ruby Cup as well as with the Ministry of Health in Kenya and the Kenya Medical Research Institute.
COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE
Alienor is thrilled to join the SBS mission. Driven by her passion for human rights and sustainable development, she moved to Peru to be closer to rural communities and learn more about the indigenous philosophy of good living. Alienor holds a bachelor’s degree in Audiovisual Communication and a master’s degree in International Cooperation. She has over eight years of experience as a communication specialist for NGOs focussing on women’s development. She loves outdoor activities and knowing new places and people.
CONTENT & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Drawn to SBS’s blend of heart and impact, April is thrilled to be a member of the communications team. She earned a BA in International Affairs from CU Boulder before spending nearly a decade creating advertising for multinational brands like Microsoft and Diageo. After supporting nonprofits in a variety of roles from mentorship to development, she is pleased to return to her communications roots. Outside of work, she loves gardening and storytelling in all formats. She is a wife, a mama, and a sister.
BUSINESS DIRECTOR
Anne is a certified public accountant with over 30 years experience in both industry and public accounting roles. She has worked for organizations in the non-profit and for-profit sectors and has a BS degree from Drake University and a MA degree from New York University.
PROGRAM ASSISTANT
Brenda is highly motivated and deeply passionate about her work. She brings an analytical approach to everything she does and thrives in team environments where she can collaborate with others to achieve a common goal. Brenda has a natural talent for making sound decisions and possesses exceptional organizational and time management skills. Brenda holds a bachelor’s degree in social work and administration. In her free time, Brenda enjoys taking a break from her busy schedule to chat with friends over a cup of coffee.
CO-COUNTRY DIRECTOR
Catherine has over 10 years of experience managing a broad range of HR functions including policy development and legal compliance, recruitment, contracts, training and performance measurement. She has an extensive background in operation coordination including procurement, transport, insurance, IT systems and oversees all logistics to ensure day-to-day operational efficiency.
DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL TRAINING
Chris has over 30 years of experience as a keynote speaker, trainer, and performance improvement leader, and she holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Performance and Change. She specializes in business planning and design, change management, organizational and talent development, and financial management. She owns her own performance improvement consulting firm, and has trained and coached thousands of individuals.
SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR
Focused on working at a place with good people that does meaningful work, Cindy enjoys getting the turn a lot of knobs at Street Business School. She holds a master’s degree in Business from Vanderbilt University and has spent much of her adult life raising her two boys.
When not working, you might find her outside with friends, in deep conversation with one of her dogs, spending time with family or traveling.
PHILANTHROPY MANAGER
Colin is thrilled to be a part of the SBS team, working to advance major partnerships with institutional funders. He is passionate about the intersection of women’s economic empowerment and issues like food security, climate resilience and social justice. Colin has a background in international relations and worked most recently with an NGO in Chicago focused on addressing hunger and housing needs for those experiencing homelessness.
GLOBAL TRAINER
Collins has over 7 years of successful professional experience in the business and entrepreneurship sector, and has a Business Administration degree. As a certified education designer and certified entrepreneurship trainer, Collins has worked with a number of different organizations to facilitate entrepreneurship trainings, and to design purpose-built training curriculums, for people of varying backgrounds. Collins is driven by his commitment to entrepreneurship, and one day he hopes to witness a community where everyone has what they need.
GLOBAL TRAINER
Dennis is an experienced adult training professional with over four years of expertise in instructional coaching, training, and quality assurance. He served as a lead instructor at Generation Programme Kenya (GPK) and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nairobi. With a strong commitment to learning and development, Dennis has actively engaged in numerous relevant courses and programs.
GLOBAL HEAD OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Emily is excited to join SBS to help create an impact on women’s lives around the world. Prior to coming to SBS, Emily owned an HR Consulting Firm that helped small non-profits with their HR needs. Emily has her master’s in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and her PHR from HRCI. When not working, Emily enjoys spending time outside with her husband and new baby.
FINANCE ASSISTANT
Erone is a Finance Assistant at BeadforLife and Street Business School. She received a bachelors degree in Business Management from Kyambogo University and is currently pursuing a Certified Public Accounting course from the Institute of Certified Public Accountants. When not working, Erone enjoys reading motivational books, business books and watching documentaries.
DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY
Evan has worked in fundraising since 2006 and holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Toronto and an MBA from DePaul University’s Kellstadt School of Business. Evan started his career with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and served as Development Director for the 125+ year old Chicago Commons Association. Most recently, he served as Chief Development Officer at Inspiration Corporation. Evan is a lover of music and the outdoors, and he enjoys exploring urban and natural environments with his wife, two children, and dog.
CO-COUNTRY DIRECTOR
Evelyn is dedicated to uplifting African women and reversing the devastating effects of poverty. She is the co-Director of our Uganda office, overseeing all program strategy and implementation. Evelyn holds a Bsc. In Agriculture and a post graduate diploma in Small & Medium Enterprises. Evelyn is a recovering banker, having worked for years developing bank products and pioneering microfinance in Uganda. When she is not evangelizing about SBS or inspiring people with her speaking, Evelyn is rejuvenated by new sights and being in nature.
LEARNING LAB PROGRAM ASSISTANT
Irene loves to see positive growth among the women on their path to financial independence. Her background includes 7 years of experience working with children and youth in the areas of Behavior Change, AIDS and HIV including helping vulnerable households. At SBS, Irene helps recruit, coach women, and do continuous follow-ups. She loves adventure movies and inspirational books.
PROGRAM CATALYST
Isabela is passionate about education, entrepreneurship, and social change. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business and a graduate degree in Modern Education. Since 2019, Isabela has worked with small entrepreneurs and NGOs to develop entrepreneurial and management skills. She enjoys seeing the positive impact education can have on people’s lives, and she hopes to continue contributing to this outcome in her work at SBS.
IT/OPERATIONS ASSISTANT
Jacob joined as the IT/Operations Assistant in Uganda. He serves as the internal IT point person, and he also supports the UG Ops team in day to day logistical functions. His professional background as well as career aspirations are in IT, and he has been volunteering with Because of Hope, an organization which supports women & children. During his free time Jacob loves playing basketball and working out to stay fit and healthy. He is also passionate about sharing the word of God.
OPERATIONS ASSISTANT
Joseph loves working with SBS. “There is a way people feel when they know they are loved. It is unique,” says Joseph. Joseph supports our Operations team doing procurement, logistics and greeting visitors with his big smile. Joseph has worked in various roles with BeadforLife and Street Business School including shea production, inventory support, stores management, and much more.
In his free time, you can find Joseph watching adventure movies.
GLOBAL ONLINE NETWORK ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
As the Global Online Network Engagement Manager, Julie manages Street Business School’s online poverty-eradication offerings. She interacts with Global Catalyst Partners and keeps them connected to one another. Julie previously worked at BeadforLife where her commitment to ending extreme poverty was solidified. Her extensive background in marketing and design brings creative solutions to help further Street Business School’s mission.
PROGRAM ASSISTANT
Kevin Babirye holds a bachelors degree in development studies. During her 7 years working with communities, Kevin believes that every woman has the potential and ability to transform her life. She builds women’s esteem through her coaching sessions and loves associating with children & women to help them discover their potential. During her free time, she engages with children in music and ball games.
MANAGER OF GLOBAL TRAINING CREATIVITY
Korri has over eight years of program management experience, including new program development, orientation and training, project planning, budget management and stakeholder engagement. She is an accomplished University lecturer with 10 years of classroom management experience, including designing course specific syllabi and requirements and creating a variety of learning experiences.
COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT
Lilian has a three years of experience working with people in the most underserved areas of Uganda. She is a mental health blogger and is passionate about writing transformative, inspirational stories. She is a firm believer in the power women possess to change the world and is very inspired by the stories from the Street Business School graduates. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communication and is trained in public speaking and financial management. Lilian is a Rotarian, loves hiking, and is learning Spanish in her free time.
PROGRAM ASSISTANT
Lilian is passionate about empowering marginalized communities, particularly women. She has a proven track record of achieving positive outcomes through community engagements, promoting diversity and building strong teams. Lilian’s expertise lies in problem-solving and developing effective solutions that address the needs of those she serves. Her passion for promoting financial independence and empowerment for women motivated her to join Street Business School. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and phone counseling.
PROGRAM ASSISTANT
Mary is a dedicated individual with a passion for empowering women. Her commitment and compassion towards this cause drives her to make a positive impact on women’s lives. She currently works at Street Business School as a program assistant where she is excited about the opportunity to impact women. Mary holds a bachelor’s degree in adult and community education and is hardworking, self-motivated and a dynamic team player. In her free time, Mary enjoys dancing, singing, and making new friends.
FINANCE OFFICER
Michael is inspired by his work because he has seen women going from having nothing to being strong and empowered and having a great story to tell about their income and their families. Michael holds a diploma in Business Administration in Accounting & Finance and is currently pursuing a Professional Qualification as a Certified Public Accountant. He is one of the few people on the planet who loves reading economics journals.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP LIAISON
Nicole has 10 years of exciting experience working across cultures in partner relations and international education. She is a natural at meaningful relationship-building, and she works alongside our CEO and Director of Global Training to customize offerings of our entrepreneurship training to support our international partner organizations. She is located in Jordan, and when she’s not working for SBS, you can find Nicole traveling, learning Arabic, or making art.
PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Phoebe is passionate about women-led development initiatives that bring real change to the lives of families. She has eight years of experience in community development work with an interest in poverty eradication including reproductive health, business training and coaching, and creative facilitation for young adults to realize their full potential and thrive.
SBS SENIOR GLOBAL TRAINER
Racheal’s community development experience includes program design, instructional training, evaluation and curriculum writing. Her professional experience includes training, coaching and mentoring, and monitoring and evaluation of public health interventions with Makindye Division—KCCA.
LEARNING LAB PROGRAM ASSISTANT
Ritah loves working with women and is thrilled seeing them positively change their lives. She has 7 years of experience in community development and holds a Bachelors degree in Economics. Ritah comes to SBS from Bulogo Women’s Group, one of the first SBS Global Catalyst Partners. She helps recruit women to join SBS, conducts trainings, and does coaching visits. The most interesting book Ritah has recently read is “The Seven Bad Habits of Women in Leadership.”
PROGRAMS ASSISTANT
Roda has four years of experience in counseling and transforming the lives of the most disadvantaged groups like orphans, adolescent girls, young women and people living with HIV/AIDS. She is passionate about coaching women to realize their potential, start businesses, become independent and transform their lives and the lives of their families. During her free time, Roda loves reading inspirational quotes, listening to music and storytelling with children and older people.
OPERATIONS OFFICER
Seeing women get themselves out of poverty touches Rovienah’s heart. She says, “We give people a sense that they are not alone, that someone cares about them.”
Rovienah spearheads all of our logistics, procurement and transport coordination. She holds a certificate in Community Healthcare and has 11 years of operations experience.
Rovienah is fun to hang around because she cracks jokes to paint a smile on anyone’s face.
FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING MANAGER
Rupal strongly believes in eliminating entrenched barriers for women to create inclusive, open and prosperous societies. This led her to begin her journey as an active volunteer for BeadforLife over eight years ago. Today, she leads the Street Business School finance team in Uganda. She has a bachelor’s degree in Financial Mathematics and is also serving as a consultant for a nonprofit that educates children from underprivileged backgrounds.
Rupal is a firm believer in women’s rights and education for all.
PARTNER NETWORK MANAGER
Saliwe is based in Zimbabwe, and has worked for over 15 years in various capacities in the development space, focusing on economic empowerment and youth development. With her expertise in strategic planning and management; NGO management and governance, fundraising and resource mobilization, youth programming, leadership development and sustainable community-based initiatives for income generation and poverty alleviation, she is committed to empowering others, inspiring change and transforming lives.
GLOBAL TRAINER
Sophia has spent more than 6 years in community economic empowerment. Working with both men and women living in poverty, Sophia has trained and mentored entrepreneurship and financial management programs designed to equip skills to positively transform their lives. She feels invigorated when surrounded by nature, anything from rivers to trees, she loves to spend her time surrounded by the beauty of the natural world.
PROGRAMS ASSISTANT
Susan is a dynamic, self-driven person who is passionate about improving livelihoods in communities with Street Business School.
She is very creative with great skills in communication, financial management, computer applications, problem solving through proper analysis of workflow and time management. Susan prides herself on being honest, trustworthy and able to deliver results with limited supervision. Susan is a strong believer of teamwork for better results.
ACCOUNTANT
Tammy hold a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Her professional experience includes Staff Accountant and Corporate Controller. Tammy has served as Treasurer and Board Member for two non-profit organizations. A firm believer in the value of volunteering, Tammy has spent many hours contributing to her community through various volunteer opportunities. In her free time, Tammy loves to enjoy the outdoors by hiking and alpine skiing.
SALES COORDINATOR
Vicky is an entrepreneur, a certified executive coach, training expert, and partnerships and sales guru. She is returning to SBS as Sales Coordinator having previously worked with our sister organization, BeadforLife. She is grateful to be part of a truly meaningful mission at Street Business School and is inspired by women who against all odds wake up every morning to birth their own hope. Their grit and faith are the reasons Vicky goes to work every day.
Our Board provides strategic oversight for our organization which includes programmatic direction worldwide, as well as fiduciary responsibility, strategic leadership, organizational planning and operational guidance. They are passionate about sharing the SBS curriculum with partners around the world to end poverty.
BOARD MEMBER
Nair is Chief Product and Experience Officer at Airtel, leading product vision and strategy across B2B, B2C and platform products. He is the customer experience leader for Airtel’s 300M+ consumers and 2,000+ businesses. Nair is also the CEO of Wynk Limited, Airtel’s digital entertainment company. In this capacity, he is responsible for the growth of music, video and other OTT services business. Nair holds an MBA from The Wharton School, and currently lives in Gurgaon, Haryana, India.
BOARD MEMBER
Molero is the Chief Government Officer at Teach for All, leading the public sector strategy and relationship management of high-level government and multilateral officials across the world. Molero is a Founding Partner of Global Competitiveness Consulting. She provides technical, capacity building and project management services in the fields of economics, social and territorial promotion. Molero holds an MBA from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and completed Stanford Graduate School of Business’s Executive Program in Social Entrepreneurship and Social Impact. Molero lives in Madrid, Spain.
CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lawson has had a long career in executive management positions with nonprofit, university and for-profit organizations. She was the CEO of The Kidney TRUST and the COO and Senior Project Director for Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation. Her professional history includes service as Vice President of Administration and Finance at Cal State Monterey Bay, Vice President of Administration and Finance at Marin Community Foundation and CFO at the Pacific Stock Exchange. Barbara holds an MBA.
Lane is a retired Principal and Managing Director at CSS, an international firm providing fundraising, development services and strategic consulting for 75 years. Lane brings more than 30 years of nonprofit fundraising experience to the Board. She has provided professional counsel to human service, humanitarian, civic, education, healthcare, conservation, cultural, and faith-based organizations in the United States and internationally. She resides in Mount Vernon, Iowa.
BOARD MEMBER
Bill is truly an accomplished “do gooder,” having spent the last 19 years as CEO of Network for Good, a B-corp software company which has processed billions of dollars in donations for small to midsize nonprofit organizations. During his tenure, Bill led Network for Good’s successful merger with three other social good software companies to create Bonterra, the world’s second-largest social good software company. Bill holds an MBA from University of Virginia Darden School of Business and lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
BOARD MEMBER
Odhiambo is the Executive Director of Kesho Kenya, an NGO which focuses on children’s education through a holistic, multi-faceted programming approach. With Kesho Kenya being an active partner of Street Business School since 2016, Odhiambo brings deep partnership expertise to the Board. As a champion of this partnership, he joined the Street Business School team in Monaco to accept the 2017 PeaceJam Hero Award for Best Nonprofit Act. Odhiambo resides in Kenya.
BOARD MEMBER
Ewechu is the CEO and Founder of SHONA, an organization that grows East African Good Businesses, ones that are viable and that positively benefits society by creating and balancing value for all their stakeholders, including customers, employees, owners, value chain partners and the communities in which they are based. He and his team are leading the way in social impact in this area of the world. In addition to SHONA, he founded and operated two other strategic startups. Ewechu resides in Kampala, Uganda.
BOARD MEMBER
Nancy is the Chief Business Development Officer at Soles4Souls, an SBS partner that turns unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunity-providing relief, creating sustainable jobs, and empowering people to disrupt the cycle of poverty. With a background in entrepreneurship and scaling, Nancy founded Curves for Purpose, a plus-size e-commerce marketplace with a mission to break the cycle of poverty by donating clothes, portions of proceeds and time to Soles4Souls. Nancy is an awarded community leader in Nashville, Tennessee, where she resides.
GLOBAL AMBASSADOR & CO-FOUNDER
Wakefield is Street Business School’s Global Ambassador. She co-founded BeadforLife as well as other organizations that help the world’s poor or marginalized, including Medicine and Miracles, providing education and community for people living with HIV/AIDS, Hollyhock, a retreat center nurturing wellness and social enterprise, and Wellspring, a holistic medical clinic.
FOUNDER & EMERITUS BOARD MEMBER
Devin is the founder of Street Business School and served as its CEO for 14 years. With 30 years experience in global social entrepreneurship, economic empowerment, promoting proximate leadership and scaling good ideas, she’s devoted to creating a world that is equitable where people can flourish. She is a speaker and advisor on women’s economic empowerment, loves mentoring women leaders around the world, and believes that we can end poverty in our lifetimes.
BOARD EMERITUS VISION KEEPER
Jordan has been involved in the health profession for the past 30 years as a practicing psychotherapist, group facilitator, hospice care worker, and health advocate. She is also involved in poverty-eradication/income-generation projects in the Andes of Peru and in the Amazon region of Ecuador. She has a MFA in poetry and is the author of Clear Cut: One Women’s Journey of Life in the Body.
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GENERATION FOR CHANGE & DEVELOPMENT (GENCAD)
Abdirashid Ali is the Founder & the Executive Director of Generation for Change & Development (GENCAD), a UK and Kenya registered Charity supporting pastoralist communities in Northern Kenya. He holds a B.Ed degree from Kenyatta University and MSc Social Policy & Planning in Developing Countries from the London School of Economics. He has a vast amount of experience in International Development. Abdirashid is passionate about empowering women and girls.
PROJECT CONCERN INTERNATIONAL, CEO
Carrie Hessler-Radelet is the President & CEO of Project Concern International (PCI). Hessler-Radelet served as Director of the Peace Corps (2012-2017) and has spent decades leading global health efforts with John Snow, Inc., consulting on programs for USAID and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Carrie holds a Master of Science in Health Policy and Management from Harvard University.
Cassidy has worked with women and service organizations for close to 35 years including Planned Parenthood and women’s shelters in Colorado. She worked as a Deputy District Attorney, specializing in the prosecution of recidivist domestic abusers and trainer on domestic violence prosecution for law enforcement throughout Colorado. In recent years, Cassidy was a board member for Peacemaker Institute, initiating an intensive peace retreat program in Rwanda for genocide survivors, perpetrators, rescuers, and all those impacted by the violence of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. Murphy has also served as a board member for Boulder Rotary Club, working as a mentor, and international and local service projects.
DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS, GIRL UP INITIATIVE UGANDA
Clare has over 13 years’ experience in working with communities putting to good use her background in adult and community education. She is highly skilled in community mobilization and stakeholder engagement a skill she has developed overtime with her work previously at Beadforlife. In her current role as the Director Of Programs for Girl Up Initiative Uganda, Clare continues to nurture her passion and dedication for empowering and improving the well-being of girls and women and the communities they live in.
SELF-EMPLOYED
Darin Layman brings more than 30 years of international leadership in computer and telecommunications technology. The past 10 years have focused on integrating international technology companies into IBM. Darin’s hobbies and interests include running, biking, swimming, renewable energy, and supporting nonprofits working to eliminate poverty.
STONECREST FINANCIAL, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
CAPCON FOUNDATION, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Erika Luitjens has a long history of working in the finance industry and cares deeply about developing strong partnerships to increase impact and operational efficiency.
FOUNDER AND CEO, THE WILD NETWORK
Fiona is the Founder and CEO of the WILD Network and works at the intersection of innovation, leadership, and global development. One of the pioneering voices in the fields of social entrepreneurship and international development, committed to helping women make their mark in the social change sector. She is a Professor of Entrepreneurship at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, where she also runs a leadership clinic for MBA students, and serves as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence to mentor and coach emerging social innovators and leaders across disciplines.
PHILANTHROPY UNIVERSITY, PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
Jenna has over 10 years of program design and grantmaking experience. She is passionate about advancing culturally relevant approaches and empowering local leaders who have already been solving their community’s most pressing challenges. She is a lifelong Chicagoan who believes in the power of women in partnership to change the world.
MCCARTHY STRATEGIES, PRESIDENT & FOUNDER
After a career beginning in democratic politics, Jill McCarthy now serves as a public affairs strategist with 15-years of experience in leading global public-private partnerships, social impact and sustainability programs, and marketing & communications campaigns for high-profile global brands, executives, and policymakers. Her hobbies include international travel, endurance sports, and volunteering with the refugee community in the Bay area.
SOFT STYLE, INC., OWNER
Kerry is an entrepreneur who built a wonderful company for breast-feeding mothers called Bamboobies. She is the mother of three and has a heart for women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurialism.
Lucinda’s background is in the financial industry, with a focus in social impact investment. After starting her career in the City of London, she was awarded her MSc in Sustainable Agriculture from the Royal Agriculture College then spent several years working with social entrepreneurs for disability inclusion around the world. She now works with the Watson Foundation, analyzing opportunities both in social impact investing and philanthropy.
AFRICAN WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT FUND,
BOARD CHAIR
Maame is an activist, mentor, coach, wife, mother and recording artist who uses music to promote philanthropy and social impact. As a mentor and coach, she works with emerging leaders internationally, including MasterCard Foundation Scholars and Moremi Initiative Fellows, as well as women entrepreneurs through the African Women’s Entrepreneurship Cooperative (AWEC) and Women Leaders for the World (WLW) fellows through How Women Lead. Maame is a member of the Opportunity Collaboration (OC) where she also serves as a moderator for the Colloquium for Good. She is the founder and lead trainer of Management for Impact Leadership and Transformation.
THE ACTION FOUNDATION, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Maria Omare is the founder and Executive Director of The Action Foundation, a Global Catalyst Partner to SBS. She leads efforts to provide holistic development opportunities for children and young people with disabilities in under-served communities. Maria is a Royal Commonwealth Society Associate Fellow, Cordes Fellow, US Department of State Professional Fellow and an incredible SBS ambassador.
CORDES FOUNDATION, CO-FOUNDER
Marty Cordes co-founded the Cordes Foundation where she currently directs philanthropic and gender-lens investing work advancing economic opportunities for women. Additionally, Marty is on the board of Nest and is a member of Women Moving Millions.
FOUNDING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EDUCATE LANKA FOUNDATION, INC.
Manjula is a banker turned social entrepreneur committed to unleashing the potential of young people through equitable and inclusive education opportunities. Prior to founding Educate Lanka, Manjula worked in investment banking in Washington DC and in international development at the World Bank. Manjula also serves on the board of the Learning Economy Foundation and a member of the executive committee of Karanga: The Global Alliance for Social Emotional Learning. Manjula’s based in Washington DC with his wife and two boys and splits his time between the U.S. and Sri Lanka.
DIETEL PARTNERS, SENIOR PARTNER
Ren Dietel loves being part of Dietel and Partners, a philanthropic advising firm that she operates with two of her sisters and their dad. They create uniquely tailored philanthropic services for individuals, multi-generation families, and small family foundations and are deeply committed to grantee-centric partnerships with grantee organizations around the globe. Ren is based in Seattle, WA.
SENIOR LEADER, SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL IMPACT
Rohit is an independent consultant, focused on sustainability and social impact, for organizations across the nonprofit and corporate sectors. Rohit has worked with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, J.P. Morgan’s Philanthropic Services Group, MetLife Foundation, M•A•C AIDS Fund, The Estée Lauder Companies, Teach For All, Zegar Family Foundation and Philanthropy New York, among others. Rohit received his Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University and holds a B.A. in Economics from The College of Wooster.
TEACH FOR ALL, GLOBAL DIRECTOR OF GIRLS’ EDUCATION
Samantha Williams is the Global Director of Girls’ Education at Teach For All, where she supports educators to increase gender equity in their classrooms and communities. During her time at Teach For All, Samantha has served as Chief of Staff to the CEO, and spent five years in Johannesburg establishing the organization’s operations in Africa, leading external relations, growth strategy, and partner support. She previously worked at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, Harvard University, and Communities In Schools of Georgia. She is based in New Orleans, Louisiana.