About me
I do good, well.
Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. I've spent my career trying to close that gap by serving as a conduit between communities and organizations on the frontlines of change.
I'm a social impact adviser and nonprofit board director with a decade of experience transforming visionary ideas into meaningful social impact, with expertise spanning economic, racial and gender justice, and food security. I am a trusted partner to executives, helping them bridge the gap between strategy and execution. Ever a global citizen, I’ve lived and worked in the U.S., Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. I bring this cross-cultural perspective to my work.
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
Abraham Lincoln
I’m also passionate about Africa and dedicated to supporting its visionary innovators. As Board Chair of SOS Sahel USA and a Trustee of Operation Fistula, I support non-profits positively impacting people and the planet. Previous ventures also include the Afro-Catalyst podcast and Ayiba Magazine, where I amplified stories of African changemakers. In recognition for my work, I have been named one of the 100 Most Influential People of African Descent under 40 in media and culture.
I hold a BA from Yale University and an MSc from the London School of Economics, where my research focused on global and corporate governance in emerging markets. I am a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Executive Program in Social Impact and hold a certificate in Strategic Philanthropy in Emerging Markers from the University of Cambridge’s Judge Business School. I am also an alumna of the Princeton in Africa Fellowship.
I've written for the World Economic Forum and the Center for American Progress as well as media such as NPR, Quartz, Fast Company, Slate, CNBC, Forbes, Project Syndicate, African Business Magazine, Harvard Africa Policy Journal, OkayAfrica and Fields Magazine. I’ve spoken at Google, Yale, Georgetown, the Inter-American Dialogue, Expo 2020, Latitude59, and more on business, culture and politics.
Introducing Jikoni
On weekends, you'll find me in the kitchen, at the farmer's market, or exploring a new restaurant.
On this site, you’ll also find my food blog, Jikoni (Kiswahili for "kitchen"), my love letter to the foods and flavors of Africa and its diaspora.
Growing up, food in my home was a vibrant pan-African fusion with unique combinations like supakanja (Gambian okra stew) and ugali (an East African maize-based side dish similar to polenta). Over time, my pan-African outlook extended from the kitchen to the classroom to the workplace. Jikoni is part celebration of Africa's history and cuisine, part exercise in cultural anthropology as I sleuth through the origins of many of these dishes. I'm an amateur chef, so there will be a lot of trial and error, but hopefully a lot of learning and a great deal of fun.