Experience

• 

  OpenAI

  • Senior Policy Advisor

    • Jun 2024 - Present

• 

  Violet Road

  • Advisor

    • Oct 2022 - Present

    -Advise and secure partnerships and financing for documentary film production

• 

  The New Humanitarian

  • Chief Executive Officer

    • Jan 2024 - May 2024

    The New Humanitarian puts quality, independent journalism at the service of the millions of people affected by humanitarian crises around the world. We report from the heart of conflicts and disasters to inform prevention and response.

• 

  Ada Ventures

  • London, England, United Kingdom

  • Venture Partner | Impact and Equity

    • Jun 2023 - Jan 2024
    • London, England, United Kingdom

    -Critical friend to inclusive venture firm, focusing upon defining and implementing criteria to demonstrate portfolio impact with a focus on equity and overlooked founders, shaping priorities for policy engagement in the venture spaceAda Ventures is the inclusive venture firm. Ada Ventures finds and funds extraordinary talent building breakthrough ideas for the hardest problems we face. We are investing out of our second fund and we invest £250,000 - £1m in UK technology companies across climate, economic empowerment and healthcare & ageing. If you are raising seed capital for your start-up you can apply directly below:Fundraising: https://adaventures.typeform.com/AdaSubmissions

• 

  LOOM

  • Growth and Impact Advisor

    • Nov 2022 - Jan 2024

    -Advise reproductive health media and education start-up on policy and business strategy

• 

  Chasing Joy

  • Sabbatical!!!!

    • Dec 2021 - May 2023

• 

  Facebook

  • Software Development
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Public Policy Senior Director | Africa, the Middle East & Turkey

    • Mar 2019 - Dec 2021

    - Led public/regulatory policy and business strategy for Facebook across 71 countries, including team building and management, budget management, and cross-functional collaboration- Served as senior advisor on regional issues and substantive regulatory and policy areas-Created first ever Africa, Middle East & Turkey Human Rights policy team to address human rights risks and opportunities for engagement - Recognized for superior team leadership and talent development- Created internal buy-in for investment in Africa, resulting in CEO's first trip to the continent and multi-million dollar investment in Community Tech Hub in Lagos- Served as Facebook's senior policy and external affairs spokesperson, engaging with international, regional, and local press outlets and global events- Established partnerships and launched joint events with media, governments, international organizations, and civil society- Identified regulatory/policy and communications opportunities with diaspora communities and created the first-ever Diaspora Policy Head role- Led cross-functional crisis and disaster response across the region and led team creation of company's first holistic crisis and disaster response playbook- Promoted diversity and inclusion by hiring and grooming diverse talent, particularly Black, Arab, Muslim, and LGBTQIA colleagues- Invited to be the global Executive Sponsor for Black Women@, a Facebook Employee Resource Group- Senior Advisor and Policy Pillar Lead for BLAC, providing strategic advice to improve products, policies, and talent management.

  • Public Policy Director, Africa

    • Sep 2014 - Apr 2019

• 

  Yahoo! Inc.

  • Sunnyvale, California

  • Global Head & Senior Legal Director, Human Rights

    • Sep 2008 - Aug 2014
    • Sunnyvale, California

    -Designed and implemented Yahoo!’s global human rights strategy and policy, in collaboration with senior internal and external stakeholders, and incorporating the UN Guiding Principles, the UN Global Compact, the Global Network Initiative Principles/Implementation Guidelines. -Global external liaison and spokesperson on human rights policy. Led and implemented global human rights impact assessments. -Created and launched the Business & Human Rights Summit, a stakeholder learning forum about how technology, the Internet and social media support freedom of expression around the world, as well as about global efforts to protect and promote human rights in the ICT sector. -Created and launched "Change Your World" (events in Cairo, Washington DC, Amman and Mexico City), stakeholder summits about how women are using the Internet, technology and social media to create positive change in the world. -Created and launched “User First”, a human rights boot camp for start-ups.

• 

  Nike

  • Hilversum, North Holland Province, Netherlands

  • MDP, Strategic Projects

    • Aug 2006 - Jan 2008
    • Hilversum, North Holland Province, Netherlands

    -Created comprehensive branding, CSR and business strategy for sub-Saharan Africa, based in Nike's EMEA headquarters. -Conducted base of the pyramid research. -Created concept proposal for first-ever pan-African Women’s Run Series linking CSR, Retail, Digital Branding, Apparel, Women’s Fitness and Running. -Initiated and launched consumer insights project for West Africa; identified and connected with key influencers in sport, media, music, politics, business, social entrepreneurship and culture to uncover trends, insights and collaboration opportunities; wrote key consumer insights into strategy.

• 

  Catalyst Inc.

  • San Francisco Bay Area and Amsterdam

  • Director, Advisory Services

    • Jan 2003 - Jul 2005
    • San Francisco Bay Area and Amsterdam

    -Strategic consultant, business development and project manager for comprehensive talent management, employer branding and diversity assessments of Fortune 500 companies and professional service firms, including qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, strategy design and implementation and change management advice to senior leadership. -Designed and presented speeches and interactive workshops on effective talent management, diversity, employer branding and career development; print, television spokesperson in California and Europe.-Initiated and led Catalyst’s expansion to Europe, resulting in Catalyst’s permanent presence in Europe.-Managed client relationships for 30 Catalyst member companies and firms in the US and in Europe. -Created membership marketing plan; initiated and managed strategic alliances in the US and across Europe.

• 

  Consumers Union

  • San Francisco Bay Area

  • Attorney, Policy Fellow

    • Jan 2002 - Dec 2002
    • San Francisco Bay Area

    -Participated in successful efforts to encourage hospitals and health care organizations to set aside stock and other sale proceeds to be used for community charitable assets after for-profit conversions. -Advised Attorneys General on charitable assets law and policy. -Provided organizational strategy and advice on healthcare policy and strategic alliances to healthcare non-profits

• 

  Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

  • New York, London, Paris

  • Attorney

    • Oct 1998 - Jan 2001
    • New York, London, Paris

    -Acted as both issuer’s and underwriter’s counsel in various transactions. -Drafted, negotiated and reviewed corporate agreements, offering memoranda and registration statements, participated in negotiations, and conducted due diligence in English and French. -Pro bono practice included representing political asylum applicants, procuring no-contest divorces for survivors of spousal abuse and providing legal advice to artists, musicians and playwrights.

• 

  Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

  • Los Angeles, California

  • Summer Associate

    • Jul 1997 - Sep 1997
    • Los Angeles, California

• 

  Perkins Coie LLP

  • Seattle, Washington

  • Summer Associate

    • Jun 1996 - Aug 1996
    • Seattle, Washington