Board Chair, African Women’s Development Fund, USA 

Maame Afon is a gender and leadership specialist, activist, coach/mentor, facilitator, and mother who enjoys raising her three children with her husband. In her capacity as board chair of the African Women’s Development Fund USA, she guides the overall strategy and direction of the organization. She has translated her passion for transformative coaching, mentoring, and women’s rights and leadership to her career and board service with organizations including the Global Fund for Women, We Care Solar, and Women Thrive. As a recording artist, Maame Afon also uses the power of music to promote philanthropy and social justice. She holds a B.A. in French and Spanish and an M.A. in human rights, gender and international development. She has been recognized as one of the 18 African Feminists to know by For Harriet. In addition to being a Rise Up Leader, she is a Cordes Fellow and Woman Leader for the World (How Women Lead).

Rise Up Cohort: California 2019