Meet our Team
Our board is comprised of 12 members with wide-ranging expertise, spanning hospitality, communications, circular economies, entrepreneurship, luxury goods, women’s health, design, technology, and marketing. Though we come from different backgrounds, we are united by a shared purpose: to drive lasting, community-led impact by uplifting women, youth and their communities, supporting sustainable development, and building a more equitable future.
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Founder & ChairmanFounder of SOLM & AURE, Jahira is a Cape Verdean tech and hospitality entrepreneur building regenerative tourism practices, rooted in community and culture. After holding critical roles at JP Morgan, MongoDB, Datadog, and New Relic, she chose to pivot from infrastructure-led work to human-centered systems & is currently leading automation and CS at African Leadership Group across three continents. A fourth-generation hospitality mind, she now brings deep local heritage and global systems thinking to the future of hospitality.
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Board MemberGlobal marketing and brand transformation leader with 20+ years of experience across CPG, beauty, and luxury. Brings deep expertise in consumer-centric strategy, category creation, DTC models, and scaling brands across global, regional, and emerging markets.
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Board MemberExpert in people-centered project management, logistics, and strategic storytelling across travel and cultural sectors. Focused on creating impact and giving back through purposeful collaboration.
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Board MemberMarketing and Communications professional with a passion for brand storytelling as a vehicle for amplifying local voices and creating opportunities that empower communities to thrive.
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Vice PresidentCommunications, institutional reform and corporate leadership expert with over 30 years of experience across Africa’s public and private sectors. Emilienne was the first African woman to be CEO of telecoms organization (Celtel). She now guides SOLM’s strategic growth.
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Board MemberEntrepreneurship and venture-building leader with 15+ years of experience supporting founders across Africa. Former Head of ALX Ventures, where she led high-impact incubation programs, including spearheading NBA Africa’s award-winning Triple Double Accelerator for sports innovation.
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Board MemberDirector of STUDIO SANKARA, a leading creative production house in Senegal. With over 15 years of experience as a producer known for impactful campaigns, documentaries, and films exploring migration, entrepreneurship, and social change.
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President - Audit CouncilExpert in finance and development with cross-sector experience spanning hospitality, government reform, and multilateral institutions. Brings deep expertise in corporate finance and project consulting across public and private spheres.
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Board Member & Project LeadFounder of Olio, a multidisciplinary practice known for its sustainable approach to design and renovation. Expertise in eco-conscious construction and a commitment to creating spaces that serve both people and place.
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Board MemberMarketing and entertainment professional known for curating powerful, culturally resonant experiences. Now bringing creative vision and strategic insight to help amplify our reach and impact.
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Board MemberExpert in regenerative innovation and systemic change. Specializes in fostering cross-sector collaboration to tackle complex societal challenges with resource-efficient, impact-driven solutions.
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Board MemberMàriam is a lawyer specializing in European Union affairs, international relations, and sustainable development. She has worked closely with European institutions, including the European Parliament, and has experience across legal advisory, international policy, and sustainability initiatives.
Her work often sits at the intersection of law, global development, and responsible investment, and she has collaborated on projects connected to renewable energy, gender equality, and international cooperation across Europe, Africa, and Latin America.