CEO
COUNTRY DIRECTOR (RWANDA)
COUNTRY DIRECTOR (GHANA)
DIRECTOR OF DESIGN & PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
PRODUCTION MANAGER
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION MANAGER
WHOLESALE ACCOUNT MANAGER
COUNTRY ASSOCIATE
PRODUCTION ASSOCIATE
EDUCATION ASSOCIATE
PRODUCTION INTERN
FULFILLMENT ASSOCIATE
Matt Mitro is currently the global head of campus recruiting at Citadel which he joined in August 2020. In this role he takes responsibility for driving the firm’s strategy to find, engage and recruit exceptional student talent globally. Matt served in a similar role at JPMorgan Chase from 2017-2020 where he led innovations related to diversity recruiting and the use of neuroscience assessments. From 2011 to 2017, Matt led a variety of university recruiting and programmatic efforts at Google that focused on technical and non-technical students throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas. During his time at Google, Matt also oversaw the software engineering intern program and Google’s signature partnerships with HBCUs. Matt’s career also included time spent as a social entrepreneur and attorney. In 2006, Matt founded Indego Africa. Matt began his professional career as a practicing attorney in Washington, DC where he advised on infrastructure projects in developing countries. Matt graduated with a law degree from American University and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and history from Washington University in St. Louis.
Lindsay Abrams is an experienced sales and merchandising professional with a background in the fashion industry and nonprofit sector. She currently leads sales and outreach for the Little Market, a nonprofit fair trade shop featuring ethically sourced, artisan-made products. Lindsay also serves as Executive Director of the Bruce C. Abrams Foundation which is dedicated to supporting mental health research and development worldwide. She holds a Master of Social Entrepreneurship from the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business as well as a BA in Human and Organizational Development and English from Vanderbilt University.
Jaramogi K. Adams is a global operations executive with a knack for end-to-end strategic execution, communications and building global teams in both the Financial Services and Technology sectors. Currently, he is the Chief Operating Officer for DIVERSD, a startup that builds Artificial Intelligence for the Future of Work with a particular lens on the importance of Intersectionality and conscious counter-bias. Prior to his time in startups, Jaramogi had a long career at American Express. He developed expertise in leading business transformation, change management and design thinking for payments, banking, travel, lending and enterprise platforms across 4 continents (New York, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Sydney). Jaramogi holds an A.B. from Duke University, and a M.Sc from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Chris Birosak has over 30 years of Investment Banking, Leveraged Finance, and Private Equity investment experience. He currently serves as the Vice Chairman of Indego Africa's Board of Directors (August 2017-present) and a Senior Advisor and Investment Committee member of Star Mountain Capital, an investment firm focused on growth capital investments in small and medium sized US businesses. His career includes former work as Managing Partner of North Cove Partners and as Managing Director of Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity where he served on the investment committee and was responsible for investments in the Health Care and Energy sectors. Across his career, Chris has worked with early-stage businesses, middle-market companies as well as Fortune 500 companies having completed over 150 transactions. In addition to his corporate board experience, Chris has extensive experience in the non-profit sector and currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York and the Board of the Student Partner Alliance, an organization enabling inner-city youth to attend parochial schools. As a long time resident of Summit, NJ, Chris formerly served on the Board of the Summit Area YMCA and was a former President and Board member of the Summit Educational Foundation. Chris graduated from Wayne State University with a BA in economics and from the University of Detroit Mercy with an MBA in finance.
Steve Foresta is a partner at McGuireWoods LLP in New York. Foresta joined McGuireWoods from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, where he led its global business litigation unit from 2011 to 2016 and chaired its life settlements working group. Steve also devotes a substantial amount of time working with community service organizations. During the summer of 2009, Steve traveled to Rwanda with his son Michael to work with Indego Africa’s staff, artisan partners, and Generation Rwanda interns, and he’s been a devoted Indego Africa supporter ever since. Steve also serves as Chair of the New York Board of Advisors of Disability Rights Advocates. Steve graduated from Fordham University School of Law in 1987 and received his undergraduate degree in 1984 from the University of Virginia, where he was an Echols Scholar.
Conor is in his second invigorating decade of being a business lawyer, social entrepreneur, and policy wonk. He currently serves as General Counsel at Zipline International, the world’s first commercial drone delivery system to operate at a national scale in both Rwanda and Ghana. Conor previously led legal, regulatory, and government affairs as GC of Funding Circle, the world’s leading lending platform focused exclusively on small business. Conor also spent four years helping to build and scale Indego Africa, where he served in various roles as CFO, COO, and eventually CEO. He began his career as a corporate finance attorney at Latham & Watkins LLP. Active in the policy community, Conor is a Presidential Leadership Scholar, Truman Security Fellow, and has helped found the Marketplace Lending Association (a trade association supporting responsible financial innovation), the Responsible Business Lending Coalition (which authored the Small Business Borrowers’ Bill of Rights), and the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise (a global initiative supporting the artisan sector). He currently serves on the alumni board of NYU Law and the financial institutions committee of the CA bar, and was recently recognized as 2017 Bay Area Corporate Counsel of the Year. Conor received his JD from NYU Law and his BA from Georgetown. He is admitted to the CA, DC, MA and NY bars.
Helen Gugel is a partner in the litigation & enforcement practice at Ropes & Gray LLP. Her work involves representing companies, investment advisers, executives, and boards of directors in both civil and criminal proceedings and investigations. Beyond her regulatory work, Helen conducts internal and independent investigations into allegations of serious wrongdoing, including unlawful or unethical business practices, workplace harassment and other misconduct. She maintains a robust pro bono practice focused on criminal defense and criminal justice reform. Helen previously served as a Special Assistant District Attorney in Kings County, New York and clerked for the Honorable Shira A. Scheindlin in the Southern District of New York. She has also worked with several nonprofits in India, Nepal, and Rwanda focused on empowering women, including as a Legal Fellow at Indego Africa. Helen holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University, and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.
Alex Kennedy is a vice president in the Investment Banking Division at Goldman Sachs. She currently serves as the secretary to the Goldman Sachs Firmwide Commitments Committee, the committee which approves and oversees underwriting and distribution activities with respect to equity and equity-related products, and sets and maintains policies and procedures designed to ensure that legal, reputational, regulatory and business standards are maintained on a global basis. Previously, she worked in the Compliance and Legal Divisions of Goldman Sachs. From August 2010 to June 2011, Alex worked in Rwanda as in-country coordinator for Indego Africa. Alex graduated from Smith College with a BA in African Studies, The University of London with a MA in African Studies and holds a JD from The Ohio State University.
Sierra Visher Kroha, a leader in the San Diego nonprofit community, is the current Chief Executive Officer of San Diego Social Venture Partners, a nonprofit that provides pro-bono consulting to local organizations to strengthen their impact. She has experience in international development having held a range of leadership roles in microfinance organizations, refugee services and business development programs in Latin America and East Africa where, notably, she helped to start, scale and manage a national public health program in Kenya with Innovation for Poverty Action that dewormed 5.9 million children annually. She has previously chaired the board of the Karen Organization of San Diego supporting Burmese refugees in San Diego, and currently serves on the board of the Point Loma Association. She was recently recognized as a finalist for San Diego Business Journal's Top 40 Business Leaders under 40. Sierra holds a BA from UCSD and an MPA from New York University where, during her studies, she first fell in love with Indego Africa while working an intern.
Ryan is a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, where he currently serves as the Americas Head of the Regulatory Practice Group - Securities team. Based out of New York, Texas, and Utah, Ryan's team manages the firm's interactions with its non-prudential regulators, such as regulatory exams and inquiries. Before joining Goldman, Ryan practiced law with the Litigation Department of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in New York. Prior to joining Orrick, Ryan worked with several international governmental organizations devoted to international lawmaking, governance and enforcement, including the United Nations Liaison Office of CARE International in New York, the Center for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) in New Delhi, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna. Ryan holds a B.A. from Vassar College, an M.A. in International Affairs from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, and a J.D. from Stanford Law School.
Elizabeth Lynch is Executive Director of the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs at JPMorgan Chase & Co. where she supports the firm’s investments to champion veteran employment, talent development, and small business growth. She has worked for over 20 years in mission-driven organizations, with a focus on empowering women and generating wealth for low-income households. Prior to joining the firm in 2017, Elizabeth served as the Head of Executive Coaching and Mentoring for Creative Metier, a UK-based consulting firm. Her work focused on leadership development and coaching for senior leaders in the East African financial sector. Elizabeth also held a variety of roles at Women's World Banking (WWB), one the largest global microfinance networks, most recently as the Head of the Center for Microfinance Leadership, where she was responsible for WWB’s global work in leadership development. Elizabeth holds an MA in International Affairs from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and a BA in History from Haverford College. She lives in New York with her husband and two daughters.
Puneet Mansharamani has more than 15 years of investment experience. He has served as a Partner and Portfolio Manager at LSV Asset Management since 2006 and a Quantitative Analyst since 2000. As part of the quantitative and implementation team, Puneet is responsible for the day-to-day data management, portfolio implementation and ongoing enhancement of LSV's models and systems. He earned a B.S. in Engineering from Delhi University, Delhi College of Engineering and an M.S. degree in Engineering at Case Western Reserve University, Case School of Engineering.
Joe comes to Indego Africa after over 30 years at American Express where he held leadership positions in finance, business transformation and reengineering, and revenue development. Most recently, he was Vice President, Strategic Transformation for American Express Global Business Travel, one of the largest corporate travel management companies worldwide. Prior to that, Joe was CFO of Global Business Travel. He has held cross product line CFO positions in Asia, Europe, and Latin America. During his career with American Express, he has lived in Bangkok, Rome, London, Frankfurt and Miami, as well as his base in New York. Joe holds an MBA in finance and accounting from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University, and a BS in Economics from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Joe is an active member of the alumni board of the Owen School at Vanderbilt. He resides in Brooklyn.
Daniel Sacks is a philanthropic advisor and consultant based in Washington DC, where he met his wife, Vanessa, while planning an Indego Africa fundraiser. They now have two elementary school-aged daughters, Georgia and Emma. Dan has spent 15+ years working in nonprofits on topics ranging from agriculture in Africa, to criminal justice reform, to mental health and wellness. Dan grew up in North Vancouver, Canada and graduated from McGill University in Montreal studying political science, economics and psychology and playing rugby. He rides his bike for exercise and mental clarity.
Selom is a Vice President in the Technology Division at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. He has extensive experience in management consulting having served clients for Ernst & Young LLP, Capgemini and Deloitte Consulting LLP. His industry experience spans across Financial Services, Technology, Healthcare, Energy and Consumer Business advising and executing on Transformation and Integration initiatives. A native of Ghana, Selom has always had a keen interest in giving back to his country and the continent as a whole and brings a unique perspective to programs and strategy. Selom obtained a BSc. in Computer and Electrical Engineering, an MSc. in Electrical Engineering from the Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Science and an MBA from the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University.
Leveraging a 24-year career with Merrill Lynch, Karen joined Indego Africa in March 2012 as Chief Financial Officer, assumed the Chief Operating Officer role in June 2012 and was promoted to CEO on January 1, 2014. Karen was drawn to Indego Africa for both its mission, which intersects with her passion for education and helping women achieve financial independence, and for Indego Africa’s entrepreneurial culture. Karen was Managing Director of the US Business Selection and Conflicts group within Investment Banking at Merrill Lynch. Previous roles at Merrill included debt markets finance, investment banking business management and corporate budgeting. Karen received an MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia and her B.A. from the University of Michigan.
Leveraging 24 years of experience at Merrill Lynch, Karen drives Indego Africa forward with her keen business acumen, energy, wisdom, and vision. She was drawn to Indego Africa for both its mission - which intersects with her passion for women’s education and economic empowerment - and its entrepreneurial culture. Karen received an MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia and her B.A. from the University of Michigan.
Deirdre received a B.A. in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia in 2007 and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School in 2010. After graduating law school where she focused on women's and refugee rights in Africa, Deirdre joined Indego Africa and took the reins of Indego's growing sales department as Creative Director. As Design Director, Deirdre designs Indego's product line and works on all things brand related. Deirdre has spoken at Parsons the New School for Design, Princeton University, FIT, NYU Stern, and Columbia Law on global markets, fashion as a social venture, ethical design, and sustainable sourcing. While at Indego she has managed partnerships with large designers and global brands such as Eileen Fisher, JCrew, Madewell, Anthropologie, Goop, Jonathan Adler, Target, and Google.
Louisa Adu graduated in 2011 from University in Tamale, Ghana and in received a Masters Degree in Public Health from the University of Tampere in Finland. A women’s empowerment and health care advocate, Louisa has worked as a trainer for socioeconomically marginalized women in Ghana’s northern region, teaching soap-making, sewing, and entrepreneurial skills. Additionally, she has held roles as a Junior Nutrition Officer at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and as a Field Officer for Development Studies in a rural Ghanaian community.
Chantal Musabimana joined Indego Africa in July 2015 as its new Production Manager. Previously, she worked for two years as the president of Ibyishimo Cooperative, one of Indego's partner co-ops, and also served as the Business Development Officer at Inkomoko Business Development. She holds a BSc. in Business Information Technology from the National University of Rwanda.
Brittany is a design-driven change-maker. She plays a pivotal role in Indego Africa’s branding strategies and communications, combining her innovative and vibrant design aesthetic with her commitment to empowering African women artisans. She holds a B.A. in Communications and Digital Media Art from Manhattan College.
Modeste joined Indego Africa in June 2013 as the Kinyarwanda trainer for Ejo Hazaza cooperative. In February 2015, Modeste assumed the role of Education Associate, serving as a Teaching Manager at the Leadership Academy and the Head Teacher for all of Indego Africa's basic training programs. Prior to joining Indego, he worked for UAP Insurance Rwanda Ltd as a Marketing Executive for the Direct Sales Unit. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Kigali Independent University.
Shelby plays a central role in developing Indego Africa’s communications content and executing its fundraising and evaluation strategies. Prior to joining Indego Africa, Shelby worked for a variety of human rights organizations and women-focused
nonprofits where she developed a passion for youth education, grassroots activism, and international development. Shelby is a City Year AmeriCorps alum and holds a dual B.A. in Journalism and Women's Studies from the University at Albany. She
earned her MPA with a concentration in International Policy and Nonprofit Management from the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University in 2016.
Godwin joined Indego Africa in January 2016 as a trainer for the Basic Business Training program at AJ Cooperative before working as a Finance Intern at Indego Africa’s Kigali office. Today, Godwin oversees the organization's financial and administrative operations in Rwanda. Prior to joining Indego Africa, Godwin worked with FAO, Laterite, Sanejo, and Kepler. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Statistics.
Margaret is originally from Ghana. She holds a BA in anthropology and a MPA in public policy administration, both from New York University (NYU). She is passionate about supporting women gain economic agency through access to the global markets while preserving their traditional crafts and is excited to bring forth her creative and retail experiences to Indego Africa.
Emelienne is one of Indego Africa’s first artisan partners, the founder of Cocoki Cooperative, and a former Education Associate at our Leadership Academy in Kigali. She is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Initiative, a Peace Through Business business plan competition winner, and an influential mentor and leader in communities across Rwanda.
Yves joined Indego Africa in 2013 as a teaching intern for Ejo Hazaza Cooperative before finding employment with Cogebank. He rejoined Indego in 2015 as a full-time Education Associate, providing business instruction and guidance to our artisan partners and students across Rwanda. Yves holds a Bachelors Degree in Business and Economic Studies with a specialization in Accounting from Kigali Independent University. He also holds a secondary school certificate in trade and accounting.
Solomon studied at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. Before joining Indego Africa, he worked with the Forest Services Division in Sunyani as a Field Personnel. Solomon also served as a Delivery Officer at Vodafone Ghana for two years. In March 2016, Solomon joined Indego as a Production Intern in Kumasi and was quickly promoted to Country Associate in which he assists with all production and education projects in Ghana.
Sapna comes to Indego Africa with over 15 years of experience spanning the luxury accessories industry and global artisan economy. She is a driven, multifaceted designer whose expertise extends into development, production, operations, as well as brand and sales strategy. Having co-founded Khokho in 2014, an artisan accessories social enterprise in Eswatini that partners with women weavers from rural communities, Sapna understands the importance of preserving traditional crafts, while creating relevance and access within global markets. After cutting her teeth at Coach and Calvin Klein, and then launching the handbag collections for Rag & Bone, Eddie Borgo and recently Rosetta Getty, Sapna leverages her broad industry experience to help build capacity and impact for artisans around the world.
Gifty is based in the north of Ghana and works closely with our team in Kumasi, following production orders and conducting quality control with the artisans collectives in Bongo and Bolgatanga. Gifty comes from Kassena - Nankana District with Navrongo as its capital. She attended the University of Cape Coast (Distance Learning) and graduated in 2019. She holds a Diploma in Basic Education. Gifty is interested in teaching and does farming at times to support her family.
With over 15 years of experience in design, merchandising, and planning, Maggie is a product-focused creative who has thrived in leading development for diverse brands, ranging from small startups to large specialty retailers and internationally recognized names. At the core of her creative approach lies a profound love for artisan craft and natural materials, which serve as her preferred mediums. From leathers and natural spun yarns to grasses, woods, metals, and ceramics, her designs reflect a deep commitment to craftsmanship and sustainability.This commitment to material, craft, and ethical practices has led her to make a meaningful impact through her work with Indego Africa, reflecting her ongoing drive to propel ethical and sustainable designs forward. Her deep enthusiasm for design and product development is evident in her work, where she collaborates closely with brands to craft unique products tailored to their specific needs and the demands of the market.
Sara comes to Indego Africa with nearly 15 years of media and marketing experience. During her tenure at top New York agencies, she worked with a range of organizations from Fortune 100 companies to scrappy start-ups, touching everything from brand strategy and communications planning to media buying with a specialty in digital platforms. Sara discovered a love for artisan-made products and the stories behind them on a trip to Peru in 2012. Introduced to Indego Africa through a friend living in Rwanda, she was drawn to its mission of female empowerment and the preservation of traditional techniques. Joining the New York Regional Volunteer Board in 2016, Sara was an active member and leader of the group until joining Indego Africa full time in 2023.
Nicole joined Indego Africa in July 2023 as Wholesale Account Manager. She is passionate about supporting and empowering women, values ethically and sustainably created products, and understands the importance of preserving traditional crafts. With nearly a decade of experience in client relations and consumer products, Nicole is excited to bring her industry knowledge to the role. She holds a BA in Anthropology from the University of Florida.
Melanie joined Indego Africa as fulfillment associate in February 2023. She joins the team with prior fulfillment experience from major department stores and is enthusiastic to continue learning while helping Indego Africa with providing artisans with a global market for their handmade products. Melanie is a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology and is set to graduate with a B.S. in Advertising and Marketing Communications in May of 2024.
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