Globinar GC PHX Welcome to the 2022 Mandela Washington Fellows
Phoenix, AZ
Virtual Reception at Global Chamber®
Featuring the 2022 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders at ASU
Thursday July 7, 2022 at 8am PT / 10am CT / 3pm Accra
One hour conversation and connecting on future opportunities.
Attend virtually ... register to receive the zoom link.
Thank you to Hector Zelaya at Arizona State University for the collaboration.
Note: We changed the date to July 7th at 8am PT. Connect with...
Manuel Adriano / Angola
Manuel Adriano has more than five years of experience in the development sector. Currently, Manuel serves at the African Union Commission, where he focuses on multilateral cooperation, or matters relating to Africa's strategic multilateral partnerships with the rest of the world. He has also served at the United Nations Information Centre. Manuel holds a master's degree in Business Administration and Project Management. Manuel wants to work in public management and governance so he can influence change through policymaking. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Manuel plans to return to Angola and use his new skills and networks to create policies that can be successfully implemented.
Jessy Mendes / Angola
Jessy Mendes has more than 15 years of experience in efforts related to skateboarding. Currently, Jessy is founder and president of Angola Skateboarding Union (ASU), which supports Angolan youth through empowerment projects and events. Jessy built the first skate park in Angola, which is a safe place for young people to express themselves. He is motivated to see young people excel at what they love to do, and he hopes to grow the African skateboarding scene. He uses his own experiences in skateboarding to show young people the value of being committed to whatever they undertake. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Jessy plans to expand ASU throughout Angola, employing more young people as board members, teachers, and coaches. He hopes to build four more skate parks in Angola and one day build the biggest skate park in Africa. His motto is 'Dream big, stick to the plan, and work hard - the only person stopping you from reaching your goals is you!'
Amoudath Adebomi Olaitan Mazu / Benin
Amoudath Adebomi Olaitan Mazu has more than five years of experience in development economics and project management. A former Beninese World Bank Africa Fellow, Amoudath is currently a program coordinator at Women in Law and Development Togo, where she manages women empowerment projects across 11 countries. An advocate for gender justice, she is also the executive director of GAEF-Benin, a non-governmental organization that empowers vulnerable girls and women, promotes their sexual and reproductive health, and strengthens their economic activities. Amoudath holds a doctorate in Development Economics, which has been her passion since secondary school, enabling her to build solutions that will end poverty and fight discrimination against women, girls, and vulnerable populations. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Amoudath plans to expand her work throughout West Africa, and nurtures the dream of becoming the first woman president of Benin.v
Laone Bame / Botswana
Laone Michelle Bame is dedicated to making healthcare systems capable of withstanding future pandemics. With more than eight years of experience in medical laboratory technology, Laone currently works as a clinical application specialist at Leading Edge Markets, where she has trained more than 200 clinicians on malaria, laboratory specimen collection, and laboratory platforms. Prior to this role, she was a public servant, leading a team of professionals that installed and trained lab users on viral load and nucleic acid testing equipment across Botswana. Laone is a mental health activist and host of virtual mental health coffee dates that raise awareness of mental health and break stigmas surrounding mental health issues. She is also a volunteer consultant and project coordinator for Masedi a Botswana Association, which promotes social innovation and volunteerism. Laone holds a higher national diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology and a bachelor's degree in Public Health, and plans to pursue a doctorate in Healthcare Leadership and Public Policy. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Laone intends to establish a youth empowerment hub focusing on innovative healthcare solutions in underserved communities.
Joelson Soares Leal / Cabo Verde
Joelson Soares Leal is a designer with eight years of experience using design thinking as a tool in Cabo Verde's digital transformation process. Currently, Joelson is the brand strategist and user interface designer at Cabo Verde Digital, a public institution that focuses on creating and developing a sustainable digital innovation ecosystem in Cabo Verde. Previously, Joelson was the adviser for marketing and brands at the Ministry of Culture and Creative Industries. He designed several digital products, including TEDx Praia, Passafree, MyUnitel, RTC Mobile, WHO Africa's Innovation Challenge Platform, and Africa Innovation Summit. One such brand, Muska, was launched in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2019 and now has more than 100,000 users. Joelson holds a bachelor's degree in Communication and Multimedia Design from the University of Cabo Verde and is currently pursuing a post-graduate degree in Branding from IADE Creative University. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Joelson plans to continue his work on his country's digital transformation by actively contributing to the development of a strong digital innovation ecosystem.
Christiana Haddison Eposi / Cameroon
Christiana Haddison Eposi is a medical doctor and epidemiologist with more than nine years of clinical, public health, and research experience. Currently, Christiana is district medical officer for the Saa Health District in Cameroon, in which role she oversees all facility- and community-based health activities. She is passionate about immunization and disease surveillance and works to ensure that vaccines are accessible to all age groups in her community and that community health workers participate in disease surveillance. Her work as a researcher and mentor allows her to inform decisions about immunization policies, which she hopes will reduce the mortality and morbidity of vaccine-preventable diseases in Cameroon. Her district is among the top 10 rural districts in the uptake of newly introduced HPV and COVID-19 vaccines in her region. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Christiana plans to use her newly acquired skills to improve the acceptance rate of new and underused vaccines and to encourage community leaders to participate in social mobilization and sensitization regarding immunization.
Miguel Santos Osa Nkara / Equatorial Guinea
Miguel Santos Osa Nkara has more than 10 years of experience in the oil industry. Currently, Miguel is government affairs adviser and commercial representative at Marathon Oil, where he is in charge of negotiations and relations between local governments and the oil company in Equatorial Guinea. Miguel is also legal adviser of the local non-governmental organization (NGO) Young African Leaders Initiative, whose objective is to empower young people in their country and to develop their communities. Miguel holds a master's degree in Business Administration and a bachelor's degree in Law. He is committed to defending human rights and provides free assistance to prisoners with limited financial resources. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Miguel plans to create an NGO with a mission to provide free legal assistance to vulnerable people so that they have access to justice and with a special emphasis on the defense of human rights.
Ibrahim N'Diaye / Cote d'Ivoire
Ibrahim N'Diaye has more than five years of experience in auditing, finance, and strategy both at a company level and a country level. Currently, Ibrahim is project manager at Atlantic Financial Group, where he focuses on market surveys, feasibility studies, and business planning for all the group's projects. His passion for education led him to join the World Economic Forum Global Shapers, where he is taking part in fundraising to offer school kits to students in primary school in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Ibrahim holds a master's degree in Management. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Ibrahim plans to continue to apply his competencies to the service of his country by joining the Ivorian government.
Lwandle Simelane / Eswatini
Lwandle Simelane has more than four years of experience in the science and innovation sector in Eswatini. Currently, Lwandle is senior science officer in the Department of Research, Science, Technology, and Innovation. She focuses on coordinating and monitoring research and development and innovation policies, initiating and coordinating the nation's science, technology, engineering, and mathematics agenda. She is an experienced project manager, researcher, and data analyst. Lwandle holds a master's degree in Biotechnology, a postgraduate diploma in Business Administration, and a certificate in Strategic Management. Lwandle is diligent and motivated to upscale her skills in the area of public management. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Lwandle aspires to be a leading woman in science, to address key issues on women and youth representation and opportunities in the national system of innovation, and to tap into the innovation management and research and development ecosystem.
Mphile Vilakati / Eswatini
Mphile Knowledge Vilakati has more than eight years of experience in transport and logistics. Currently, he is public transport manager at the Municipal Council of Mbabane, in which role he expedites implementation of the Mbabane Public Transport Strategy. The main objective of this strategy is to improve the movement of people and goods around the city. Mphile is also an executive member of Couples Nest Network, which provides pre- and post-marital counseling. Mphile holds a master's degree in Transport and Logistics Engineering and is pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree. On completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, he plans to continue working for the municipality and to provide solutions to the traffic congestion problem that is overwhelming the city.
Mitiku Kayamo / Ethiopia
Mitiku Kebede Kayamo has 10 years of experience in the field of economics. Currently, he works as a lecturer, researcher, and trainer at Addis Ababa University, School of Commerce. He has been published in renowned international journals. Mitiku has also participated in volunteer activities for more than a decade on issues such as policy package preparation for women's empowerment, easy market access for smallholding farmers, and enhancement of youth leadership skills. He currently volunteers as a lead researcher at the Center for Investment Networking in Ethiopia, an independent professional platform that informs and engages key investment stakeholders. He has a Master of Science degree in Economics from Addis Ababa University and a bachelor's degree in Economics from Hawassa University. Mitiku is passionate about public management and political economy. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, he aspires to train policymakers, public servants, and government officials on policy formulation and implementation, along with transparency and accountability.
Natnael Melaku Kokeb / Ethiopia
Natnael Melaku Kokeb is an entrepreneur and consultant with more than 10 years of experience in the legal field. Currently, Natnael Melaku is an adviser at the National Election Board of Ethiopia, focusing on political parties and election law. He is co-founder of two start-ups: AXIOM Financial Technologies, which is building a credit scoring system for the Ethiopian market, and Anna Digital Health Solutions, which works on introducing digital referral systems for Ethiopian hospitals. Natnael Melaku is committed to improving the health, wealth, and development of Ethiopia through his start-ups and in his role as an adviser at an institute of democracy. He holds a bachelor's degree in Law. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Natnael Melaku plans to establish a digital credit and saving cooperative to start collateral-free lending and to expand his digital referral systems nationwide. As an adviser, he plans on supporting female political party leadership through the women politicians council that he helped establish.
Mariama Coneh / The Gambia
Mariama Coneh has more than two years of experience working as a human rights advocate. Currently, Mariama serves as program associate at the Women's Association for Victims' Empowerment, focusing on different initiatives of the Never Again campaign in the transitional justice process of The Gambia. Through her work in the organization, she has engaged with international and local civil society organizations to advocate for the implementation of the Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission's recommendations to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable. She volunteers at the Hart House, a foundation for children with learning disabilities, and she also serves as a research assistant at Peace Research Institute Frankfurt on the local perception of regional bodies research project in The Gambia. Mariama holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science. She is committed to advocating for marginalized groups in society, including victims of human rights violations and people with disabilities. She aspires to be an agent of change who contributes to a more inclusive society. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Mariama plans to apply what she has learned to her advocacy work and to transfer her new skills to young people in her community.
Marang Sanyang / The Gambia
Marang Sanyang has more than six years of experience in the field of law. Currently, Marang is a senior state counsel at the Attorney General's Chambers and the Ministry of Justice of The Gambia, where she focuses on international law matters. From 2011 to 2012, she served as a volunteer at the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies. Marang holds a master's degree in International Law and International Relations. She is committed to the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, the promotion of democratic tenets, and good governance. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Marang plans to use her experience to influence public policies and democratic culture and to promote human rights that truly reflect the needs and aspirations of the African continent.
Mohamed II Kaba / Guinea
Mohamed II Kaba, a citizen of Guinea, has more than eight years of experience in public health emergency programs. Currently, Mohamed is technical officer for the World Health Organization's country support team deployed to Burundi. The team supports scaling up COVID-19 vaccination coverage. Mohamed is skilled in clinical development sciences and vaccine rollout, research, epidemiology, project management, monitoring and evaluation, and data management. During his consultancy with the World Health Organization, he provided support in eight African countries'Burundi, Chad, Guinea, Mauritania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Uganda'in various fields during the West African Ebola outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic. Mohamed holds a doctorate in Medicine and a master's degree in Public Health. He is dedicated to providing people with access to basic medical services. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Mohamed plans to improve the immunization program in Guinea and reduce mortality and morbidity from diseases preventable by vaccines. His mission is to leave no one behind by increasing equitable access and use of new and existing vaccines.
Neo Ramahapu Letsoela / Lesotho
Neo Ramahapu Letsoela is a research, monitoring, and evaluation officer in a non-governmental organization that works with HIV/AIDS-related issues. She maintains data collection aspects, monitors the project daily, and evaluates the performance at the end of each period. Neo holds a bachelor of arts degree in Economics with a minor in Statistics. She has extensive experience in customer service, data collection, monitoring, and evaluation. She has volunteered in several organizations, carrying out administrative duties, communications, and data collection. She was part of a future Olympic women's leadership development program that motivates and trains young women in various sports to take on leadership roles. Neo is an active member and serves on the committee of Team Shanghai, a social club that is a positive influence on youth. The team addresses critical issues affecting our society and strives to unite youth to contribute to the betterment of surrounding communities. After completing the Mandela Fellowship Washington for Young African Leaders, she plans to apply and share her skills with her colleagues at work and also with the team at the social club.
Irene Pewu / Liberia
Irene Princess Pewu has more than five years' experience in the field of public health, with a focus on disease surveillance and outbreak response. Currently, Irene is the national Lassa fever focal person with the Division of Infectious Disease and Epidemiology at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia. She provides technical support and coordinates the implementation of public health surveillance using the Integrated Disease Surveillance Response approach in international health regulation to prevent, detect, and respond to Lassa fever outbreaks. Irene served as logistician at the Island Ebola Treatment Unit during the 2014 ebola virus outbreak in Liberia. She also responded to the Yaws outbreak in the Western Region of Ghana in 2016. Irene's personal and volunteer experiences have inspired her to pursue establishing a non-governmental organization to help teenagers battle drug abuse. Irene holds a master's degree in Public Health, with an emphasis on Epidemiology, from Cuttington University and a master's of philosophy degree in Field Epidemiology from the University of Ghana. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Irene plans to fulfill her goal of building a robust healthcare system through community initiatives.
Mirado Fitiavana Rakotoharimalala / Madagascar
Mirado Rakotoharimalala has more than 10 years of experience in the fields of sports management and finance. Currently, Mirado is chief executive officer at the Clubs de Football Elite de Madagascar, where he manages the Orange Pro League, the only major sports league (a soccer league) in Madagascar. Before that, he was the marketing and communication manager of the Fédération Malagasy de Football, a media officer of the Confederation of African Football, and a bank chief of agency. Mirado holds a Master of Science in Sports Management and the Business of Football from Birkbeck, University of London. He strongly believes that sports, through the values they foster'including solidarity, respect, friendship, and a sense of effort'can be a social and economic development lever in Madagascar and throughout Africa. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Mirado plans to enhance sports governance in his country. Committed to tackling gender inequality through sports, he wants to bring equal opportunities to young men and women who aspire to work within the sports industry in Madagascar. He hopes to do so by achieving a decision-making position in the Ministry of Sports.
Ndiogou Guene / Senegal
Ndiogou Guene has more than three years of experience in infrastructure, especially in the fields of water supply, sanitation, transport, and public works. Currently, Ndiogou is an infrastructures engineer working on the Dakar Bus Rapid Transit Pilot Project, at the Conseil Exécutif des Transports Urbains de Dakar, which is the organization in charge of urban transport in Dakar. His responsibilities include overseeing the monitoring and evaluation of the project's infrastructure component as well as managing the various stakeholders and people affected by the project. He is an Alumnus of the World Bank's Infrastructure Program for African Universities and worked in Washington, DC, in 2018 and 2019. Ndiogou holds a master's degree in Civil Engineering and a Master of Business Administration in Project Management. He is driven by the challenge of tackling poverty and reducing inequality in the communities around him. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Ndiogou plans to pursue a career in the development sector. He hopes to improve the lives of those in the vulnerable segments of the population who are affected by extreme poverty.
Marie Jeva Anael Bodwell / Seychelles
Anael Bodwell is an accountant certified by the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants with more than six years of experience in auditing, accounting, and finance. Currently, Anael is senior business analyst at the Public Enterprise Monitoring Commission (PEMC) in Seychelles, where she is responsible for monitoring the performance and compliance of a portfolio of state-owned enterprises. Anael is also co-founder of a youth-led non-governmental organization, SIDS Youth Aims Hub, which is present in six island member states and works to advance youth-led projects in sustainable development. She is an avid volunteer and is passionate about youth development and empowerment. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Anael wishes to undertake other leadership roles at the PEMC to further advance the state-owned enterprise sector.
Nokwanda Mathenjwa / South Africa
Nokwanda Mathenjwa is an economics and strategy professional with more than 10 years of multi-industry experience in financial services, mining, construction, retail, government, and tourism. Nokwanda is a mentor with the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation and a member of the executive committee at the Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals'Young Professionals. She holds a postgraduate diploma in Business Administration and Management and is pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Industrial Policy at the University of Johannesburg. Nokwanda was one of 21 individuals selected from more than 250 global applications by the Centre for Global Enterprise to be part of its first Global Scholars Alpha Consulting Team. Her pre-loved clothing start-up Yamilet was one of 700 selected globally to represent Africa's emerging entrepreneurs at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. In addition, she was a personal and advisory mentor for the Commonwealth Queen's Young Leader Award, which was provided by the University of Cambridge. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Nokwanda plans to launch HYRE HIVE, a non-governmental organization that will assist matriculants from rural areas with career choices and university applications. areas with career choices and university applications.
Nwabisa Modiba / South Africa
Nwabisa Modiba has more than 14 years of professional experience. Currently, she is senior strategy manager at the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa, focusing on the development and implementation of the organization's corporate strategy. Nwabisa holds a master's degree from the Gordon Institute of Business Science, where she graduated with three top-student awards, including in macroeconomics and operations management. She aims to use her skills and experience and the opportunities afforded to her to improve the organizations she works with, helping them to make positive socioeconomic impacts. Nwabisa promotes access to education funding for financially disadvantaged Black African students. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Nwabisa plans to continue promoting access to education and to use the lessons she learned to contribute toward building a better-skilled South African public service able to deliver on its obligation to provide services and better lives for all its citizens.
Matty Mng'ong'o / Tanzania
Maria Mng'ong'o has more than eight years of experience in legal practice. Currently, Maria is legal officer at the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority and is responsible for rendering legal guidance and ensuring that public procurement processes are competitive and fair. She is also a member and legal volunteer at the Tanzania Rural Women and Children Development Foundation, a non-profit organization that improves the quality of life of rural women and children by advocating for their rights and offering them access to information, education, and resources, which will eventually improve their economic, health, social, and cultural status. Maria aspires to see women become agents of change and development in their areas of influence. She is a 2019 Chevening Scholarship Alumna at the University of Sussex. She holds two master's degrees in International Human Rights Law and Corporate and Commercial Law, and is passionate about eliminating barriers to equal power relations in Tanzanian society. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Maria plans to continue advocating for women's and girls' rights, especially in combatting gender-based violence and advancing women's empowerment.
Bassima-Nora Mafaidja / Togo
Bassima-Nora Mafaidja has more than three years of experience in banking. Currently, Bassima-Nora is manager at MH-CASH Company, where she focuses on international and national money transfer services. Bassima-Nora holds a master's degree in Economic Analyses and Policies. She is motivated to learn how to become a leader and how to better manage available resources for sustainable economic development. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Bassima-Nora plans to expand her company and to provide opportunities to single mothers who do not have a university-level education to obtain training in banking techniques through professional internships, thus giving them a better chance in the job market.
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